Best Tent Camping near Zanesville, OH

Tent campers near Zanesville, Ohio can find several established campgrounds spread throughout the surrounding forests and parklands, with multiple walk-in tent options within an hour's drive. Monday Creek OHV Dispersed camping in Wayne National Forest offers free primitive tent sites with basic amenities, while Pops Place Camping provides a more developed experience with designated tent areas and clean facilities approximately 30 miles south of Zanesville.

Most tent campgrounds in the region feature level dirt or grassy pads with minimal improvements. The walk-in sites at Old Stone Church Trailhead require packing gear a short distance from parking areas, but reward campers with more secluded spots. Basic amenities like vault toilets are common at established sites, though drinking water is limited primarily to developed campgrounds. Several locations including Monday Creek operate on a first-come, first-served basis without reservations. One camper noted of Monday Creek: "Camped at the west side of the vaulted toilet lot. Arrived about 5 PM and all 3 camping spots were empty. Vaulted toilet and garbage cans were a welcome bonus."

Walk-in tent sites throughout the region provide a more secluded camping experience than drive-up locations. Several tent-only areas in Wayne National Forest, particularly near Shawnee, offer hikers direct trail access with fire rings and primitive campsites set away from vehicle traffic. The surrounding forest provides natural shade and wind protection for tent campers. Most tent-only areas maintain some distance between sites, creating privacy even when multiple campers are present. Based on reviews from The Dyrt, tent campers particularly appreciate the region's clean facilities and relatively uncrowded camping areas, even during peak season. Campers seeking walk-in tent sites should arrive early on summer weekends, as the limited number of designated tent spots can fill quickly.

Best Tent Sites Near Zanesville, Ohio (22)

    1. Pops Place Camping

    3 Reviews
    Corning, OH
    25 miles
    Website
    +1 (740) 683-3361

    $15 - $125 / night

    "I stayed there Aug 2024 and as of that date the rustic tent camping was $20. "

    "We'd like to welcome Ed and Michelle to our platform. This prime location is 15 minutes from the National Park.  On site drinking water and firewood available."

    2. Old Stone Church Campground

    2 Reviews
    New Lexington, OH
    27 miles
    Website

    "Each pull-thru is set-up for horses, but RVs are allowed (according to NFS website)."

    4. Walhonding Hills Campground

    1 Review
    Danville, OH
    30 miles
    Website
    +1 (740) 824-4575

    "They have a pool and atv trails on campground property. Great for doom buggies, side by sides, and 4 wheelers, dirt bikes as well."

    5. Benton's on the Baileys

    4 Reviews
    Chauncey, OH
    38 miles
    Website
    +1 (773) 837-0847

    $40 - $125 / night

    "Extremely private primitive camping surrounded by Wayne National Forest and steps from the Baileys Trail System. Fire pit, picnic table and handmade hammock supplied for comfort and convenience."

    "Excellent campground that is tucked out of the way. You have to walk to the site, up a steep hill, but it is very private and quiet. The bathrooms are down the hill too, but very clean and private."

    6. Monday Creek OHV Dispersed

    2 Reviews
    Nelsonville, OH
    34 miles
    Website

    "Camped at the west side of the vaulted toilet lot. Arrived about 5 PM and all 3 camping spots were empty. Lots of trucks and toy haulers heading up the various roads into the late evening."

    7. Baileys Trail Tent Camping

    3 Reviews
    Millfield, OH
    37 miles

    "Wonderful little location. We drove for about 3 hours to get from where we are. Nice wide open space surrounded by woods."

    "Spent consecutive months at this location and couldn't have been happier with the host and accomodations. Great for that "far out" feel just outside of town."

    8. Geneva Hills - Camp and Event Center

    2 Reviews
    Rockbridge, OH
    37 miles
    Website
    +1 (740) 746-8439

    $35 - $600 / night

    "Tent site was nice. We could make dinner and there weren’t any mosquitoes even though it was right above a swamp. It was a nice driving distance from Hocking Hills and a neat place to camp."

    9. Park and Pack Campsite 10 — Mohican-Memorial State Forest

    5 Reviews
    Loudonville, OH
    47 miles
    Website
    +1 (419) 938-6222

    "The sunset photo is by the entrance of the parking lot to the campsite.  This is the 2nd easiest campsite to walk into out of the 10. "

    "Site 10 is about 3/4 of a mile down the trail from the upper parking area. Well marked and easy to find. There are plenty of areas to set up shelter and hang hammocks."

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Tent Camping Reviews near Zanesville, OH

664 Reviews of 22 Zanesville Campgrounds


  • Eira T.
    Jul. 5, 2015

    Burr Oak Cove Campground

    Quiet campground in Wayne National Forest!

    We enjoyed walk-in site #3 during a holiday weekend. The walk-in sites afford more privacy and tree cover than the drive-up sites, where you can see your neighbors on all sides. No showers or sinks, just several vault toilets. Potable water available throughout the camp. Camp sites are $10 a night.

    Neighbors were fairly quiet, and there is one trail that leads down to Burr Oak lake. The trail is 1 mile, but it seems to link up with some longer yellow and green-blazed trails that go around the lake. The campground is also a short drive from the Wildcat Hollow trail head in the Athens Unit of Wayne National Forest

  • Shelly S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 6, 2017

    Blue Rock State Park Campground

    It's moss I think....

    Blue Rock State Park is outside Zanesville, Oh off I70. Rt 60 takes you South and then you have a choice of routes in. Good Ohio farmland scenery.

    Out of the way, small camping area with basic sites. A cool feature is a few of the sites have pavilion type covered patios that you can pitch your tent in to help stay dry during inclimate weather.

    Otherwise the sites are close together. Though there are a few sites that are more off to themselves, they are still wide open with sparse tree cover.

    The restroom is basic, the showerhouse is located at the reservoir beach as well as the camp store and boat rental.The staff was very knowledgeable about the area and conversational.

    Several trails are in the area, the Horse Camp is up the road. In addition to this area there is the Blue Rock State Forest that offers several out door activities, check out their map and site online.

  • Shari  G.The Dyrt PRO User
    May. 28, 2018

    Lamping Homestead Recreation Area

    Simple, Quiet, Beautiful!

    Just a few miles from the Ohio Covered Bridge Scenic Highway, this lovely tent-only campground offers a pleasant get away. There are 6 spacious “walk-in” campsites, a small pond, and vault toilets. Each site had a picnic table and campfire ring, but there is no privacy between sites. There is no water available, other than the pond, so plan accordingly. The group picnic area is great for bigger families or groups, with a campfire ring, grills and a covered picnic area.    

    The area is great for hiking, with the North Country Trail going right by the campground, cycling through the rolling hills of the backroads, and canoeing on the Little Muskingum River.

    The closest town is Woodsfield, OH, about 13 miles from this campground and has most of the supplies you may need.

    More Information: https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/wayne/recarea/?recid=6214

  • K
    Aug. 26, 2020

    Park and Pack Campsite 10 — Mohican-Memorial State Forest

    Campsite 10 large and beautiful

    Make sure you get a reservation at the kiosk by the ranger station in the forest. Do not go to the state park as that is completely different. For the forest office I go to Co Rd 939, Perrysville, OH 44864

    Do not camp illegally or without a reservation. They do post signs and ask other campers to report the illegal camping.  

    The sunset photo is by the entrance of the parking lot to the campsite.  This is the 2nd easiest campsite to walk into out of the 10.  If you have any mobility issues this is the second best camp site to go to as most of it is along the wide access road and mountain bike trail. The parking lot was clean and easy to access. 

    I had limited cell phone signal while here but this had the best signal out of the 10 sites. 

    All of the Park and Pack camp sites do not have a bathroom. As you can see from this site I took the time to take a picture of the moon pole.  So do leave no trace of your bathroom habits. 

    This site was great for both hammocks and tents.  You could have a small group here and not feel crowded. The camp fire set up is awesome. We had another camper over by that spot so I didn't take pictures of his gear.  He had a hammock and tent set up. He was camping at the spot for a week for his vacation. On our last night at this site another backpacker came through and set up.  Make sure you get a reservation and look closely at the board at the kiosk.  Our main camper at this site was gracious as he had booked the site for the week most folks didn't realize the site was taken as his name was so far up the clipboard.  We weren't alone in not realizing that and he enjoyed the brief company we provided as good neighbors to each other.

  • Dave V.
    Oct. 31, 2019

    Hocking Hills State Park Campground

    Close proximity to natural attractions

    Hocking Hills State Park, Oh-Site 89. https://thehockinghills.org/

    Hocking Hills State Park offers close proximity to most of the popular natural attractions...Old Man’s Cave, Ash Cave, Cantwell Cliffs, etc....but for a tent camper that prefers solitude and space, I found it unappealing.

    I did arrive late on a Monday evening, mid-October and got one of the last available sites. Packed on a Monday night!

    I found the camping sites a bit cramped both in depth and width. Site 89 and 90 shared the same parking pad. Limited flat locations existed for a tent and my tent footprint is fairly small. You do have a firepit and picnic table with all three in fairly close proximity, so you must be extremely cautious with wind direction when deciding for a fire, else you’ll have embers dotting your tent and picnic table. Even though the neighbors were trying to be respectfully quiet...you heard every conversation and saw their every move.

    No electric, which is fine in my book...the water spigot is centrally located on the loop and happened to be next to my site.

    The restroom/shower facilities were not well cared for upon my visit. The floors were very muddy and trash was piled up in the corner of one stall and out of necessities.

    Construction and dump truck noise started early with a project behind the restrooms.

    The visitor’s center was well-stocked and the employee was pleasant. Cell service is unavailable and even sketchy at the visitor’s center. Wood can be purchased at the visitor’s center.

    Close proximity to local attractions and a swimming pool are likely the big draw.

    Knowing that I prefer solitude and distance when camping, I’ll likely not return but choose nearby Lake Hope State Park for my local visits.

  • A
    Oct. 18, 2020

    Burr Oak State Park Campground

    Nice trails, not so nice campsites

    Most of the sites at this state park campground are very small and don’t have much level ground. Even the sites meant for RVs and trailers are right on top of each other. It’s almost like they took what should have been one site and made it two. There’s a handful of sites that offer a little space and level ground for tent campers. You may or may not have a picnic table and fire ring with a grill at your campsite when you arrive. According to staff, people take the fire rings and I guess there’s nothing they can do. Bathrooms were clean. The lake view trail was nice and accessible from the campground.

  • Lee D.The Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 4, 2022

    Hocking Hills State Park Campground

    Beautiful scenery!

    General: 172-site state park with a mix of full hook-up, electric, and no hook-ups in separate areas plus a 33-site family hike-in camp, two group camps, and three cabins. All sites need to be reserved – no walk-ins are allowed. There is a beautiful visitor center, and the camp office has a small store as well. There is a very nice coin-operated laundry room. Don’t count on cell service– with a fleeting one bar of Verizon, it was just enough to tease us, but the break was also a welcome respite. 

    Site Quality: Standard issue for state parks with paved driveways, picnic table, and fire ring, however, there are a few things to note: Some sites are decidedly not level (#105 is very sloped). 103 and 101 meet at a V at the back end and this impedes the separation between the sites. Our site (103) had a drop-off between the driveway and the rest of the site that could pose a tripping hazard if you are not careful. All of the restrooms emit a hum, but the wastewater treatment facility is very loud and is located directly behind the first 9-10 full hook-up sites. 

    Bathhouse: The restrooms were clean, but the showers were just adequate (not the worst camp shower but definitely not the best I have experienced) but at least there was hot water. 

    Activities: We came for the hiking, and we were not disappointed. This park is gorgeous! We hiked the Blue trail (Grandma Gatewood Trail) to Cedar Falls, taking in Upper and Lower Falls, and Old Man’s Cave along the way, and returned via the Rim Trail, which was much easier (fewer roots and up and down). We received a color-coded map of the trails upon check-in but had difficulty deciphering it, especially the mileage. We went to the Camp Office before starting our hike to get clarity. Once on the trails, they were well-marked with either signs or blazes. While you could do a long hike (12 miles one-way) from one end of the park to the other), don’t miss Ash Cave – we drove there the next morning before leaving. There are also mountain biking trails, two playgrounds (the one more centrally located is a bit dated and does not look very safe but there is a newer, larger one at the very end of the road (near the lake trail) and there are also horseshoe pits and a volleyball net there. In season, there is a large swimming pool. 

    The campground itself gets 3 stars for some of its flaws but the scenery is so beautiful, 4 stars are merited, in my opinion. I would recommend reserving in one of the “spurs” as there would be less traffic.

  • S
    Jun. 17, 2016

    Hocking Hills State Park Campground

    Walk-In Primitive Family Campground

    Walk-in campground provides a nice amount of quiet for the price of carting your gear in (up to a .6 mile, depending on site chosen). Several sites are somewhat hidden from the path while others have little-to-no privacy from your fellow campers . Pit toilets are adequate. Water pump located in the parking lot along with access to biking trails. All sites include picnic table and fire ring.

  • Andrea F.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 21, 2020

    Burr Oak State Park Campground

    EGGS Hike

    I spent my time at the group camp area tent camping. I was there for a Buckeye Trail Association event called EGGS hike. It’s a 20 mile hike around the backpacking trail. We have 12 hours to complete the challenge. The group camp area only has pit toilets and no showers but the fields are mowed and level so it’s easy to set up camp.


Guide to Zanesville

Dispersed camping opportunities near Zanesville, Ohio can be found within a 40-mile radius, primarily in Wayne National Forest. This southeastern Ohio region features rolling Appalachian foothills with elevations ranging from 650 to 1,200 feet. Most primitive sites have limited cell service, with Verizon typically providing the most reliable coverage throughout the forest areas.

What to do

Mountain biking access: Sites near the Baileys Trail System offer direct trail connections. At Benton's on the Baileys, campers enjoy proximity to over 31 miles of purpose-built mountain bike trails. "Extremely private primitive camping surrounded by Wayne National Forest and steps from the Baileys Trail System," notes Keith B.

Motorcycle touring: The paved roads around southeastern Ohio provide excellent motorcycle routes. Pops Place Camping serves as a strategic base camp for riders. "This is an ideal base camp for riding your motorcycle on the scenic roads in that area of Ohio such as the triple nickel. The owners are very nice people and helpful," explains David M.

Hiking exploration: Multiple trailheads connect to camping areas throughout Wayne National Forest. "We slept soundly, made breakfast and were on our way. Great stop over location," reports Kevin C. about his experience at Monday Creek OHV Dispersed camping.

What campers like

Privacy and seclusion: Walk-in tent sites at Old Stone Church Trailhead require a short hike from parking but reward with better isolation. "Well marked. Parking can be on side of road or down below where campsites are," mentions Christy P.

Clean facilities: Despite the remote locations, many campers highlight maintenance standards. At Baileys Trail Tent Camping, one reviewer noted: "Very nice bathroom/shower compared to what we expected. Will visit again." The unexpected quality of facilities stands out in reviews across multiple sites.

Budget-friendly options: Many sites offer free or low-cost camping. As David M. noted about Pops Place: "As of that date the rustic tent camping was $20." Several Wayne National Forest dispersed sites operate on an honor system with modest fees or no cost.

What you should know

Registration requirements: Some forest sites require sign-in even without reservations. At Park and Pack Campsite 10, Ryan R. advises: "Make sure to sign in at the kiosk... There's no reservations, you show up, see what sites are available, sign in and drive to the appropriate parking area."

Limited water access: Pack in all drinking water for remote sites. "The only con I would give the site is there's no water source, so you have to pack in all your water needs," notes Ryan R. about the Mohican Memorial Forest sites.

Seasonal considerations: Most primitive camping areas in Wayne National Forest remain open year-round, but access roads may become difficult after heavy rain or snow. Developed campgrounds like Geneva Hills typically operate from April through October.

Tips for camping with families

Playground access: Some campgrounds offer family-friendly amenities. David M. mentions Pops Place has "playground, basketball backboard near the current cabin if you happen to bring a basketball for your kids to use."

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Zanesville, OH?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Zanesville, OH is Pops Place Camping with a 5-star rating from 3 reviews.

What is the best site to find tent camping near Zanesville, OH?

TheDyrt.com has all 22 tent camping locations near Zanesville, OH, with real photos and reviews from campers.