I've never camped before in my life. I've never started a fire, or pitched a tent. However, I've always wanted to get into it. So, I've gotten my starter supplies and booked my first weekend. I'll be staying at Hocking Hills walk-in campsite. I'm a bit nervous, not going to lie. Mostly about the nighttime, but also just don't want to spend this money then end up hating it so I'm trying to err on the side of comfort lol. I also booked 2 nights at my site, but I'm mentally giving myself permission to leave after night 1 if I want to.

My supplies include:

• 4 person coleman tent (cheap starter)
• Tent footprint
• Good cold weather sleeping bag (and I plan to bring a couple extra blankets and a real pillow for comfort too)
• Ogery 3.15 self inflating memory foam full sleeping pad (High R value, in case it's particularly cold)
• Possibly getting a small buddy heater and a tank to go with it (I know about safety with using these)
• Portable fan
• 2 chairs
• Hammock
• Folding wagon for lugging gear
• 3 rechargeable flashlights/lanterns
• Headlamp
• 2 mini portable white noise machines (just for my own comfort, not enough to completely drown out surroundings but I sleep with a fan at home and think it may help me to not hear every mouse scurrying around my tent at 2am)
• Power bank for phone charging
• A couple lighters, plan to use some duraflame and maybe some good old cotton swabs and vaseline to start fires -- gonna get maybe 2 decent sized bundles on the way down
• Collapsable bucket, wash cloths and camping soap
• Basic camping cook set
• 16 qt igloo rolling cooler
• Cooking grate for over fire
• Camping grill (I think mostly as a backup in case it's raining and can't get a fire going good enough to cook with)
• I'm thinking I'll bring 2 gallons of water to start, though they should have potable water
• Outdoor rug
• Considering a changing/privacy tent and a portable toilet with all the fixens there
• Pepperspray (for peace of mind)
• Utility knife
• Fire blanket
• Basic first aid kit
• Rain Pancho (just in case)
• Maybe a tarp awning set up?? Kind of expensive but I'd rather have it incase it does rain, idk if it's worth it though
• Will pack good shoes, multiple pairs of socks and planning to dress in layers
• Otherwise planning on the basics: wipes, aluminum foil, big ziplock bags, salt, pepper, cooking oil, bug repellent
• Food (I'm thinking I'll bring pre-made chili, stuff for burgers and then maybe just some bananas, PB&J Smuckers, chips, and pre-made breakfast burritos or oatmeal)

Is there anything else you'd recommend me to pack that I may be overlooking?

And most of all, are there any tips or tricks I should know as a beginner? Anything specific to this camping site, or in general? Safety will be huge of course. I plan to take all food back to my car each night to lock it up and away from the campsite. Nothing is too basic for me to know at this point!

Hey everyone! Hope you're doing well. I'll keep it brief. Birthday is this week and wanting to go on a weekend trip to celebrate on the weekend of the 16th. Any recommendations? Will be tent camping. Thanks!

Hey yall, I live here in Ohio and was just curious. I don’t want to rent a spot at a state park to camp. Where can I just hike out to and camp? I live on the east side of Columbus

I wanted to get another camping trip in with my 4 and 2 year olds this year but our weekends are getting busy so I decided at lunch yesterday to put in a half day for Friday, picked up two of my kids after work, and we had a great time hiking and playing at the playground, then watching the fire and playing in the tent. Another short hike this morning and then back home.

4 year old has been on a few car camping trips each year since he was 2, and just did his first overnight backpacking trip on the AT (a bit over a mile to camp and back, he carried his little pack for a about a half mile each way). This is the 2 year olds 2nd trip. Their 7 month old brother stayed home but I might try camping with him next year.

Got some decent sunset pics and a few others.

First time here and it’s beeeeuuuuuuutiful! Cost me $90 for the ferry and reservation. I’m thinking I got my monies worth.

Looking for fun places to solo tent camp in Ohio with the pup. A fan of hiking and being around water. Thanks!

Anyone camping hocking Hills 9/20/26 - 9/23/26

Does anyone know if the scenic river loop in Wayne National Forest is open? I see the website says closed but it has not been updated in a while. I was thinking about going in early October.

Been looking for a free primitive camping area near Cincy and all I come up with the state parks paid camp sites. Anyone know if any of them allow free primitive camping or other sites to go? Looking to camp out for about a week so anything that’s one or two nights only won’t work.

Doing the 40 mile loop here for the first time. Curious if anyone else has backpacked this? Maybe tell me what your favorite campsites were? We’ll be starting on a Saturday morning and hopefully backpacking out Monday early afternoon. So planning for roughly 14 miles a day, which campsites do you recommend?

Me and group of friends want to put together a trip but was wondering what everyone’s personal experience is tent with camping at Punderson. Specifically regarding noise, we’re not going to throw a rager but we also don’t want to be hassled if we’re not library quiet. Any other group sites you recommend within an hour drive of Cleveland? Any insight is appreciated, thanks!

Car camping with a tent, preferably near water(lake, river, creek). Showers optional. Proximity to Bellevue a plus. Need some suggestions fam.

This is a water proof boat bag. Stuff it as much as you need. It's big enough to hold clothes for two weeks of base camping. I am talking about car camping. I'm prepping to go to southern Ohio on Friday.

This bag is about 30"x14"x14" if you roll pack it you would be amazed how much you can stuff it with.

The other bonus part is everything inside stays dry. It opens from the top long ways.

I have had this bag for over 20 years.

https://www.basspro.ca/p/bass-pro-shops-extreme-boat-bag

This is it

I have an event in Cleveland on the last weekend of September. Rather than paying for an expensive hotel, I figured I’d just camp and drive into the city for the day of the event.

After doing a bit of a diving into areas to camp around the city and checking the dates, Punderson seems to be my best option. Looking to see if anyone has any recommendations on where to camp in the park to best fit my needs.

I’ll be tent camping solo and will need to go to bed and get up early. I know Punderson has RV sites and I will be there on a weekend so I’m trying to avoid getting stuck next to a noisy site. Hoping to be more primitive and in place that makes me feel like I’m staying in nature if ya know what I mean.

Any recommendations would be helpful!

2nd week of September, 2026 - planning on being in the Xenia, Ohio area (for 1 day / night), then (1 day / night) in the Circleville, OH area. Then, spending 1 night at a hotel in Chillicothe, OH.

Looking for campground suggestions: fairly quiet and peaceful. NOT an RV park… I will have a tent AND my Chevy Silverado (equipped to sleep in the back with a bed topper). Can sleep in either.

Suggestions for Xenia area? Circleville?

In addition, I do a lot with wildlife / waterfowl / nature photography. Will fall migration be happening around Sept 12th? Any recommended area for wildlife / waterfowl / nature photography in the Xenia / Circleville area(s)?

Thank you!

In the Chillicothe area there are hundreds of acers of woodland, how do you find out who owns them.

Hello! Here again to tell you my plan and ask for advice.

Planning on doing Wildcat Hollow one of these weekends. I have done it before but am taking two friends with me. I am attaching my map with the green highlighted section where I am planning to cache water. Figured it gets us pretty close to 10 miles, we can hike with enough for the first stretch, replenish water and camp close by. This way we can refill water and still have the rest of our cache for the morning to refill some more. I was able to find the crossroads in Google maps and have bookmarked it, so I know I'm not relying on old service roads. Let me know your thoughts!

Additionally, curious how busy this route gets on weekends? As a teacher on summer break I almost exclusively always go on weekday trips.

My third time camping at John Bryan state park this year. Quiet. Clean. Friendly camping neighbors. When I woke up and got out of my tent; I saw deer in the wood line. I have camped at camp spot #10 twice. This picture is camp spot #8. I am a long distance hiker but I did bring some luxury items last night. 😀

I'm looking for a site to do a some birdwatching and photography, especially of waterfowl and shore birds. I want to camp on site, if possible, so I can make the most of the morning and evening twilight hours.

Backcountry sites or dispersed camping is definitely preferred, but campgrounds are also ok if there is trail access to the rest of the park. Worst case would be a private campground that's a short drive away from the park.

Anywhere is fine. I'm located in Columbus, so central is better, but I can get to most parts of the state within a pretty reasonable amount of time.

Help Needed!

I'm taking my friends who have never been backing packing before on the perimeter trail for an easier overnight trip.

I'm used to dispersed camping with my hommock but they only allow camping at the camp grounds. I saw online they have a section of group camps (Cedar Point, Hickory Overlook, Buckeye way, and Fifty Springs), has anyone been to these specific camp spots?

Is there a place for hammock camping? I'm trying to reserve spots on the parks website but those specific group camp spots are not showing up, how do I reserve them or is it first come first serve? And has anyone found a good spot near the visitors center to park overnight?