Wayne National Forest is a beautiful area located in southeast Ohio, with plenty of opportunities for camping and outdoor recreation. The forest is divided into four separate areas, with the most popular being the Ironton Ranger District, which offers over 90 miles of trails for hikers, mountain bikers and horseback riders.
Camping is allowed in designated areas within the forest and there are several free camping areas available.
One of the most popular free camping areas in Wayne National Forest is the Ironton Ranger District’s Indian Campground area. This area is located off of State Route 93, just north of McArthur. It offers both primitive and developed sites.
Primitive sites are available on a first come first serve basis and feature picnic tables and fire rings but no water or electricity hookups. Developed sites offer 30 amp electric hookups, picnic tables, fire rings and access to a dumping station.
The Ironton Ranger District also has two other popular free camping sites: Wolf Run State Park and Lake Vesuvius Recreation Area. Wolf Run State Park offers primitive campsites with picnic tables and fire rings but no water or electrical hookups.
Lake Vesuvius Recreation Area also has primitive campsites with picnic tables, fire rings, but no water or electricity hookups.
In addition to these free camping areas, there are numerous other campgrounds within Wayne National Forest that offer paid campsites with amenities such as water and electrical hookups as well as more developed facilities such as showers and restrooms. Some of these campgrounds include Brown’s Lake Campground in Nelsonville; Symmes Creek Campground in Proctorville; and Old Man’s Cave Campground in Logan.
Conclusion:
Yes! You can camp for free in Wayne National Forest at many different campgrounds including the Ironton Ranger District’s Indian Campground area as well as Wolf Run State Park and Lake Vesuvius Recreation Area at no cost. There are also many other campgrounds throughout the national forest that offer paid campsites with additional amenities such as water and electrical hookups.
