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Ohio Free Camping Rank and Rules

Ohio ranks #44 of 50 for free camping

Ohio ranks #44 of 50 for free camping, with 1.4 known dispersed sites per 1,000 sq mi.

Data as of

Ohio free camping in numbers

Ohio ranks #44 of 50 for free camping, with 1.4 known dispersed sites per 1,000 sq mi.

Rank
#44
Known dispersed sites per 1,000 sq mi
1.4
Known dispersed sites
56
Land area
40,861 sq mi
Developed campgrounds
527
State-land rule
Marked sites only
Forest restrictions tracked
0

Dispersed camping in Ohio

Can you camp on Ohio state land?

Marked sites only. State forests and wildlife areas both keep camping to marked sites, and exactly four wildlife areas allow it: Tri-Valley, Woodbury, Appalachian Hills, and Simco. (OAC 1501:3-3-02; OAC 1501:31-9-02) Every state, with the rule behind each answer: dispersed camping on state land, state by state.

Where is dispersed camping restricted in Ohio?

Our records hold no National Forest restriction on dispersed camping in Ohio. That is not the same as having none, so check the forest's own alerts page before you camp.

Each restriction, cited and dated: where dispersed camping is restricted.

How the rank works

We divide the known dispersed campsites in a state by its land area, in square miles, and multiply by 1,000. The rules above sit beside the rank but never change it. The count includes only sites that public sources map, so mapping effort affects the result. Roadside camping corridors and the points we place inside state wildlife and forest areas are not counted.