The best camping near Lake Erie

Discover the most magical spots to pitch your tent or park your rig on your next Lake Erie adventure.

Popular ways to camp

Community favorites near Lake Erie

Top-rated campgrounds reviewed by the Hipcamp community.

Top-rated campgrounds near Lake Erie

White Walnut Farm

1 site · RV, Tent8 acres · Perry, OH

Our 8-acre farm, nestled on a rural-ish road in Perry, Ohio, is a haven of natural abundance. With over 300 fruit and nut trees alongside various perennial plants, the landscape offers a picturesque blend of verdant fields, scattered woods, and a serene pond. Ample space for several tents and parking is available, ensuring a comfortable stay for visitors. Guests can enjoy modern amenities such as WiFi access and restroom facilities while immersing themselves in the tranquility of rural life. Additionally, our location offers easy access to outdoor adventures. Situated just 3 miles from Lake Erie and the scenic Lake Erie Bluffs park, bird watching, biking, and swimming opportunities abound. For water enthusiasts, the majestic Grand River, a mere 2 miles away, beckons with its kayaking and canoeing possibilities during high water seasons. The area is rich in natural wonders, with numerous parks waiting to be explored. Conveniently located just 30 minutes east of Cleveland, our farm serves as an ideal base for both urban excursions and rural retreats, offering the best of both worlds.

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Hemlock Hideaway

12 sites · Lodging, Tents18 acres · Geneva, OH

Hemlock Hideaway and its 18 acres was originally part of a larger 100-acre plot that was surveyed and settled in the late 1700's by Gideon Granger of the Connecticut Land Company. Granger sold it to one Jehoikim Burget in 1815 for the whopping price of $400. The resident house was built in 1816 by Burget and then passed down to family members over the next 5 generations, until we bought it in 2003, marking the first time the house and remaining property were ever officially sold. In the mid 1800's, a grist mill was put up across the river from the cabin, and our creek was the main road in and out of that operation. There is a gravestone belonging to the wife of Jehoikim's son, she being half Native American and therefore couldn't be buried in the local white cemetery. We also own the original hand-written deed from 1815 detailing the sale of the original 100 acres to Jehoikim Burget. Learn more about this land: Our primitive cabin nestled in the woods overlooking the Grand River is a nature-lover's paradise! Come canoe, fish, experience wine country, or unplug and just get away from it all. Please note: There is no running water or electricity at the site, but the cabin is generator-ready and there is an outhouse. The cabin does have a wood burning stove for heat and simple cooking, however there is no running water or electricity. That being said, the building is wired and has plugs and outlets and is generator-ready. You provide your own generator and fuel. We provide bottled water, sheets, pillows, flashlights, a fire ring with cooking grate, charcoal grill (you provide the charcoal), access to firewood, and an outhouse with toilet paper. Our 1/4 mile of Grand River frontage can be accessed right outside the cabin door via a quick hike down the somewhat steep hillside. If hiking isn't preferred, then a quick two-minute drive will take you to the Harpersfield Covered Bridge Metropark - a favorite of local fishermen. Bigger groups with tents are welcome, but will need to bring all supplies beyond what we provide for two guests.

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Flannel Dog Farm

3 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents7 acres · Ashtabula, OH

Located less than a mile from Lake Erie, our 1860's brick farmhouse is an area icon. This seven acre homestead is where we grow our own food, raise sheep, chickens and bees, bake sourdough bread, brew beer and wine, and create art in Copper Leaf Studios. We are a monarch waystation and have several acres dedicated to native pollinators, plants, and trees. Much like our farm's name, our place is warm, welcoming, rustic, and a bit gritty. We are advocates of inclusion, local community, and sustainable living. We love telling and hearing good stories. We believe in the powers of kindness and peace. We hope to share our part of the world with others. We have firewood onsite for HipCamper use. Our breakfast is not to be missed (included for Peace Portal & Covered Wagon sites; optional for tent campers) and features farm fresh & local ingredients. We offer an outhouse with a composting toilet as well as a traditional flushable half bath with running water and power. Pets are welcome. Message us if you have any questions!

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Dancing Moon Acres

15 sites · RVs, Tents8 acres · Geneva, OH

Wonderful location! Close to Wineries, Grand River, Geneva on the Lake, SPIRE, covered bridges and so much more. Dancing Moon acres is still in her transformation phase but she is still beautiful and cozy. In addition guests will have access to a 24 x 60 pole building with heat and cozy seating and more if it's chilly outside. Porto pots on property (just until our bath house gets completed). We will be open April 4- April 10 for boondocking and glamping AND having a watch party for the Solar eclipse April 8! April 7 we will have weather permitting a small picnic set up for our guests to enjoy and shortly after a movie in the large pole building with popcorn available. April 8 we will have Cove Creek BBQ food truck available for food purchase. Solar eclipse glasses for our guests and a DJ following the solar eclipse to finish off a wonderful day! We have 5 boondocking camper sites ( close to the road on solid ground) and 8 boondocking tent sites.

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Sawdust FarmCamp

5 sites · Lodging, Tents80 acres · Geneva, OH

Welcome to Sawdust FarmCamp! Located in Geneva, Ohio. We have four different sites to choose from: 1 tent site, 2 glamping tent sites, and 1 cabin. We also have the option to book all our sites for a 15 person retreat with spacial extras only available for that listing. Portable toilet available, pets welcome, campfires permitted. Potable water and hot water showers are only available at or cabin and our glamping sites only have solar camp showers (not the tent site). New hot showers are being planned for the 2024 season. Naturalist Isabelle H. Klein wrote a collection of letters from her home of Sawdust (named form the sawdust left by the loggers of the early 60’s) for the Cleveland Museum of Natural History’s Explorer Magazine from the winter of 1969 to the summer of 1976. They then were published as the book “Letters From Sawdust” by the Press of Case Western Reserve University for the Museum. It is a lyrical voyage through the seasons at the Sawdust Tract in Northeast Ohio. She details encounters with the wildlife of the area as well as the changing seasons and plant life. Reminiscent of Thoreau's writings about Walden. In 1978 an additional house was moved onto the property from Sidley's gravel pit and joined with the existing Klein farmhouse. We decided to preserve almost 400 acres of the property with the help of the Western Reserve Land Conservatory for the Cleveland Museum Of Natural History, Natural Areas. Forest is home to the red-sided dace, and 10 rare species of birds, including cerulean warblers. The original small family farm and surrounding woods we have retained are being restored and updated. We are proud to call Sawdust home and would love to share it with you.

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Camping in Wine Country

4 sites · RVs, Tents195 acres · Geneva, OH

Purchased by my grandfather back in 1953 it has been a diverse fruit farm for many years. Currently we have almost 200 acres, a lot of it woods. We don't currently grow the crops that we did but we have planted some wine grapes in the last several years. As we also have a winery, The Winery at Spring Hill, we wanted to get some of our own grapes in the ground. We have several places for tent camping and we have a large parking lot at the winery for RV parking.Learn more about this land:Right in the middle of Ohio's Wine Country! Enjoy an evening at our winery or take the day and explore the 26 wineries in the area.Woods and fields surround the camping area. Close to the natural beauty of the Grand River (State Wild and Scenic River). Just a few miles from Geneva State Park and Geneva-on-the-Lake. Lots of activities: wine tasting, covered bridges, boating/canoeing/kayaking, fishing, swimming, biking, hiking, birding, nightlife, history, golfing, and lots of natural beauty.

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The Farm at Grand River

6 sites · RVs, Tents75 acres · Thompson, OH

Come enjoy rest and relaxation with the animals. Pitch a tent by the creek or park your RV in one of our pastures by the cows and goats. 15 minutes from the wineries and kayaking at the Grand River. Enjoy the farm Fresh Eggs. Walk the grounds and enjoy the animals in the barnyard and all the 75 acres. Kids will enjoy our ultimate farm playground!!! We offer shuttle to kayak the Grand River and the Wineries. We also offer Beautiful Bell Glamping tents upon request... CHECKOUT IS 2PM https://www.facebook.com/groups/5125508934232636/?ref=share

Hidden Lakes Family Campground

42 sites · RVs, Tents75 acres · Montville, OH

Visit us April 5-8 for Solar Eclipse Camping in the path of the great TOTAL Solar Eclipse 2024 Ohio! We are 17 minutes from the Geauga County Fairgrounds who are hosting their great Eclipse event! We are privately owned and are not part of any corporate campground chain that pushes the “rack em and stack em” mentality. We can give you personal attention and larger campsites with more green space and elbow room – the way camping should be. AMENITIES: - Doubled Site Sizes and MEGA Sites - 50 Amp Pull Throughs - Deluxe Tent Sites - RV Sites with Water and Electric - Group Camping - Inground Pool - Free Modern Restrooms with Hot Showers - Playground - Planned Activities - Camp Store (ice, firewood, snacks, ice cream) - 7.5 Acre Fishing Lake (catch and release) - 2.5 Acre Fishing Lake (catch and release) - 2.5 Acre Swimming Lake with Beach - Large Recreational Fields - Basketball - Horseshoes - Pet Friendly - Rental Hall with Full Kitchen - Rental Pavilions - Free Dump Station We have also featured throughout the year, activities such as Western Days, Medieval Days, Slime Party, Football Camp, Wagon Rides, Squatch Hunting, and more.

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Steadfast Roots Homestead

5 sites · Tents20 acres · Ashtabula, OH

We are a working homestead. We have 20 acres that offer nice trails to enjoy the peace of nature, two ponds, kayaks, paddleboat, islands, moss beach, fire pits, picnic tables, meeting room/A frame available if needed. Not far from all of the amazing Ashtabula attractions. Outhouse available but no electricity. Ask about sapling adoption!!!

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Sycamore Lake Elk Ranch

3 sites · Tents105 acres · Jefferson, OH

I’ve had the pleasure of having this land as my playground for many years. My grandparents purchased the property after WWII. Initially, it began as a dairy farm and a few years later they opened Sycamore Lake Campground, one of the very first public camping spots in the U.S. I grew up fishing, hunting, riding tractors and horses here. Years later I had a vision of starting my own elk ranch and what better place to do so than on my family’s property. I brought my first load of elk here on my grandmother's 95th birthday in 2010 and in 2014 I was able to purchase the property from my her. She left us days away from her 101st birthday. I now reside here at the ranch and the herd has grown to over 50 head. The ranch is a work in progress and if you become a regular visitor, you will notice changes between each visit. I'm proud to be able to keep this land in my family and I’m excited to able to share it with all of you. I truly hope you can come and enjoy the natural landscape; of a place I hold dear to me.Learn more about this land:Pitch a tent on a bank of a winding creek or along the private lake. Abundant wildlife to admire. Bass fishing and boating steps away from your site. Small boats along with fishing poles and gear are available for rent. Enjoy roasting your hotdogs and marshmallows over a campfire at night. Firewood is for sale. This is a working elk ranch and tours are available. Lake Erie is a few miles away. Wine country and Geneva on the Lake are just moments down the road.

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Bass and Buck Tent Adventures

7 sites · Tents230 acres · OH

With over 230 acres, a lake, trails, the Grand River, and plenty of wildlife. Bass and Buck Adventures is the perfect place to get away. Once known as Parkman Gorge the valley was a hub for water powered industry in the early 1800's. The river and valley is home to a wide array of wildlife. Deer, turkey, eagles, hawks, owls, mink, river otters to name a few. The area also attracts many song birds including a wide variety of warblers. There is also an abundance of wild flowers. The valley is rich in Native American history. Many artifacts have been found on the property. My great grandfather talked about the last Native American to live in Parkman had a cabin on one of the bluffs along the river. In the 1820's there was a water powered sawmill and forge on the river. The boy scouts used the valley for a camp in the 1930's. My grandpa purchased this property in the 50's from Ohio Edison. Ohio Edison's plan to dam up the river for hydro power never materialized. The valley has been a favorite for outdoor enthusiasts. Camping, hiking, fishing, hunting, "jeeping". Many of the items used for the camp sites have been reclaimed. The fire rings are old tractor rims and scrap steel. The tent platform is from reclaimed deck lumber. The firewood is excess cutoffs purchased from a local sawmill. For more information log onto our website. bassandbuckadventures.com

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Elk Valley Creekside

1 site · Lodging70 acres · Girard, PA

This campsite is a wildlife paradise and a fisherman's dream come true on the banks of Elk Creek. We open April 1 each season so campers can take advantage of three months of incredible steelhead, smallmouth bass, lake suckers and stocked browns. There are seasonal fishing ponds on the property as well. Campers will marvel at the incredible nature surrounding this secluded campsite. Watch bald eagles from your tent deck, and keep your eyes open for deer, turkey, seasonal steelhead and beautiful monarch butterflies. Elk Valley Creekside is a perfect getaway for campers interested in wildlife photography - the photo opportunities are endless. This campsite is only 20 minutes from Presque Isle State Park, and 30 minutes from Erie, PA. There are solar lights around the campsite to help you see at night, and plenty of firewood is provided. The Space: Creekside Campsite with Incredible Fishing and Wildlife Guest Access: This was a former Tentrr Signature 5 star campsite. An outdoor toilet (job johnny) and fire wood are provided

The best camping near Lake Erie guide

Overview

About

Spanning four states and the US-Canada border, Lake Erie is a monolith for outdoor activities in the region. With abundant camping, fishing, watersports, and hiking, Lake Erie has a near-limitless source of entertainment for the outdoor enthusiast. With many vacation destinations along the water's edge, it is difficult to choose between the sights across Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New York. World-class camping locations can be found peppered amidst the larger cities along the entire shoreline.