Ohio’s summer vacation playground includes camping in the Lake Erie Islands visiting Kelleys, Middle Bass, and South Bass islands.
If you’ve visited the region previously, you are aware that cabins fill up quickly, and motels may be costly.
Reserving a spot at one of the area’s campsites is a nice alternative. On all three islands, the Ohio state park system maintains campsites.
In addition, there are campsites in and around Sandusky near the ferry terminals. The majority of Ohio’s state parks are open all year.
You may book up to six months in advance online or look for last-minute availability.
They provide a wide range of facilities, and many of them accept dogs on the part of their properties.
A few private campsites are also operational until October.
Summary
| Guide | Camping In Lake Erie |
|---|---|
| Things to bring | Torch, tent, etc. |
| Camp grounds | Fox’s Den Campground, and more |
| Best places to visit near | Marblehead Lighthouse, and more |
| Situated | North America |
Camping In Lake Erie
1. Fox’s Den Campground
Fox’s Den Campground on the south side of South Bass Island near the airport and the Miller’s Ferry landing provides both full-service and basic campsites.
A contemporary shower house is available. You can even consider renting golf carts at this location for the short trip to Put-in-Bay and its restaurants, activities, and shopping.
From early May through mid-October, this modest, family-owned enterprise is open.
This campground is open to rent for a single night, a week, or the full season.
Address: 140 Conlan Rd, Put-In-Bay, OH 43456
2. Camp Sandusky Campground
The Camp Sandusky provides Amish-built cottages, tent campsites, and RV sites on the shores of Lake Erie, approximately five minutes from the Jet Express pier and ten minutes from Cedar Point.
Throughout the campsite, there is a free wireless Internet connection.
A children’s playground, a bunny farm, a basic store, a basketball court, a swimming pool, a restaurant, and a coin-operated laundry facility are among the amenities.
From June 1 through the first week of October, Camp Sandusky is open.
You can bring in pets in RVs, pop-up trailers, and the campground’s new pet-friendly cottages, but not on tent sites.
Military people, AAA members, and Cedar Point season pass holders all receive discounts.
Address: 3518 Tiffin Ave, Sandusky, OH 44870
Read: Camping In Lake Tahoe
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3. Tall Timbers Campground
The tall Timbers Campground provides 400 tent and permanent camping spots on a forested property near the beaches of Lake Erie.
The campsite features a children’s playground, a pond with its own sandy beach, a general store, an outdoor movie theater, a laundromat, and fish cleaning facilities, as well as wireless Internet access throughout the property.
Tall Timbers is accessible from May 1 to November 15 every year. The park also rents out RVs. You can rent the campsites for a day, a week, a month, or a season.
Address: 340 S Christy Chapel Rd, Port Clinton, OH 43452
4. Sandusky/Bayshore KOA in Sandusky
The Sandusky/Bayshore KOA campsite, one of the oldest and still one of the nicest in the Lake Erie Island/Sandusky area has been hosting campers for more than 40 years.
This campsite, which is directly on Sandusky Bay, is open from May 1 through the end of October each year.
Tent sites, RV sites, and even a few cottages are available at the campground. You can rent these campsites for a day, a week, or the full season.
A new pool area, a full basketball court, volleyball and horseshoe courts, a breakfast bar and snack store, a swimming pool, and a fishing pier are all available at KOA.
Throughout the site, there is a free wireless Internet connection.
Address: East Shoreway Drive KOA, Sandusky, OH 44870
5. River Retreat Campground
The River Retreat Campground in Port Clinton, the world’s Walleye capital, is just minutes away by vehicle from the Jet Express dock and provides nightly, weekly, and seasonal RV sites and boat dockage along the Portage River (which connects to Lake Erie.)
A few tent sites are also available. Modern restrooms and shower facilities, a camp store, a fish cleaning station with electrical outlets, a children’s playground, a fishing harbor, and a complete schedule of special events are all available at this modest family park.
The River Retreat Campground is available from May 1 to October 31. Pets are permitted.
Address: 3830 W Harbor Rd. Port Clinton, OH 43452
Best Places To Visit near Lake Erie
Marblehead Lighthouse
Marblehead Lighthouse on the Ohio shoreline is unquestionably one of the country’s oldest (continuously running) lighthouses.
It’s undoubtedly one of the nicest things to do around Lake Erie when traveling between Cleaveland and Toledo, especially when combined with a trip around the quaint and small state park.
You can take Highway 80, and you can easily stop in Avery to look around if you like.
After exploring the lighthouse, pay a visit to the Marblehead Lighthouse Museum, which is rather remarkable.
Lake Erie area vineyards
The Laurentia Vineyard & Winery, while being a little off the beaten path, is one of the greatest things to do around Lake Erie if you enjoy grapes.
In a rustic, calm, log cabin-style tasting area, you may savor world-class estate wines with regionally inspired cuisine.
Furthermore, these individuals are well-versed in the mixes and types they produce on-site.
It’s fantastic! Alternatively, visit Debonné Vineyards, Kosicek Vineyards (a 3rd generation vineyard), or the Old Mill Winery for chardonnay.
Just make sure you have a designated driver!
Checklist Before Camping In Lake Erie
When preparing for a camping vacation, there’s usually something that gets overlooked.
Having a well-thought-out camping checklist might assist you in avoiding this.
Here are our top picks for camping basics to bring along on every trip.
- Sleeping bag
- Pillow
- Sleeping mat or camp bed if tent camping
- Table and camping chairs
- Mallet, spare pegs, and puller
- Spare batteries, portable charger, and cables
- Waterproof jacket, trousers, and umbrella
- Clean and dry clothes to sleep in
- Woolly hat, gloves, and sunhat
- Suitable footwear
- Stove or BBQ
- Fuel
- Lighters or matches
FAQ
Can I go camping in Lake Erie the whole season, or are the camps only open during certain seasons and months?
Even though it varies from the campground to campground as to when they open and close for camping, it is generally closed in the winter seasons but make sure to check most of the campgrounds; there might be a couple of them available.
Is camping in Lake Erie dangerous?
Lake Erie is a relatively safe area, especially with many campgrounds around; there are always people around, making it a bit safer.
Do I have to pay for camping in Lake Erie?
Depending on which campground you go to, you have to, but some state parks might allow for free camping.
Shefali Jain is a Content Writer & Editor at USWorkforce.org
After completing her graduation in hospitality, Shefali decided to follow her passion and started writing. Shefali has been writing for two years now and contributes to our website as a skilled editor and content writer with strong research skills. Writing product and service reviews, biographies, and book reviews are some of her key areas, among many others in which she specializes. In her time at the organization, she has written and edited content on a range of topics, including employment law, human resources, and business management.
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