Where to Camp in Northeastern Ohio
Northeastern Ohio offers a stunning landscape with densely wooded forests and plenty of lakes. If you’re looking for an opportunity to get away from it all and spend more time outdoors, a camping trip may be just what you need. Here are some of the best places for camping in Northeastern Ohio.
Lake Erie Bluffs

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For primitive camping with an unbeatable view, you can’t do better than Lake Erie Bluffs. This area has just two campsites, so you’ll want to make sure you secure reservations early if you’re set on a special date. This camping destination is ideal if you want to really unplug. You’ll have to carry your camping gear 0.25 miles to Site A or 0.65 miles to Site B. You will have no water or electricity. Restrooms are located by the parking lot.
In the Lake Erie Bluffs park, you’ll enjoy access to a 2-mile freshwater beach. From your campsite, you can hear the waters lapping gently at the shore. This area is also excellent for birding, with the potential to spot up to 90 bird species in just two hours.
Mohican Adventures
If you’re looking for a campground that offers ample amenities and entertainment, you’ll love Mohican Adventures. This property has RV/full hook-up sites if you’re towing a trailer or driving your RV in. It also offers open-field tent 20/30 amp electric tent campsites, as well as primitive tent sites in the woods. No matter where you camp, you’ll have access to the campground’s eight shower houses and restrooms. An abundance of outdoor entertainment is available on the property, including the following features:
- 4.5-acre lake.
- Catch-and-release fishing with no permit requirements.
- Cornhole games.
- Horseshoe rings.
- Pedal boat rentals.
- Basketball and volleyball courts.
- 18-hole miniature golf course.
- Two go-cart tracks.
- Aerial adventure park with six courses.
- Tube, kayak, raft, and canoe river trips.
Mohican Adventures has everything you need for a complete family-friendly getaway with minimal planning or effort.
Ottawa Overlook Backcountry
Three Ottawa Overlook Backcountry sites sit within the Brecksville Reservation on the 1,400-mile Buckeye Trail. If you’re interested in backpacking through Ohio’s beautiful landscape, these sites offer a great place to stay. The Brecksville Reservation features a group kitchen area and food storage location for hanging your foodstuffs while staying at these sites. Each of these amenities is about 100 yards from the campsites, and the food storage and kitchen areas are about 100 yards from one another. This facilitates the leave-no-trace camping principle. These backcountry sites are about a 0.25-hike from the Ottawa Point Picnic Area.
If you’re new to backpacking, you can sign up for a backpacking program with Cleveland MetroParks. You will meet with an instructor before you depart to discuss your meal planning, packing list, and a planned itinerary that’s anywhere from one to five nights. You’re then provided with equipment for your trip. Additional programs are available that dive deeper into topics like backcountry cooking, land navigation, and additional backpacking skills.
Hide-A-Way Lakes Campground
Hide-A-Way Lakes in Ashtabula, Ohio, is just 5 miles from Lake Erie. The campground covers 35 acres and includes five ponds. The campground store provides ice, firewood, food, beverages, camping supplies, and even ice cream. Indoor showers are available. You’ll find ample opportunities for recreation, including:
- Horseshoe pits.
- Basketball courts.
- Swimming pool.
- Fishing and a fish cleaning station.
- Game room.
- Movie rentals.
Hide-A-Way Lakes has several campsite options, including primitive tent camping, tent camping with water and electricity, RV camping with water and electricity, and RV camping with a full hookup. The campground offers weekly and seasonal rates for extended stays.
Punderson State Park
Punderson State Park offers a broad range of activities. Setting up camp here is an outstanding way to settle in and take time to enjoy it all. The park features seven hiking trails spanning a total of 11 miles. These range from the easy 0.5-mile boardwalk trail to the moderate 2.2-mile Erie Trail. Punderson Lake offers great fishing opportunities for catfish, largemouth bass, trout, and bluegill. A 600-foot beach edges the lake with designated swimming areas. Other recreational amenities include:
- Archery range.
- Kayak rentals.
- Boat ramps.
- 18-hole disc golf course.
- 18-hole Punderson Manor Golf Course.
- Seven picnic facilities.
- Lighted sledding hill.
- Cross-country skiing and dog sled trails.
- Volleyball and basketball courts.
- Playgrounds.
- Tennis courts.
- Bike rentals.
- Nature center.
- Amphitheater.
The comfortable shady campground offers non-electric, 20-amp electric, and full-hookup sites with 30-/50-amp electric, water, and sewer. If you’re camping with others, you can also book one of three group sites that accommodate up to 25 people.
Maple Lakes Campground
Maple Lakes Campground goes above and beyond to provide entertainment and activities for its campers. You’ll regularly find special events like movies, hayrides, and holiday parties. Additional amenities include:
- Swimming pool.
- Playground.
- Baseball and softball fields.
- Basketball and volleyball courts.
- Off-leash pet area.
- Laundry facilities.
- Restrooms.
- Showers.
The campground offers both RV and tent campsites with anything from water and a 15-amp hookup to a full 50-amp hookup with water and sewer.
West Branch State Park
West Branch State Park features a link to the Buckeye Trail via a 2-mile spur from the campground. The park also features 14 miles of its own hiking trails and nearly 20 miles of bridle trails. The Michael J. Kirwan Reservoir covers 2,650 acres and features seasonal docks and a marina with boat rentals. Anglers can find walleye, catfish, muskellunge, largemouth and smallmouth bass, and bluegill in the waters.
A 700-foot sandy beach offers ample space for swimming and sunning. The beach features restrooms, outdoor showers, changing booths, picnic tables, vending machines, and charcoal grills. Other recreational features include:
- 18-hold disc golf course.
- Dog park with pond.
- Playgrounds.
- Volleyball court.
- Game and sporting equipment rentals.
The campground features heated showers, flush toilets, and a laundry facility. Most sites offer a full hook-up or 50-amp electric. There is one non-electric site. A few lakeside campsites have carry-in access for your boat. Primitive bridle camping is available in a separate area.
Do you know of another great camping area that we missed? Contact our team at Nissan of Streetsboro and let us know so we can update our listing.
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