Best Campgrounds in Northeastern Ohio

Dawn breaks amid the chirps of birds awakening from their slumber. Pink, ocher, and yellow shades paint the sky with a tapestry of colors. Another day is beginning in Ohio. If you’re seeking a respite from the grind of everyday life, several inviting campgrounds in Northeast Ohio await your discovery. Learn more about these camping destinations and the amenities they offer.

American Wilderness Campground

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When you want to get away from the big city but don’t feel like driving for miles, American Wilderness Campground delivers a rustic campground experience without the extended travel time. The campground is only a 35-minute drive from downtown Cleveland and about 15 minutes from Elyria, Ohio.

The comfortable on-site cabins offer pleasant places to spend the night. Alternatively, guests can bring their RVs or rent tent sites on the property.

Spend the afternoon biking or hiking the trails. Get in a game of basketball or volleyball, or bait your hook at the 11-acre stocked fishing lake. If you or someone you know is preparing to tie the knot, the Rustic Event Center makes an attractive venue for a country-inspired wedding.

Address: 17273 Avon Belden Road (Route 83), Grafton, OH 44044

Amish Country Lodging

When you think of the Amish, you may think of Pennsylvania Dutch Country. Did you know that the world’s largest Amish settlement is in Berlin, Ohio? Berlin offers guests an opportunity to experience rest and rejuvenation at Amish Country Lodging accommodations.

Pine Cove Lodging makes a romantic retreat for couples. Select from five brand-new Farmhouse Suites, the private Evergreen Cabin, or Amish Country treehouse cabins. Downtown Berlin’s shopping and restaurant destinations are less than a mile from the lodging sites.

Address: 4365 State Route 39, Millersburg, OH 44654

Clay’s Resort Park

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Discover why Clay’s Resort Park in North Lawrence is the ultimate family-friendly camping destination. Also known as Clay’s Resort Jellystone Park, this 500-acre camp and resort setting offers plenty of activities and attractions to keep the kids entertained during a camping trip.

Take a trip down the 150-foot Wet Willie Water Slide. Race your friends and family down the dueling zip lines. Soak in the sun’s rays while you’re enjoying the swimming lake in a kayak or canoe. The opportunities for fun and adventure are endless.

Clay’s Resort Park features several accommodations for guests, including cabins, cottages, RV sites, and a lakeside glamping tent.

Address: 12951 Patterson Street NW, North Lawrence, OH 44666

Geneva State Park

Inviting beaches, freshwater marshes, and extraordinary natural elements await you at Geneva State Park. What better way to experience the beauty of this scenic setting than by camping at the park?

The campground at Geneva State Park offers campers 19 full hook-up sites and 74 electric sites with an on-site shower house, restrooms, and coin-operated laundry facilities. Basketball courts, volleyball courts, and a playground are also available for guests. If you have a family of four, you can reserve one of the park’s cedar cabins for lodging.

Address: 4499 Padanarum Road, Geneva, OH 44041

Kelleys Island State Park

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Explore the beauty of Lake Erie during a camping trip to Kelleys Island State Park. The park’s campground offers campsites along the lake shores. Go fishing, birdwatching, or wildlife viewing as you immerse yourself in this serene setting.

Learn more about Ohio’s glacial past during your stay. Take a short walk from the campground to discover a large tract of glacial grooves in the earth, evidence of an era when massive ice sheets moved across the land.

Address: 920 Division Street, Kelleys Island, OH 43438

Lake Erie Bluffs

Let the wonders of the Lake Erie Bluffs surround you with tranquility during your next camping trip. Two secluded wooded campsites set on the edge of a bluff offer spectacular views of the Lake Erie shoreline, complete with dramatic sunsets you’ll want to capture through photos for posterity.

Hiking trails, three scenic overlooks, and two access points to the natural beach invite you to explore the picturesque landscape surrounding Lake Erie Bluffs. Guests can enter and exit the lake with their kayaks from the beach, and anglers will find spots where they can cast their lines for some fishing.

Address: 3301 Lane Road, Perry Township, OH 44081

Mohican State Park

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Choose your adventure during your camping trip to Mohican State Park. Explore Clear Fork Gorge, Lyon’s Falls, and the Mohican State Scenic River. You’ll encounter picturesque scenes and wildlife while you’re visiting the park. The Mohican-Memorial State Forest surrounds the park and provides habitats for numerous plant and animal species. Pleasant Hill Lake, managed by the Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District, offers guests boating, paddling, and angling.

Delight in the diverse overnight accommodations, including a large family campground with a pool, deluxe vacation cabins, and a primitive camping area with camping sites near a stream. A modern full-service lodge offers amenities to make your stay a pleasant one.

Address: 3116 State Route 3, Loudonville, OH 44842

Sawdust Farm Camp

Escape to the woods at Sawdust Farm Camp. This camp was once the home of naturalist Isabelle H. Klein. She wrote a collection of seasonal letters for the Cleveland Museum of Natural History’s Explorer Magazine from this site. These letters detailed her wildlife discoveries and the changing seasons and plant life of the Sawdust Tract.

Today, Sawdust Farm Camp, named after the sawdust left behind by logging operations of the early 1960s, welcomes guests to camp on the property. The camp hosts accept bookings through Hipcamp and Airbnb. You can rent a one-room rustic cabin in the woods, perfect for a family of four, or the new Woodland bell tent for two people.

From Sawdust Farm Camp, visitors can access Sawdust Preserve, which borders the property. Guests can obtain an access permit that allows them to hike the lands of the Sawdust Preserve. Beyond Sawdust Farm Camp, individuals can explore the nearby resort town of Geneva-on-the-Lake or travel to the wineries of Ashtabula County in Ohio Wine Country.

Address: 1646 Atkins Road, Geneva, OH 44041

The next time you want to go camping by yourself or with others, plan a trip to one of the above campgrounds in Northeast Ohio. What did you think about our suggestions? Did we miss one of your favorite camping spots in the region? If we did, write to us and let us know. We’ll be sure to add it to our list.