The best camping near Lake Erie State Park

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

90% (6 reviews)

Popular ways to camp

Community favorites near Lake Erie State Park

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Public campgrounds in the park
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Stay at a public campground in Lake Erie State Park

Top-rated campgrounds near Lake Erie State Park

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Steelhead Run Recreation Area

2 sites · RVs7 acres · Westfield, NY

When arriving at Steelhead Run you are greeted by the sounds of Lake Erie in a tranquil wooded setting. Only steps away from beautiful Lake Erie and Chautauqua Creek. Our location offers an array of experiences from walks along the beach, wildlife viewing, relaxing to the view of incredible sunsets and so much more. Cocktails, food, and public boat launching can be found just half a mile up the road. A quick drive inland, the historic town of Westfield provides weekend farmers markets, wineries, eateries, and antique shopping.

98%

(22)

The Highlander

1 site · Lodging1 acre · Pittsfield, PA

Rustic cabin with some creature comforts. Electric cooking range, microwave, coffee pot, small refrigerator TV and blu-ray player. Outdoor propane grill, charcoal grill and fire ring. There is no running water in the camp. There is an outhouse for toilet facilities. We provide filtered water for drinking and cooking. We also provide fire wood.

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(53)

Hideaway Valley

1 site · RV, Tent6 acres · Springville, NY

Learn more about this land:Over 1000 feet of frontage on Cattaragus creek. Great for fishing. Large gravel pad for cars or RV. Great spot to start or end Kayaking trip. Zoar valley tavern with food and live music is less than 1/4 mile away.

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The Quarry

52 sites · RVs, Tents200 acres · West Falls, NY

Property with a limited number of sites with power however plenty of tent camping and self contained camping. The property was a recreational area with 88 camping sites. It is now a personal entertainment venue. On the property is a bath house with 4 warm showers and two toilets, men’s and woman’s.

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(55)

Big Tree Camping

3 sites · RVs, Tents2 acres · Orchard Park, NY

Learn more about this land: This property is in Orchard Park. It is two acres, surrounded by trees and a fence on three sides, which provides good privacy. There is a large parking area with 15a electrical available for small campers or small trailers. Also a hose is available to fill water. Alternatively, I have two great tent spaces at the back of the property with a private areas to set up tents. There is a (shared) campfire stonepit at the back of the property. Split firewood is available for $5.00 per armload. Campers can take this from the firewood pile. Chestnut Ridge park is a 7 minute drive. It has great trails, including the Eternal Flame Hike, and a large fishing pond. Green lake is also nearby with fishing and a good place for paddle boarding or kayaking. The property is .5 mi from Bills Stadium. Lake Erie and its beaches are a 15 minute drive. Niagara Falls is 30 min. Downtown Buffalo is 20 min. There are walkable restaurants nearby (about .5 to 1 mi). An indoor restroom is available at specific hours (typically 4pm-8:30 am) or if arranged in advance outside those hours. No shower is available.

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(10)

Big Oak Hill

1 site · RV, Tent1 acre · NY

This is a newly created campsite that has picturesque view of surrounding farmland and of Peek-n-Peak. Located conveniently off of Rt426 with a slight drive along a field to reach the destination. Private and out of the way. Plenty of wildlife (family of fox and usually mamma deer and her babies, can normally be seen doing what animals do. Close to Peek-n-Peak and Findley Lake and its many amenities. Has fantastic cell reception so remote working is an absolute possibility if longer stays are wanted. This is a little campsite on top of a hillside besides, you guessed it, a big oak. This is on a working hay farm, so depending on when you arrive you might be able to see hay being harvested. Again, this a new campsite so improvements will be made based on demand. To enter the property, you will use a field entrance right off Harrington Hill Road (coming from the west it will be on your left-hand side). We have the way marked for you with posts/markers so hopefully it will take you right there. Please be aware this is located on top of a hill (with a big oak, hence its name :)) and you will be going through an active hay field to reach it.

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Camp Bandur

26 sites · RVs, Tents10 acres · Erie, PA

We enjoy camping and like to share our passion with others.Learn more about this land:This property is a new, up and coming camping oasis. The camping area offers field camping, camping near a quiet stream or in the secluded woods. Any suggestions for improvement are welcome and big plans for attractions are in the not too distant future! All sites are accessible by vehicle.

Booked 1 time

Rustic Cabin On The Pond

1 site · Lodging20 acres · Chautauqua, NY

Your stay here is guaranteed to be quiet and peaceful. You may also enjoy spotting wildlife, visiting our livestock nearby, walking our trails, enjoying our pond and checking out our organic mushroom grove in the adjacent woods. From this location you are just one mile away from the Mt. Pleasant State Forest, which offers wonders of hiking, skiing, and snowmobiling trails. They are also open lands for hunting. This is truly a rustic cabin experience- there is no electricity or running water here (yet!). Instead, we use battery-powered lights, which keep the space bright. You can also use the gas-powered generator for running an electric lamp, fan, and chargers. You are welcome to use the wood stove for heat. You are also welcome to use the grill and smoker for cooking. There is a working flush toilet using rainwater. We can help with any of these things if you are inexperienced. This is a great setup for hunters! Please let us know if you are interested in hunting on our property of 30 wooded acres. You are also free to access the vast stateland just a walk or short drive away. Other nearby attractions include Chautauqua Institution, Peak N Peek Ski Resort, Chautauqua Lake, Lake Erie, and numerous local wineries and breweries.

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Chappel Hill Tree Farm

2 sites · RVs, Tents140 acres · Grand Valley, PA

This 140-acre property is an old farmstead last farmed in the 1950's. It lies in the Allegheny Plateau region of NW Pennsylvania and is mostly hardwood forest today. It is surrounded by thousands of acres of private forestland and is very secluded. Our goal is to provide a private and secluded yet accessible camping experience where you will see more deer than people. AANR friendly. There is excellent Verizon and T-Mobile service. The skies are dark at night and the sounds of nature will surround you. Campsite 1 is near where the farmhouse and barn once stood. The site is shaded by large, old maples that once shaded the farmhouse. Old fields surround the farmstead, but the woods are a short walk away. It is the most popular campsite with an outhouse, fire ring and picnic table available. Campsite 2 is on the other side of the property. There is a fire ring but no picnic table. Both sites easily accommodate anything from tents to RV's. Each site has a separate, gated, gravel road access. These are the only 2 campsites on the property and they are far enough apart (1/4 mile) to avoid any contact should both sites be occupied. There is a 2-mile loop hiking trail on the property that traverses a variety of habitats which are home to many animals and birds. The trail is well maintained and mowed. The terrain is flat to gentle slopes. The 1/2-mile Narnia Loop trail weaves through a young spruce forest like a maze. It is so cool, literally, even on the hottest days. The Allegheny River is about 10 miles away, near Tidioute, PA, and has excellent paddling and fishing. Titusville, PA is about 15 miles away and is home to Oil Creek State Park which has great trout fishing, an excellent paved bike/hike trail, and Drake Well Museum site of the first oil well ever drilled. Finally, you will be on the doorstep to the Allegheny National Forest with all the outdoor recreation it has to offer. We hope you enjoy the peace and quiet of nature on our property as much as we have. If you are curious about more details of the history and management of the property, please ask your host, Dave Trimpey, and he will be glad to share his knowledge of the land. Learn more about this land: The property was a family farm from the late 1800's to the mid-1950's. Aerial photos of the 1940s and 1950s show much of the surrounding area was being farmed for crops and dairy cattle. Agricultural farming ended around 1956 and the farmer, Mr. Matkovich, planted acorns in many of the fields. An observant hiker may notice rows of red oak trees today in former fields which are now forests. In the 1970s the property was acquired by Lester Noll. He planted some of the remaining fields with spruce and fir for Christmas trees. The old farmhouse was still standing until it burned down in 1975. Mr. Noll sold the property to Dave and Rhonda Trimpey, your hosts, in 1992. We continued and expanded the Christmas tree business for 20 years and one point having nearly 6,000 Christmas trees growing in the fields around campsite 1. The Christmas tree part of the business ended in 2014 and management of the land now focuses on timber and wildlife. We have always used the property for personal recreation - primarily hunting, hiking and camping - and decided to open it up for others to enjoy by camping through Hipcamp in 2020.

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French Creek Flood Plain Overlook

1 site · Tent36 acres · Union City, PA

This tent site sits in the woods on a hill just above the corner of French Creek (2022 PA River of the Year!) and a small tributary creek. It faces northwest over the valley providing amazing sunset views. This location is on the high-side of the Union City Dam which is a dry bed, flood control dam. Which means during snow melt, or rainy streaks, the dam will fill up and flood the entire valley. However during dry spells, French Creek will appear as any other creek. At peak flooding, it will make its way all the way up the tributary valley, making a beautiful lake front campsite. Unfortunately, this only occurs a few weeks out of the year (typically early spring and occasionally during wet falls) and is fairly unpredictable (you can compare the high-water vs low-water views from the photos). Most of the summer you can still enjoy the view over both the tributary valley and French Creek valley. (DISCLAIMER: Once or twice a year during the wettest streaks, the water rises high enough to flood the driveway, making it impossible to drive up directly to the campsite. If this happens, you will be notified before so you can choose either to be refunded and not stay or you can park 100 yards up the road and hike into the campsite to enjoy the unique and rare lakefront views. Again, these are natural events that are infrequent and unpredictable, but also provide a truly spectacular setting.) Located at the end of a dead end dirt road, adjacent to 100's of acres of federal protected land, and within sight of agriculture fields, there is an abundance of wildlife. For over 20 years, an active eagles nest has been located 1 mile north providing amazing opportunities to see either adult or juvenile eagles flying over French Creek hunting for fish. Deer can be seen early morning and late evening in the fields, as well as frequently crossing both valleys. All types of waterfowl flock the lake when it's flooded. I've personally seen up to 1000 geese at one time. Beyond relaxing and wildlife watching, there are plenty of other activities to explore in the area. Access to many nature walking trails. The Union City Dam, less than 1.5 miles down the road, provides walking, biking, scenic driving, and picnic opportunities. Kayaks/canoes can be used to float the creek when dry or paddle up and down the reservoir lake when flooded. Centrally located between the 2 small towns of Union City and Waterford with gas stations, grocery stores, great local dinning options, and more. About a half an hour drive to Erie and Presque Isle State Park. Come enjoy this extremely unique stretch of French Creek and Pennsylvania woods! DISCLAIMER: There is an active gravel pit to the North of the campsite. During weekdays from about 7 AM-5 PM, you will likely hear and possibly see some activity from the gravel pit.

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The Crosspatch

7 sites · RVs, Tents10 acres · Salamanca, NY

Family owned for 41 years! The Crosspatch got it's name because it is a triangular piece of land located between Route 242, Route 353 and Baker Road, the patch between the crossroads! The Crosspatch has been a working horse ranch in the beautiful Enchanted Mountains of New York for many yearsLearn more about this land:We have two camping areas, one with a pavilion and outhouses and a creek and one with only walk to (approx one third mile hike private access, in the woods.) Both beautiful and private.

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Rock Farm Ranch

5 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents35 acres · Callahan, CA

In Beautiful Scott Valley, a hidden destination loved by stargazers. campers, hikers, bikers, hunters, fishers, nature lovers, rock climbers, and prospectors. Property straddles Hwy. 3 in between Etna and Callahan. Hwy. 3 is not busy during the day, and evenings traffic drops off to almost nothing. Very rural farming/ranching area. No agricultural, ranching or spraying nearby, though. There's lots of blue-green Serpentine stone here, hence the name "Rock Farm." We are an organic farm so we take care to use non toxic agriculture. Fresh spring water provided, we offer primitive camping and are developing some more luxurious sites. Call me at 541-301-3331 for details, we don't always post right away the improvements we're making. Bathroom available, haul water to flush toilet. Dark nights with no light pollution gives great sky watching. Mountain views in daytime. Very quiet at night, and safe. Near beautiful Kangaroo Lake and Mount Shasta. Quiet and peaceful, pristine. Formerly Munson Mill, which closed in the 70''s. Property is for sale, all or part. Ask Nina for details. Learn more about this land: Private, wooded area available for primitive camping or RV for $25 per night. Improved sites with bathroom , tables; chairs, firepit. We have 35 acres so you can choose the site you like best when you arrive. Mountain Views are amazing. Swimming hole nearby. Right off Highway 3 between Etna and Callahan, California. Or, camp across the street with an old wooden mill building for company. Small wetland nearby brings lots of birds to sing you awake in the morning. Open, level space great for nighttime stargazing. Property has a gate you can close at night. One hour drive to Mt. Shasta or Ashland, Oregon. Groceries, massage, hardware store, laundry, bakery, showers, restaurants in Etna 8 miles away. Farmer's market in Etna Saturday morning. Not far from PCT trailhead outside of Callahan CA. If you need a ride from there, call and we'll pick you up if possible for $20. Firewood available too, $1. a stick. Near Kangaroo lake for fishing, swimming, hiking, boating. Bicycle groups and motorcycle groups going by every summer. We're at 3000 feet elevation, so nights are cool even in the summer. Bright stars; We even have our own UFO. Air fresh and clean. Minimal mosquitos due to dry climate. Fresh Spring water available for free. We call it "RockFarm" because there's lots of Serpentine rock here and you're welcome to collect some. Even pan for gold in the Scott River nearby.

The best camping near Lake Erie State Park guide

Overview

About

How’s that for a pedigree? The swimming might not be great but there's plenty to do at the shallowest of the Great Lakes. It’s a great place to picnic, watch the migratory birds, fish, and lounge on the beach. Take a canoe or a kayak out on the lake. Take advantage of the winter snow to go cross-country skiing. There’s even a disc golf course called Shipwreck Bluff Disc Golf Course. Forgot your putter at home? You can pick up a spare from the visitor center.

In addition to the 97 campsites (tent & RV), there are 10 cabins in this 355-acre campground, with plenty of views of bluffs and protected water to go around. People rave about the sunsets here. Since the sites are lakeside, you can watch from the comfort of your camp chair.

Once you’ve had your fill of lake life, head over to Niagara Falls. It’s just a short drive down the road.