Bell tents near Geneva-on-the-Lake with campfires

Pitch a tent at a waterfront campsite on Lake Erie’s shores near Geneva-on-the-Lake.

96% (122 reviews)

United States
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Ohio
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Geneva-on-the-Lake

96% (122 reviews)

Popular camping styles for Geneva-on-the-Lake

Top bell tents sites near geneva on the lake with campfires

96%

(170)

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.

Happy farmer sitting in a truck in a grassy field

Bell tents near Geneva-on-the-Lake with campfires guide

Overview

Under an hour outside of Cleveland, Geneva-on-the-Lake is a small resort town on the southern shore of Lake Erie. Campers can explore the lively energy of arcades and go-karts along the historic Geneva-on-the-Lake Strip, embark on wine tours and tastings, or discover the stories behind the picturesque covered bridges of Ashtabula County. Right next to town, Geneva State Park awaits with sandy beaches, comfortable cottages, and RV campsites with full hookups next to Lake Erie. Farther south, Pymatuning State Park and Mosquito Lake State Park welcome campers with charming yurts, excellent fishing, unbelievable sunsets, scenic hiking trails, and unique wildlife viewing opportunities.

Where to go

Geneva State Park

At Geneva State Park, just outside of Geneva-on-the-Lake, campers can take a short walk from their cabin or campsite and enjoy a relaxing picnic next to Lake Erie. Thrill-seekers can take their jet skis onto the lake, while the rest of the family looks for sea glass at Breakwater Beach. Pet-friendly campsites with hookups for electricity are available year-round. There’s also access to laundry facilities, showers, a fish-cleaning house, and a playground for kids.

Pymatuning State Park

Right across the Ohio-Pennsylvania border is Pymatuning State Park. It surrounds the 17,000-acre Pymatuning Reservoir. Linesville Campground is in the northern part of the park and offers pet-friendly campsites with electric hookups. Jamestown Campground is at the southern end of the park and has a boat launch, beach, amphitheater, and camp store. After picking a campsite, check out a unique phenomenon at the spillway—it’s where ducks walk on the backs of fish. Then look to the skies for nesting bald eagles and enjoy picture-perfect sunsets before retiring to the tent.

Mosquito Lake State Park

South of Geneva-on-the-Lake is Mosquito Lake State Park. It offers some of the best lake fishing in the state. Boats with unlimited horsepower are allowed, but there is a “no wake” restriction within 300 feet of the shore. Reel in channel catfish, largemouth bass, walleye, and black crappie. Then, set up at an on-site campground facility that includes shower houses with flush toilets, full-service campsites, plus two yurts with bunk beds, picnic tables, and fire rings that overlook the water.

When to go

The summer months from June to August are the most popular time of year at Geneva-on-the-Lake. Temperatures average in the 80s, which makes summer an excellent time for swimming, beach activities, and taking in the fun attractions on the Strip. For a quieter visit with fewer crowds and milder temperatures, consider the shoulder seasons. Wine tours are especially magical in fall, while spring offers blooming flowers, diverse migratory birds, and the beginning of fishing season at Pymatuning Lake.