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.

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Popular ways to camp

Community favorites near Lake Erie State Park

Public campgrounds in the park

Stay at a public campground in Lake Erie State Park

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Lake Erie State Park Campground

109 sites · RVs, Tents 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.

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Zoar Valley Forest Retreat

2 sites · RVs, Tents7 acres · Cattaraugus, NY

🌿 Private forested land against the ledge of Zoar Valley. Large, spacious campsite areas, good for groups. A rare location that is secluded and quiet, away from people and traffic. For those that want to feel isolated and immersed in nature and the forest. Includes seven acres to primitive camp on, or bring an RV/camper in (10ft clearance at gate). Each site has a picnic table, and brick fire pit. Pergola party shelter and brick oven located at Site 2. 🔒Locked gate at each site entrance from road for privacy and security. Site 1 is closer to the road, Site 2 is deeper in the woods, with adequate privacy and space between the two sites. ♻️ Take out what you take in, leave no trace. 🌙 Porta potty toilet on site maintained regularly, shared between sites April-November 🌳The campsite borders state forest to hike freely, and is about 1000ft until the top edge of the valley with beautiful vantage points of the valley. Drive down the road a few miles to the Forty Road trail head that leads to the creek down in Zoar Valley.

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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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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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Angie's Country Cabins B&B

11 sites · Lodging10 acres · Cassadaga, NY

Amazing little camping spot, we have 6 cabins on site and a glamping tent nestled in the woods as well as a guest room we rent. Nice back porch with hot tub- bar- table- grill. Pavilion with picnic table at the main house. Plenty of Parking. Only the country cabin you can drive right up to the cabin. The rest of the rentals you MUST WALK to. No big hills. Super quiet spot in nature. Unplug and reconnect with nature and each other. Leashed dogs are welcome. No cats allowed inside any rentals. Please do not bring animals who are known to be unfriendly towards humans & other animals.

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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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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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Eriegrove

2 sites · Tents140 acres · Forestville, NY

This campsite is a haven for groups seeking a peaceful getaway surrounded by nature. It's the only campsite available on 140 acres of forested land, offering a serene atmosphere for everyone to enjoy. But, what makes this campsite stand out is how dog-friendly it is. If you're looking to take your furry friends along on the adventure, this is the perfect place for you. The site has plenty of place for them to run and even water to play in. The forested property also includes a 3/4 mile section of the old Erie Railroad, providing a unique opportunity to explore the area's natural beauty and history. Take a stroll along the level railroad bed, and you'll be surrounded by the rustling of leaves and the chirping of birds. This campsite offers a fantastic opportunity to disconnect from the hustle and bustle of everyday life and immerse yourself in the tranquility of nature. And, if you have furry friends, they can be part of the fun too. A 150 square bunker is on-site just in case in rains. It has lights and the wifi works inside too. We have a nature camera located about 1/4 mile upstream from the campsite, check out the channel https://www.youtube.com/@Eriegrove

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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.

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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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Curry Farm

96 sites · RVs, Tents30 acres · East Aurora, NY

It’s an 1830’s Early Settlers Farmstead situated within 30 acres of an old Christmas Tree Farm. Learn more about this land: We are located on 30 acres of tree lined fields and open skies, with mowed paths to walk. Great sunsets and star gazing. We are located 2 miles from the village of East Aurora. The village has many restaurants, shops and breweries. Knox state park is 2.5 miles from us where Borderland Music festival takes place. An amazing event. Contact us with any questions or needs.

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Ellicottville Woods

1 site · RV, Tent13 acres · Great Valley, NY

13 beautiful wooded acres, 7 minutes from Holiday Valley and Ellicottville village. Flat area for pitching a tent or a camper plus parking, electricity and an outhouse. Running stream further along the property for water (filter before drinking). Holiday Valley offers skiing (voted #6 in the East), mountain biking (dedicated bike lifts to the top of the hills), zip lining and the village has great restaurants and breweries.

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.