Camping near Bowling Green, Ohio offers several options within 40 miles of the city. The region sits in the relatively flat northwestern Ohio landscape with elevations around 700 feet and typically experiences warm summers with occasional thunderstorms. Most campgrounds in the area remain open from May through October, though a few maintain year-round operations for RV campers seeking off-season accommodations.
What to do
Fishing opportunities: Van Buren State Park Campground provides access to a stocked pond for casual fishing. "I love this place. It's a smaller campground with only two loops of sites, but it's flat, shaded, and comfortable," notes Joseph N. The park is approximately 20 minutes from Bowling Green.
Swimming and water recreation: Cedarlane RV Resort in Port Clinton features multiple pools and a splash pad. One visitor remarked, "They have a great splash pad and wading pool for kids. There is a new Tiki Hut to get adult drinks. A gem mine. Horseshoes, basketball court and lots of kids activities."
Hiking trails: The terrain around Bowling Green offers flat to gently rolling trails suitable for beginners. "Van Buren State Park is very easy to access from I-75. It has tons of trails and a pond," writes Lindsay B. Most trails in the region are under 3 miles in length and rated as easy to moderate difficulty.
What campers like
Clean facilities: Campers consistently mention well-maintained restrooms and grounds at RV parks near Bowling Green. A visitor to Harbortown RV Resort in Monroe noted, "The best, cleanest, well maintained, under control campground we've ever been to."
Family-friendly amenities: Many campgrounds offer dedicated recreation options for children. At Camp Lord Willing RV Park & Campground, one camper observed it was "a peaceful friendly environment with seasonal and experienced campers" while another mentioned the "great location for several places to visit in Michigan."
Spacious sites: Several RV parks provide ample room between campsites. A reviewer at Harbortown RV Resort mentioned, "All concrete roads and pads. Basketball court, sand volleyball, playground, dog run, batting cages and go karts within walking distance."
What you should know
Seasonal limitations: Most campgrounds near Bowling Green operate only during warmer months. "Stayed here for two weeks in October. Halloween weekends this place is packed - but empties out Sunday Afternoons," reports a camper about Harbortown RV Resort.
Noise considerations: Some campgrounds experience noise from nearby highways or railways. One reviewer at Harbortown mentioned, "Another big issue is how close it is to the expressway which is noisy and there are trains that go by during the night. There must be a few crossings near by because they blew the horn for 5+ minutes at 4:30am."
Booking requirements: Blue Heron Ohio Turnpike RV Lot doesn't take reservations, while other campgrounds fill quickly during peak season. "FYI - you need cash to pay for the electric at a machine and then you get a ticket to display in the dash. The machine didn't take cards," notes a recent visitor to Blue Heron.
Tips for camping with families
Water recreation options: Kids enjoy the multiple swimming areas at Cedarlane RV Resort. "My daughter had fun doing the gem mining and playing in the pool and splash pad," reports Ashley R. The resort has both family pools and an adults-only pool.
Playgrounds and recreational facilities: Arrowhead Lake RV Park & Campground offers fishing ponds and swimming areas appropriate for children. "The swimming one has a dock kids jump off but it only goes to about 3.5-4 feet deep at the deepest point," notes Bryatt S.
Weekend activities: Many campgrounds schedule organized activities for children on weekends. "Mother's day activities were great and were free!" reported a Harbortown RV Resort visitor, while another mentioned, "Tons of activities for all ages during the weekends."
Tips from RVers
Site levelness: RV campers should prepare for varying site conditions. At Van Buren State Park, "The pads were recently paved and had a huge bumper at the end," according to Shannon G., making setup easier for larger rigs.
Hookup configurations: Electric service varies between campgrounds, with some offering only 50-amp connections. "They have connectors you can use for a $25 deposit and then get your money back when you return the cord," notes Renee L. about Fort Firelands RV Park.
Dump station locations: Not all parks have on-site dump stations. "Only criticism is you have to drive to another area of the park for an RV dump," mentions Nicole G. about Van Buren State Park.
