Camping areas around Chardon, Ohio range from established state parks to smaller county-managed sites, with both tent and RV options available throughout the region. Punderson State Park Campground provides a variety of accommodations including tent sites, RV spaces with electric hookups, and cabin rentals. Big Creek Park, located directly in Chardon, offers a more rustic camping experience with tent sites, lean-tos, and even a treehouse structure for overnight stays. Most campgrounds in the area maintain picnic tables and fire rings at each site, with varying levels of amenities like showers, drinking water, and electric hookups.
The camping season near Chardon generally runs year-round at some locations, though many smaller sites operate primarily from May through October. "The park is very nice. Great Lodge. Nice lakes and cabins to rent. The camp grounds for RV's is not the best. Very few full hookups," notes one visitor about Punderson State Park. Terrain throughout the region tends to be hilly, creating challenges for level RV parking, and some tent sites require walking uphill from parking areas. Several campgrounds feature lakes for fishing and paddling, though algae can be prevalent during summer months. Mosquitoes are commonly reported after rainfall, and campers should be prepared with appropriate supplies, particularly during summer months.
Many mixed-use campgrounds in the area provide access to recreational opportunities beyond camping. Fishing is popular at several locations, with stocked ponds at Big Creek Park and lake access at Punderson State Park. Hiking trails connect most campgrounds to surrounding natural areas, ranging from short, family-friendly paths to more challenging routes. According to visitor experiences, sites tend to vary significantly in size, privacy, and accessibility. Sites near water features typically book quickly during summer weekends. Visitors seeking specific amenities should research individual campgrounds carefully, as facilities vary widely from primitive tent sites with minimal facilities to full-service RV parks with complete hookups. Those camping with pets should note that while most sites allow pets, some public areas have restrictions.
$27 - $50 / night
"Staff was great, check in area also has a little store with all the essentials stocked up, lots of trails, great for biking and hiking, a park for the kids, fishing, canoeing, showers, flush toilets, all"
"I had the furthest lakeside tent from the office. was a beautiful site but the water treatment facility had a loud hum all night, even though they said it was quiet."
$29 - $75 / night
"Geneva State Park Campground: This was our first trip here and given the COVID situation it was still very pleasant. "
"Easy to get to, not crowded, the sites were paved and spaced decently and, it had bike paths! Another bonus is that it borders Lake Erie."
$25 - $45 / night
"The campground is adjacent to the small community park and baseball fields. Very well maintained and quiet. As an added bonus it is right next to Lake Erie."
"Perry Township Park campground is exactly what campground should be: great accommodations, beautiful views, tremendous service, and easy accessibility to a lot of fun stuff :-) Most of the tent sites"
$30 - $52 / night
"Ranger Review: Morsel Spork at West Branch State Park **Campground Review: **
This state park was very welcome after our first two unlucky Ohio state park experiences."
"Here's what's great about this campground situated at an easy drive from major cities like Columbus and Cleveland...its scenic, a fully loaded campground with bathhouses, parks, hiking paths, swimming"
"Our site was lakeside and was probably the largest campsite I ever stayed in."
"We stayed here mid June on their premium lot, super large and right on fishing lake. We brought our canoe and enjoyed fishing and just cruising around."
"While this is a spot in a smaller park with a lot of day use, the site is a walk off of the trail, and situated slightly lower than trail level for privacy. Amazing sounds, smells, and relaxation."
"Great small park with a hiking trail that takes about an hour or hour and a half, it has a waterfall, small tiny cave, bridges and stairs. Really well maintained paths, tiny gravel for less mud."
"Fishing lake, swimming lake, trails. Children play areas. Basketball, bad mitten/volleyball, Dog wash, dog parks (2), private fenced dog sites. (2)- pull through site."
"The kids loved both the pool and the lake. The breakfast pizza was great. The food prices were very reasonable. The wrist band for kid activities is well worth it."
$25 / night
"Plenty of fire wood provided and a short distance away from the gorge to walk. The second night had lots of coyotes around, which is cool but can be dangerous if not careful of course."
"Would have given this site 5 stars but the walk to the site was a bit more of a haul than expected. It was just myself, kids, and pup."
$10 - $20 / night
"Best for relaxation, chill kayaking, fishing, horseback riding, and shorter walks. Four stars because it is not a vast wilderness adjacent experience."
"I camped at site J the tent pad was level and easy to drive stakes into. I didn't use the toilets so can't comment on the cleanliness there."
"Most of the trails are small, well-marked, accessible, and easily walkable for families."
GuideFamily run campground that's been around for 45 years. Small place. Mostly seasonal campers. They have a few walk up tent sights. RTT campers will have to take a back in sight but they will not charge you extra unless you plug into electric. 1 swimming pond, 3 great bass fishing ponds. Nice camp store. Bathrooms are clean.
ScoutWhen we arrived, we checked in at the camp office. The ladies there were very kind. The roads through the campground are wide enough for two-way traffic and nicely paved.
This is a beautiful, heavily treed campground. Even on Memorial Day weekend with lots of people, the park was very peaceful. The sounds of birds permeate the air round the clock. Chipmunks run amok. They’re just so cute.
We booked site 56 for our 39’ fifth wheel. As soon as we pulled up, we knew there was no way we’d fit even though the reservation site said it would accommodate a 40’ rig. The camp hosts happened to be passing by as we were surveying the site. They were very helpful redirecting us to a nearby site that would be more suitable. FYI, sites 55 and 56 have deep culverts on either side. One wrong turn and you’re going to have a problem. The majority of sites along our road were just wide enough to keep the tires out of the dirt, but not wide enough for the stairs to land on asphalt. If you have a motorhome or other wide-bodied rig, like an Alliance Paradigm, I would recommend choosing one of the sites on the loop around the playground. Those are better suited for newer big rigs.
TIP…the line at the dump station is long on the holiday weekends. Plan accordingly.
TravelerNice and quiet. Friendly staff. Beautiful campground.
GuidePymatuning Lake Campground is a huge 700 site family oriented campground. Sites are large and clean and your not packed in. Bathrooms and showers are OK but they are clean. Best part of being here is the awesome fishing. Know for huge black crappie, walleye, and small and big mouth bass. This is the place to go fishing.
GuideFirst time here. They told me Ohio State Parks were voted #1 in the US. Well there is a reason for that. Beautiful, clean, great spots, not a bad site in the entire park. Wood is dry and cheap right outside the park entrance. Bass fishing is top notch on the lake. I would definitely come back here again and again.
TravelerSite was pre-season opening (although no discount - almost $80/night), so there was construction during our stay. Rains resulting in site flooding - the gravel pad was fine, but had to wade into the mud & water to get to utilities for the trailer.
Dumpsters were overflowing and campground sent email to inform campers they would have to haul out their own trash.
Biggest disappointment was lack of EV charging options at this site. Didn't see the "No Charging" rule on their website when signing up, or we would have gone elsewhere.
Won't return.
TravelerWe came off season. Bathrooms are updated and gorgeous. Beautiful lake setting
TravelerStayed 2 nights while visiting NP. Early in season so not many bathrooms were open yet. Paved electric only site fairly level site moderate down hill slope. Just went to NP so didn’t use any of the park amenity’s but looks like a very nice park with lots os activities
ScoutWe live really close so we stay at mosquito for our first stay every year. This year we were disappointed. They had no staff there to check us in, the signs says closed Monday through Wednesday. Bathrooms were supposed to be open because we stayed April 16th, but only some of them were. (Even though online states April 1st they reopen). Some sites are more wet than others. We stayed at site 54 this time. The pad was very narrow and it was wet around it (it has been raining a lot). The person before us must have purchased a $12 bale of hay that they were selling up front because there was hay everywhere. Wish they would just put gravel down.
Otherwise, it's quiet. We love the nature play area for the kids. We love the playgrounds.
When they are open, the bathrooms are very clean. The shower house is dated but clean. Far walk from every site basically as they put it on the main road between both loops.
Camping spots near Chardon, Ohio vary in terrain from valley meadows to forest settings with some sites offering waterfront views of the region's lakes. The area experiences four distinct seasons, with summer camping temperatures ranging from 65-85°F and frequent evening cooling. Winter camping options are limited with select year-round campgrounds maintaining basic services during colder months.
Paddling opportunities: At Perry Township Park, campers have direct lake access for water activities. "There's a boat launch, and a private beach. There's no lifeguard on duty, so it's definitely everything at your own risk," notes one visitor. The park offers both tent and RV camping with electrical hookups.
Disc golf courses: Multiple campgrounds in the area feature disc golf facilities for players of all skill levels. "Opportunities for disc golf, archery range, canoeing/kayaking/row boats, swimming (no lifeguard) and golf," mentions a camper at Punderson State Park. Equipment rental is available at some locations, though bringing your own discs is recommended.
Trail networks: Explore the hiking options at The West Woods where primitive camping connects to extensive trail systems. "Great small park with a hiking trail that takes about an hour or hour and a half, it has a waterfall, small tiny cave, bridges and stairs. Really well maintained paths, tiny gravel for less mud," writes one hiker. Most trails are under 3 miles and suitable for casual hikers.
Lakefront sites: West Branch State Park Campground offers direct water access from select sites. "We can launch our kayaks right from our campsite. The shower house and bathrooms are large and clean. There is even a book exchange shelf at the shower house in case of rainy days," explains a frequent visitor. Waterfront sites book up 6 months in advance, especially for summer weekends.
Private camping areas: Several parks feature secluded sites separated from main camping areas. At Penitentiary Glen Reservation, "It's like you have the forest to yourselves out here," reports one visitor. The trade-off for privacy often means a longer walk from parking areas, as another camper notes, "the walk to the site was a bit more of a haul than expected."
Clean facilities: Geneva State Park maintains well-kept bathroom facilities, which visitors frequently mention in reviews. "Nice facilities. Quiet and a lot of friendly campers," writes one visitor. The campground offers both tent and RV sites with varying levels of hookups, though sites can feel less private when the campground is at capacity.
Site layout challenges: Many campgrounds in the region feature uneven terrain that can create setup difficulties. At Hidden Lakes Family Campground, "Our site was lakeside and was probably the largest campsite I ever stayed in. Some areas where not as big, especially the pull through sites toward the front, but most of the sites on the back side were large. Most sites looked pretty level. Ours sloped up toward the road."
Firewood regulations: Local campgrounds have varying policies on outside firewood. Hidden Lakes Family Campground has strict rules as one camper explains: "They don't allow outside firewood and your have to pay $12 a bundle for theirs. This adds some cost to the stay, thought I'm not sure how much they enforce it."
Booking windows: Reservations for popular sites should be made well in advance, particularly for summer weekends. At West Branch State Park, "Make reservations! (6 months in advance). Waterside sites fill up quickly!" Most campgrounds accept bookings through online reservation systems, though last-minute availability varies by season.
Kid-friendly features: Thompson/Grand River Valley KOA Holiday offers numerous family amenities. "The kids loved both the pool and the lake. The breakfast pizza was great. The food prices were very reasonable. The wrist band for kid activities is well worth it," shares a recent visitor. The campground provides planned activities during peak season.
Unique accommodation options: Beyond traditional tent and RV sites, several parks offer specialty lodging. Big Creek Park features "two rent sites (A and B), two lean-to sites (C and D), plus a tree house." These alternative options often book quickly during summer months.
Wildlife viewing: The area's parks provide various wildlife observation opportunities. At Headwaters Park, one camper recommends "Campsite G is the one. It is an open lean to with a stone fireplace facing the inside of the three sided wooden structure. Various watercraft rentals available, but look at availability before you go if that is included in your plans."
Leveling requirements: RVers should come prepared with adequate leveling equipment. At Punderson State Park, "The lots are not even close the level. You will need a lot of blocks to get close to level. Saw one RV with auto levelers with his tire about foot off the ground."
Hookup limitations: Full service sites are limited in the region. At Hidden Lakes Family Campground, facilities include "electric hookups, fifty-amp hookups, thirty-amp hookups" but no sewer connections at most sites. Many campgrounds offer dump stations but not full hookups at individual sites.
Seasonal considerations: Several campgrounds operate with reduced services during off-peak months. At Thompson/Grand River Valley KOA, the camping season runs "May 1 to Oct 1" with full services, while others like Perry Township Park operate from "early May-late Oct." RVers camping in shoulder seasons should verify which utilities remain active.
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Chardon, OH?
According to TheDyrt.com, Chardon, OH offers a wide range of camping options, with 107 campgrounds and RV parks near Chardon, OH and 1 free dispersed camping spot.
Which is the most popular campground near Chardon, OH?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Chardon, OH is Punderson State Park Campground with a 4-star rating from 36 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Chardon, OH?
According to TheDyrt.com, there is 1 free dispersed camping spot near Chardon, OH.
What parks are near Chardon, OH?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 9 parks near Chardon, OH that allow camping, notably Cuyahoga Valley National Park and Michael J Kirwan Lake.
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