Campers visiting Gates Mills, Ohio can choose from several campgrounds within a 30-mile radius. The area sits within the glaciated Allegheny Plateau, featuring rolling hills and dense woodlands. Summer temperatures typically range from 65-85°F with high humidity, while spring and fall camping seasons offer more moderate weather conditions.
What to do
Disc golf and archery: West Branch State Park Campground offers multiple outdoor activities beyond typical camping. "Opportunities for disc golf, archery range, canoeing/kayaking/row boats, swimming (no lifeguard) and golf," notes one visitor about the recreational options available at this park.
Fishing spots: Mosquito Lake State Park Campground provides extensive shoreline access for fishing enthusiasts. "Lots of camping sites along the lake. Concert every Saturday during the summer. Great lake to take the kayaks on," shares a camper who enjoys water activities at this location.
Historical exploration: Punderson State Park Campground offers unique historical attractions alongside outdoor recreation. "Beautiful scenery, very large park, fishing, boat rentals, man made beach, loooong floating boardwalk, lots of trails, unique sites and tons of history. It was very fun walking around while learning some of the very old and somewhat creepy history," explains a visitor intrigued by the park's past.
Nature programs: The parks regularly schedule ranger-led activities and educational programs during summer months. "If your kids are 8 and under they'll love the nature playground and nets provided to catch critters," mentions a family who visited Mosquito Lake State Park.
What campers like
Spacious sites: Many campers appreciate the ample room between sites at Mosquito Lake State Park Campground. "The sites are huge. The dog park is amazing. There's so much to do here. Swimming, boating, fishing. We love it," shares an enthusiastic visitor who returns regularly despite some facilities limitations.
Water access: Direct lake access from campsites is highly valued. "I had the furthest lakeside tent from the office. Was a beautiful site," notes a tent camper at Punderson State Park who appreciated the waterfront location despite some noise issues.
Diverse accommodation options: Luxury camping near Gates Mills includes unique structures beyond standard tents and RVs. "The Farm at Grand River provides a boutique camping atmosphere with four unique sites featuring canvas tents on raised platforms, real beds with linens, and private fire rings," explains a visitor who enjoyed the glamping experience.
Lakefront views: West Branch State Park Campground offers premium water views that campers specifically request. "Great site! Shades lots of space semi private area. Right off the water with area to tie boat for easy water access," reports a camper who secured a prime waterfront location.
What you should know
Water quality issues: Some campgrounds struggle with water systems. "I stayed at this park for 2 months in 2023 and was planning on staying for 5 months in 2025. I left after 2 months due to iron & sulfur laden well water that is provided in at least half the park," warns a camper at Woodside Lake Park.
Elevation challenges: Streetsboro-Cleveland SE KOA offers relatively level sites compared to some other options. At West Branch State Park, "our site was labeled slight slope. That was a joke. We were only off 2 inches side to side but front to back we had to lower the front 15 inches," reports one RVer who struggled with the terrain.
Seasonal availability: Most glamping options near Gates Mills operate from May through October. "The noise carries from other sites so, your neighbors will make or break how well you sleep here," notes a camper at Headwaters Park regarding summer crowds.
Bathroom facilities: Facilities vary widely between parks. "Wifey says the bathrooms were below average, outdated and very buggy (most important for her)," mentions one Punderson visitor, while another reports that at Woodside Lake Park "the bath house is in decrepit condition moldy smelly and barely cleaned anytime I was over there."
Tips for camping with families
Kid-friendly amenities: Woodside Lake Park offers extensive children's activities. "The swimming pond has inflatables and boat rentals. There's good fishing, and typically lots of activities. The place is clean and friendly with a pretty good selection at the camp store," shares a repeat visitor.
Playground access: Several campgrounds feature dedicated play areas. "The park is very well maintained, has a nice playground and cute camp store," notes a Punderson State Park camper who visited with family.
Farm experiences: For unique glamping in Gates Mills area with animal interactions, The Farm at Grand River stands out. "My 6 year old daughter lived her farm animal dream life for a week! The hosts were so accommodating. My daughter loved the free movie nights under stars, running wild with the goats, and the play grounds and play houses kept her busy for hours," reports an enthusiastic parent.
Educational opportunities: Nature-based learning activities are available seasonally. "This is a good campground for families. We tent camped here. The sites are pretty far apart and you feel secluded but, at the same time, the bathrooms are close by," explains a parent who enjoyed Punderson State Park with children.
Tips from RVers
Hookup limitations: Penitentiary Glen Reservation Campsite offers more primitive camping without RV hookups. At Punderson State Park, "very few full hookups. Rest of the sites only have 15-20 amp service. The lots are not even close to level. You will need a lot of blocks to get close to level," advises an experienced RVer.
Site selection strategy: Many RVers recommend researching specific site numbers before booking. "The park is very nice. Great Lodge. Nice lakes and cabins to rent. The camp grounds for RV's is not the best," explains a Mosquito Lake visitor who recommends choosing carefully.
Pad conditions: Some campgrounds have challenging surfaces for RV leveling. "Site pads are rip rap 1" to 4" size rock with no fine rock coverings, or in some areas smoother rock and dirt but nowhere close to flat or level," cautions a visitor to Woodside Lake Park.
Electrical service: Most regional campgrounds offer limited electrical capacity. "Been here a few times for day trips first time camping will definitely come back. The sites greatly vary on size and flatness so make sure you look at the pictures of the site before you book," advises an RVer at Punderson who found the electrical service adequate but variable.
