Northeastern Ohio's lakeside region offers several options for recreational vehicle enthusiasts seeking campgrounds near Mentor. The area sits at elevations between 600-1,200 feet with a humid continental climate featuring warm summers and cold, snowy winters. Camping facilities near Lake Erie typically operate seasonally from April through October due to harsh winter conditions.
What to do
Fishing opportunities: The Farm at Grand River provides creek-side camping where visitors can enjoy the relaxing sound of flowing water. One camper noted, "There aren't many places you can setup camp right by the river, but the Farm at Grand River has a great spot for those who love the relaxing sound of water nearby."
Water activities: Kool Lakes Family RV Park features both swimming and fishing lakes. One visitor reported: "Our kids age 4 and 8 fished from sun up Saturday to about noon and then sporadically after that throughout the day. That night we hunted large bull frogs. All catch and release."
Disc golf and outdoor sports: Located within Punderson State Park, the disc golf course offers an additional recreational option for campers. A recent visitor mentioned: "Opportunities for disc golf, archery range, canoing/kayaking/row boats, swimming (no lifeguard) and golf."
What campers like
Lake views: Perry Township Park offers unobstructed views of Lake Erie with sites positioned near the shoreline. A camper shared: "Got in after dinner and luckily we were just car camping, because we got (in our opinion) the best site there! 23 has a great shot of the lake, nice cinder blocks built up to block any wind from the fire pit."
Spacious sites: Hidden Lakes Family Campground provides large, well-spaced camping areas. One reviewer stated: "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."
Campground activities: Many local campgrounds offer organized events and recreational facilities. A visitor to Kenisee's Grand River Campground remarked: "It's a great place with a lot of events and entertainment for family's. Multiple fishing ponds, Friday night bingo, bands, fishing tournament for kids, duck race, Christmas in July and many other activities."
What you should know
Seasonal operations: Most campgrounds in the region operate within specific date ranges. For example, Thousand Trails Kenisee Lake runs from "April 27 to October 23" while Kool Lakes Family RV Park operates from "May 1 - Oct 15."
Site leveling challenges: Site terrain varies significantly between campgrounds. At Punderson State Park Campground, campers should prepare for uneven ground as one reviewer mentioned: "The sites greatly very on size and flatness so make sure you look at the pictures of the site before you book some are basically the parking pad and a fire ring, some are big and flat some are on an incline."
Firewood restrictions: Some campgrounds enforce strict firewood policies. A Hidden Lakes Family Campground visitor noted: "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."
Tips for camping with families
Farm experiences: The Farm at Grand River offers unique agricultural interactions for children. A parent shared: "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!"
Playground access: Multiple campgrounds feature dedicated play areas for children. A visitor to Hidden Lakes Family Campground mentioned the property has "multiple playgrounds" making it "great fun for families."
Swimming options: Many campgrounds near Mentor feature swimming facilities. At Roundup Lake RV Resort, "campsites surround a sizable lake which boasts inflatables as well as enough room for self-propelled water crafts (i.e. kayaks, paddleboards, etc)."
Tips from RVers
Remote work capability: Thousand Trails Kenisee Lake can accommodate digital nomads with proper equipment. A working camper noted: "Kenisee Lake RV Campground is a wonderful place to work from remotely if you have an external antenna to cellular internet. The campground is clean with plenty of open space and trails."
Hookup variations: RV sites across different campgrounds offer varied utility connections. Roundup Lake RV Resort provides "30 and 50 amp FHU back-in and pull-through sites," while a visitor to Indian Creek RV Resort (Sun Retreats Geneva on the Lake) mentioned: "Not all sites are full hookup and 50 Amp. The street lights suck as they fully illuminated our sites."
Site spacing considerations: Campground layouts affect privacy levels. At Indian Creek RV Resort, one camper observed the property is "expanding and adding new sites. They are planting lots of trees (it looked like one at each site) so the resort should become more park-like and less parking lot as they grow."
