If you're looking for a place to pitch your tent near Sandusky, look no further. The Dyrt helps you find campsites near Sandusky with tent camping. From remote to easy-to-reach, these Sandusky campsites are perfect for tent campers.
Campground closed for renovations starting Nov 2019
Hidden Hollow Camp features a beautiful one-acre woodland pond and two nature trails. In geographical terms, a “hollow” is exactly as it sounds – a small valley or basin in the land. At the bottom of Hidden Hollow is the West Fork of the East Branch of the Black River. The rich soil of its floodplain is home to towering sycamore, black willow, and black walnut trees -- along with a diverse array of wildflowers. The trees and thickets here provide ideal habitat for migrating warblers. Visitors should plan on bird-watching during spring and fall migration.
The enclosed building at Hidden Hollow Camp offers the perfect amenities for an “indoor camping” experience for up to 75 people, including a wood-burning stove, scenic wraparound porch, movie screen, electric range, food preparation tables, and a refrigerator. Alcohol is permitted inside the enclosed building only when reserved for day-use or camping.
Although there is no indoor plumbing, the frost-proof water spigots with potable water are easily accessible at two outdoor locations. A gray-water pit for disposal of dirty dish water is located adjacent to the toilets. The site includes a campfire ring surrounded with plenty of flexible bench seating and a parade ground area with a flagpole for scout ceremonies. There are turf areas for outdoor recreation activities and a team-building challenge course.
Rockland Lake is a private ten acre property with a spring fed crystal clear quarry, and lots of free space on all waterfront property. We have activities from volleyball, tether-ball, to fishing, swimming, and paddle boarding and much much more! There are diving boards, grills, and tents available. Reserve the camping trip of a lifetime today.
$75 - $200 / night
Traveler
We went tent camping for the weekend and really enjoyed it! Many tent sites available and rather spacious sites. The beach was full since it was Labor Day weekend, but clean and shallow for kids to easily play. Clean bathrooms and shower houses and lots of places to ride our bikes. A nice place to stay if you want to take advantage of the lake, Sandusky or the Lake Erie islands.
Guide
This is a cozy spot with the a laid back atmosphere and very clean shower house. It's was also cool to see a campground where tent camping is thriving!
We did stay in a Travel Trailer next to seasonal campers and they were very kind and helpful. The lot size was ok...not spacious but not as small as I've experienced. They are grass sites so in the summer months you will need insect repellent at night.
The shower house is older but very well maintained and regularly clean. You can tell the owners care about the campers experience.
Lots of cool activities for kids: putt-putt, ping pong, foosball, playground, etc.
Close to so much in Sandusky and worth a stay.
Scout
We tent camped. Loved the place. Loved the kayak launch. Some of the sites are super close together. We took a look around and got an idea of where we went to stay next time.
Traveler
Well kept, quiet and fun. Bike rental was easy and did not cost too much. We had a tent site and the yurt site. Water was cold due to it being early June as expected.
GuideFindley State Park is a huge campground with both RV and tent sites. Paved roads. Shower facilities. Grey and black water dump sites. Laundry ($1.50 for wash or dry). Near a lake, trails. The sites off each camp loop offer the most privacy.
GuideNice little campground, offers both places for tent camping and RV camping. Lots to do, bike trails, walking paths, jet ski rentals, etc. Check-in people at the pavilion were nice and helpful. They also sell firewood at the pavillion. Most campsites have electric hook up and there is a dump station for RV's.
Scout
We tent camp. They have a great spot that’s set back in the woods. There are lots of trees. Very peaceful. Dislikes are no shower houses or toilets back there except one port a potty. The shower houses they do have not a huge fan of. Def bring your flip flops. They have a nice pond.
ScoutChet's place is my favorite place! They have rv and tent sites and also a few cabins. They often have gatherings in the pavilion. There's the river to fish in. Docks for your boat. It's a very family friendly place in the middle of nowhere yet close to everywhere!
Guide
Don’t let the secret get too big but this place is great. Stayed there at the state park for a week tent camping and it’s wonderful. It’s clean and quiet. The facilities are close and clean. The whole island is fun with plenty of hikes and hidden beaches. Make sure to stop by the local restaurants and get some unique drinks and food. The Brandy Alexander is a must have drink,
TravelerWe will definitely be going back! Campground is on the lake and is beautiful! So many things to do! The camp is clean, has a playground, and movie night. Bath house is a typical campground bath house. We had a tent site and it was huge! Sites come with fire pit and picnic table. Beach is within walking distance of campsite.
TravelerDitto Rebecca’s and Sarah’s reviews below. Tent camped for 5 nights. Brought the dog and bicycles-easy island to bicycle on/around. Camp office now had WiFi in/near the office building. Loved being able to hear the waves on the beach even though our spot wasn’t on the beach. Lots of families and retirees. No issues with rowdy folks-quit time was quiet. Had a problem with our car and lots of folks offered assistance.
Guide
This campground is within a 15 minute drive to Cedar Point and the price point is much more affordable then the campground at Cedar Point. It was not overbooked which was nice because the lots are tiny. They had a pool which kids seemed to love.
Traveler
I recently camped here at South Bass Island State Park. Because of current Covid-19 restrictions, the campground was pretty empty (which I hear is very unusual for summertime). I camped in a tent-only site on the edge of the 25 foot cliff. Great for adults, but no safety barrier for young children. Campsite #97 and#99 have fire rings right on the cliff. (I camped at #99.)
The facilities at the campground are clean and well maintained and the people who work at the camp store are friendly.
The campground is well shaded with mature trees throughout and it over looks Lake Erie to the West making for great views of the sunset. Some sites are right on top of each other and others are well spread out.
GuideAshland fairgrounds has $20 tent sites or $35 full hookups. You may need an extension cord. All back in sites. Bathrooms are open and close by. No showers. Very clean and quiet. There were 4 others staying here. All were nice. If you arrive after hours grab an envelope and drop payment in an envelope. If you stay in the grass parking lot while no other events are going on you can stay for free.
Traveler
I have camped here 3 times as an adult and most of my childhood here. It's quiet, the campers and staff and friendly. They have large shaded sites and a few tent sites in the back still. It's not going to blow your mind here, but I will continue to enjoy T&C because of its cost, how close it is to home, and how enjoyable of a time I've had here.
TravelerStaff/owner are so kind and accommodating. I can’t say enough about them. I had reservations at a different campground, but once I got there had to leave, I called crystal rock and the lady was so so kind, got me a site and gave me directions .Bathroom/shower house very clean. Lots of family activities. I stayed in a tent site and had ample space. Close proximity to cedar point and other attractions. I absolutely love this place and am so glad I called. Can’t wait to go back!
Traveler
This campground has a little bit of everything. Rv parking, tent sites and several cabins to rent. Rates are decent. Has lots of stuff for kids to do. Pools are small and can be a little crowded during the summer on weekends. 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. Nice camp store that carries a little of everything. This is our second trip there.
Scout
Aug 2019, 3 nights. We were tent camping on a site w/electric & water. We had nice woods behind us, neighbors to the right and vacancy on the left (jackpot). A quick walk to the playground for the kids, lake and store weren’t much further then restrooms with showers were right there as well.
We weren’t expecting much and actually only booked it because of proximity. It’s only 20mins from our home, so we were really curious. Definitely would come back, but may opt for a primitive site as we liked the placement a little better than if we were surrounded on both sides.
TravelerWe stayed at one of the primitive tent sites at South Bass Island State Park and had the most enjoyable time. The site was on a cliff overlooking Lake Erie. The campground was very well kept and clean. The park staff was friendly and helpful, and the park office was stocked with necessities at a decent price. If I had any complaint at all, it would be that the sites are really close together, which could be a problem at busy times. Fortunately we only had one neighbor directly beside us, and they were very nice folks. Would highly recommend this campground!
RangerWe tent-camped in well-shaded loop D, which is a non-electric tent area. Loop D is much smaller and more private than the larger non-electric area (loop A). If you're in a camper, then the area next to loop A (loop B) is your best bet for shade. We loved our stay here. It's a great base camp for exploring the area and the beach is just a short drive. I wish the bathrooms in the non-electric loop were updated, but they were cleaned on a daily basis. Daily nature programs for kids at the campground 's excellent nature center were great. Take the ferry to Put-in-Bay while you're at East Harbor, or take a road trip to the Mad River & NKP train museum in Bellevue.
GuideHad a great camping trip! Miller’s Ferry to the island. Completely Shaded. Mostly level. Some are narrow-ish. Our site 32, was long back into the open wooded area behind us. Everyone was respectful. Shower houses decent. Older and clean. Private shower stalls. Plenty of drinking water stations and grey water dump too. We were there with the mayflies 😂 harmless but plentiful! Wifi worked. Office open after 3pm-ice. Lake is beautiful. Tent sites-no electric-on the lake and are picturesque. We rented a golf cart to get around the island, which was a lot of fun. Sunsets near Perry’s Memorial are magnificent. Goat Soup and Whiskey-best restaurant! Second best-Upper Deck.
Guide
This is a quiet campground near Lake Erie. The campground seems like it’s mainly seasonal but they did have some transient camping and tent sites. We stayed at site 156. The site was large with a large grassy area right on the lagoon. There was a large flock of geese that stayed near the lagoon which meant goose poop around our site. It was also very buggy in the evenings. The electric is 50 amp. They have connectors you can use for a $25 deposit and then get your money back when you return the cord. They accept check and cash, no credit cards. The roads are paved and they have a nice outdoor pool, small playground, and small miniature golf course.
Guide
Great campground.
Pull through and back ins. Tent camping, four cabins.
50,30,20 full hookups. Electric, and water
Full wooded area with older trees, small but has all modern enmities.
WiFi
Cable
Small store stocked with all the essentials that you need for your stay.
Bath house updated and modern.
Mini golf area, children’s playground, large jenga, and other outdoor games.
K9 area plus, little poop areas, with bags available.
Pool (was closed when we were there) nice pool.
Close to stores and perfect area with gas stations that fit large vehicles.
Many areas to visit and explore.
Camping for a vacation or traveling through. Full hookups are 56.00 (as of July 2021) could change, that’s up to KOA.
Pull in, relax. They will even help with pulling in and hooking up.
Refill propane tanks at campground. Deliver wood right to site.
ScoutWe spent a night here to celebrate my husbands birthday with a couple of our friends. The campground was great! It was well setup with lots of things to do. The only complaint I have is that the tent sites aren’t very well designated. There aren’t any markers showing where sites start and stop. We rented two sites next to each other and when we pulled up the one we were assigned was being used by someone else. Luckily the one on the other side was open so we could still set up next to each other, so it really wasn’t that big of a deal, but I’m sure if there were better markers/signage it wouldn’t have been a problem to begin with. Otherwise it’s a great campground, we are definitely planning on coming back with the kids. Lots of fun things to do.
TravelerLoved this campground, lots of trails to walk and mt. bike trails to ride. The beach is ok but you can rent various styles of watercraft to explore the lake. I would recommend doing a some research on campsites as they range from small to large for the same price. The original site I booked was a tent site to small for 2 tents ( one larger n one smaller) #131 non electric however I was able to switch to another sight #118 which was a larger. The campground office was super nice and friendly in switching the sites to accommodate me.( site 118 had water 2 sites down, an outhouse 5 sites down and nice clean rest rooms just a short walk away maybe 9 sites down, playground and camp store/ nature center isn’t to far away to walk but biking would be best, camp store is on the small side but had all the basic essentials and they had good wood bundles to choose from with a reasonable price, If they done have something a dollar general is 7 min down the road)
RangerI’m sitting here waiting for a flight after about 9 weeks of living in hotels. Fugured it would be a good time to write this review I’ve been holding off on. Anyway, let’s get started.
Campground Review
My buddy Stone and I didn’t really have plans for Memorial Day Weekend like everyone else, so naturally we had to make some. We decided to stay a little closer and avoid flying because that gets expensive over holiday weekends… instead we opted to go camping at Crystal Rock Campground for its proximity to Cedar Point Amusement Park! Seriously only took us like 30 min to get from camp to park.
The campground was $30/night for a tent site with no electric hookups. I understand it was Memorial Day Weekend and just happened to be Ohio Bike Week (I think) but we were packed in like sardines! Their were tent sites right next to RV sites which From what I’ve seen isn’t usually the norm. There are about 120 or so sites in the lower section of the camp all sharing one bathroom. The men’s restroom had 5 or so showers, one urinal, and one toilet. A sign on the door indicates it’s closed from 12-1 (if I remember correctly) for cleaning. I don’t know about you, but I think that one urinal and one toilet is not enough to adequately service 120 campsites. Especially at capacity, which they were when I was there. Our site literally butted right next to three other sites and it just felt very cramped. We were also the furthest from the bathroom you could be, which was quite a hike to do dishes. For these reasons, I give it a 3 out of 5.
I do imagine it would get more stars had I chosen a less busy weekend. It did have a “game room” closer to the checkin as well as a playground. I didn’t use those, but they did look nice.
Product Review
As a Ranger for The Dyrt, I get products to test from time to time. On this trip to the Crystal Rock, I tested out the Howler Brothers Aransas Shirt in Voltage Print that I got through Roanline. I give this shirt a 5/5. I’m actually wearing it right now. Here are some of my thoughts on this rad shirt:
So I got this shirt through Roanline and their packaging was super cool. I forgot to snag a pic of that but trust me. They even had a handwritten note in there that made it feel nice and personal.
ScoutThe good - The staff was very friendly and helpful. The price - we were just staying the night as we were traveling so the price for a primitive tent site was far better than a hotel or Airbnb
The not so good- Bugs were persistent but the smoke from the fire seemed to keep them at bay. The bathrooms were pretty far (compared to other campsites) from the tent area.
The bad -
NOISE!!!! If you are looking for a quiet getaway go somewhere else. The campground is right on a heavily traveled roadway and seemed to be on a major ATV trail as well. The ATV’s were racing up and down the trail as well as just sitting and reving their engines.
Around 8pm someone started shooting a gun VERY CLOSE to the campground. This continued for quite some time. At around 5am some hunting dogs that I assume live on the adjoining property began incessantly howling to the point we packed up and left immediately.
Overall - we weren’t camping for an extended time so this was ok for the price and our purpose. Given the same circumstances, we would not stay here again and would gladly pay more for a reduction in the noise.
Tent camping near Sandusky, Ohio offers a fantastic opportunity to immerse yourself in nature while enjoying the region's beautiful landscapes and outdoor activities.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Sandusky, OH?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Sandusky, OH is Maumee Bay State Park Campground with a 4.6-star rating from 41 reviews.
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TheDyrt.com has all 7 tent camping locations near Sandusky, OH, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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