Punderson State Park Campground sits on glacially formed kettle lakes in northeast Ohio, with a unique mix of wooded and lakefront camping options. The park features distinctive "hill sites" requiring campers to hike 20-100 feet up or down to reach secluded wooded areas. Winter camping options exist at several locations near Solon, offering year-round access to the region's diverse terrain and wildlife.
What to do
Disc golf adventures: Punderson State Park Campground has an on-site disc golf course that attracts enthusiasts of all skill levels. "Opportunities for disc golf, archery range, canoeing/kayaking/row boats, swimming (no lifeguard) and golf," notes Rebecca G., highlighting the diverse recreation options available within walking distance of most campsites.
Archery practice: The dedicated archery range at Punderson State Park provides a structured environment for target practice. One visitor mentioned, "Large beautiful park with lots of amenities. Boat ramp, disc golf, trails, kayak rentals, archery range and more," emphasizing the comprehensive recreation facilities available on-site.
Fishing expeditions: Kool Lakes Family RV Park offers excellent fishing opportunities with waterfront sites. "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," reports one family, demonstrating the diverse aquatic activities available.
What campers like
Private beaches: Mill Creek Camping offers select lakefront sites with personal beach access. "We book a lakefront site and it is just gorgeous! We have our own private little beach which our dog loves," shares Sarah K., highlighting the special waterfront camping experience.
Clean facilities: Despite being an older facility, American Wilderness Campground maintains high cleanliness standards. "Also the park has older shower and bathrooms however there always clean and well taken care of every few hours staff cleaning!" reports Andrew V., noting the regular maintenance that enhances the camping experience.
Secluded tent sites: Countryside Campground features spacious tent sites set apart from the RV section. "The 9 tent sites are very large and spacious. It is mostly an established RV Park," says Tommy K., pointing out the distinction that gives tent campers more room to spread out.
What you should know
Site levelness varies: Many campgrounds near Solon feature uneven terrain. At West Branch State Park Campground, "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," according to Andrea F., who recommends bringing extra leveling equipment.
Reservation timing: Popular sites book quickly, especially waterfront locations. "Make reservations! (6 months in advance). Waterside sites fill up quickly!" advises Alisa G. about West Branch, emphasizing the importance of advance planning.
Water quality issues: Some campgrounds use well water with varying mineral content. At Woodside Lake Park, one camper noted "iron & sulfur laden well water that is provided in at least half the park," recommending travelers verify water sources before booking.
Tips for camping with families
Kid-friendly activities: Countryside Campground offers numerous structured activities for children. "Kids trick or treated and all campers were very friendly. Due to cooler temps pool was closed. The small putt putt course was still open for kids to play. Playground was a hit for our 8yr and under kids," reports Joe F., highlighting seasonal programming.
Wildlife viewing opportunities: Several campsites offer close encounters with local fauna. At Streetsboro-Cleveland SE KOA, "Every night we were visited by raccoons, they stole our trash on the first night but the other nights we kept everything out of their reach," shares Traci F., suggesting secure food storage practices.
Hammock-friendly sites: Punderson State Park features numerous trees suitable for hammock camping. "Most sites have enough trees that hammock camping would not be an issue especially the sites that you park and go back from road about 20 ft with good privacy," notes Joe I., providing insight for alternative sleeping arrangements.
Tips from RVers
Hookup variability: Electric service varies significantly between campgrounds and even within the same park. 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," warns Coy, suggesting checking specific site amenities before booking.
Pull-through accessibility: Streetsboro-Cleveland SE KOA offers spacious pull-through sites for larger rigs. "We spent a long weekend in a pull thru site. The bathrooms were clean, the showers were nice and the pool was well kept. Each site comes with a fire ring and picnic table both in good condition. The pull thru sites were a tad small but nice and long," reports one RVer.
Site width considerations: Several campgrounds near Solon offer wider-than-average sites, important for RVs with slides or awnings. "It's always nerve wracking when the fire pits are close to the rigs - loved that these sites were wide," notes Jennifer H., highlighting the practical spacing at Streetsboro-Cleveland SE KOA.
