Camping Near Cleveland Ohio

While the Cleveland area is loaded with many great nature reservations, most are not “camping-friendly.” Finding solid places to camp requires a bit of a drive outside the city. But once you discover these amazing locations, you’ll realize how well worth the effort was.

is probably the most popular option locally, one of six tent-camping sites of the Lake system which are best described as “primitive.” They’re especially attractive to families and fisherfolk, who like a quick getaway for a weekend to indulge in some quiet angling and hiking. Lakeside tends to book up quickly; the park includes its rules on its website.

If a “paddle-in, paddle out” is your forte, Lake Metroparks’ is likely your speed. Accessible by foot (it’s a half-mile hike from parking lot to campsite), this gorgeous stop is just downstream from Hidden Valley Park in Madison. Equally “primitive” (read: no bathrooms) this is another one of the Lake Metroparks system’s best stops.