Nestled directly on the shores of Lake Erie between Presque Isle State Park and Waldameer Park and Water World, Sara's Campground (sarascampground.com) has 100 bayside and lakeside campsites. Go primitive and pitch a tent on the beach, or pull your RV into a bayside site with full or partial hookups. Open from April through October, the campground has a camp store, dump station, laundry, flush toilets, showers and drinking water, and a playground and planned activities are at your disposal. Of course, the campground's center of attraction is the lake, where campers can take long strolls, beachcomb and delight in the vivid sunsets. If you can pry yourself from this scenic facility, the state park is just a quarter mile down the road, providing loads of additional outdoor fun. While Sara's delivers the whole package as far as location, conveniences and recreational amenities, unfortunately, you take your chances snagging a site because the facility does not accept reservations.
Lampe Marina Campground (porterie.org) is another waterfront camping option that does accept reservations. On Lake Erie along a natural harbor created by Presque Isle, the small campground has 42 sunny sites with partial hookups roughly 7 miles from the state park. You won't find a beach for swimming or evening strolls, but a boat launch, fishing dock and hiking trails are on site. The campground is open May through October and provides a dump station, laundry, restrooms and showers.
Year-round Presque Isle Passage RV Park & Cabin Rentals (presqueislepassage.com) has a wide variety of camping options, including primitive tent sites, full- or partial-hookup RV sites and trailer, cabin, cottage and apartment rentals. A laundry, dump station, flush toilets, showers and cable TV hookups provide some of the comforts of home, while a swimming pool, game room, horseshoe pits and playground keep campers active. You can buy bug spray at the on-site grocery store, then head to nearby streams for licensed trout fishing. Splash Lagoon Indoor Waterpark and Family First Sports Park are close by, and more water-based entertainment at Presque Isle State Park is less than 7 miles away.
Less than 10 miles from Presque Isle State Park, Erie KOA (eriekoa.com) is an action-packed campground with a volleyball court, playground, game room, horseshoe pits and bicycle rentals. Two outdoor pools and a 3-acre catch-and-release lake with pedal boat rentals provide plenty of wet entertainment. An activities director plans a calendar of events, such as ice cream socials, movies, disc jockeys and free pancake breakfasts on summer Sundays. You can choose from basic tent sites, RV sites with hookups and cozy log cabin rentals. Open April to mid-October, the campground has two golf courses within 2 miles, and Presque Isle Downs Casino is roughly 9 miles away.
