12 Best Campsites In Erie, Pennsylvania

1. Sara's Campground

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If you want to go large with an RV or keep it simple with just a tent, this campground in Erie, Pennsylvania, can accommodate you. An idyllic setting offering wooded splendor and waterside beauty, Sara’s Campground boasts more than 100 campsites where visitors can park their camper. Tucked along expansive Lake Erie and the striking Presque Isle Bay, this site also provides ample space to pitch a tent on the sandy shoreline. This splendid area is a nice mix of wonderful open and woodsy campsites and there are plenty of nice picnic tables, cozy fire rings, and handy full hookups to enjoy.

Sara's Campground

Address: 50 Peninsula Dr, Erie, PA 16505

Website: Sara’s Campground

Opening hours: 7:30am - 9:30pm (daily)

Price: 35 - 40 USD

2. Lampe Campground

Situated along pretty Presque Isle Bay, Lampe Campground is ideal if you want to experience pleasant tent camping in Erie, Pennsylvania. It offers easy access to the stunning Presque Isle State Park. Possessing no less than 42 bayfront campsites alongside the sparkling marina, this seasonal camping area offers an excellent biking path that leads cyclers to the state park which features plenty of tourist attractions. The inviting campsites include no-hassle water and electric usage, clean public bathroom facilities, laundry access, nifty showers, and a handy dump station.

Lampe Campground

Address: Foot of the Port Access Rd, Erie, PA 16507

Website: Lampe Campground

Price: 35 - 45 USD

Nearby campsites

3. YMCA Camp Sherwin - Girard

Located on the banks of Lake Erie, Camp Sherwin is a great camping spot in Erie with plenty of activities for the whole family. Adventure lovers out there would love hunting or doing water activities such as boating and fishing. The camp features rental cabins in varying sizes that can sleep 4-14 people. Some cabins even feature private kitchens, toilets, and showers. If you prefer camping in an RV, hook-up sites are also available in the campground with water and electricity.

YMCA Camp Sherwin - Girard

Address: 8600 W Lake Rd, Lake City, PA 16423, USA

Website: YMCA Camp Sherwin - Girard

Opening hours: April-November; Mon - Thur: 9am - 5 pm; Fri: 9am - 7pm; Sat - Sun: 10am - 2pm

4. Family Affair Campground

Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing

True to its name, this family-friendly campground is one of the best places to camp in Erie, Pennsylvania. Sitting on a 60-acre (24.28-hectare) property, the campground includes a playground for kids and other activities such as swimming in one of the two pools. Children and adults alike can also have fun doing catch-and-release fishing in the pond for practice. On lazy days, you can simply bask under the sun on a picnic. They offer seasonal camping which starts May 1 up to September 30. Overnight camping is also offered.

Family Affair Campground

Address: 9640 Findley Lake Rd, North East, PA 16428s

Website: Family Affair Campground

Price: Seasonal camping fee: 1700 USD; Overnight camping: 35-50 USD

5. Virginia's Beach Campground

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A blend of beautiful lakefront and wooded property, Virginia’s Beach Campground is a real gem for camping. Hosting a selection of amenities to make your stay an enjoyable one, this seasonal campsite is found on 46 acres (18.6 hectares) of awesome natural beauty with incredible views to enhance your stay. This expertly run campground offers a range of camping choices from top-notch RV areas to cute lakefront cottages to remote cabins to basic tent sites. All campsites offer a fire ring and picnic tables. If you have an RV, expect full, easy hookups such as water, electric, and sewer. There’s also a public phone along with WiFi connectivity.

Virginia's Beach Campground

Address: 352 Holliday Rd, North Springfield, PA 16430

Website: Virginia’s Beach Campground

Opening hours: Sun: 10am - 2pm; Mon - Sat: 9am - 6pm

Price: 34 - 49 USD

6. Erie KOA Holiday

A magnificently manicured property built around sparkling Rainbow Lake, Erie KOA Holiday is nirvana for camping fans, particularly those traveling with little ones. Erie KOA Holiday offers so much fun from the moment you arrive. Packed with lots of family-friendly diversions like a petting zoo housing adorable pygmy goats, a huge crystal-blue swimming pool, exciting paddle boats, great fishing, yummy ice cream events, delicious pancake breakfasts every Sunday, DJ entertainment during holiday weekends, and more. For convenience, there’s a handy on-site general store.

Erie KOA Holiday

Address: 6645 W Rd, McKean, PA 16426

Website: Erie KOA Holiday

Opening hours: 9am - 8pm (daily)

7. Presque Isle Passage RV Park & Cabin Rentals

One of the most in-demand camping areas in Pennsylvania, Presque Isle Passage RV Park & Cabin Rentals is popular with locals and visitors so expect some crowding. But the crush of people is worth the experience of being surrounded by Mother Nature’s best. A family-friendly spot, this campsite features an abundance of nearby attractions, namely Presque Isle State Park. Top amenities at the 121 RV campsites include full hookups, 30- or 50-amp ability, pristine showers, and decent cell phone reception. Also, many RV sites have the option of a back-in or pull-through so any size camper can be accommodated.

Presque Isle Passage RV Park & Cabin Rentals

Address: 6300 Sterrettania Rd, Fairview, PA 16415

Website: Presque Isle Passage RV Park & Cabin Rentals

Opening hours: Sun - Thu: 8am - 8pm; Fri - Sat: 8am - 10pm

Price: 42 - 60 USD

8. West Haven RV Park and Campground

Only minutes from Presque Isle State Park, West Haven RV Park and Campground is a true jewel on the Pennsylvania camping landscape. Surrounded by plenty of rustic woods and pretty meadows, this boundless campsite is unique in that it can cater to larger recreational vehicles if needed. A great kid’s playground is on the premises and sure to tire any children in tow. For fishing enthusiasts, cast your line in the serene pond and try your luck at catching a nice selection of fabulous bass, bluegill, and catfish.

West Haven RV Park and Campground

Address: 6601 Sterrettania Rd, Fairview, PA 16415

Website: West Haven RV Park and Campground

Price: 26 - 62 USD

9. Sparrow Pond Family Campground

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Sparrow Pond Family Campground is a family-owned facility and it shows with a myriad of things to keep kids entertained so parents can relax with ease. Activities offered include lively painting sessions and rambunctious events like engaging seasonal hayrides for visitor’s pleasure. Guests can find efficient hookups, a great playground site for the kids, a divine swimming pool, and laundry facilities. If there’s an avid angler among your party there’s a great fishing pond. The property has many accommodations from a comfy hotel and cute cabins to a collection of snazzy tents and RV campsites.

Sparrow Pond Family Campground

Address: 11103 US-19, Waterford, PA 16441

Website: Sparrow Pond Family Campground

Opening hours: Sun: 8am - 3pm; Mon - Thu: 9am - 5pm; Fri: 9am - 10pm; Sat: 8am - 10pm

Price: 42 - 72 USD

10. Folly's End Campground

A camping paradise near Elk Creek, Folly’s End Campground is the ideal setting. Boasting a picture-perfect environment of quiet remoteness in a scenic atmosphere, this campsite is near two captivating waterfalls along a 1.5-mile (2.41-kilometer) loop hiking trail that should be the ultimate challenge for in-shape hikers. Folly’s End Campground provides 83 professional sites for recreational vehicles with full hookup access. Visitors to this campground will also find great basketball courts, a well-maintained ball field, a playground, and dynamic horseshoe pit on this enchanting property.

Folly's End Campground

Address: 8600 Avonia Road, Rt. 98, Girard, PA 16417

Website: Folly’s End Campground

11. Camp Eriez

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Camp Eriez is the perfect camping spot if you’re looking for a laidback and low-key experience. Offering a peaceful atmosphere within a rich green setting, Camp Eriez is the go-to destination to escape the hectic city pace. If you tire of cooking over an open fire head over to the nearby restaurant for some nice homestyle cuisine. If you’re RVing it, water and electric are available at camping sites. No sewer access is available however there is a dump station. Pull-through sites are available so the grounds can fit any size camper. There is cell phone reception but no WiFi.

Camp Eriez

Address: 9356 W Lake Rd, Lake City, PA 16423

12. Uncle John's Elk Creek Campground

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Uncle John’s Elk Creek Campground is the absolute campground for guests passionate about fishing. This site offers world-renowned steelhead angling from tranquil Elk Creek that quietly meanders throughout the property. Located on 7.5 acres (3.03 hectares) of blissful terrain, Uncle John’s Elk Creek Campground provides a superb selection of camping accommodations: 11 compact cabins, sufficient trailer hookups, and lovely and roomy tent sites. Amenities include toasty fire pits to keep warm and roast marshmallows and sturdy picnic tables offer dining al-fresco style.

Uncle John's Elk Creek Campground

Address: 575 Elk Creek Rd, Lake City, PA 16423

Website: Uncle John’s Elk Creek Campground

Price: 25 - 65 USD

Erie's best campsites

If you’re planning a camping getaway you cannot do better than Erie’s resplendent outdoors. From forested campgrounds on the outskirts of fantastic state parks to secluded environments that make it easy to commune with nature, this eastern portion of the United States will not disappoint when it comes to fresh-air thrills.