South Bass Island State Park

Introduction of South Bass Island State Park

The campground has 125 non-electric campsites and 10 full-service campsites with electric, water, and sewer hookups. There are flush toilets, showers, and a dump station at the campground. Pet camping is allowed in designated areas. For organized groups, a youth group camp is available by reservation. From Memorial Day to the last weekend in September, four cabins, which combine the best features of a cabin and a tent, are available for weekly rental via a lottery system. The rustic cabin near the park office is rented through a separate lottery. For lottery information, contact the Catawba Island park office. There is also a picnic shelter, picnic areas, a launch ramp, a fishing pier, and a small stone beach area. South Bass Island can be reached by ferry from either Port Clinton or Catawba Island.

South Bass Island State Park Camping

The South Bass Island Campground is a pet-friendly facility that offers campers a one-of-a-kind camping experience. Water surrounds the park, which is located on an island. Campers in RVs, campers, and trailers take the ferry to the island and spend the night surrounded by the soothing sounds of Lake Erie.

There are three types of spaces available at the seasonal campground. Choose from a full hookup, electric only, or no hookup sites. The campground offers hydrants, a dump station, restrooms, and showers to its guests.

Each campsite has a picnic table and a fire ring. Campers will only have to walk a short distance to get to nearby activities and facilities such as a children’s playground, Stone Beach, the dock, and a fish cleaning station.

Only a few campsites are pet-friendly, so campers who want to bring their pets on their camping trip should book one of those. Sites 19, 20, 22, 23, 24, 99, and 100 are pet-friendly. The quiet hours are 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. Please keep your generators turned off during these hours.

South Bass Island State Park has group camping facilities for organised groups of youths. The site can hold up to 50 people at once. Campers will not have to travel far to park their vehicles because the site is conveniently located near a parking area. The beach, docks, and children’s playground are also nearby for group campers. Campers will also be able to see nearby glacial grooves, which are created when glaciers move downstream and retreat from the rocks they once covered, scratching and making grooves in them.

South Bass Island State Park Activities

Boating

If you enjoy spending the warm summer days on the water, you will love the boating opportunities on South Bass Lake Island. If you are unable to bring your own watercraft, many of the island’s rental facilities offer kayaks, fishing boats, powerboats, and other types of personal watercraft. If you bring your boat, the public boat launch near the picnic area is the closest access point to the water. If you brought your fishing gear, you can try your luck while out on the water. Before you go out on the water, make sure you understand the local boating laws.

Fishing

To fish in Lake Erie, you do not need to own or rent a boat. South Bass Island State Park offers visitors access to a fishing pier and shoreline fishing area, as well as the use of the fish cleaning house. Bring your fishing gear and fish for walleye, yellow perch, smallmouth bass, white bass, and channel catfish, then return to the cleaning house to prepare your catch for dinner. If you don’t have your own fishing gear, there are many places on the island that rent and sell it. If you intend to go fishing, keep in mind that under Ohio State Law, all anglers over the age of 16 must own and possess a valid fishing license.

Hiking

Although there are no official hiking trails within South Bass Island State Park, hikers will find plenty of places to walk and sightsee during their visit. The Jane Coates Wildflower Trail, a half-mile nature trail owned by the Put-in-Bay Township and Park District, provides visitors with views of wildflowers and migrating birds as they hike. The blue ash, chinquapin oak, and hackberry woodlands shade the path and are home to a variety of bird species, which is ideal for birders visiting the park.

South Bass Island State Park Location

This state park is situated on an island in Lake Erie. It’s just 54 miles east of Toledo and 83 miles northwest of Cleveland, Ohio. Campers and visitors should be aware that they must take a ferry to get to South Bass Island State Park. Ferries can be taken from Port Clinton or Catawba Island. If taking a ferry is not for you, you can take the more expensive option of flying. You can fly to Put-in-Bay Airport and arrange for camping and transportation when you arrive.

While on the island, campers won’t have to worry about getting groceries or grabbing a bite to eat.

Put-in-Bay has plenty of places to eat and shop for groceries less than a mile away from the park. Everything is so close together that you can easily walk or cycle around.

Once inside the park, the road is paved and wide enough to accommodate even the largest rigs. As you drive through the park, keep an eye out for pedestrians, cyclists, and wildlife. Campers can check in to their campsite first before exploring the rest of the park and the activities available. Before you leave, make sure your campsite has enough room for your rig and any slideouts you may have.

Parking

When you visit South Bass Island State Park, you won’t have to worry about finding parking. Parking is available at the day-use area, the park office, near the glacial grooves, and throughout the campground.

Public Transport

Public Transport is not available