If you’ve ever wanted to visit Lake Erie in Ohio, bringing your RV to Maumee Bay State Park is the way to go. The Maumee Bay is a part of Lake Erie itself, and you’ll get to experience a swampy marshland comparable to the Florida Everglades - but up in the north. This park is dedicated to looking beautiful and scenic, and the staff does a great job of keeping everything here clean and trimmed.
There’s a lot of history that comes from Maumee Bay, including hard times dealing with flooding, storms, and devastation. But after lots of work was put into a new draining system, the area opened up to new and better opportunities. Maumee Bay officially became a state park in 1975 and now serves as the perfect lakeside RV getaway destination. The park has excellent accommodation options including over 250 RV and tent sites with electric hookups, cabins, and a lodge that can accommodate 800 people.
Maumee Bay State Park has lots of fun activities to offer including boating, swimming, and fishing. They also have a nature center you can check out and a place where you can practice archery. In the winter, you can come here for wild sledding opportunities, as well as skiing. The temperatures stay well around the freezing range, creating the perfect snowy environment.
While you are in the area, be sure to check out the Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge where you can see endangered wildlife species, stop by the Visitor Center and hike some of the trails on offer. Crane Creek State Park is another must-see. This park has lots of freshwater marsh areas and a nice sandy beach for visitors to explore and enjoy. It is home to numerous species of wildlife and over 300 species of birds including heron, waterfowl and the bald eagle - making it one of the best birding areas in the country.
Maumee Bay State Park can easily be found and is situated just off the CA-2 approximately 11 miles West of the city of Toldeo. If you need to stock up on groceries and supplies at any point on your vacation, it's just a short drive away. RVers traveling to the park from Toledo will not encounter any height restrictions or obstacles along the way. The drive is quite scenic, and you will be able to enjoy views of fields, trees, and smallholdings along your journey. You will find the single-lane roads to be clearly marked and wide enough to comfortably drive your RV along.
Once inside the park, the road continues to be paved and narrows slightly, but you’ll find driving through the park in an RV to be quite easy. You can also navigate the park by car, bike, or foot to get where you would like to go.
If you decide to just bring your RV to the park for the day, you will find that parking options are easy to find, even for the largest of RVs. Just like with driving and navigation, RVs are very welcome here in the park, and that includes having plenty of parking options. There is also overflow parking available if the park begins to get full.
There are 252 sites available at the campground here in the park. These sites all have 30-amp electric hookups, and the best news is that they’re open and available all year long. Your furry friends are welcome to stay with you as well.
When you stay here, you’ll be surrounded by luscious meadows and cute ponds, where you are welcome to fish at as a camper. Go for an easy hike or bicycle ride on one of the many available paths, or take the kids to play out on the playground. There is a dump station nearby that you can use as well. You’ll also have access to shared restrooms with flushing toilets and hot showers, which are situated nearby. Reservations for this park can be made the same day as your planned arrival, or up to six months in advance.
Just 15 miles from local attractions such as the famous Toledo Zoo and Aquarium, the Toledo East/Stony Ridge KOA is a perfect basecamp for exploring the area. The campground is positioned in a quiet country setting situated in shade trees with picnic tables and campfire rings at every site. Full hookup, pull-through sites feature cable TV, and Wi-Fi is available throughout most of the park. Bring a pup to the off-leash Kamp K-9. For kids of all ages, enjoy summer weekend hay wagon rides or spend time by the heated pool. Youngsters enjoy the gem mine and families love the miniature golf course.
Appreciate beautiful landscapes in the great middle-American town of Petersburg. It’s all about the peace and quiet, and fun summer living at Monroe Co./Toledo North KOA. Enjoy lakeside views, or splash into the refreshing lake waters with a trip down the 220-foot water slide. Monroe Co./Toledo North KOA boasts a list of amenities like Wi-Fi, cable TV, fishing, mini-golf, a dog park, pull-through sites for rigs up to 60 feet long, and much more.
There is an archery range located right here in the park that is available to you for free. The range has seven lanes which feature both static bag and 3D targets. It is open from sunrise to sunset every day, so you’ll have plenty of chances to go check it out when you visit. Range rules specify that broadheads arrow tips are not permitted, and you are only allowed to use field points when you shoot. Archers will find the range near the park office.
There are 57 acres of inland lakes spread over the park grounds. These are perfect for non-motorized boating, including kayaking, canoeing, and sailing. Make sure to bring along your kayaks, canoes, and other boats that you have. If you don't have any boats you can easily rent a canoe, rowboat, or paddleboat at the park. Waverunners can also be rented on Lake Erie Beach. Slips are available for reservation as well, and you may want to take advantage of the excellent fishing opportunities here. You can also enjoy a refreshing swim at the sandy beaches that you’ll find in the park.
There are many miles of trails available here, many of which are multi-use. The three-mile Inland Lake is perfect for hikers, bikers, and joggers. The ADA-accessible Interpretive Boardwalk is the perfect place for a stroll and totals two miles. There’s also a Multi-Use Trail and Mouse Trail, which are both two and a half miles long. You will be able to see acres of marshland, woodland, and meadows when you hike along these trails.
Along the Lake Erie beach, you’ll find many picnic areas with tables and grills scattered all around. These are perfect for any family picnic and you’ll have a gorgeous view of the beach while you eat. There’s no better way to spend time with friends and family than over a nice picnic with a great view and fresh air. Remember to take your trash with you and leave the area in the same condition you found it in.
Staying at the lodge located at Maumee Bay will give you a spectacular experience. There are 120 total guest rooms to choose from and eight conference rooms that can seat up to 800 people each. This lodge is quite luxurious with indoor and outdoor pools, a hot tub and sauna, a game room, indoor and outdoor racquetball courts, a fitness center, a dining room, and so much more. You’ll definitely feel relaxed and well entertained here, so if you’re looking for an alternative to RV camping that’s a bit nicer, you’ve found it.
If you want something a little nicer like the lodge but still want that wild and natural feeling that you get with RV camping, you should check out cabin camping. Maumee Bay State Park has 24 deluxe cabins available that offer lots of amenities. You can choose one that has two or four bedrooms. Each cabin has heating and air conditioning, along with a gas fireplace and fully equipped kitchen for all of your cooking needs.
A few of these cabins are pet-friendly and can accommodate up to two pets per cabin at a daily fee. It is recommended that you reserve a pet-friendly cabin in advance to ensure that you get one.
Visitors staying at the cottages have access to all the lodge facilities. You’ll also get to enjoy the scenery of the wetlands, as these cabins are located near the golf course here at Maumee Bay State Park.
The golf course here is absolutely beautiful with lots of lush grass, rolling green mounds, several sand bunkers, and ponds. This is a very unique 18-hole golf course that you’ll want to play on, as it is considered to be of a “Scottish Links” style. There’s a golf pro-shop located here that has PGA-certified staff members. You can also organize golf outings and lessons at the golf shop.
If there is enough snow during the winter months, you can enjoy a host of snow-related activities at Maumee Bay State Park. There’s no better way to unleash your creativity in the wintertime than getting out in the snow to build snow sculptures. Many people build igloos and snowmen, but you don’t have to stop there. You can also make lots of snow angels, or even sneak up on someone for a friendly snowball fight.
Sledding can be a lot of fun for people of all ages, so bringing the family along with all their sleds is a great idea. There is even a 70-foot high hill here in the park that has been top-rated for sledding, guaranteeing that you and your family will have ultimate fun sledding out here. Even if you don't slide down, climbing to the top of the hill is worth the breathtaking view over Lake Erie and Michigan.
When the conditions are just right, the ponds and lake make for excellent spots for ice skating. Make sure to bring along your ice skates and wrap up warmly before venturing outside. Enjoy testing out your balance first and then whirring around the lakes and ponds once you get the hang of it. Just be sure that the ice is plenty thick enough first before venturing out.
If you’re not up for cross-country skiing, you can still go out and enjoy the scenic trails. This outdoor activity provides a new view of the park, and you can take your camera along to get some pictures of the stunning sights you see. There’s so much to discover here and there’s nothing holding you back, just be sure to bundle up for the cold. You might also want to strap on some snowshoes if the snow is pretty deep.
In the wintertime, some of the trails are open for cross-country skiing, so bring along your skiing equipment. If you don't have any you can always rent some from the Maumee Bay Lodge. The 2.5-mile Mouse Trail meanders through the young woodlands and meadows and is perfect for this exciting activity. You’ll find many people skiing on this trail when the conditions are right. Whether you’re new or experienced, you’ll be sure to have a great time when you go out.
