South Bass Island State Park — Attraction in Put-in-Bay Township

Stayed for two nights at South Bass Island State Park in an RV spot. We'd had seven people with us, some stayed at the camp site and the others in the cabin, nearby.

The campground was spacious, and extremely wooded with incredible lakeside sites if you were lucky enough to get one.

Small restaurant (the nut shack) located near the gate that offered great food at all meal times, and snacks. Location, was super close to everything, the islands, small enough that you're just a short golf cart ride from most of the nearby attractions.

The only thing I wasn't fond of, is like most state parks, and campgrounds in general, space is money and therefore they like to crowd people as close as possible. Some of the sites, almost seemed as if they were right on top of one another, making, for a less private and relaxing camping experience and more or less just offering a fair place to lay your head while on the island.

It's quite packed, and seemed near capacities the entire time we was there. Despite, the crowds, quiet time seemed to be honored by most patrons and after sunset it did get quiet enough to relax, and sleep.

In the future if I decide to stay here, I'd shoot for a lakeside site which seemed to have more space and offer more of a true camping experience.

All in all, reasonable prices, quiet, and a beautiful scenic state park on an island that has much to offer so as long as you're okay with your neighbors being rather close, and...

My family and I went there scoping it out to possibly start taking a fifth wheel to. It was quickly realized that this is a camper’s tourist’s trap. They are targeting campers while turning the blind eye to the rest of the island. There were more police(ODNR)at the camp area than the rest of the island combined. The whole time we was there the entrance to the campground had ODNR officers harassing campers coming and going. I was pulled over by the same officer(with trainee)for a plate light out. I knew he was gonna pull me over because he turned his headlights on in my face as I was passing him which was before he even saw my rear plate. I was given a sobriety check (as drunks drove by on carts) and ticketed. As I stood behind my car I looked over and noticed my license plate light wasn’t out. He told me I must have a short and it really didn’t matter because my license plate holder was a violation(who doesn’t have one)which the dealership put on 13 years ago, and my plate is dirty. As we pulled away from the officers a drunk on a golf cart pulled in front of me. I thought for sure he was busted! But I noticed the ODNR that stopped us turning around in the middle of the road. And of course was back in the same spot to harass the next camper. We left on the first ferry the next morning, scrapping three days worth of plans. We never got to eat a meal on the island. Camp sight knows they’re doing it but play dumb. Probably...

We have camped at South Bass Island State Park in our trailer RV two separate times - once in 2016 and once last summer in 2021 and enjoyed it both times! We like the full hook up loop at the top of the hill - it's so woodsy you really feel like you're in the middle of a forest. The full hooks up sites all back up to each other and share a huge middle space. At first we weren't sure about this privacy wise but it's actually very nice and peaceful. Our site was a bit tight to back into but we managed to do it - although I think a larger RV would have more difficulty. As you can see from the photo the water hookups are a bit weird, you share with the site next to you and in our case we had to use an extra long hose. The views from the cliff are amazing and you can tent camp there. There's a fun little par 3 golf course right across the road, definitely rent a golf cart to get around the island (very easy to do downtown). There's a little shop at the bottom of the hill from the campground where you can buy breakfast sandwiches in the morning and you can also rent kayaks and paddleboards too. Campground is pretty small and books up fast so I recommend reserving...