🚌 Why East Harbor for Our First Camper Trip?
When we bought our 2025 Heartland Mallard 17BHL, we knew we wanted to ease into camper life somewhere close to home — and East Harbor State Park checked all the boxes. It's familiar, friendly, and just 30 minutes from us. Plus, with my husband’s disabled veteran status, we’re fortunate to be able to camp at Ohio state parks for free — so our goal this year is to explore as many as we can.
This first trip was a one-night “trial run” to see how the camper handled, what we forgot, what we loved, and how our toddler and two dogs would do. Spoiler: we already can’t wait to go back.
⛺ Campsite Setup in Loop C (C053)
We stayed in Site C053, which had:
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A flat surface for easy parking (though tight — more on that below)
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A picnic area with a table (we brought a tablecloth and an extra folding table for our stove setup).
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Electric hookup, and we filled our water tank at the potable station by the dump station
Loop C was quiet and comfortable, and while parking was a little tight, our neighbor across the road kindly moved his truck to help us back in — a small moment that reminded us how genuinely kind the camping community can be. If you're looking for shade, C-loop may not be the place for you though. We camped on an over-cast day, so it wasn't a problem for us.
Tip: The restrooms are well-placed throughout the campground — a big plus with toddlers and middle-of-the-night potty runs.
🐶 Dogs, Toddler & Night One in the Camper
This was our first time sleeping in the camper as a family, and it went surprisingly well!
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Our toddler picked out a special blanket before the trip and felt really cozy in his little corner.
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He did wake up a few times (new sounds = new sleep challenges), but overall, it was a success.
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The dogs handled it like champs. We used a 6 ft leash and stake system, as required by East Harbor’s rules. (Our 125 lb. Great Bernese definitely wouldn’t do well in a little pen!)
Dog Tip: Always check leash and dog count rules before heading to any state park.
🧺 Gear We Brought (and What Worked Best)
We didn’t want to overwhelm ourselves with “stuff,” so we packed the basics. Highlights included:
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Camp chairs + picnic blanket
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Tablecloth for the site’s table
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A small propane grill + roasting sticks
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Hot dogs, baked beans, and eggs for simple meals
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Flashlights, toys!, and toddler snacks
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A magnetic camp light (we got ours from Harbor Freight!) — our toddler loved using it on the bumper, lighting up the area to draw with chalk even after sunset
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His little bike — we didn’t have ours yet, but noticed many other campers did (hint for next trip...)
Parent Hack: Let your toddler pick out something “special” for the trip — a blanket, light, or toy to help ease the transition.
🛝 Playground, Beach, & Notes for Families
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The playgrounds are... okay. Our 3-year-old had a great time, but the equipment is pretty basic: a slide, some swings, and a small climbing structure.
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With bigger kids around, we kept a close eye. It would be great if there were a toddler-specific area, but it wasn’t a deal-breaker.
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The beach is a decent walk or drive from most loops. If you're bringing small kids, we recommend driving, unless you have a bike seat or trailer.
Loop Tips: Loops A and C are closest to the playgrounds. A is great for tent campers, but also works for families in smaller rigs.
🗺️ Pro Tip for Returning Campers
Grab a campground map and take a drive or walk around — we marked down our favorite sites (and ones we’d avoid) for future visits. It’s such a helpful way to make better bookings next time.
🌟 Final Thoughts
This trip was exactly what we needed — a low-stress, nearby trial run that gave us confidence and excitement for the summer ahead. We learned a lot, had fun, and most importantly, proved that camping with a toddler and two dogs can be fun (and manageable!) with the right mindset and expectations.
We’ll be back to East Harbor again soon — and next time, we’re bringing the bikes.
