Virginia's Beach Campground - Pennsylvania Camping on Lake Erie

Virginia's Beach Campground - Pennsylvania Cottages and Camping on Lake Erie

Discover the beauty and majesty of Lake Erie at Virginia’s Beach. Relax and enjoy the unique lakefront atmosphere of our 45 mostly wooded acres and 1,100 feet of easy-access lake frontage. Enjoy the spectacular view of one of America’s Great Lakes in a lake-front cottage or RV site. The sunset on the lake is rated among the best in the world by National Geographic! There are also wooded, more secluded sites and rustic cabins which are only a short walk away from the beach.

Aerial view of Virginia’s Beach Lakefront Cottages & Camping. Photo © American Images, Marshfield, WI.

We are located in the rural farming community of North Springfield, Pennsylvania, 20 miles West of Erie, an easy drive from Pittsburgh (2 hours), and Cleveland (1½ hours). North Springfield is close enough for day trips to the attractions of Erie and Niagara Falls (1½ hours).

At Virginia’s Beach the managements’ commitment to a good family environment is taken seriously. All safety, security and behavior rules are enforced to ensure a safe, relaxing experience for all.

A tentsite at Virginia's Beach Campground.

The beach on Lake Erie at Virginia's Beach Campground.

Lake Erie is the shallowest and warmest of the Great Lakes. This means that Virginia’s Beach is great for swimming, jet skiing, fishing and boating. Our Private Launch Ramp is suitable for boats up to 18 ft. in length. If you need to launch larger boats, Walnut Creek and Conneaut harbor are 10-15 miles away.

Kayak Rentals from Ocean Kayak

Lake Erie and nearby Crooked, Elk and Raccoon creeks are great for Bass, Walleye, Perch and Trout fishing. There is also a catch and release fishing pond.

Additional information about Lake Erie can be found by clicking here.

About the Lake

Lake Erie is the 11th largest lake in the world by surface area. The lake is actually more like an ocean than what most people think of as a lake. Lake Erie is 241 miles long, 57 miles wide at its widest point and about 40 miles wide at Virginia’s Beach. Sometimes people don’t realize how big it is and are surprised that you cannot see the other side. It is the fourth largest, the shallowest, and the warmest (in the summertime) of the five Great Lakes.

Because it is so shallow, the lake can rapidly change from calm to large waves. Lake Erie is unlike any river or other inland lake. The rapid changes that often occur in the lake can be very awesome and add to the unique lakefront atmosphere.

Boaters must be very aware of wave conditions and should come in at the first sign of large waves. Looking at the waves from shore is not necessarily a good indication of conditions off shore. If the wind is blowing from the South, the lake will often be nearly calm at shore. However, the wind is pushing the water and waves off shore. As you boat North, the waves will increase, sometimes significantly, and what started out as a pleasant trip can turn into a battering through high waves. In addition, if the wind is from the South, when you turn back to shore, you will be fighting the waves rather than boating with them, and it can take you far longer to get back than it took you to get out.

About Our Beach

Sometimes people are surprised when they see that our beach is not the same as at the ocean. The beach in front of our property is a typical Lake Erie beach, with a rocky base topped with a variable amount of sand. Most of the rocks are flat and gray in color, with granite and marble of assorted colors mixed in. The area to the West of the boat ramp almost always has a large amount of sand, whereas the sand comes and goes in the area to the East of the ramp. Large amounts of sand can be deposited or washed down the shoreline by storms. Be sure to bring water shoes and lawn chairs if you intend to enjoy the beach. Swimming in the Lake in front of our property is like being in a natural swimming pool. The bottom is mostly solid rock with large rocks and sand. Because Lake Erie is the most shallowest of the Great Lakes, the water is usually warm from mid June until mid September.

About E-Coli

E-Coli bacteria is found in all untreated fresh water and is present in the fecal matter of warm blooded animals and humans. The ingestion of elevated levels of this bacteria can pose health problems. E-coli enters Lake Erie mostly from the creeks that empty into the Lake and increases during times of heavy rains. The newspaper reports that you may see about elevated e-coli levels are usually about the conditions at Presque Isle in Erie. Erie is an urban area with several streams entering the Lake. Because Virginia’s Beach is located 20 miles west of Erie in rural North Springfield, our conditions are completely different, but in an effort to ensure safe swimming we do periodically test the Lake.

Kids of all ages enjoy playing in the sand and swimming at the beach. There is also a playground and spacious play areas. Nature lovers will appreciate our 3/4 mile of wooded walking trails and many native bird species.

Because we are in a very rural area there is not a full service grocery store in the area, so be sure to bring supplies. A homemade candy store, ice cream stand and fresh produce are nearby.

Our pavilion is available for group activities. Our store is open (Limited Hours) for ice, firewood and basic groceries. We always have the makings for some good S’Mores!

Fishing pond at Virginia's Beach Campground.

Playground at Virginia's Beach Campground.

Lake front cabins at Virginias Beach Campground

Seasonal campers enjoying the view of Lake Erie at Virginia’s Beach Campground

• New Lake Front Rental Cottages •

• Private Boat Ramp • Excellent Fishing • Easy Lake Access •
• Full Hookups, 50-amp Electric & Lakefront Sites Available • Seasonal Sites •
• Free Limited Wi-Fi Service •
• Store • Pavilion • Hot Showers • Flush Toilets • Dump Station • Firewood • Public Telephone •
• Playground • Fishing Pond • Hiking Trails • Pets Permitted on Leash •

Office / Store Hours
For 2009, we are open May 15th to October 11th.

Reservations are taken starting February 2nd. Please see the Campsite Reservation Page and the Cottage / Cabin Reservation Page for detailed information. Please call for reservations during Office / Store hours or leave a message and we will get back to your during office hours.

Winter, October 16th 2008 to January 31st 2009 Hours:
We are closed, you can leave a phone message or send us an e-mail.

Pre-Season, February 2nd to May 14th:
We answer the phone and respond to e-mails. The property is still closed, visits are by appointment only.
Monday - Friday: 9:00AM - 5:00PM

In Season, May 15th to October 11th Hours:
We try to accommodate the needs of our on-site guests, and someone is always available
to help with problems or emergencies, but we do have limited office / store hours:
Monday - Saturday: 9:00AM - 6:00PM*
Sundays & Holidays: 10:00AM - 2:00PM
* We stay open until 9:00PM on Fridays for check-ins.

Please try to plan ahead for store needs and guest arrivals.

Scroll below to read some Virginia’s Beach guest comments

I wanted to drop an e-mail, now that we are home, to tell you what we thought of your campground. We stayed in one of the deluxe lakefront cottages and we were so impressed right off the bat by how new and clean the cottage was. The cottage had every convenience that we needed and was so completely spic and span! The loft was wonderfully spacious and nicely carpeted and our kids played and slept up there, leaving us free to have some quiet time to ourselves. We loved having our own private beach. The water was crystal clear and we could see way out into the lake. The kids and my husband and I swam every day, except for the one day that it rained. We had wonderful campfires every single night. In the mornings, we woke to the sound of the waves on the shore and nothing could be more relaxing. It was nice on the one very hot day that the cottage had AC and we enjoyed being able to be comfortable and not overheated. Most of the days, the cool lake breezes cooled the cottage enough for us. Strangely enough, that night it was so cool that we needed the heater and it worked flawlessly. We plan to come back next year, but for two weeks, not just one. It was a wonderful family experience. One thing that I thought was wonderful is that even though we came with three little children, and although our one son has autism, we felt safe and secure knowing that the cottage door locked and they could not leave in the middle of the night and get lost. This was an idyllic vacation and the price was just perfect. Thank you so much, see you next year. ____________________________________________________________ We returned yesterday after spending a week at your campground. We had a wonderful time there and I thought that I would send you a note to tell you so. First off, I was SO impressed by the cleanliness of our cottage. It has been my experience when renting a vacation place, that I find the place needs some cleaning when we arrive. I arrived prepared to do some scrubbing, but was so pleased to find the place spotless! Everything looked so clean and brand new. What a great way to start the week! We loved the location. My kids had a lot of fun swimming in the lake and we all enjoyed the view of the lake from our cottage. How nice to go to sleep hearing the waves crashing on the shore! I have 4 children (13, 11, 9 and 6) and they loved sleeping in the loft. They had plenty of room up there. Having a clothesline on the front porch was a great help. (I left behind clothespins that I hope future renters will be able to use.) I wanted to suggest that you might want to list Niagara Falls on your page of attractions to visit. Although it is not exactly local, it is definitely within the day trip range. We hadn't realized before we arrived in PA that it was that close, but when we found out, we planned a day for going there and also taking a short trip into Canada. I think that knowing that Niagara Falls is that close, would be a definite plus to people looking for a place to stay. Thanks for a great week! ____________________________________________________________ I work at an RV dealer and have had a lot customers recommend your campground. They were right. Very nice. Will likely be back mid September. How far in advance to get T1? ____________________________________________________________ I just want to thank you. I had a great time two weeks ago when we stayed in a cabin. I was very happy with it. We really enjoyed our week. I would come back in a minute if I could. People were very friendly. I just can’t say enough. I am very pleased. Thank you again. We stayed in the Green cabin near the water. I told so many people about your place. Thank you so much again. ____________________________________________________________ I wanted you to know how much my sister and I enjoyed our stay there in August. Everything was more than we had anticipated. We will definitely stay there again. Thanks for a perfect vacation spot. ____________________________________________________________ My name is Emily, and I stayed with my father and brother in one of your camp stations. I enjoyed the speed limit because it is true, little kids are wandering around. I thought the sunset was beautiful, and the short walk to the portable-pottys and bath house was great because I love to camp, and sometimes places aren't as nice as yours, and well, I really liked your camp/beach, and I definitely plan to come back! I have clearly read the short and simple rules, and since I know them, I will inform all of my friends with your website and location because I had an EXCELLENT stay, and I also liked that your "small" gift shop profits go to the hospital! I definitely plan on coming back for a longer stay, so I can do more fun activities! (P.S. the visor I bought, I wear it all the time!)

Click here for Fishing and Boating Weather Information

Virginia’s Beach
Lakefront Cottages & Camping
352 Holliday Road • P.O. Box 72
North Springfield, PA 16430
(814) 922-3261

GPS Coordinates: 42.00500, -80.44103

, and you are visitor number:

Click here to bookmark this site.