Lake Cody
Elida, Ohio
Verified · 3 independent sources
- WATER
- lake
- ACCESS
- Designated swim area
- FEE
- Yes, see below
- SEASON
- May
About Lake Cody
Lake Cody is a 15-acre stocked lake with a private swimming beach at a family-owned RV campground in Elida, Ohio, near Cairo and West Cairo. The swimming hole has an unusual origin: the lake was created decades ago when U.S. Route 30 was rerouted through the Miller family farm, and the site has given campers a lake to swim in since 1972, when it began operating as a campground and swim beach.
The lake sits within a 130-site RV campground in rural northwest Ohio (Allen County), ringed by a mile-long walking path and surrounded by campsites with full hookups. It is a man-made lake resulting from highway construction rather than a wild natural feature.
Swimming at Lake Cody
Swimming takes place at a designated private beach on the stocked lake, marketed by the campground as a family-friendly amenity alongside fishing. No first-hand accounts describing water clarity, depth, or bottom conditions were found.
How to get to this swimming hole
Located at 5775 Ottawa Rd, Elida, OH 45807, roughly 1.5 miles from Cairo and 1.7 miles from West Cairo, Ohio.
The hike in
A mile-long paved/gravel walk-bike path circles the lake for recreation, but no hike is needed to reach the swim beach itself, it's a short walk from campsites/parking.
Plan your visit
Bringing kids
OK with supervision
Marketed as a family campground (site capacity is capped at 2 adults + 3 children), but no lifeguard, shallow-entry, or depth information was found for the beach. Public swim window is limited to specific hours, so supervise children and confirm current conditions with the campground office.
Parking
Lot
This is a 130-site RV campground; parking is at individual campsites. No separate day-use parking lot, fee, or arrangement for non-camping swim visitors was found published online.
Restrooms
Yes
Campground restrooms and showers are listed as an on-site amenity (per Campspot listing); exact building location relative to the beach was not specified online.
Hours
Campground/lake operates seasonally May 1 through September 30. Public swimming at the beach is limited to Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, Noon to 7 pm, weather permitting (per lakecody.com/services).
On the water
No published information was found describing kayak, canoe, paddleboard, or motorboat policies for this private lake. The site markets the lake for 'swimming and fishing' only; watercraft use is neither confirmed allowed nor confirmed prohibited.
What regulars say
Recent camper reviews sketch the scene: one guest (May 2026) said, 'Rain made some low spots on campsites. Loved walking around the lake and fishing. Everyone was nice,' rating the stay 3/5 and citing wet ground after rain; another (May 2026) praised 'pleasant staff and well kept grounds' (5/5); a third (July 2026) rated staff, value, and location 5/5. None of the available reviews specifically discuss water clarity, crowding at the beach, or the swimming experience itself.
Backstory
The lake was created circa 1972 when U.S. Route 30 was rerouted through the Miller family's farmland; Cody and Nedra Miller then established the campground and swimming beach. Their daughter Beth and her husband Tim Spradlin have operated it since 1996, making it a family-run business for over 50 years.
Lake Cody: FAQ
Does Lake Cody charge a fee?
Access is restricted to registered campground guests; camping is booked nightly, weekly, monthly, or seasonally via the Campspot reservation platform. No separate published day-use swim fee was found.
Is Lake Cody kid friendly?
Marketed as a family campground (site capacity is capped at 2 adults + 3 children), but no lifeguard, shallow-entry, or depth information was found for the beach. Public swim window is limited to specific hours, so supervise children and confirm current conditions with the campground office.
Do I need to hike to reach Lake Cody?
No significant hike is required. The swimming area is close to parking and access.
Where do I park for Lake Cody?
This is a 130-site RV campground; parking is at individual campsites. No separate day-use parking lot, fee, or arrangement for non-camping swim visitors was found published online.
When is the best time to visit Lake Cody?
May through September (the campground's published operating season).
What are the rules at Lake Cody?
Private property operated as a commercial campground; the swimming beach is a guest amenity rather than a public access site. Open seasonally May 1 through September 30.
