102 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Campgrounds in the Adams, New York area range from established state parks to dispersed primitive sites. The region includes several developed camping areas along Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River, including Sun Outdoors Association Island and Southwick Beach State Park. Most developed campgrounds in the area offer a mix of tent sites, RV hookups, and cabin accommodations. Waterfront camping predominates, with several campgrounds providing direct access to beaches, swimming areas, and boat launches along Lake Ontario's eastern shore.
Seasonal considerations heavily influence camping options, with most developed campgrounds operating from May through early October. Many facilities close after Columbus Day weekend due to harsh winter conditions. Reservation requirements vary by location, with state parks typically requiring advance bookings during peak summer months while some smaller campgrounds offer first-come, first-served sites. Road access throughout the region generally remains good during the operating season, with paved roads leading to most established campgrounds. Facilities at campgrounds range from primitive to full-service, with water and electric hookups available at many locations. A visitor noted that "Lake Ontario is an amazing lake to be on and the water is pretty warm in the summer time. The waves don't get too big, so it is very safe for kids."
Waterfront camping receives consistently high ratings from visitors to the Adams area. Campers frequently mention the spectacular sunsets over Lake Ontario as a highlight of their stay, particularly at sites directly facing the water. Several campgrounds feature full hookup sites positioned along the shoreline, allowing for optimal views and easy water access. Public beaches at state parks provide swimming opportunities with some featuring lifeguards during peak season. Wind conditions can occasionally impact comfort at lakeside sites, as one camper reported: "Overall, our trip to this campground on an island was awesome! The sunsets were spectacular and our site was literally just steps from Lake Ontario... Being right on the lake and on the west facing side allowed for the prevailing winds to be felt. One night we couldn't sit outside due to the high winds."
"The sunsets were spectacular and our site was literally just steps from Lake Ontario. All sites are full hook up. Wifi is available and fairly good."
"Great location offering both sunrise and sunsets over the water of Lake Ontario. Loved the access to the water for our dogs to swim and for beautiful views."
from $53 - $116 / night
Check Availability"There is TONS of beach to explore at this little State Park in New York. I used to visit here as a kid years ago because my grandparents owned a cottage on the lake."
"Favorites are the beachfront sites, access to the beach and beautiful Lake Ontario. Small campground but very nice."
from $24 - $39 / night
Check Availability"You can get campsites along Lake Ontario where you can see amazing sunsets."
"Nice hiking trail as well."
from $24 - $200 / night
Check Availability"The campsite appears to be the trailhead for a man-made trail. It rained while we were here but overall the campsite was quiet and peaceful."
"I love everyone riding around on golf carts"
from $65 - $999 / night
Check Availability"This is a hub for several snow mobile, cross country ski, and snow shoe trails. Several folks visited on Saturday and Sunday to enjoy the last bit of the snow."
"Lake Ontario has great fishing. The beach is smaller than it was before now that it is guarded."
"Very nice rustic camping, amazing location, rocky beach. Love it there"
from $28 - $135 / night
Check Availability"A great park on Sandy Pond and Lake Ontario. Mostly Permanent sites with 6 transient sites overlooking the marina. "
"Right on Lake Ontario and proximity to Saint Lawrence attractions make this a busy place. Its basically a field woth campsites."
"Almost always a breeze and storms can come up quickly off the lake - be sure to keep things put away and weighted down, and be ready to “batten down the hatches” as my dad used to say!"
from $21 - $30 / night
Check Availability
ScoutVery nice campground, pool is awesome when it’s hot and, the water’s edge of the campground is beautiful, expect noise. Not a quiet place. From fellow campers to boats and sirens. No tru till station just a water line when you enter. Also check sites out was extremely up hill. Camper barely cleared.
GuideWe had a great stay at Oneida Shores Campground. Over the weekend it was nearly full, but it never felt crowded. The other campers were friendly and there were no issues. At 10 pm, it got very quiet, no issues. The newly paved sites are level. The grounds are well kept. I wouldn't say the sites were too close together. We had plenty of room. The tent area is shaded by trees, the rv section is not. We encountered several park employees, all were very friendly and helpful. Never saw any geese. The only negative is that the showers and restrooms need a deep clean and upgrade, but they were serviceable.
GuideWe found this little gem when planning our trip. It is owned & operated by a Patrick who works very hard to keep it in great condition. There are at least twenty RV sites with thirty amp & some with fifty amp power all with full hookups. He also has several vacation rental cabins on the site, some of which he has built. All this is located right on the shores of lake Ontario about six miles from Oswego NY. Great lake views. An inground in pool, restrooms and showers all kept clean & in great condition. On-site firewood at a good price. Very short walk to a restaurant offering seafood sandwiches/ platters as well as burgers etc with lots of lakeside seating. Also a fantastic Ice-cream shop with dozens of flavors within 2 minutes walk. Well worth staying. We will return.
ScoutIts a small park with lots of campers that park year round. Super friendly golf cart riding community always ready to help out. Wifi isnt the best, but it was quiet and peaceful.
GuideVery nice night spent at Winona State Forest with my boyfriend and our dog, Michelob. Lots of horseflies and mosquitoes but big spray did help and the fire. We have a truck bed tent we used for this trip and a canopy tent to put all of our stuff under. Each site does have a fire pit of some sort.
TravelerWe thought the campground was beautiful, tight to your neighbors on majority of sites, and lack of trash cans for pet waste especially since the campground is so big. It has ball field, 2 playgrounds, rec room, camp store, lake Ontario to swim, trails for multi use, and pavillions. Down fall for us was small site , lack of trash cans to toss pet waste, not being told about fill station because there is no water faucets like most state parks along campground. We were there for first time so not familiar with park. Office did not offer us a map to get to our site or clue us in on filling our tank prior to parking camper. Main gate personnel not on same information. bathrooms could be cleaned more often. bathhouse building is all gender with bathrooms on one side of building and showers on other. Bathroom and showers are private space rooms. Beach is very rocky with little sand area. Life guards only guard one side of beach making everyone crowded to one side
ScoutNot very welcoming at night. Kinda creepy.
TravelerThe campground facilities are very outdated. That's most likely due to the majority of "campers" having RV's and not needing to use the facilities. The restrooms/dish sink area Only having Cold water to wash up hands & dishes, the 1 and Only shower area for All 3 Loops reminded me of being in a horror film...full of dead insects everywhere, ther are signs posted letting you know its gonna take about 5 minutes to semi-heat up, and the shower spray directly on the floor vs staying contained withvh
ScoutThe problems started before we even arrived. When I called to make a reservation, the owner was rude and impatient, repeatedly complaining that he couldn't hear me, despite me having full service. I discovered cell service at the campground was spotty, which made his attitude even more frustrating in hindsight. I told him it would be us and our dog, his immediate response was,"IT'S NOT A PIT BULL, IS IT?" in a hostile tone. I said no, she's an American Staffordshire, and my husband's service dog. He rudely replied that it was"THE SAME THING" and that they have breed restrictions. When I asked whether he was denying us, he avoided answering and demanded"legal paperwork" for her. I told him that no such paperwork exists, but she is trained to perform a task. He completed the reservation, took my payment, gave us a site number, and hung up. Since the office was closed and we had already been assigned a site number and paid, we assumed we could go directly to our site and finish any details in the morning. While setting up, the owner drove over and confronted us for not reporting to the office first. He then demanded proof of rabies vaccination, which is reasonable. We apologized that we had forgotten the paperwork and said we'd email it to him first thing in the morning. We were extremely annoyed that we saw multiple pit bulls as soon as we pulled in the campground. The next morning, we emailed the records to the campground around 10:10 AM, exactly as promised, as soon as our vet's office had opened. About 11:00, the owner left a voicemail demanding that we leave the property immediately because he had not received the paperwork. I called back and asked him to check his email again, he accused me of sending it to the wrong address. I told him that if he still couldn't find it after checking again, I would come to the office once I was dressed. 30 minutes later, he left another voicemail saying he had escalated it to the sheriff's office because we had not complied. Meanwhile, my husband was already walking to the office to handle things and the owner informed him that we were no longer welcome and that he had called the sheriff's office. Again, my husband told them to check their spam folder, and the email had been there all along. We communicated throughout the entire process and did exactly what we said we would do. The owner's son was far more reasonable and they did apologize, but it didn't make the situation right. The sites were tight, muddy, unlevel, and had awkwardly placed hookups. We were packed so close together that the row behind us overlapped the rear of our camper by a few feet. We had to share water with the neighboring site through a splitter at the spigot. We didn't use the restrooms or amenities because after our interactions with management, we felt completely unwelcome. We only stayed because we were in town for our grandson's first birthday and couldn't find another campground on such short notice.
Camping near Adams, New York offers access to freshwater beaches, extensive trail systems, and natural areas along Lake Ontario's eastern shore. The region experiences warm summers with average temperatures around 80°F and cold winters with lake effect snow averaging 150-200 inches annually. Most campgrounds in the area operate seasonally from mid-May through early October due to the harsh winter conditions.
Beach activities on Lake Ontario: At Sun Outdoors Association Island, campers can access shoreline for swimming and paddling. "We were able to drop our kayaks right in the water in front of our rig and paddle to our heart's content. The water is clear and cool," notes one visitor.
Wildlife observation: The forest and wetland areas provide habitats for diverse bird species. At Winona State Forest, primitive camping puts you close to nature. "Overall a good free quiet place to camp," reports a camper who appreciated the solitude and natural setting.
Fishing opportunities: The waters around Adams offer excellent fishing. At Brennans Bay Campground and Marina, you can access both Sandy Pond and Lake Ontario. "Great area for fishing, bass, trout, salmon and walleye," according to a recent visitor.
Waterfront views: Many campgrounds offer direct lake access with memorable sunsets. "Everywhere you look its beautiful Lake Ontario. A campground that should be added to your bucket list," shares a visitor to Southwick Beach State Park Campground.
Clean facilities: State parks maintain their amenities well. "Bathrooms were immaculate," notes one camper at Southwick Beach, while another mentioned, "The sites are a little on the smaller side and it was a little crowded. The campground was clean and staff friendly."
Family recreation areas: Many campgrounds include playgrounds and recreational facilities. "The park has a nice pool, pavilion, store and kids playground with a basketball court," explains a camper at Brennans Bay Campground and Marina.
Seasonal weather conditions: The area experiences rapid weather changes, especially near the lake. At Selkirk Shores State Park Campground, a camper advises, "Be sure to keep things put away and weighted down, and be ready to 'batten down the hatches' as my dad used to say!"
Site variations: Campgrounds typically offer different loops or sections with varying atmospheres. "This campground is 4 different loops- A loop is like the loop for people here for fishing, B loop is the mellower crowd, and C and D were our nightmares: mass chaos, children running amok, loud groups."
Limited privacy: Many campgrounds have open layouts. "None of the sites at the campground have any privacy from your neighbor, you're all sort of camped in a big circle," reports a camper at Selkirk Shores State Park.
Look for educational programs: Some parks offer structured activities. "While we were there they had a reptile exhibit with huge snakes and crocodiles, another day they had tie dyeing t-shirts, other days they had bingo(candy was the prize), exercises, and crafty things to make."
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Adams, NY?
According to TheDyrt.com, Adams, NY offers a wide range of camping options, with 102 campgrounds and RV parks near Adams, NY and 8 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Adams, NY?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Adams, NY is Sun Outdoors Association Island with a 4.3-star rating from 15 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Adams, NY?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 8 free dispersed camping spots near Adams, NY.
Keep Exploring
