Camping options surrounding Amherst, New York provide convenient access to Niagara Falls while offering family-friendly accommodations throughout the region. Located in Erie County with elevations around 600 feet above sea level, the area experiences four distinct seasons with warm summers and cold winters. Most campgrounds in the region operate seasonally from May through October, with limited availability outside this window due to western New York's snowfall patterns.
What to do
Explore Niagara Falls: The campgrounds provide convenient access to Niagara Falls, typically within 15-30 minutes by car. Four Mile Creek State Park Campground offers an added benefit as one camper notes, "Comes with state park parking pass to park free and access to town shuttle."
Visit Fort Niagara: Located about 5 minutes from Four Mile Creek State Park Campground, this historic fort offers educational tours and demonstrations. The campground serves as "a nice place to camp if you are looking to explore the surrounding region" according to a reviewer.
Enjoy water recreation: Many campgrounds offer fishing opportunities in stocked ponds. At Sleepy Hollow Lake Campground, visitors have access to "a huge lake to swim in, a salt water pool, fitness center" and more amenities that make it popular for extended stays.
Take scenic drives: The region features beautiful drives along Lake Ontario. From Niagara County Camping Resort, one camper mentions the campground is "relatively close to scenic drives along Lake Ontario & Niagra State Park, Niagra Falls."
What campers like
Clean facilities: Campgrounds near Amherst receive consistent praise for cleanliness. At HTR Niagara Campground, one visitor reported, "The bathrooms were seriously nicer than most home bathrooms. Beautiful! Grounds were very well kept & staff friendly."
Swimming options: Multiple pools and swimming areas rank high on camper satisfaction lists. At HTR Niagara Campground, a reviewer appreciated the "3 pools and brand new playground. We have little kids and they were just as entertained as all the big kids."
Convenient park arrangements: Many campgrounds offer direct booking services for Niagara Falls attractions. Niagara Falls/Grand Island KOA Holiday provides direct tourism assistance, with one camper noting, "You can schedule tours of the falls in the office. Tour bus stops at office."
Variety of accommodations: The region offers numerous glamping options beyond traditional tent sites. At Niagara Falls/Grand Island KOA Holiday, one camper appreciated the "easy access to site and local attractions" with sites that include "rock bed for the sites, you are escorted to site."
What you should know
Seasonal operation: Most campgrounds operate from May through October. At Darien Lakes State Park Campground, the season runs "May 6 to October 16" according to park information.
Varying site privacy: Site layouts and privacy differ significantly between campgrounds. One camper at Niagara Falls North/Lewiston KOA described it as "a nice little park that needs some TLC" while noting "the bathrooms and showers were very clean."
Limited off-season availability: Winter camping options are extremely limited. For summer visits, a camper at Darien Lakes State Park noted it was "clean and well maintained. We were there on a weekday, told weekends are busy. Not buggy."
Electrical considerations: Some campgrounds have electrical limitations. At Niagara County Camping Resort, a long-term camper observed "the low voltage power would trip our EMS. Power went to as low as 109 volts that I saw."
Tips for camping with families
Look for dedicated kid activities: Choose campgrounds with specific children's amenities. Letchworth State Park Campground offers "a stellar playground where anyone under 9 years of age should get a great workout" alongside "many hiking trails, an old-school fitness path" according to one visitor.
Consider off-peak timing: For a quieter experience with children, avoid holiday weekends. One Four Mile Creek visitor noted, "It had a lot of joyful kid activity on the weekend, but quieted down like a library on the Monday night we stayed over."
Verify pet policies: Many campgrounds welcome pets but require documentation. At Four Mile Creek, one camper mentioned, "Dog friendly but bring proof of rabies vac."
Check proximity to attractions: Some family-friendly campgrounds are closer to Niagara Falls than others. Six Flags Darien Lake Campground combines camping with amusement park access, with one visitor noting, "Campground fees include admission to the theme park."
Tips from RVers
Site leveling varies: Be prepared with leveling blocks at some locations. At Niagara Falls North/Lewiston KOA, a camper found "gravel sites. Easy pull through sites" but at other campgrounds, you may find "many are not very level."
Some campgrounds offer escorts: Several RV-friendly campgrounds provide site guidance. At Niagara Falls/Grand Island KOA Holiday, "you are escorted to site" according to a reviewer who also appreciated the "easy access to local attractions."
Verify hookup capacity: Check electrical service details before booking. Sites at Niagara Falls/Grand Island KOA Holiday have been upgraded with "internet is really good and has been upgraded recently with 2 G and 5G access."
Check for big rig accessibility: Not all campgrounds accommodate larger RVs. Letchworth State Park Campground offers "a wide variety of campsites, all reservable online, which can accommodate lots of different types of camping, large RV's, small tents, and everything in between."
