Best Campgrounds near Clayton, NY

The St. Lawrence River shapes the camping landscape around Clayton, New York, where several state parks and private campgrounds offer riverside accommodations. Cedar Point State Park Campground, located directly in Clayton, provides tent and RV sites with electric hookups and water access. Other notable options within 15 miles include Wellesley Island State Park, Burnham Point State Park, and various private facilities like Riverside Acres Campground, which offers cabins alongside traditional camping areas.

Most campgrounds in the region operate seasonally from May through mid-October, with peak season running June through August. Roads throughout the area are generally well-maintained and accessible for most vehicles. "The campground is deep in the woods with spacious camp sites. Very secluded. Take a walk down to the beach as well," notes one visitor about Cedar Point State Park. Advance reservations are strongly recommended, particularly for weekend stays and waterfront sites during summer months. Many campgrounds provide electric hookups and sanitary dump stations, though drinking water availability varies by location. Winter camping options are extremely limited due to harsh weather conditions and seasonal closures.

Waterfront campsites consistently rank as the most desirable developed campgrounds in the region, offering views of the St. Lawrence River and the Thousand Islands. Several campgrounds feature swimming areas, boat launches, and fishing access, making them popular with water recreation enthusiasts. Forested sites provide more shade and privacy than open riverside locations. Campers report that Cedar Point offers a good balance of wooded camping with water access. A visitor commented, "Wide assortment of sites and services. Waterfront sites don't have much shade but you get a great view." Wellesley Island State Park, though requiring a toll to access, offers larger sites and extensive recreational opportunities including hiking trails and a nature center. Families with children particularly appreciate the playgrounds and maintained beaches found at several state park camping areas.

Best Camping Sites Near Clayton, New York (59)

    1. Wellesley Island State Park Campground

    29 Reviews
    Thousand Island Park, NY
    6 miles
    Website
    +1 (315) 482-2722

    $24 - $188 / night

    "Our site is located adjacent to a mowed grass path that leads to the main road, close to the camp store. Beautiful area, lots of hiking and biking trails and swim area."

    "Walking areas. Access to water for swimming."

    2. Swan Bay Resort - The 1000 Islands Premier RV Park & Marina

    13 Reviews
    Thousand Island Park, NY
    7 miles
    Website
    +1 (315) 262-8297

    "It’s an easy mile from I-81 and just 10-minutes drive to Alexandria Bay downtown. The staff was great— friendly and helpful."

    "We paralleled Cayuga Lake (which is part of the Finger Lakes) for some time and then took the Great Lakes Seaway Trail."

    3. Cedar Point State Park Campground

    7 Reviews
    Clayton, NY
    6 miles
    Website
    +1 (315) 654-2522

    $24 - $37 / night

    "Just a short drive from Clayton, Alex Bay, Cape Vincent and Canada. there is something for everyone at cedar point; swimming, yoga, boating, docks and fishing."

    "Cedar Point is in a very nice location,our site that I booked was not in a ideal location being on the road to the boat launch, ( my fault ) Camping went fine until the last couple of days when people"

    4. Burnham Point State Park Campground

    7 Reviews
    Chaumont, NY
    10 miles
    Website
    +1 (315) 654-2324

    $27 - $30 / night

    "It's only about 10 miles from Clayton. We stayed here on a bicycle trip from Rochester to the Thousand Islands at the end of a 63 mile day."

    "Easy access to swim in the water. Very clean bathrooms

    Electric site with water

    Boat launch

    Plenty of tree to hang your hammock

    Very relax on the rules

    Small but quite"

    5. 1000 Islands Campground

    4 Reviews
    Thousand Island Park, NY
    5 miles
    Website
    +1 (315) 686-2600

    "Right behind gals ice cream. Park was clean! Bathrooms were nice. We didn’t have any issues at all!"

    "The campground is conveniently located near many of the attractions."

    6. Dewolf Point State Park Campground

    4 Reviews
    Thousand Island Park, NY
    8 miles
    Website
    +1 (315) 482-2012

    $21 - $74 / night

    7. Keewaydin State Park Campground

    6 Reviews
    Alexandria Bay, NY
    10 miles
    Website
    +1 (315) 482-3331

    $21 / night

    8. Kring Point State Park Campground

    8 Reviews
    Alexandria Bay, NY
    15 miles
    Website
    +1 (315) 482-2444

    $24 - $109 / night

    "Access to the water great for boating and swimming. Kring point has islands as well you can jump off the rocks into the water."

    "Water nearby, brand new bathrooms with showers and two kitchen clean up stations are a short walk away. Every site has a fire ring with a grill and picnic table."

    9. Grass Point State Park Campground

    3 Reviews
    Thousand Island Park, NY
    5 miles
    Website
    +1 (315) 686-4472

    $34 / night

    "But had stone steps to walk into the water. They had a life guard on duty. The playground was extremely nice! We will definitely camp there in the future."

    10. Riverside Acres Campground & Cottages

    1 Review
    Clayton, NY
    2 miles
    Website
    +1 (315) 686-4001

    "Wonderful location, great fishing very clean sites & bathrooms. Friendly staff. Fun for whole family."

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Recent Reviews near Clayton, NY

166 Reviews of 59 Clayton Campgrounds


  • Robert B.
    Oct. 7, 2025

    Cedar Point State Park Campground

    Very nice

    Cedar Point is in a very nice location,our site that I booked was not in a ideal location being on the road to the boat launch, ( my fault ) Camping went fine until the last couple of days when people starting walking through our site, looked liked a group of people who knew each other and we were in their way.

  • David H.
    Sep. 2, 2025

    Eel Weir State Park Campground

    Clean and vary nice area on river

    I love how it has great fishing and nice camp sites even let's you bring a boat nice clean showers and bathroom can easily find firewood near by as well..

  • Scott H.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 15, 2025

    1000 Islands Campground

    Close to Alexandria Bay

    We've camped there twice on extended weekends to visit the Bay and castles. Golf carts are welcome. The only issue was that people were not picking up after their dogs. We saw and had multiple dog piles in our campsite and on other parts of the campground.

    The ice cream shop Gals is wonderful!! PJs Ratrace had incredible fish fries. Both places are very near the campground.

  • Amandalynn P.
    Aug. 10, 2025

    Green Pond - Bonaparte State Forest

    Great little spot to get away

    This is our go to area close to town but still just want to get away from it all. DEC is nice and stop and talk to the campers. There is a doc down the road for boats and fishing!

  • E
    Aug. 5, 2025

    Wellesley Island State Park Campground

    Family of 4 Tent Camping

    We stayed at site Bluejay 3. Very spacious and private. We reserved the site 3 days prior and still found most waterfront campsites already reserved. Luckily, 2 waterfront sites were available at Bluejay 2 and 3 when we arrived, so we spent most of the time there fishing and canoeing. Bathrooms were a short walk down the road and mostly clean. Will certainly be back!

  • Carol B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 27, 2025

    Kring Point State Park Campground

    Waterfront sites with amenities

    I am tent camping and found my site (105) to have a couple of relatively level areas to choose to set up my tent on. This site is on Goose Bay, but the sites across the road are on the St Lawrence River just a few hundred feet away. Water nearby, brand new bathrooms with showers and two kitchen clean up stations are a short walk away. Every site has a fire ring with a grill and picnic table. Loons are calling, a mink scampered by on the flat rock shore 15’ away with a fish in its mouth. This place is quiet and peaceful. I will 100% return!


Guide to Clayton

Camping sites near Clayton, New York offer direct access to the St. Lawrence River and Thousand Islands region. The area contains both New York State Park campgrounds and private facilities, with most staying open from May to October when temperatures range from 55-80°F during summer months. Winter camping options are virtually nonexistent due to temperatures that regularly drop below freezing from November through March.

What to do

Fishing from shore: At Kring Point State Park Campground, almost every part of the park offers fishing access. "Great fishing from almost every part of this park. Two beaches to swim. Almost every campsite is on the water," notes Brian F.

Paddling opportunities: The St. Lawrence River provides excellent paddling conditions for canoes and kayaks. A visitor at Burnham Point State Park mentioned, "Paddling the St. Lawrence River was a highlight and it was also super convenient to be able to get work done via my hotspot right from our site."

Exploring hiking trails: Many campgrounds feature walking paths through wooded areas. At Wellesley Island State Park Campground, one camper recommended: "I really recommend heading to the nature center and following the trails there. The views are gorgeous and you get some great vistas."

Boat tours and castle visits: When staying at campgrounds in the region, day trips to historic sites are popular. "You're 10 min from Alexandria Bay. Boldt castle, singer castle, you can go on river cruises and view these beautiful islands and homes on them. Watch the cargo ships cruise the channel," explains a Wellesley Island visitor.

What campers like

Waterfront sites: Cedar Point State Park Campground features sites with direct water access. A visitor noted, "The campground was clean. The water view was amazing. The clear sky at night was wonderful for looking at the stars."

Spacious campsites: Many campgrounds in the area provide adequate room between sites. One Wellesley Island camper shared, "We stayed at site Bluejay 3. Very spacious and private. We reserved the site 3 days prior and still found most waterfront campsites already reserved."

Well-maintained facilities: State parks in the region typically feature clean amenities. A visitor at Grass Point State Park Campground commented, "Beautiful Grounds, Flowers, Clean Rest Rooms and Showers. Great Views. Friendly and Helpful State Park Workers!"

Swimming areas: Many campgrounds feature designated swim areas with varying facilities. A Kring Point visitor explained, "Two beaches to swim. Almost every campsite is on the water," while another camper at Grass Point observed, "The beach didn't really have any sand. But had stone steps to walk into the water. They had a life guard on duty."

What you should know

Reservation timing: Popular campgrounds fill quickly, especially waterfront sites. A Kring Point visitor warned, "It's so nice it's hard to reserve, because people grab it nine months in advance!"

Weather considerations: The St. Lawrence River area can experience significant winds. A Burnham Point camper noted, "Depending on day—extremely very windy and cold! But the view is beautiful."

Site selection importance: Some campgrounds have varying site quality. At 1000 Islands Campground, a visitor cautioned, "We arrived on July 5th for 5 nights. Our original site was listed at 55', but there was no way our 43' camper would fit, nor make the tight turn into it."

Limited privacy at some parks: Not all campgrounds offer secluded sites. One camper at Dewolf Point observed, "The sites are too close together. You can hear other campers conversation."

Tips for camping with families

Playground access: Many area campgrounds feature play equipment for children. A Cedar Point visitor mentioned, "The playground was well kept, and the playground was perfect for our kids (8 and younger)."

Protected swimming areas: Look for campgrounds with designated swim areas that offer safety features. At Swan Bay Resort, "There are 2 pools, a tiki bar, a food truck, and nice communal hang-out areas."

Recreation programs: Some parks offer organized activities for children. A visitor at Cedar Point noted, "One of the few state parks I have been to that offer a staffed rec hall with activities like scavenger hunts, art contests, and ping pong."

Family-friendly pricing: State parks typically offer more economical rates than private resorts. A Wellesley Island visitor remarked, "NYS may get tons of flack for its politics and politicians. However they're doing it all correct in their state parks. This park is amazing... Inexpensive I mean really inexpensive."

Tips from RVers

Hookup availability: Most campgrounds offer electric, but water and sewer connections vary. At Swan Bay Resort, "All of there sites are on slabs, neat and clean hook ups. There is riverviews from just about every site which is nice and then there are sites right on the river."

Site surface conditions: Different campgrounds feature varying pad types. At Wellesley Island, "All roads are paved with grass and gravel sites. We were on site H33 in the Heron Loop with 30A electric. There are water spigots around the loop to fill up your fresh tank before setting your jacks."

Facilities for larger rigs: Some campgrounds better accommodate bigger RVs than others. A visitor at Swan Bay Resort noted, "Great camp. Easy in and out for big rigs. Right on the St. Lawrence River. Many amenities to include 3 bay R.V. wash as well as car wash."

Seasonal pricing considerations: Rates can vary significantly between sites and seasons. One camper at Swan Bay explained, "This place is a bit pricey. What I spent here for 2 nights I could have stayed a week at a KOA, so I did pay for those beautiful river sunsets."

Frequently Asked Questions

What camping is available near Clayton, NY?

According to TheDyrt.com, Clayton, NY offers a wide range of camping options, with 59 campgrounds and RV parks near Clayton, NY and 5 free dispersed camping spots.

Which is the most popular campground near Clayton, NY?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Clayton, NY is Wellesley Island State Park Campground with a 4.4-star rating from 29 reviews.

Where can I find free dispersed camping near Clayton, NY?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 5 free dispersed camping spots near Clayton, NY.