104 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
The eastern shore of Lake Ontario shapes the camping landscape around Ellisburg, New York, with multiple state parks and private campgrounds offering waterfront access. Southwick Beach State Park Campground, located in nearby Woodville, provides tent and RV sites with beach access and is particularly popular for family camping from May through October. Sun Outdoors Association Island in Henderson Harbor offers a unique island camping experience with full hookup sites and views of Lake Ontario sunsets. Winona State Forest, west of Ellisburg, provides more primitive tent camping options for those seeking a quieter experience. Most campgrounds in the region accommodate both tent and RV camping, with many offering cabin rentals and some featuring glamping options for those wanting additional comfort.
Camping seasons in this region typically run from May through mid-October, with most facilities closing during the harsh winter months. Advance reservations are strongly recommended, especially for waterfront sites which fill quickly during summer weekends and holidays. Lake Ontario's weather patterns create distinctive camping conditions, with campers reporting strong winds at lakeside sites. According to one visitor at Sun Outdoors Association Island, "The Midge gnats were horrible for about a day and a half... you could not walk outside without being swarmed." Many campgrounds feature well-maintained facilities with modern bathrooms and showers. Road access is generally good throughout the region, with most campgrounds accessible via paved roads suitable for larger RVs and trailers.
Waterfront sites consistently receive the highest ratings from campers, with many visitors highlighting Lake Ontario views as a primary attraction. A camper at Southwick Beach State Park noted, "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." Family-friendly amenities are common, with many parks offering playgrounds, swimming areas with lifeguards, and hiking trails. Privacy varies significantly between campgrounds, with some offering well-spaced sites while others feature more open layouts. Wildlife sightings are common, with raccoons frequently mentioned in reviews. Most campgrounds provide fire rings and picnic tables, with firewood available for purchase on-site or from nearby vendors.
"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 $20 - $35 / night
Check Availability"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 $24 - $135 / 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."
"Very nice thousand trail campgrounds. Very large I believe it's 1300 + sites. We went late summer show it was becoming offseason. Most amenities close down."
"A lot of locals camp here seasonally, and if you're not from around there, you'll stick out. We had a few awkward interactions but nothing serious. Mostly just funny."
"A great park on Sandy Pond and Lake Ontario. Mostly Permanent sites with 6 transient sites overlooking the marina. "
"You can get campsites along Lake Ontario where you can see amazing sunsets."
"Nice hiking trail as well."
from $20 - $200 / night
Check Availability"For the fisherman, it's located on Salmon River and appears to have quite a lot of large salmon this time of year. I was shocked at the size of the fish that were being cleaned."
"Well worth the short drive up from Syracuse, or a longer drive from elsewhere!"
"Open field to walk the dog or for children. Lake Ontario a short walk away, the lake level flooding a few yrs ago ruined the sandy beach,but it's still a great view."
"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."
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.
ScoutNice close packed little campground just thr sites by the lake can sometimes be under water.
TravelerGood place to fish and stay. Good welcoming friendly host also. Well come back
TravelerGreat 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. Nice sites and some on the water with docks and a boat ramp.
Camping near Ellisburg, New York centers around the western edge of the Tug Hill region where elevations reach 2,000 feet and winter snowfall can exceed 200 inches annually. During camping season (May-October), temperature ranges typically span 50-80°F with higher humidity near Lake Ontario shores. The area features a mix of state-managed and private camping facilities with varying levels of development.
Fishing opportunities: Lake Ontario and nearby waterways offer abundant fishing. At Brennans Bay Campground and Marina, one visitor noted it's a "great area for fishing, bass, trout, salmon and walleye." The campground provides direct marina access for boaters.
River activities: The Little Salmon River running through Yogi Bears Jellystone Park Camp Resort at Mexico provides wading and exploration opportunities. As one camper shared, "The river is awesome, wading, catching crayfish, cooling off." Children particularly enjoy these shallow water activities.
Trail exploration: For hikers seeking quieter experiences, Winona State Forest offers primitive camping with access to trail systems. According to a recent visitor, the campsite "appears to be the trailhead for a man-made trail" and provides a peaceful base for forest exploration.
Waterfront views: Lake Ontario sunsets draw consistent praise from visitors. At Sun Outdoors Association Island, campers face west toward the lake where, as one reviewer described, "Our site was a pull in and we faced a western view of Lake Ontario. We were treated to gorgeous sunsets and minimal light pollution at night. The stars were everywhere."
Swimming conditions: Lake Ontario provides safe swimming areas at Southwick Beach State Park Campground, where the extensive beach area allows for spreading out even during busy periods. One camper highlighted the "BEST beach in CNY-sandbar goes on forever."
Campsite spacing: Site sizes vary significantly between campgrounds. At Westcott Beach State Park Campground, campers appreciate that "sites are huge" in the plateau area across from the main park. This contrasts with more crowded options elsewhere in the region.
Weather patterns: Lake Ontario creates variable conditions. Strong winds affect waterfront campsites, particularly on exposed shorelines. Visitors should secure tents properly and prepare for sudden changes.
Insect considerations: Seasonal insect hatches affect comfort levels. According to one camper at Sun Outdoors Association Island, "One HUGE downfall was the amount of BUGS! Millions (not exaggerating) of midges and mayflies swarming the grounds from Lake Ontario."
Flooding risk: Low-lying campsites can flood after rain. A recent visitor to Southwick Beach State Park Campground reported, "After it rained one night our site & others around us were completely flooded." Request higher elevation sites when available.
Water safety: Lake Ontario provides family-friendly swimming areas with gentle conditions at most beaches. Many campgrounds maintain supervised swimming areas during peak season.
Organized activities: Selkirk Shores State Park Campground offers extensive children's programming. One visitor mentioned 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."
Playground access: Multiple campgrounds feature updated play equipment. At Westcott Beach State Park, families appreciate the "nice new children's playground" located centrally within the camping loops.
Site selection: Reserve waterfront RV sites early, especially for summer weekends. According to a visitor at Ontario Shores RV Park, they offer "7 overnight pull thru full hookup sites with concrete patio. Sites are level and spacious."
Check-in assistance: Some campgrounds provide arrival guidance. At Sun Outdoors Association Island, "At check in they take you to your spot and help you get settled in. That is a marriage saver."
Access considerations: Most campgrounds near Ellisburg have paved or well-maintained gravel roads suitable for larger rigs. When selecting a campsite near Ellisburg, New York, confirm bridge weight limits when accessing island-based campgrounds like Association Island, which requires crossing a causeway.
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Ellisburg, NY?
According to TheDyrt.com, Ellisburg, NY offers a wide range of camping options, with 104 campgrounds and RV parks near Ellisburg, NY and 5 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Ellisburg, NY?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Ellisburg, NY is Sun Outdoors Association Island with a 4.3-star rating from 15 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Ellisburg, NY?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 5 free dispersed camping spots near Ellisburg, NY.
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