Four Mile Creek State Park and Golden Hill State Park offer distinct camping experiences along Lake Ontario, approximately 30 miles north of Gasport, New York. The area features a humid continental climate with warm summers and cold winters. Camping season typically runs from May through October, with most parks closing for winter due to snow accumulation averaging 75-100 inches annually in the region.
What to do
Disc golf on lakeside course: Golden Hill State Park has a well-maintained disc golf course running along Lake Ontario. "Lots of history at this place," mentions Meag F., who recommends visiting "for a day hike or a nice game of frisbee golf" while enjoying the historic lighthouse grounds.
Fishing opportunities: Multiple parks near Gasport provide fishing options. At Four Mile Creek State Park Campground, campers can fish in designated areas. According to Stacia R., "We camped at site 161 which was fairly shaded and had a large open field with a view of Lake Ontario. Sunsets were beautiful and a lot of campers come to the lake in the evening to watch it."
Visit Niagara Falls: Most campgrounds provide convenient access to Niagara Falls, located about 30-50 minutes from Gasport. Evan from Four Mile Creek notes, "About 30 minutes from Niagara Falls. Staff inside office were very friendly—gave many trail suggestions and good tips for navigating the city. Comes with state park parking pass to park free and access to town shuttle."
What campers like
Clean facilities: Campgrounds in the area maintain good standards for bathrooms and shower facilities. At Branches of Niagara Campground, "the bathrooms were seriously nicer than most home bathrooms. Beautiful!" according to Erin H., who adds, "Grounds were very well kept & staff friendly."
Lake views and sunsets: The shoreline position of many campgrounds offers exceptional sunset viewing. Laura Nicole A. notes that at Four Mile Creek, "the sunsets you'll catch on Lake Ontario are some of the best you'll see. You can't swim off the ledges, but this place is worth it."
Family-friendly amenities: HTR Niagara Campground (formerly Branches of Niagara) provides numerous facilities for children. "This was the most perfect family campground we've been to... They have every amenity you could need and the grounds are pristine. Our favorites were the 3 pools and brand new playground," reports L W.
What you should know
Limited swimming access: Despite proximity to Lake Ontario, swimming options vary by location. Four Mile Creek does not permit lake swimming, and as Stacia mentions, "I would consider it to have few recreational activities such as hiking, etc., but a nice place to camp if you are looking to explore the surrounding region."
Seasonal operations: Most campgrounds operate from May through October. Darien Lakes State Park Campground runs from "May 6 to October 16," providing a "quiet escape" according to Jeremy H., who describes it as "a nicely kept, clean and quiet gem" with "miles of hiking trails, nice lakes to fish and swim in."
Varied site privacy: Site seclusion differs across parks. Ashley B. notes that Four Mile Creek has "great sites, secluded from neighbors. Nice trails to hike," while others mention more open arrangements at different campgrounds.
Tips for camping with families
Choose loops strategically: At Golden Hill State Park Campground, select your site based on preferred experience. Jay B. notes it's a "peaceful facility" that is "clean and well maintained" with "a Frisbee gulf course, basketball court, fishing, boat launch available."
Consider off-peak visits: Weekdays offer quieter experiences than weekends. Leah L. reports that at Golden Hill, "The campground was quiet at night. The Niagara Wine trail is close to this campground, and Niagara Falls is about a 50 minute drive away."
Pack for variable weather: Lake Ontario creates unpredictable conditions even in summer. Temperature swings of 20 degrees can occur within hours when lake breezes shift, requiring layers and rain gear for comfortable glamping in Gasport, New York area parks.
Tips from RVers
Electrical considerations: At Niagara County Camping Resort, Gary P. experienced electrical challenges: "Our problem was that the low voltage power would trip our EMS. Power went to as low as 109 volts that I saw." He recommends voltage protection for sensitive electronics.
Accessibility varies: Some parks offer better RV accommodations than others. Adam R. notes that Golden Hill "is big rig friendly" and features "well kept" amenities, making it suitable for larger recreational vehicles.
Parking benefits: Four Mile Creek provides useful perks for RV campers visiting attractions. SkipperAllen C. explains, "One perk we were not aware of was free parking at one of the three New York park parking lots with our campground pass," which can save significant costs during Niagara Falls visits.
