Lake Ontario camping near Henderson, New York offers direct access to one of the Great Lakes with significant seasonal weather variations. The region experiences strong winds, especially during spring and fall, with summer water temperatures typically ranging from 65-75°F. Campsites surrounding Henderson provide options from rustic tent camping to full-service RV resorts with concrete pads and marina access.
What to do
Fishing opportunities: Several campgrounds provide access to premier fishing locations. At Sun Outdoors Association Island, visitors enjoy exceptional fishing directly from their sites. "This place is amazing! It's not fancy but the location is spectacular... 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 Donna C.
Water activities: Campers at Southwick Beach State Park Campground appreciate the extensive beach area. "BEST beach in CNY-sandbar goes on forever-campsites roomy and well taken care of-bathrooms are meticulously cleaned," explains Theresa F. The park offers swimming, kayaking, and paddleboarding on Lake Ontario.
Local exploration: The 1000 Islands region provides numerous day trip opportunities. Matt S. from Sun Outdoors Association Island recommends: "Within an hours drive of lots of cute, small river towns with tons of ambiance. Water sport potential was huge if you have your own watercraft (boats, jet ski, kayaking, etc). Many state parks and historical areas as well. Highly recommend a boat tour of the St. Lawrence River!"
What campers like
Waterfront camping: At Long Point State Park Campground, campers appreciate the direct lake access. Britt B. reports, "The campground has its own boat ramp and dock. You can easily launch kayaks right from your campsite. It can get quite windy on the point so take a wind break or shelter."
Sunrise and sunset views: Lake Ontario provides spectacular sky views from many campsites. "Small island that you get to by a causeway. You'll never see more beautiful sunrises and sunsets!" shares Keri from Sun Outdoors Association Island. For optimal viewing, April L. adds: "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."
Family-friendly amenities: Playgrounds and organized activities enhance family glamping close to Henderson, New York. At Yogi Bears Jellystone Park Camp Resort, "This campground offers so much for people of all ages: Crafts, Games, Activities, Playground, Pool, Bouncy pillow, Twice Daily wagon rides with Yogi and Boo Boo, Bike parades," according to Cory W.
What you should know
Weather considerations: Lake Ontario can experience rapid weather changes. Tracey G. warns about the bug situation: "One HUGE downfall was the amount of BUGS! Millions (not exaggerating) of midges and mayflies swarming the grounds from Lake Ontario. Be prepared to deal with this as we were not and had to vacuum inside the RV every night for about an hour to get rid of them inside."
Site selection matters: Some campgrounds have significant variation between sites. At Burnham Point State Park Campground, "Campsite is very clean and peaceful. Bugs are a minimum. Bathrooms are great- showers with nice and hot water. Down sides- lake front campsites are all on a slope- minimum flat space. Also- depending on day- EXTREMELY VERY WINDY AND COLD! But the view is beautiful," notes BEN B.
Reservation timing: Premium waterfront sites book quickly, especially during summer months. Robert M. from Brennan Beach Campground advises, "We went late summer show it was becoming offseason. Most amenities close down. Pool, swimming at Lake Ontario beach, etc.. well kept campground. Staff was extremely friendly and helpful."
Tips for camping with families
Water safety: Lake Ontario has variable conditions requiring supervision. Emily C. from Southwick Beach explains, "Beautiful new buildings on site, variety of campsites. Favorites are the beachfront sites, access to the beach and beautiful Lake Ontario. Small campground but very nice."
Kid-friendly activities: Schedule around organized events at family-oriented campgrounds. "The campground was clean and staff was super nice. Organized the Halloween activities nicely. Yogi and the characters were very involved," reports Justin F., adding that Jellystone Park offers safe biking areas since "there weren't golf carts located at this campground."
Playground access: Many campgrounds feature playground facilities. At 1000 Islands Campground, Sara H. notes, "My son loved the playground. Right behind gals ice cream. Park was clean! Bathrooms were nice. We didn't have any issues at all!"
Tips from RVers
Level sites: Concrete pads at some resorts provide optimal leveling. Raymond C. from Swan Bay Resort appreciates "Blacktop roads, cement pads, big rig friendly, tiki bar, and a professional, polite, and efficient staff make this a great campground."
Wind protection: Lake Ontario winds can damage awnings and equipment. A seasonal camper at Swan Bay Resort mentioned losing three awnings to wind. Nancy W. advises, "So, don't leave your awning out when you leave your camper and beware of winds if you want to be on the water."
Hookup options: Full hookups aren't universal at all campgrounds. Justin F. notes about Jellystone: "What I didn't enjoy as much: 1) The sites were muddy, especially when it had recently rained. 2) the dog park was a walking area, not a fenced in yard 3) No sewer hookups available but does had a dump station on your way out."
