Camping sites near Lewiston, New York are situated along the southwestern shore of Lake Ontario, with many campgrounds offering easy access to Niagara Falls within a 15-30 minute drive. The terrain consists primarily of flat, grassy areas with some wooded sections, and campgrounds in this region typically operate from April through October due to the area's cold winters and moderate summer temperatures averaging 75-80°F.
What to do
Explore Fort Niagara: Located just 5 minutes from Four Mile Creek State Park Campground, this historic site makes an easy day trip. "Fort Niagara is about 5 minutes away, the falls are 15-20 minutes away, and there are many farm stands and cute little towns nearby," noted camper Jen V.
Fishing opportunities: The pond at Niagaras Lazy Lakes Camping Resort offers catch-and-release fishing. "Big clubhouse, 2 heated pools and a pond to fish (catch & release). Sites are big," according to Connie J., who appreciates the variety of activities available.
Take advantage of free Falls parking: Many campgrounds provide complimentary parking passes to Niagara Falls attractions. "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," reports Evan from Four Mile Creek State Park.
Visit nearby Lockport: This charming town is worth the short drive from camp. "Another neat town to visit is Lockport, about 30 minutes away (Lake Effect Ice Cream is a must!). This is a very rural area, so the fresh produce stands are plentiful during the summer season," shares Jen V.
What campers like
Lakefront viewing areas: Campers at Daisy Barn Campground enjoy the Lake Ontario shoreline. "It is set right on beautiful Lake Ontario, across from the Toronto skyline. It's a quiet simple pretty place," notes Laura Nicole A. Another camper adds, "Between the camp spots and the lake was a giant green space- awesome for throwing a ball around with your pup!"
Clean facilities: Many reviewers highlight the cleanliness of campground bathrooms and showers. "Bathrooms were very nice, the store was small but ok, the staff were helpful, the pool looked decent although we didn't use it," mentions Fred J. about his stay at the Niagara Falls North/Lewiston KOA.
Family activities: HTR Niagara Campground (formerly Branches of Niagara) offers extensive recreation options. "Located a short drive to the Falls, on the 'less busy side', to boot! Sites for all types of camping available as well as nice new cabins and yurts for rent! There's a pretty large pond with a picnic island in the middle and a beach. Playground, mini golf, weekly free activities ranging from root beer float night to a traveling Birds of Prey show!" says Erin H.
Various site layouts: Four Mile Creek provides different camping experiences. "This is a friendly and clean state park campground where you can choose your own environmental experience. Camping with kids and enjoy interacting with other camping families? Then the 100 loop with large playground is for you!...Interested in a less social scene, then the 200 loop or the 300 loop might be for you," explains Paula.
What you should know
Site sizes vary widely: Niagara Falls/Grand Island KOA Holiday has space limitations. "The campground is very small. It makes for challenging entry and exit for Class A, especially if towing. Location is great for visiting Niagara Falls. Pool is not cleaned very often, lots of leaves. All gravel sites. Many are not very level," reports Santiago O.
Off-season options: Some campgrounds remain open year-round. "This campground is open year around which is really hard to find in this area. We needed to come here for personal reasons before any other campground was opened," notes Gary P. about AA Royal Motel & Campground.
Insects can be problematic: Be prepared for mosquitoes at certain locations. "The only issues we had were the absurd amount of mosquitoes literally all day long. They were relentless! Also there was a lot of mud in our campsite and others," warns Fred J. about his stay at the KOA in Lewiston.
Reservation timing: Many campgrounds fill quickly during peak season. "We arrived late and our site info was in the night drop so all good. It is right off the roadway so there is some road noise. However it is a heavily populated area and we just needed a layover place to base out of for our quick visit to Niagara falls," shares Thomas S. about timing his visit to avoid crowds.
Tips for camping with families
Choose the right camping loop: At Four Mile Creek, some areas are more family-friendly than others. "Camping with kids and enjoy interacting with other camping families? Then the 100 loop with large playground (lots of sites with electric hookups, though not a lot of shade) is for you!" advises Paula.
Take advantage of tours: Cinderella Motel & Campsite offers a convenient location for Niagara Falls tours. "We were able to book a tour to Niagara Falls through the campground and it picked us up at the campground," mentions Glynnis A., noting the convenience for families with children.
Consider seasonal activities: Many campgrounds host special events. "I enjoyed the wine tasting and flea market. It was pretty quiet at night, which is nice as we are early risers. The sites were pretty close together, but since everyone was friendly it wasn't a huge deal," reports Stephanie B. about her stay at Niagara's Lazy Lakes.
Look for multiple swimming options: Some campgrounds provide both pools and natural water features. "This was the most perfect family campground we've been to. The staff is very nice and they're always outside working and helping. Our favorites were the 3 pools and brand new playground. We have little kids and they were just as entertained as all the big kids," notes L W.
Tips from RVers
Navigating tight spaces: Many campgrounds near Lewiston have compact layouts. "This isn't the biggest or fanciest place but it's simple and wonderful for a weekend getaway. The sites are full hook up or w/e only. There are pull throughs and back-ins, 30amp and 50amp sites," shares Kara W.
Look for maintenance assistance: Four Mile Creek provides helpful service for RV issues. "Our rental pop-up had severely under-inflated and worn/cracked tires. The staff at reception told us we could stop at the park's maintenance garage for compressor air on our way out. The man who gave us air helped us back in, pumped the air in himself, noted the cracks in our tires and told us if we had any problems headed out to our camper drop off that we should call him and he would come out to help," Paula gratefully reports.
Site selection for larger rigs: Some campgrounds offer better options for big rigs. "We were in a back in gravel site that backed up to the motel which may not seem that nice but the electric, water and sewer worked perfectly. Our 40 foot MH and Toad fit with room to spare. There were sites that were on the outskirts of the property that backed to the woods which some people may prefer," explains Jeff C.
Full hookups availability: Many RVers appreciate the utility connections. "Electrical hook up, worked great for our RV. Water and dump site available on grounds. Small beach on Lake Ontario. Dog friendly but bring proof of rabies vac," notes Evan about the amenities at Four Mile Creek State Park.
