Lorraine, New York sits at an elevation of approximately 410 feet, nestled between Lake Ontario and the Tug Hill Plateau region. The area experiences distinct seasons with heavy winter snowfall from lake effect patterns and warm, pleasant summers ideal for water activities. Camping options span from established lakefront sites to more rustic forest settings, with most campgrounds operating from May through mid-October.
What to do
Fishing access points: Several campgrounds provide direct access to prime fishing spots. At Bedford Creek Marina & Campground, you can fish directly from the property, with one camper noting it's in a "great area for fishing, bass, trout, salmon and walleye."
Trail exploration: The Winona State Forest offers multiple trail systems for hiking during summer months. At Winona Forest CCC Camp, visitors find "beautiful trees and quiet trails" with one reviewer mentioning, "This is a hub for several snow mobile, cross country ski, and snow shoe trails."
Water recreation: Sandy Pond and Lake Ontario provide swimming and boating options. Brennans Bay Campground and Marina offers "a great park on Sandy Pond and Lake Ontario" with a visitor highlighting that the "park has a nice pool, pavilion, store and kids playground with a basketball court."
What campers like
Lakefront views: Many campsites offer direct water views. At Westcott Beach State Park Campground, campers appreciate sites "along Lake Ontario where you can see amazing sunsets," with one visitor noting, "We always camp in the plateau across the road from the main park area-sites are huge, clean bathrooms and a nice park right in the circle."
Spacious sites: Selkirk Shores State Park Campground offers various camping loops with different atmospheres. A reviewer explained, "This campground is 4 different loops- A loop is like the loop for people here for fishing, B loop is the mellower crowd, and C and D were our nightmares: mass chaos, children running amok."
Recreational programs: Some parks offer organized activities for visitors. A camper at Selkirk Shores mentioned they have "a great recreation program for the kids. While we were there they had a reptile exhibit with huge snakes and crocodiles, another day they had tie dyeing t-shirts, other days they had bingo."
What you should know
Site differences: At Sun Outdoors Association Island, consider which side of the island you prefer. One visitor recommends "the sunrise size. The sunset is of course beautiful but sunrise sites are much bigger and can lead right to the water which is much nicer. It's a lot less windy and easier to be in the water."
Seasonal facilities: Some amenities close down in late summer. At Brennan Beach Campground, a visitor noted, "We went late summer so it was becoming offseason. Most amenities close down. Pool, swimming at Lake Ontario beach, etc."
Bug preparation: Insect activity can be significant near the lake. At Sun Outdoors Association Island, a camper warned about "the amount of BUGS! Millions (not exaggerating) of midges and mayflies swarming the grounds from Lake Ontario."
Tips for camping with families
Loop selection: Choose camping loops based on your preference for activity level. At Selkirk Shores State Park, families can select from "4 different loops" where "B loop is the mellower crowd, and C and D" are described as having "mass chaos, children running amok."
Beach access: Southwick Beach State Park Campground offers family-friendly water access with "beautiful new buildings on site, variety of campsites. Favorites are the beachfront sites, access to the beach and beautiful Lake Ontario."
Recreation options: Look for campgrounds with built-in activities. Brennans Bay Campground includes "a nice pool, pavilion, store and kids playground with a basketball court," making it convenient for families with children of various ages.
Tips from RVers
Check-in assistance: Some campgrounds offer arrival support. At Sun Outdoors Association Island, a visitor appreciated that "at check in they take you to your spot and help you get settled in. That is a marriage saver."
Site spacing: Consider how close you want to be to neighbors. A reviewer at Brennan Beach Campground noted, "Sites are close together, but kind of what is expected at an RV resort," while another at Sun Outdoors Association Island mentioned their site was "a little narrower than others based on our proximity to a corner."
Utility connections: Most established campgrounds near Lorraine offer various hookup options. At Stoneys Pineville Campground, electric hookups are available, though sites with full water and sewer connections are more common at larger resorts like Brennan Beach and Sun Outdoors Association Island.
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