Lorraine, New York sits on the eastern shore of Lake Ontario in Jefferson County, with elevations ranging from 500 to 700 feet above sea level. The region experiences lake effect weather patterns with warm summers and snowy winters. Campgrounds in this area typically operate seasonally from May through October, with many parks offering waterfront campsites where wind conditions can vary dramatically depending on lake conditions.
What to do
Fishing opportunities: Sun Outdoors Association Island offers direct access to fishing on Lake Ontario. "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.
River activities: The Yogi Bears Jellystone Park Camp Resort at Mexico features river access for wading and catching crayfish. "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," shares Justin F.
Hiking trails: Several campgrounds offer walking paths with a 3.1-mile loop available at Green Lakes State Park. "There are miles of trails to explore," confirms Cindy H., with another visitor noting the park has "great walks and fun lake to swim in."
Island exploring: Access Association Island via a causeway for a unique camping experience. Matt S. describes the approach: "The approach by way of a single lane bridge to the island is beautiful. Once on the island, it's obvious that this is a great place for retreat. Surrounded by Lake Ontario, it's a secluded and idyllic setting for a RV campground."
What campers like
Waterfront views: Campers consistently mention the views at Southwick Beach State Park Campground as a highlight. Emily C. notes, "Favorites are the beachfront sites, access to the beach and beautiful Lake Ontario. Small campground but very nice."
Clean facilities: Many campgrounds in the area maintain well-kept amenities. At Burnham Point State Park Campground, visitors appreciate the "very clean bathrooms" and "showers with nice and hot water," according to BEN B.
Family-friendly environments: The campgrounds near Lorraine create safe spaces for families. At Bass Lake Resort, Kelly J. observed it was "great to see kids ridding bikes and walking around without adults. It is safe and they can be kids."
Beach access: The sandy beaches provide recreation opportunities. Theresa F. calls Southwick Beach "BEST beach in CNY-sandbar goes on forever-campsites roomy and we'll taken care of-bathrooms are meticulously cleaned."
What you should know
Weather considerations: The Lorraine area experiences significant wind from Lake Ontario. At Selkirk Shores State Park Campground, Laura M. advises, "It can get quite windy on the point so take a wind break or shelter."
Site variations: Campgrounds have different loop layouts affecting your experience. "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, loud groups," notes Laura M. about Selkirk Shores.
Bug concerns: Insects can be problematic in certain seasons. Tracey G. warns about 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."
Limited recycling: Environmental services vary at campgrounds. Laura M. reports, "There are dumpsters here, and there's recycling for redeemable bottles and cans only, with proceeds going to the campground's rec center."
Tips for camping with families
Water safety precautions: Beaches vary in structure and supervision. At Southwick Beach, Gabrielle C. noted, "Lake Ontario was so high, there was barely any beach, and the wind was insane."
Activity planning: Schedule around organized events at family-focused campgrounds. "Organized the Halloween activities nicely. Yogi and the characters were very involved," shares Justin F. about Jellystone Park at Mexico.
Playground access: Multiple campgrounds feature play areas for children. At Long Point State Park Campground, Nancy G. mentions, "Nice play spaces for kids of all ages, and also has a nice playground area."
Weather preparation: Lake effect weather can change quickly. Nancy G. advises, "Storms can come up quickly off the lake - be sure to keep things put away and weighted down, and be ready to 'batten down the hatches' as my dad used to say!"
Tips from RVers
Site selection strategy: Choose your location based on needs and preferences. At Sun Outdoors Association Island, April L. recommends, "Our site backed up to the water and although it was windy they thought ahead and built the fire pit up to block it."
Hookup availability: Services vary between campgrounds. Tim W. notes at Ontario Shores RV Park: "There are 7 overnight pull thru full hookup sites with concrete patio. Sites a level and spacious."
Check-in procedures: Some campgrounds provide extra assistance. Stacey C. appreciated that "at check in they take you to your spot and help you get settled in. That is a marriage saver."
Site condition awareness: Weather can affect ground conditions. Carl G. warns about Long Point: "We arrived at Long Point to find out that the site is very wet. Took a different site and buried our class c up to rear axel."
