Near Morton, New York, campers find diverse camping sites along the Lake Ontario shoreline and within surrounding rural areas. The region typically experiences warm summers with daytime temperatures averaging 75-85°F and cooler nights dropping to 55-65°F. Most camping areas operate seasonally from May through mid-October, closing during winter months when temperatures regularly fall below freezing.
What to do
Disc golf at Lakeside State Park: The park features an 18-hole disc golf course that winds through meadows and wooded areas. One visitor noted, "There is a well kept playground. Lots of plays areas for kids. Weekend sites would be pretty tight together if they were fully booked."
Hiking at Hamlin Beach State Park: Several trail options including a nature trail through hardwoods and wetlands. "Short but pretty nature trail through the woods opposite the lake as well that goes through hard words and into wetlands," reports one camper.
Sunset viewing at Devil's Nose: Located in Hamlin Beach State Park, this vantage point offers spectacular Lake Ontario sunsets. "The trail on the north side is refered to as the devil's nose. Beautiful sunsets can be seen from that vantage point," mentions a visitor.
Swimming at Golden Hill State Park: While there's no formal beach, some areas allow water access for cooling off during summer months. A visitor commented, "The views are spectacular, particularly at sunset. The campground was quiet at night."
What campers like
Private, spacious campsites: Many campgrounds near Morton feature sites with good separation between neighbors. At Southwoods RV Resort, "Family friendly park, lots of activities, park hosts/owners are hands on and awesome."
Clean bathroom facilities: Most state parks maintain modern restrooms with regular cleaning schedules. At Golden Hill, a visitor noted, "The showers in the bathrooms were phenomenal - very clean with hot water and a private dressing area next to the shower. Showers were ADA compliant and had shower seats."
Historical attractions: The region contains interesting historical sites including lighthouses and museums. "Home of the thirty mile light house. Be sure to visit the light house on your visit. With standard sites and a beautiful water for fishing this camp ground is great for a weekend," explains one camper about Golden Hill State Park.
Lake views and access: Many camping spots offer direct or nearby lake access. According to one reviewer at Hamlin Beach, "Great access to the shores of Lake Ontario from campground. Also few mile stretch of beaches."
What you should know
Limited services: Some campgrounds have restricted amenities or seasonal closures. At Lakeside State Park Campground, "The Camp Store is open from 3-8 Monday-Thurs, so we had to travel around the area to find firewood."
No swimming at some parks: Despite lake frontage, not all parks permit swimming. One camper noted about Lakeside, "There is No water access and no swimming allowed at this campground. No hammocks are allowed to be tied to the trees either."
Weather considerations: Lake Ontario creates its own weather patterns with sudden changes possible. "We stayed for 4 days of rain, rain and more rain. I have camped in the rain before, but, because our site was wide open with NO trees, it quickly turned into a mud pit."
Cell service variability: Signal strength varies significantly throughout the region. At Hamlin Beach, a camper reported, "We stayed for 1 night on a Thursday. At&t reception is almost non existent."
Tips for camping with families
Activity options for different ages: Several campgrounds offer recreational facilities beyond swimming and hiking. At Green Harbor Campground & Marina, "Stayed a week, could have been longer with the great beach. Nice marina. Everything was updated and worked great."
Playground access: Many campgrounds maintain playgrounds for younger visitors. A Southwoods visitor mentioned, "Such a sweet time here. Owner was so pleasant as was the woman who helped me book our stay. It was a great place to stay the night."
Noise levels: Some camping areas are quieter than others, important for families with young children. One visitor to Lakeside noted, "Roomy campsites. Many have views of Lake Ontario. It's real quiet there as most people fish or go visit tourist areas in nearby Niagara Falls."
Educational opportunities: Several parks offer nature programs or historical sites for learning. "The park is flanked by a nature trail on the South side and a trail on the north side. The park is big. If you're going to do the trails I recommend a bike," says a Hamlin Beach visitor.
Tips from RVers
Site leveling challenges: Some campgrounds have uneven sites requiring preparation. At Red Rock Ponds RV Resort, "It was kinda close to other campers. Geared toward more seasonal campers."
Hookup limitations: Many state parks offer electric but not full hookups. A Hamlin Beach camper noted, "This is one of our favorite NYS Park campgrounds. Sites are large. It has nice bathrooms. It has a fantastic beach. Only thing better would be water and sewer hookups."
Big rig access: Some parks accommodate larger RVs better than others. At Southwoods RV Resort, "We chose a back-in 50-amp full hook-up site at $42/night. All the utilities were placed appropriately so we didn't need any extensions. The water pressure and electric were good."
Dump station availability: Most campgrounds offer dump stations, though wait times can vary. "Dump station has three lanes which is nice when campground is busy," notes a visitor.
