Lake Ontario defines the camping experience near Oswego, New York, with shoreline elevations ranging from 245 to 300 feet above sea level. The region receives approximately 35 inches of annual precipitation, creating lush camping environments from spring through fall. Winter storms off Lake Ontario produce significant lake-effect snow, limiting most camping options to April through October.
What to do
Fishing access points: Yogi Bears Jellystone Park Camp Resort at Mexico offers prime salmon fishing opportunities on the Little Salmon River. A visitor noted, "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."
Organized activities: Families can participate in scheduled events at Jellystone Park including Halloween celebrations in season. According to a camper, "Organized the Halloween activities nicely. Yogi and the characters were very involved."
Hiking trails: Green Lakes State Park Campground offers multiple trail options around its distinctive turquoise-colored lakes. A visitor reported, "The hike around the lake is about 2 miles and is totally worth it! Plenty of picnic areas as well."
Lake Ontario sunset viewing: Multiple campgrounds feature designated sunset observation areas. One camper at Southwick Beach State Park described, "Sunsets are gorgeous from here as well - we always camp in the electric loop about 1/2 mile from the beach."
Swimming beaches: Lake Ontario offers swimming opportunities at several campgrounds. At Green Lakes State Park, "The beach can get busy during the summer however it is a great place to swim, camp, boat (there are rentals) and enjoy yourself."
What campers like
Private bathroom facilities: Selkirk Shores State Park Campground offers cabins with screened porches and comfortable amenities. A visitor commented, "Cabins have a screen and a stone fireplace. Lake Ontario has great fishing."
Kid-friendly amenities: Multiple campgrounds cater specifically to families with children. At Lake Bluff RV Park, one camper noted, "Kids activities are great. Even with COVID they have stuff to keep them busy. Large wooded sites are our favorite as well."
Nature programs: Green Lakes State Park offers educational programming for younger campers. A visitor shared, "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 (candy was the prize), exercises, and crafty things to make."
Full hookup options: Southwick Beach State Park Campground offers a variety of site types including electric hookups. A camper stated, "We always camp in the electric loop about 1/2 mile from the beach."
Lakefront views: Ontario Shores RV Park provides direct lake access. A visitor reported, "Lake Ontario a short walk away, the lake level flooding a few years ago ruined the sandy beach, but it's still a great view."
What you should know
Seasonal weather considerations: Most campgrounds operate from April through October, with peak season in July and August. During shoulder seasons, some amenities close. At Brennan Beach Campground, "We went late summer so it was becoming offseason. Most amenities close down. Pool, swimming at Lake Ontario beach, etc."
Site conditions: Site quality varies between campgrounds and within individual facilities. At Sterling Creek Campground, one camper reported, "Nice large, flat spot with full shade. Maybe I'm still on Midwest pricing, but I get annoyed when I have to pay for a shower when I've played $25 for a non-electric and no water tent site."
Crowding factors: Weekend availability can be limited, especially at state parks. At Selkirk Shores, a visitor observed, "We camped here on a holiday weekend... The site are a little on the smaller side and it was a little crowded."
Shower facilities: Quality varies between campgrounds, with some offering better facilities than others. At Green Lakes State Park, a camper noted, "As clean as the bathrooms are, the showers still suck. I'll never understand why parks use the misting shower heads. It's best to use the ADA bathrooms because those shower heads are normal and have wands."
Reservation requirements: Most campgrounds require advance bookings for summer weekends. Some state parks may not accept walk-ins during peak season, as one camper discovered: "I hadn't planned to stay in an RV resort, but was unpleasantly surprised to find that the two nearby state parks I had hoped to stay at were not accepting campers without reservations."
Tips for camping with families
River play areas: Lake Bluff RV Park offers water features suitable for children. A visitor stated, "Near the playground they have a nice game room pool, air hockey, video games. There is a change machine too."
Supervised activities: Jellystone Park offers structured programs for children of various ages. One camper shared, "This is a great place to stay if you have children. The kids had a blast playing in the river, heck the adults had fun too. Camp sites were good size and easy to access."
Safety considerations: Lake Bluff RV Park maintains a family-friendly environment. A visitor noted, "It is safe and they can be kids. Very nice and great to see kids ridding bikes and walking around without adults."
Beach access: Southwick Beach features extensive shorelines suitable for family exploration. A camper described, "There is TONS of beach to explore at this little State Park in New York. Lake Ontario is an amazing lake to be on and the water is pretty warm in the summer time. The waves don't get too big, so it is very safe for kids."
Playground availability: Multiple campgrounds feature play structures. At Southwick Beach State Park, "There is also a sizable playground near the beach that is great for the kids."
Tips from RVers
Campsite size and access: Brennan Beach Campground offers varying site sizes. One RVer noted, "Sites are close together, but kind of what is expected at an RV resort."
Hookup availability: Full-service sites are available at several campgrounds. At Cherry Grove Campground, an RVer reported, "The park is very well maintained. Sites are good sized and packed gravel. WiFi is very good, as is cell service from Verizon and T-Mobile."
Dump station facilities: Some campgrounds offer dump stations rather than full sewer hookups. A camper at Jellystone Park mentioned, "No sewer hookups available but does had a dump station on your way out."
RV site drainage: Some campgrounds experience drainage issues during rain events. At Jellystone Park, a visitor observed, "The sites were muddy, especially when it had recently rained."
Campground layout: At Selkirk Shores State Park, a camper described, "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."
