RV campgrounds in Thousand Island Park, New York are situated along the St. Lawrence River in northern New York state, where the river widens to form the Thousand Islands region. This area experiences moderately warm summers with daytime temperatures averaging 75-80°F from June through August and chilly spring and fall seasons. Many RVers favor riverfront sites that provide direct views of large cargo vessels navigating the St. Lawrence Seaway channel, sometimes just a few hundred feet from shoreline campsites.
What to do
Paddle the waterways: Jacques Cartier State Park offers shoreline access for kayakers and paddleboarders. "Everyone swims, kayaks, and paddle boards off their sites. Until 2018 you were not able to get in the water on the St Lawrence side of the park (the campground is in a cove) but the life guards told me last year they allow it now," notes a visitor at Jacques Cartier State Park Campground.
Fish from the shoreline: Many sites at Wellesley Island State Park provide direct water access for fishing. "Great fishing, great sites," reports a camper, while another mentions, "We had a wonderful time canoeing, fishing, and spending time together!" Wellesley Island's marina area includes fish cleaning stations for processing your catch.
Watch shipping traffic: Riverfront sites at Swan Bay Resort provide prime viewing of international shipping vessels. "Right on the St. Lawrence River. Easy in and out for big rigs. Many amenities to include 3 bay R.V. wash as well as car wash," explains one visitor. Another adds, "Our waterfront pull-IN site was a level concrete pad and gravel with FHU and everything worked great. Oh, and the best part was our view of the St. Lawrence River with passing ocean liners and lots of migrating birds."
What campers like
Concrete pads: Swan Bay Resort offers level concrete sites throughout the property. "All of there sites are on slabs, neat and clean hook ups. There is riverviews from just about every site which is nice and then there are sites right on the river," notes one camper. This design helps maintain level setups even during rainy weather.
Waterfront accessibility: Association Island provides unique water access on multiple sides. "Access is off of I81, down a few back roads and across a causeway. Our site was a pull in and we faced a western view of Lake Ontario. We were treated to gorgeous sunsets and minimal light pollution at night. The stars were everywhere. We were able to drop our kayaks right in the water in front of our rig and paddle to our heart's content."
Clean facilities: Burnham Point State Park maintains well-kept bathroom facilities. "Very clean bathrooms. Electric site with water. Boat launch. Plenty of tree to hang your hammock. Very relax on the rules. Small but quite," says one visitor. Another adds, "Bathrooms/showers were clean, and there was electricity at the site."
What you should know
Seasonal operations: Most RV parks in the region operate from May through October with varied closing dates. Ontario Shores RV Park runs "May 1 to October 15" while Wellesley Island State Park Campground operates "May 6 to October 10."
Wind conditions: Shoreline sites experience significant wind, especially those facing Lake Ontario. "Our neighbor (who has camped here seasonally for the last four years) mentioned that he lost three awnings to the wind. So, don't leave your awning out when you leave your camper and beware of winds if you want to be on the water," advises a visitor to Association Island.
Varying site privacy: Site separation differs significantly between campgrounds. At Jacques Cartier, "Half of the loop is in the woods and the other half has spacious, grassy sites bordered with woods behind them." Contrast with Swan Bay Resort, where "sites don't have much privacy, the park gets crowded and noisy."
Tips for camping with families
Playground options: Jacques Cartier State Park offers family-friendly facilities. "There's a great guarded beach if you have young ones with a newer playground right next to it. They pick up your trash everyday, just leave by the road. And on Saturdays a ice cream truck rolls through after dinner!" reports a regular visitor.
Swimming areas: Natural Bridge/Watertown KOA provides an indoor pool option for swimming regardless of weather conditions. At Burnham Point State Park, families appreciate "easy access to swim in the water" directly from the shoreline.
Budget considerations: State parks offer significantly lower rates than private resorts. "I spent here for 2 nights I could have stayed a week at a KOA, so I did pay for those beautiful river sunsets," notes a Swan Bay Resort visitor about the price difference. Passport America discounts are available at some locations, with one camper reporting, "Our site was a Passport America site so we got a great nightly rate of $42 which is half of the regular nightly rate."
Tips from RVers
Military accommodations: Fort Drum Recreation Area provides dedicated camping for military families. "Remington is a Military campground, but for the several military families looking to disconnect a couple of miles from home this would be it. They offer regular camping sites and RV sites, they also have a dog park for the little furry ones."
RV maintenance: Swan Bay Resort includes specialized RV facilities. "Many amenities to include 3 bay R.V. wash as well as car wash," notes one visitor. Another mentions, "Adjacent to the entrance is a self-service car wash with bay large enough for motorhomes."
Site selection considerations: Burnham Point has some challenging waterfront sites. "Down sides- lake front campsites are all on a slope- minimum flat space. Also- depending on day- EXTREMELY VERY WINDY AND COLD! But the view is beautiful," warns one RVer. For larger rigs, Wellesley Island offers "large open sites with not much shade but it is the only loop that gets US Verizon service."
