Hi there!
If you want to go camping along the Great Lakes near Lake Ontario, it’s possible to do so in New York and Ontario (Canada).
This list below is for the New York side of Lake Ontario for camping near Niagara Falls.
There are 2 New York state park campgrounds near Lake Ontario that can be perfect for a trip to the American side of Niagara Falls.
I went to Niagara Falls as a part of a Western New York road trip and did camping along the way. I stayed at these Lake Ontario campgrounds!
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1. Four Mile Creek State Park Campground
👆 Explore the map: Four Mile Creek State Park campground
Proximity to Lake Ontario
There are no campsites that are directly along Lake Ontario, but there are campsites at the Four Mile Creek State Park campground where you can see Lake Ontario from your campsite.
There’s a field that you’ll walk across to get to Lake Ontario, so it can be a 1-2 minute walk to get there. Maybe a little longer depending on your campsite location.
This “beach” (aka small sandy spot) at the Four Mile Creek State Park campground isn’t a swimming beach.
So Lake Ontario is just for viewing here!
If you’re looking for a yurt near Lake Ontario, Four Mile Creek State Park has that!
Proximity to Niagara Falls NY
If you want to camp near Lake Ontario and be near Niagara Falls, then the Four Mile Creek State Park campground is the Lake Ontario campground that you want to stay at!
This is the closest you’ll get to Niagara Falls while being able to take a short walk from your campsite for a Lake Ontario sunset.
Four Mile Creek State Park to Niagara Falls is around a 30 minute drive.
Return to your Four Mile Creek campsite for dinner and catch the sunset on Lake Ontario.
Then after dark, head back out to Niagara Falls for the Niagara Falls illumination to see the waterfalls lit up in different colors! The time of the Niagara Falls illumination varies, but in the summer it will start at 7:30pm, 8pm, or 8:30pm. Check the schedule for exact timings for your dates!
Proximity to Toronto
New York is on the southern shores of Lake Ontario. Canada is on the northern shores of Lake Ontario.
So Toronto is on the other side of Lake Ontario compared to Four Mile Creek State Park.
And, you can SEE Toronto from Four Mile Creek State Park campground!!
Okay, that might be a little dramatic.
Because it’s not like you can see Toronto really well.
You need to look really hard.
And it needs to be a clear day.
But, it is possible that if you look carefully, you can see the Toronto skyline from New York when you are along the Lake Ontario shoreline at Four Mile Creek State Park!
It can also be reasonable to do a day trip to Toronto in Canada.
You will also need a passport to go to Canada, or you need an enhanced drivers license if you’re from a border state that provides that.
Four Mile Creek State Park to Toronto is around a 1.5 hour drive one way. (Not including possible time crossing the border.)
2. Golden Hill State Park Campground
👆 Explore the map: Golden Hill State Park campground
Proximity to Lake Ontario
There are campsites that are pretty much right along Lake Ontario.
If you like lighthouses, then you need to stay at Golden Hills State Park!
This is a New York state park campground with a lighthouse.
And, you can see the lighthouse from your campsite!
The Thirty Mile Point Lighthouse at Golden Hill State Park is one of the many Lake Ontario lighthouses in New York.
It’s also possible to climb up to the top of the tower to see vast views of Lake Ontario! You’ll need to get a lighthouse tour for this (it’s like $1) and the timings are limited. For example, when I was there, the hours were 12-4pm or 1-4pm. (Different timings on different days.)
Also, what is great about staying overnight at Golden Hill State Park is that you can also see the lighthouse light flashing at night! It turns on with a sensor around sunset.
Once again, there isn’t a swimming beach at the Golden Hill State Park campground, so Lake Ontario is just for viewing!
If you’re looking for a yurt near Lake Ontario, Golden Hill State Park has that too!
Proximity to Niagara Falls NY
Golden Hill State Park is getting a bit further away from Niagara Falls.
But if you’re simply interested in just a day trip to Niagara Falls (and not 2 days or more), then camping at Golden Hill State Park can also work out well.
Golden Hill State Park to Niagara Falls is around a 1 hour drive.
On your way back to Golden Hill State Park from your day trip to Niagara Falls, you can take the slow route along Lake Ontario. This way, you can stop by a few more Lake Ontario lighthouses! Or, you can save this for another day too!
There is no Niagara Falls State Park campground.
If you will be making a trip to Niagara Falls NY, you will almost certainly be going to Niagara Falls State Park.
This is where you will find popular viewing spots for waterfalls like Prospect Point and Terrapin Point.
Also go for a quiet walk across the Three Sisters Islands bridges!
There is no camping at Niagara Falls State Park, as there is no Niagara Falls State Park campground.
But, you still have some options for camping near Niagara Falls that will get you a GREAT New York experience! (Camping near Lake Ontario!)
Tent camping and RV camping is available near Lake Ontario
Or other types of camping!
For the New York state park campgrounds listed above, they have regular bathrooms (aka flush toilets), and there are also hot water showers available. There are both campsites with electricity and campsites without electricity. There is also drinking water available.
Cost of New York state park campgrounds
The exact cost to book a campsite might vary from campground to campground, and will also depend on if you can a campsite with electricity or not.
But generally it will cost around $20-35 per night.
There is also around a $7 reservation/booking fee added on to your reservation (total, not per night).
If you are not a New York resident, you’ll pay an extra $5 or so per night.
New York state park entry fee
And unlike some other states, in New York there is no additional state park pass you need to purchase on top of your camping fee.
In fact, by camping at a New York state park campground, it will gain you entry into all other New York state parks for the duration of your New York state park campground stay!
Free parking at Niagara Falls State Park
There is no entry fee for Niagara Falls State Park, but there is a parking fee of around $10.
The parking at Niagara Falls State Park will be FREE if you stay at a New York state park campground on the day of your visit to Niagara Falls!
So stay at one of the campgrounds listed above, and you get free parking at Niagara Falls State Park! (Once you arrive at the parking lot, you’ll need to speak to the parking staff in the booth and they will wave you in! There’s a button on the parking fee station.)
And those are some camping ideas for Lake Ontario in Western New York!
There are 3 New York state park campgrounds in the Niagara region:
- Four Mile Creek State Park campground (Lake Ontario)
- Golden Hill State Park campground (Lake Ontario)
- Evangola State Park campground (Lake Erie)
See more things to do as a day trip from your Lake Ontario campground:
- Things to do in Niagara Falls
- Best state parks near Niagara Falls
- Things to do in the Finger Lakes
- Things to do in Letchworth State Park (waterfalls!)
Also see about making it a trip to more of the Great Lakes:
HAPPY NEW YORK STATE PARK CAMPING NEAR LAKE ONTARIO!
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