Hi there!
So you want to go see the best of New York outdoors near Buffalo NY!
There are a number of New York state parks near Buffalo NY.
So if you’re making it a trip to Buffalo, you can do outdoor activities while you are in Western New York!
There are great scenic places to be seen in several state parks near Buffalo! New York state parks can make for a perfect day trip from Buffalo.
Some of these are state parks with campgrounds.
I did a road trip to and around Buffalo and went to a bunch of New York state parks! Here are the state parks near Buffalo that you need to know about!
Best state parks near Buffalo NY
1. Buffalo Harbor State Park
Explore the map
Lake Erie is one of the Great Lakes.
Buffalo NY is where you will find Lake Erie, and one end of the Niagara River.
And one of the ways you can experience Lake Erie in Buffalo is at Buffalo Harbor State Park along the Buffalo waterfront.
You can go for a walk with views along the Buffalo Harbor.
There is no campground at Buffalo Harbor State Park.
See more things to do in Buffalo around the outer harbor.
2. Evangola State Park
Explore the map: Buffalo to Evangola State Park
Evangola State Park is one of the New York state parks along Lake Erie.
There is a swimming beach at Evangola State Park.
There’s also the Evangola State Park campground.
In addition to campsites, Evangola State Park is one of the New York state parks with cabins.
To enter Evangola State Park, there is an entry fee of $7 per car. See current fees.
The Evangola State Park camping fee ranges from around $15-27 a night.
The cost of a Evangola State Park cabin is around $60 per day and $420 per week.
The cost of a Evangola State Park yurt is around $90 per day.
Evangola State Park camping reservations (and yurt reservations) are made through reserveamerica.com.
Buffalo NY to Evangola State Park is around a 40 minute drive. (map)
See more about things to do near Lake Erie in New York.
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3. Lake Erie State Park
Explore the map: Buffalo to Lake Erie State Park
Lake Erie State Park is another one of the New York state parks along Lake Erie.
In the past, Lake Erie State Park has had a swimming beach, but this has recently been closed due to high water levels. So if swimming is important to you, it will be best to call to ask about it. (Or go to Evangola State Park!)
There is a Lake Erie State Park campground.
In addition to campsites, Lake Erie State Park is another one of the New York state parks with cabins.
To enter Lake Erie State Park, there is an entry fee of $7 per car. See current fees.
Lake Erie State Park camping reservations (and yurt reservations) are made through reserveamerica.com.
Buffalo NY to Lake Erie State Park is around a 1 hour drive. (map)
4. Niagara Falls State Park
Explore the map: Buffalo to Niagara Falls State Park
Niagara Falls State Park is one of the most famous state parks in New York.
This is where you can find the best things to do on the American side of Niagara Falls.
This includes the scenic viewpoints of Prospect Point and Terrapin Point that will give you the views of Niagara Falls.
It also includes the ultimate Niagara Falls experience from the bottom of the waterfalls of Cave of the Winds and Maid of the Mist.
There is free entry to Niagara Falls State Park, but there is a parking fee of around $10.
There is no campground at Niagara Falls State Park.
Buffalo NY to Niagara Falls State Park is around a 30 minute drive. (map)
See more about things to do in Niagara Falls NY.
5. Whirlpool State Park
Explore the map: Buffalo to Whirlpool State Park
The Niagara River is the river that Niagara Falls flows along.
And another way to experience the Niagara River is the Niagara Gorge.
And one of the New York state parks that you can go to in order to experience the Niagara Gorge is Whirlpool State Park!
You can see the Niagara Gorge from above, and you can take the stairs down to hike along the Niagara River too.
Whirlpool State Park is a FREE New York state park.
Buffalo NY to Whirlpool State Park is around a 30 minute drive. (map)
It’s very reasonable to go to Whirlpool State Park alongside a trip to Niagara Falls State Park.
You can also get to Whirlpool State Park without a car by taking the free Discover Niagara shuttle.
There is no campground at Whirlpool State Park.
See more about things to do in Whirlpool State Park.
6. Devils Hole State Park
Explore the map: Buffalo to Devils Hole State Park
Devils Hole State Park is another New York state park that you can go to in order to experience the Niagara Gorge and the Niagara River.
Devils Hole State Park is a FREE New York state park.
Buffalo NY to Devils Hole State Park is around a 30 minute drive. (map)
It can also be reasonable to go to Devils Hole State Park alongside a trip to Niagara Falls State Park.
There is no campground at Devils Hole State Park.
7. Fort Niagara State Park
Explore the map: Buffalo to Fort Niagara State Park
Lake Ontario is another one of the Great Lakes.
Fort Niagara State Park is located where you will find the other end of the Niagara River, where it meets Lake Ontario.
At Fort Niagara State Park is also where you will find the Old Fort Niagara State Historic Site.
This is where you can take in the history of many countries, including the United States, Canada, France, and Britain, along with Native American tribes.
To enter Fort Niagara State Park, there is an entry fee of $8 per car. See current fees.
To walk around the grounds of Old Fort Niagara, there is an additional entry fee of around $17 for adults and $12 for kids age 12 and older. See current fees.
Once you enter Fort Niagara State Park, there is no additional fee to walk directly around the Fort Niagara Lighthouse, which is at the Old Fort Niagara parking lot.
Buffalo NY to Fort Niagara State Park is around a 40 minute drive. (map)
If you go to Fort Niagara State Park alongside a trip to Niagara Falls State Park, you’ll want to be mindful of the Old Fort Niagara hours so you will have enough time to properly explore.
You can also get to Fort Niagara State Park without a car by taking the free Discover Niagara shuttle.
There is no campground at Fort Niagara State Park.
8. Letchworth State Park
Explore the map: Buffalo to Letchworth State Park
Letchworth State Park is another one of the New York state parks with waterfalls!
There’s also the Letchworth State Park campground.
In addition to campsites, Letchworth State Park is another one of the New York state parks with cabins.
To enter Letchworth State Park, there is an entry fee of $10 per car. See current fees.
The Letchworth State Park camping fee ranges from around $27-30 a night.
The cost of a Letchworth State Park cabin ranges from around $33-142 per day to around $132-568 per week.
Letchworth State Park camping reservations (and yurt reservations) are made through reserveamerica.com.
Buffalo NY to Letchworth State Park is around a 1 hour 15 minute drive. (map)
See more about things to do in Letchworth State Park.
9. Four Mile Creek State Park
Explore the map: Buffalo to Four Mile Creek State Park
The reason to go to Four Mile Creek State Park is to go camping near Lake Ontario.
Four Mile Creek State Park is located directly along Lake Ontario.
In addition to campsites, Four Mile Creek State Park is also one of the New York state parks with yurts.
There is no swimming at Four Mile Creek State Park.
The Four Mile Creek State Park camping fee ranges from around $18-34 a night, depending on whether you go for a campsite with or without electricity.
The cost of a Four Mile Creek State Park yurt is around $90 per day.
Four Mile Creek State Park camping reservations (and yurt reservations) are made through reserveamerica.com.
Buffalo NY to Four Mile Creek State Park is around a 40 minute drive. (map)
See more about Lake Ontario state park camping.
10. Golden Hill State Park
Explore the map: Buffalo to Golden Hill State Park
Golden Hill State Park is a New York state park with a lighthouse along Lake Ontario.
It’s possible to go inside the Thirty Mile Point Lighthouse and climb up to the top to see vast views of Lake Ontario!
Golden Hill State Park is another place you can go for camping near Lake Ontario during your Western New York trip.
At night, you can see the lighthouse flashing!
In addition to campsites, Golden Hill State Park is another one of the New York state parks with yurts.
There is no swimming at Golden Hill State Park.
To enter Golden Hill State Park, there is an entry fee of $8 per car.
Once you enter Golden Hill State Park, there is no additional fee to walk directly around the grounds of the Thirty Mile Point Lighthouse.
There is a fee to walk inside Golden Hill State Park, which is around $1 per person and requires a tour. See current fees.
The hours that the lighthouse is open varies, so if you are interested in walking inside the lighthouse, it would be good to call ahead of time to confirm it will be open when you go. Also confirm that you can can climb up to the top of the lighthouse. For example, when I went in July 2021, lighthouse hours were 12-4pm on one day, and 1-4pm on another day.
The listed phone number is (716) 795-3885.
The Golden Hill State Park camping fee ranges from around $15-31 a night.
The cost of a Golden Hill State Park yurt is around $90 per day.
Golden Hill State Park camping reservations (and yurt reservations) are made through reserveamerica.com.
Buffalo NY to Golden Hill State Park is around a 1 hour drive. (map)
See more about Lake Ontario state park camping near the lighthouse.
And those are some ideas for day trips from Buffalo!
The quick list (and more pictures!) of state parks near Buffalo NY:
- Buffalo Harbor State Park + Buffalo outer harbor
- Evangola State Park with campground + Lake Erie
- Lake Erie State Park with campground
- Niagara Falls State Park + more
- Whirlpool State Park
- Devils Hole State Park
- Fort Niagara State Park
- Letchworth State Park with campground
- Four Mile Creek State Park with campground + Lake Ontario camping
- Golden Hill State Park with campground + Lake Ontario lighthouse
HAPPY VISITING NEW YORK STATE PARKS NEAR BUFFALO NY!
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