Are you looking for beaches near Watertown, New York where you can cool off from the heat of the summer sun? In this post, find several nearby beaches to choose from.
Just because Watertown is located hours from the nearest ocean doesn’t mean that you can’t find a sandy beach nearby. Watertown is so close to what is sometimes known as the nation’s “fourth coast”, the coastline of the Great Lakes, which means we still have great beaches here.
Below, find the best lake and river beaches with public access near the greater Watertown area. These are all beaches that are less than an hour away from Watertown, which is just one more reason that the North Country is such a great place to live and play!
All of the entrance fees are correct to the best of my knowledge as of July 2023. A great tip is to buy the New York State Empire Pass, which gets you free entrance into all New York State Parks and includes beach access at those parks, which can save you a lot of money if you love to swim and visit state parks.
Westcott Beach State Park
This beach is super close to Watertown – only about 20 minutes, and it’s a great beach with beautiful views on the shore of Lake Ontario. There is plenty of parking and there are numerous picnic tables, which means it is a fantastic place to spend the day swimming and enjoying the park.
Wescott Beach State Park, which offers many outdoor recreational activities, currently costs $7.00 per car to access, including swimming which is allowed if a lifeguard is on duty.
Southwick Beach State Park
Southwick Beach State Park is one of the most popular beaches in the Thousand Islands Region due to its proximity to larger population centers. This state park charges $8.00 per car to access, and swimming is allowed during the peak season when a lifeguard is on duty.
I love this park because it’s very beautiful, of course, and there is a lot to do there besides swimming. If you have the time to really spend the day there, you can take a hike through the woods or along the dunes, and have a wonderful picnic.
The sandy beach at this park, and at Wescott Beach (mentioned earlier in this article) really give the best examples of having an “ocean beach” just thirty minutes from home. Lake Ontario provides the waves and extensive views that you expect from a beach, so it really makes for a fun day.
Scenic View Park
The beach at Scenic View State Park in Alexandria Bay is a small village beach on the shores of the St. Lawrence River. This little park is awesome because it really does offer some very scenic views of the river, including boats that pass by and Boldt Castle, too.
There is a lifeguard on duty when swimming is allowed, and there is parking lot with parking meters where you can pay to park during peak season to access the park and beach.
There are lots of other fun things to do in Alexandria Bay, so be sure to hang around a bit and check out this very interesting and unique town. Alexandria Bay is located only about 30 minutes from downtown Watertown.
Kring Point State Park
Kring Point State Park is a lovely small park hidden on a peninsula in Redwood, New York, only about 45 minutes from Watertown. Most people visit this park for the awesome camping opportunities, or to launch their boat into the St. Lawrence River.
Not everyone realizes, however, that this park has an awesome little beach on the north side of the peninsula (the river-facing side of the park, not on Goose Bay). It is small, but sandy, and you will find parking, picnic tables, benches, and bathrooms located nearby.
This park is about 45 minutes from Watertown because it is located at the very end of Kring Point Rd, a windy little road that takes you all the way down the peninsula. However, it’s a cool place to visit and definitely a hidden gem of the Thousand Islands park system.
Sandy Pond Beach State Park
This is a beautiful, remote sandy beach that is on what is essentially a barrier island. There are remarkable wetlands with many wildlife species located to the north and south of the park area, which makes this a very special location.
The day use fee to access this state park, which is located in Pulaski, New York, is currently $7. This is a per-vehicle charge and you will have full access to the park, including swimming, which is allowed in season when lifeguards are on duty.
Cedar Point State Park
An easy 30-minute drive from Watertown, this beach located in Clayton is a must-visit. The beach at this park, like most in the St. Lawrence River, can be found in a protected cove, which makes for peaceful swimming.
This park charges $7 for the day-use access pass per passenger vehicle, which of course is waived for those who are camping at the park or who have a yearly Empire Pass.
Selkirk Shores State Park
This is a large (980 acre) state park with a sizeable swimming beach on the shore of Lake Ontario. Many people love this park because of the large Pine Grove Boat Launch for easy access to the fishing on the Salmon River.
However, the real star of this park is the beach, which you can visit in about 45 minutes from Watertown. The park charges $7-8 for a day-use pass per passenger vehicle, which includes swimming.
As with most state park beaches, especially on Lake Ontario, swimming is only allowed when a lifeguard is on duty. For the 2023 season, this is Wednesday-Sunday, weather permitting.
Cranberry Lake Campgrounds
If you are looking for a secluded beach on a pristine Adirondack lake, why not visit Cranberry Lake Campgrounds? This is a beautiful lake, and there is the added benefit that the mountains are usually several degrees cooler than Watertown, so it’s a great place to escape the heat.
There is no lifeguard at this campground, so all visitors should follow all safety guidelines. This swimming beach is very shallow and there are ropes to designate the area where it is safe to swim.
Jacques Cartier State Park
This is a sandy beach on a protected inlet of the St. Lawrence River, located at the stunning Jacques Cartier State Park. For a parking fee of $7 per car, you can access the park and all that it has to offer, including the swimming beach.
The photograph below was taken from an angle that shows the beach off in the distance. It was November, so it was a quiet day at the park, and of course because it was the middle of fall, no one was swimming that day!
Wellesley Island State Park
Wellesley Island State Park is home to the largest state campground in the Thousand Islands Region, and the sandy beach in a “hidden” cove is really one of the stars of this park. Wellesley Island State Park is located in the middle of the St. Lawrence River between the United States and Canada, and can be accessed for a daily use fee of $7.00 per car.
The most recent time we went swimming at Wellesley Island State Park, we swam while my husband fished, and then we ended the day with a picnic at the shady tables nearby. It was a great day!
Conclusion
I hope that you found a few of the great beaches on this list exciting enough to go try out yourself. They are all great places to spend the day with the family!
If you have any questions about something you read in this post, or if you would like to recommend your favorite beach, please join in the discussion below.
Thanks for reading today.