Are you looking for a good camping spot near Watertown, New York? Fortunately, this area has some of the best camping in the region, and you’ll find the top places in this article.
Watertown is located in Jefferson County, New York, which is part of the world-famous Thousand Islands Region. The county is bordered by Lake Ontario, the St. Lawrence River to the north, and the Adirondack Mountains to the east, which, along with its dozens of lakes, rivers, and ponds, makes it a fun and beautiful place to go camping.
All of the campgrounds listed below are in Jefferson County, with the exception of one that is in the Adirondack Park. You’ll find each and every one of these places to be worth the drive and you’ll have a fantastic, fun time while camping.
Southwick Beach State Park
This park is located on the shores of Lake Ontario and has more than 130 campsites. Some sites are beachfront with water views, and many sites have electricity and allow dogs.
Southwick Beach is a really good place for families who love the water and want to do a beach vacation without having to drive several hours to the ocean. Plus, there are lifeguards on duty during the summer when swimming is allowed.
There are some very nice, long trails at this park, too! There is something for everyone here.
Camping at this park is reasonably priced, with 2023 prices starting at $18/nightly. You can make reservations for Southwick Beach State Park on the Reserve America page for Southwick.
Wellesley Island State Park
Wellesley Island is the most popular campground in Northern New York, including the Watertown area, but it’s also huge, which means you can usually reserve one of its 414 campsites. In addition, this park has almost two dozen cottages and cabins.
This park has many different types of sites, ranging from walk-in tent sites to full hookup RV sites. Prices range from $18-36, depending on the type of site that you need. Cottages and cabins are more expensive, yet very popular, so make your plans early if you want a more “glamping” experience.
Things to do at this park include a nature center, playground, sheltered cove with beach and lifeguard, fishing, boating, hiking, biking, and nature watching. There is a playground, too!
Reservations for Wellesley Island State Park can be made at the Reserve American page for this campground.
Kring Point State Park
A small, beautiful park with 95 campsites and 8 cabins, Kring Point State Park is perfectly situated on a narrow peninsula. You can hear the large ships passing through the St. Lawrence River, along with trumpeter swans, and loons at night.
Kring Point is one of my favorite places to go camping in upstate New York. I want to call it my favorite place, but there are so many other great places, too.
Reservations can be made starting $18/night on the Reserve America Kring Point State Park page.
Keewaydin State Park
Keeywaydin State Park is a small park with about 47 campsites set in a picturesque setting on the St. Lawrence River. Things to do at this park include boating, nature watching, fishing, hiking, playground, biking, and swimming in the pool.
My family has made some great memories at this campground. Swimming in the huge pool staffed by lifeguards, the sun shining, gulls flying overhead and birds singing – nothing better.
Camp sites range from $15-23/night and reservations can be made at the Reserve America Keewaydin State Park page. There are no cabins or cottages at this campground.
Cranberry Lake Campground
Cranberry Lake Campground is a large mountain campground on the shore of pristine Cranberry Lake, which is one of the largest remote lakes in the Adirondacks. There are 171 campsites at this campground, as well as a swimming beach, fishing pier, many miles of hiking trails, and more.
Reservations for Cranberry Lake Campground, which is not technically a state park but is run by New York State, can be made at the Reserve America page for Cranberry Lake Campground. Sites cost $20/night.
Grass Point State Park
Grass Point State Park is a 72-site campground right on the shores of the St. Lawrence River with views of the Thousand Island bridge. There are swimming, boating and fishing opportunities galore at this park, as well as a playground and other activities.
Sites currently run between $15-31/night, depending on the type of campsite that you need. There is one cottage that is $1100/weekly during peak summer season.
Reservations for the campsites or cottage can be made at the Reserve America page for Grass Point State Park.
Wescott Beach State Park
Wescott Beach State Park is the closest state park with camping to Watertown and has 141 campsites and 8 cottages available for campers. Hiking, fishing, boating, wildlife viewing, swimming, and enjoying Lake Ontario sunsets are some of the many activities available at this park.
Reservations for Wescott Beach State Park range from $18-28 a night for campsites, which cottages are $1400/week during peak season. You can reserve a campsite or cottage at the Reserve America page for Wescott Beach State Park.
How to reserve campsites at these campgrounds
Reservations at all of these New York State Parks can be made at the Reserve America website, via the links that I included with each campsite description above. I recommend making your travel plans as early as possible and reserving your site, especially if you want a campsite with electricity, RV site, or really want a waterfront/waterview campsite.
While it can be tedious to have to set up yet another online account, the Reserve America system is used by several different states, so if you camp a lot in other places, you will be able to use the same account. It works very well – I’ve used it myself personally in multiple states and many different locations in New York State.
RV and electric sites tend to fill up quickly because the Thousand Islands Region is a very popular camping destination. And, of course, waterfront sites are always popular.
Conclusion
In addition to the public campgrounds listed in this post, you can find lots of privately owned campgrounds and RV sites in the greater Watertown area. Some people prefer these campgrounds over state parks because of more flexibility when it comes to regulations, as well as rules about how long you can stay.
There are lots of places to stay in the area, so you are sure to find something that works for what you are looking for.
Thanks for reading today!