Do you want to visit Wellesley Island State Park? In this post, find everything that you need to know about this idyllic island in New York’s Thousand Islands Region.
Most people don’t know that New York has a few hidden island getaways that are nowhere near the ocean, and Wellesley Island State Park is one of those special places. Crystal clear water, tons of sunshine, and plenty of wildlife are just a few things this peaceful island has to offer.
My family lives just a short drive from Wellesley Island, so it was a perfect spot to take our first camping trip of the year. We spent five days camping here this summer, and I was able to put this guide together for you based on my experience there.
Where is Wellesley Island State Park NY?
This state park is located in Jefferson County, New York, close to the town of Alexandria Bay, only minutes from the Canadian border. You can easily access Wellesy Island via I-81, about 30 minutes north of Watertown, NY.
Almost anyone in New York can get to Wellesley Island in less than six hours. That is, unless you live at the very eastern tip of Long Island – it’s almost eight hours from Montauk Point.
This is a great place to spend a 3-4 day weekend, as it’s a convenient drive from all of these cities:
- Syracuse (1.5 hours)
- Ottawa (2 hours)
- Rochester (3 hours)
- Montreal (3 hours)
- Albany (3.5 hours)
- White Plains (5.5 hours)
There are several other state parks close to Wellesley Island on the St. Lawrence River: Waterson Point State Park, which is accessible by boat only, as well as Keewaydin State Park, Grass Point State Park, and Kring Point State Park.
Directions to Wellesley Island State Park
Getting to Wellesley Island is easy. Take I-81 north from Syracuse for about 1.5 hours; the park is the first exit (Exit 51) after you cross the Thousand Islands Bridge.
If you are traveling to Wellesley Island from areas near Ottawa or Montreal, take Ontario Highway 401 west until you find Highway 137 south. You will cross the border to the US at the Landsdowne crossing, also known as the Thousand Islands Bridge, and the park is located off of Exit 51 on US Interstate 81.
There is a $3.25 USD (4.25 CAD) toll to cross the Thousand Islands Bridge onto Wellesley Island from both Canada and the United States. You can use your EZ Pass on the US side, or you can use United States or Canadian currency if you need to pay cash.
There is not usually a long line to pay the toll, but you should plan for a few extra minutes just in case. In addition, if you are coming from Canada, it is good to budget extra time for crossing the border, as sometimes there is a bit of a wait there.
The best part about getting to Wellesley Island is the view from the bridge!
What is there to do at Wellesley Island State Park in NY?
There are many activities for everyone to enjoy at Wellesley Island State Park. From hiking, fishing, camping, to birdwatching, boating, and bicycling, there is something for everyone.
This state park is also very popular during the peak summer season, so if you are an outgoing person, you will probably find new people to talk to here. Additionally, there is a wonderful nature center, called the Minna Anthony Common Nature Center, located near the hiking trails.
When we went camping at the park recently, I didn’t know prior to the visit how popular it was to ride bikes at the park. My sister loves riding her bike and I wish I would have told her to bring it with her for our camping trip – we ended up seeing many people riding their bicycles.
Camping at Wellesley Island State Park
The campground at Wellesley Island State Park is the largest public campground in the Thousand Islands Region of the New York State Parks system. There are seven loops of campsites in different areas of the park, each one having something different to offer.
There are loops that can accomodate large RVs with full hook-ups, basic tent sites with no electricity, and everything in between. All of the campsites, regardless of price, have fire pits and picnic tables.
During my time exploring the campgrounds, I noticed that some sites are in the full sun, while others are shady. If you are not sure about the shade of your site, I would recommend bringing tarps with an idea of how to set them up for some protection from the sun – it can get pretty hot and sunny in July, which is when we camped there.
There is even a difference in shade in sites within the same loop, even though there are certain loops that have less shade than others. One idea for approximating how much shade or sun a certain site might get is looking at the satellite view of the campgrounds on Google Earth or Google Maps.
I moved up to New York from the south to escape the heat, and I don’t like to be in full sun all day, but that’s just me. Others might love the sun and seek out a sunny campsite.
What are the camping season dates?
The exact camping season dates vary each year for most of the loops. However, the cottages and cabins are open year-round, which is unique for a northern New York campground.
The entire campground is open for camping by May 19, 2023, but some of the camping loops are open earlier in May. It can still be very cold, especially at night, at the beginning of May in this part of New York, which is probably why the park doesn’t full open until later in the month.
Are there cabins?
There are two different areas with cottages and cabins. The Chipmunk cabins, the more basic of the two options, are located near the main campground area.
Even as the “basic” option at about $73.50 per night, most people will find the Chipmunk cabins to be comfortable, since they have electricity and even a refrigerator. However, there is no running water in the cabins, which means that showers and toilets must be accessed at the nearby comfort station.
The Eel Cottages are completely furnished, with everything from towels to silverware, and have ammenities such as a toaster and a coffee pot. You don’t need to bring anything except for food to these cabins, but of course they are more expensive (starting at $168 a night).
Needless to say, both the cottages and the cabins are a very popular option at this state park, so make your reservations early on in the season. No pets are allowed in the cottages, but some of the cabins may allow pets.
Most campsites allow two tents, a pop-up camper and a tent, or an RV and a small tent. You can always call the park to ask whether a certain site allows more than one tent, since the shape of a few of the campsites won’t work for more than one tent or trailer.
We were able to set up a tent and a pop-up trailer on our site. It was a flat, partially shady site with electric hookups, with the fire pit and picnic table conveniently located.
Most of the campsites do not have water, but there are water faucets located throughout the park, as well as at the comfort stations and restrooms.
How much does it cost to camp at Wellesley Island State Park?
Camping at Wellesley Island State Park is affordable, ranging from $18 per night for a basic non-waterfront tent campsite to $31 per night for a full hook-up RV site. As mentioned previously in this article, cottages and cabins are considerably more expensive and have a minimum stay required.
We considered our camping trip very budget-friendly at $147.50 for five nights, especially because we could have two tents on our site instead of having to get two sites. A total of six people camped at our site, which worked out to $24.50 per person for the entire five days, or just under $5 per person per night.
This was at a site with electric hookups, which was not the cheapest site. However, my family members really wanted to be able to charge their phones during the trip, so we “splurged” on the electric site.
If you are budget conscious, I highly recommend carefully planning your meals, as this is probably going to be the most expensive aspect of your camping trip.
When we go camping, I typically make a meal plan for the whole trip so that I can make a shopping list and also pack our car according to the food and other supplies we need to bring. This makes meal prep easier, since I already know what I am going to make, and saves a lot of money on getting take-out meals, running out for a last-minute item, or deciding what to eat for dinner at the last minute, which is not the best idea when camping.
The other consideration to have at Wellesley Island is that you will be camping on an island that has another country to the north (i.e. a border to cross) and a toll bridge to the south. This should be taken into account when planning for meals out and shopping trips.
However, if you did forget a last minute item, like I did (graham crackers for smores!), there is a camp store that is stocked about as well as you would expect a convenience store to be. There were many items for sale that could be used to prepare various meals, and many basics such as milk and eggs.
And yes, they did have graham crackers. In fact, during my stay they had an entire sales display of all of the ingredients for smores.
Is there wi-fi at the campsites?
There is no wi-fi at the campsites and the cell-service is spotty, at best. It’s a great opportunity to relax, disconnect from devices, and spend time with whoever we are camping with.
It’s easier said than done, however. I’m totally guilty of needing to use my phone now and then.
Fortunately, there is cell signal, it’s just not as strong as we might like it to be all of the time. The other thing to watch out for is that because the park is so incredibly close to Canada, your phone might switch to international roaming automatically.
Depending on your cellular plan, this might result in extra charges for you – even if you never left the United States. Most smartphones have settings where we can turn off roaming manually, to avoid this problem.
Roaming to Canada is included in my cell plan, and I actually found the Canadian cellular signal to be stronger, so I used it sometimes if I was at the very tip of the park. Before you go, be sure to find out what your cell plan includes to plan accordingly.
To be clear, Wellesley Island State Park is in the United States, but it’s just really, really close to Canada.
Is there hiking at Wellesley Island State Park?
There are more than eight miles of hiking trails at Wellesley Island State Park. These hiking trails take you through a variety of different terrain and offer spectacular views of the forest, river, and surrounding areas.
These trails can be accessed by parking at the Minna Anthony Common Nature Center. While they are popular, well-maintained trails, they do grow through grassy and very woody areas – so be sure to be careful about ticks.
Even though these hiking trails are located at the nature center, access is included with your Wellesley Island parking or camping pass.
I took the photograph below at a place along “The Narrows”, which is accessible from the River Trail. The woods that are visible are on an island called Murray Isle, which sits between Eel Bay and South Bay in the St. Lawrence River.
Swimming at Wellesley Island State Park NY
There is a sandy beach for swimming at Wellesley Island State Park that is in a protected inlet of the river, with a lifeguard on duty during swimming season (typically late June – late August). This beach, which is one of the most peaceful beaches in the region, is located near the park store and not far from the Chipmunk cabins.
Admission to the beach is included with the daily parking pass.
Can you swim in the St. Lawrence River at Wellesley Island State Park?
There is swimming allowed at the designated beach area, which is technically part of the St. Lawrence River. However, it is in a protected inlet, so it is not in the way of big boats.
Swimming is not recommended or permitted anywhere else in the park.
Is there a pool at Wellesley Island State Park?
No, there is no pool at Wellesley Island State Park. The only swimming allowed at this location is at the designated beach.
Wellesley Island State Park Marina
The Wellesley Island State Park is a large marina has space for up to 150 boats. You can purchase fuel, and extras like bait, tackle, ice and snacks, as well utilize the sewage pump out.
The marina also offers boat rentals by the day and week, which is an extra bonus for campers. According to the NY State Parks website, there are 14′ and 16′ boats available for rent during the summer.
Parking at the marina is plentiful.
Can you visit Wellesley Island State Park in the winter?
Yes, Wellesley Island State Park is known by both locals and tourists for being a great park to visit in the winter. The cottages can be rented in the winter, and the nature center has winter hours.
While I haven’t tried it myself, I know people who like to go cross country skiing near the nature center. Most of the parks in the Thousand Islands Region are accessible for cross country skiing during the winter, including Southwick Beach State Park.
How Wellesley Island State Park got its name
Wellesley Island State Park is named after the island where it is located, Wellesley Island. The island itself is named for a British solider, Arthur Wellesley, who was the 1st Duke of Wellington.
It’s also interesting to note that before the island was named Wellesley Island, it was called Wells Island. While these names are similar, these names are unrelated and their similarity is a coincidence.
Conclusion
I hope that this post has helped you learn more about the amazing Wellesley Island State Park, and that you are able to visit this amazing natural place someday. It is certainly worth the trip!
If you have any questions about something that you read, or if there is something specific that you would like to know, please ask in the discussion below and I will see if I can answer.
Thanks for reading!