Central New York
Sampson State Park
6096 Route 96A
Romulus, NY 14541 (315) 585-6392
Encompassing just over 2000 acres on the eastern shore of Seneca Lake, Sampson State Park features camping and boating as the primary recreational activities. The park has a total of 309 campsites with 245 electric and 64 non-electric sites. The marina has just over 100 boat slips and a large multiple launch site. A key feature of the park is the beautiful view of the lake at its center, and the most picturesque sunsets in the Finger Lakes Region. Activities include tennis, horseshoes, basketball and volleyball, a sandy beach with guarded swimming, playgrounds, and a scenic lake trail. Other popular activities include fishing, hunting, biking, hiking, local golf, geocaching, and wildlife viewing and photography.
Thousand Islands
Burnham Point State Park
34075 NYS Route 12E
Cape Vincent, NY 13618 (315) 654-2324
Burnham Point State Park is small and quiet with lightly-wooded campsites, ideal for boating, fishing and relaxing. Boaters can explore local towns, islands and historic sites for miles up and down the scenic river. Popular game fish include bass, pike, muskellunge and walleye.
In addition to tent and trailer campsites, the park has boat docks, a playground and picnic areas.
From personal experience – if you are traveling with young children, consider site 24 0r 25 – both sites over look the playground and have a view of the St. Lawrence.
Cedar Point State Park
36661 Cedar Point State Park Drive
Clayton, NY 13624 (315) 654-2522
Cedar Point State Park, one of the oldest state parks in New York, is a popular spot, offering excellent camping, fishing, boating and swimming. The beach is sheltered and sandy, there are docks for boats, a fishing pier and picnic grounds. From the overlook area, visitors can watch ocean-going freighters pass by.
Kring Point Cedar Island
25950 Kring Point Road
Redwood, NY 13679 (315) 482-2444
Kring Point State Park is a narrow peninsula whose south shore faces Goose Bay and north shore faces the St. Lawrence River. Standing anywhere in the park, visitors see water and many of the 1700 islands for which the region is named. Half of the 100 campsites are on the waterfront and virtually every cabin and campsite has a river or bay view. The park has docks on the river and the bay and a sandy beach on the St. Lawrence. Fishing, boating, swimming and picnicking are major activities. During the winter, visitors cross-country ski.
From personal experience – Site 1 and 2 are flat and you are able to swim at the either site – for other sites, view them on Google Earth for swimming accessibility.
Wellesley Island State Park
44927 Cross Island Road
Fineview, NY 13640 (315) 482-2722
Wellesley Island State Park has the largest camping complex in the Thousand Islands region. Within this rustic paradise, fishing is excellent–particularly for smallmouth bass, pike, and muskie. To accommodate boaters, the park has a full service marina and three boat launches. A sandy beach on the river offers great swimming and sunbathing and there is a recreation barn and the 9-hole Wellesley Island State Park Golf Course on the Island.
