I have a week off in the middle of July and looking for a new place to camp with the family. I have talked the dw into a drive of at most 8 hrs. We live in the Niagara region of Ontario (Welland) so that will be our starting point. I am looking for recommendations of campgrounds that you folks have stayed at. Needs to be able to accommodate our 32bhds (36') and have lots of stuff to do with my 3 boys (7,3,1) like hiking, swimming, playgrounds, etc. We prefer large wooded sites with a lot of privacy if we can get it. I have been looking at state parks in MI and NY, as well as parks in Ontario but the ones in Ontario are mostly full for sites that will hold us. Let me know if you have some suggestions. Thanks!!

Letchworth State Park in NY is very nice. About 2 hours from Welland. We stayed last year for a week in early June. Not crowded then. Online reservations are available.

Also agreeing about Letchworth.Another possibility about 6 hours driving away is Rollins Pond SP. Great water sports, for sure large RVs can fit but no swimming pool ( swimming in the lake) and not sure about the playground. I'm sure the camp's website will give you a better description. Another nearby campground is Great Escape RV park. It's near the amusement park and two water parks; has 2 heated pools and various activities the kiddos would enjoy.

Letchworth sp is nice and not far for you, as is Allegheny state park.

If you like hiking Allegheny SP is the best.There are COE's in PA near Tioga south of Corning, NY one is Ives Run Campground.

Watkins Glen SP is another good option. Letchworth, as mentioned, is fabulous.Knoebels amusement park is a very nice and very family friendly park, and has a couple campgrounds associated with it. The off-site Lake Glory Campground has larger and nicer sites but is less convenient as it means driving or taking a shuttle bus to the park rather than walking down a hill.

camping within 8 hr drive of Fort Erie/Buffalo border

WallynDiane
Explorer
Mar 11, 2017
The Chautauqua Lake area is where we stay and we love it. Chautauqua
Institution is great during the 9 week summer season.

If you want to travel further. Pa and Maryland have great destinations.

Pa, Fallingwater, Flight 93 Memorial, Gettysburg, Amish Country and Philadelphia.

Md, Baltimore Inner harbor is great and you are just outside of Washington DC to see the monuments and Smithsonian.
WNYBob
Explorer
Mar 10, 2017
Veebyes, if you get to Letchworth be sure to take the tour of the dam.

Let's start another thread if you want more information on WNY (and Niagara Falls).
Veebyes
Explorer II
Mar 10, 2017
Been following thread as we will be in same area early August. Letchworth looks good. Thanks. Made for a change of plans.
FordsForMe
Explorer
Mar 10, 2017
WNYBob wrote:
Here is another one
Hamlin SP west of Rochester, NY
large campground in the woods and on a large Lake Ontario beach
look it up on Google Maps, zoom in a and see what I'm talking about.

Let us know where you plan to go, many of us make suggestions but never know if anyone likes our ideas!

Thanks for all the ideas .. we ended up going North and have booked at Restoule Provincial Park.
WNYBob
Explorer
Mar 07, 2017
By the way you could take a "Sunday" drive now and get in free to survey sites and the facilities, it only a little over an hour from th bridge. Take the drive along the lake shore, its a pretty drive on one of our warmer days thus winter!
WNYBob
Explorer
Mar 07, 2017
Lakeside SP is another park on the lake, sites are in view of the lake, but the beach is not as nice as Hamlin.

I just Google'd "Hamlin Beach State Park" Found virtual tour, photos an link to Reserve America.

Good hunting
WNYBob
Explorer
Mar 07, 2017
"Can you walk to the beach from the sites? Its tough to tell from the maps."

Yes there are several walkways or paths from the campgroundsame to the beach. It's a fair hike across the parking lot.

I looked at Google Maps and Reserve America, it looks like the good sites with a path to the beach are on loops D & E
FordsForMe
Explorer
Mar 07, 2017
WNYBob wrote:
Here is another one
Hamlin SP west of Rochester, NY
large campground in the woods and on a large Lake Ontario beach
look it up on Google Maps, zoom in a and see what I'm talking about.

Let us know where you plan to go, many of us make suggestions but never know if anyone likes our ideas!

Can you walk to the beach from the sites? Its tough to tell from the maps.
schlep1967
Nomad
Mar 06, 2017
I like the Knoeble's Grove idea posted above. That location puts you in a place you can make day trips to Hershey, Lancaster, Philadelphia, New York City and many other options.
michigansandzil
Explorer
Mar 06, 2017
FordsForMe wrote:
We prefer large wooded sites with a lot of privacy if we can get it. I have been looking at state parks in MI

MI state parks are fantastic but you won't find anything with large wooded sites with privacy. It's also rather late to book anything for a state park in a prime location.

If you try to go during the week, you might have better luck. Weekends will be full for the lower peninsula. If you consider going to the UP, you shouldn't have too much of a problem getting sites.

I'd book asap for whatever you decide to do.

Have fun!

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