Campgrounds and RV parks near Hamlin, NY

The Lake Ontario shoreline is the main draw. Hamlin Beach State Park has clear water, sandy beaches, and a mile-long self-guided trail at the Yanty Creek Marsh area, plus 6 miles of hiking and biking trails, as well as snowmobile and cross-country skiing. Visitors can launch car-top boats, fish for salmon and trout, and enjoy the picnic facilities. Swimming is seasonal and supervised. The swimming beach is set to open mid-June to Labor Day, open daily, 11 am to 6:45 pm, weather and staffing permitting. Off-site, families can head into Rochester for the Strong Museum of Play and Seneca Park Zoo, tour Erie Canal locks in nearby Brockport and Holley, or drive south to Letchworth State Park for gorge hikes and waterfalls.

The camping season is short and clearly defined. Hamlin Beach State Park is open year-round but the campground only opens from mid-May to early October, and most private parks in the area follow a similar warm-weather calendar. Southwoods RV Resort operates from May 1 to October 31, which is typical for the region. Summer is peak season. The beach is the biggest draw, so July and August see the busiest weekends, and Friday and Saturday nights book out earliest. Weekday arrivals and shoulder-season trips in late May, June, and September are far easier to secure. Spring and fall offer quieter camping with cooler nights and active wildlife. Migrating birds pass through the Yanty Creek marsh in spring and fall, and the shoulder months bring milder days for hiking and biking on the park trails. Winter closes overnight camping, though day-use snowshoeing, snowmobiling, and cross-country skiing are still available in the park.

Hookups vary between public and private campgrounds. Hamlin Beach State Park has electrical hookups at every site but no water or sewer connections, and there are no full hook-up water and sewer sites, and water spigots are for public use with no permanent attachments. Showers and a dump station are on the grounds. Private parks in the area typically offer full hookups, laundry, and Wi-Fi. Sites tend to be wooded but uneven. Many sites offer excellent privacy with approximately 75 feet between driveways and trees or brush creating natural separation, and levelling blocks are useful. Pet and vehicle rules are strict at the state park. Two pets are only allowed in A, B, and C loops, pets are not allowed in restrooms, buildings, on the beach, or past C loop, and only two vehicles are allowed per campsite.