RV Parks In Alexandria Bay, New York

For full hookups and big rigs, Swan Bay Resort is the standout, with about 280 waterfront and pull-through sites, concrete pads, 50-amp service and a marina just off I-81. On the public side, Wellesley Island State Park is the largest campground in the Thousand Islands, with full-hookup sites in the Fox loop and 30/50-amp electric in the Coyote loop. Keewaydin State Park and the private 1000 Islands Campground round out the choices, so you can pick between a resort feel and a quieter state-park riverfront stay.

Yes, though it depends where you stay. Swan Bay Resort offers full hookups with village water and sewer and 20/30/50-amp service at every site. Wellesley Island State Park has full-hookup sites in its Fox loop and 30-to-50-amp electric sites in the Coyote loop. The private 1000 Islands Campground has sewer and non-sewer sites with up to 50-amp power. Smaller state parks like DeWolf Point are mostly non-electric, so if you need sewer at the site, stick with the resorts or the Fox loop and book early.

Public state-park sites are the better value, generally running in the moderate range per night for electric and full-hookup loops at Wellesley Island and Keewaydin. Private waterfront resorts like Swan Bay sit higher, especially for the St. Lawrence-view sites and premium 50-amp pull-throughs, which is normal for a destination marina resort. Expect to pay a premium for any waterfront site anywhere in the region during July and August. Shoulder-season rates in May and late September can be noticeably cheaper, and midweek stays almost always beat weekend pricing.

For summer weekends, plan months ahead. New York State Parks take reservations through ReserveAmerica up to nine months in advance with a one-day minimum, and the riverfront and full-hookup loops at Wellesley Island sell out quickly once the calendar opens. Private resorts like Swan Bay also fill their waterfront sites well ahead for July and August. If you want a specific view site during peak Boldt Castle season, treat nine months out as your target. Midweek and shoulder-season trips are far more forgiving and can sometimes be booked within a week.

Late June through August is the classic season, with warm river days, open castles and full cruise schedules, but it is also the busiest and most expensive. Our pick is early fall: September brings smaller crowds, lower rates and the first color along the St. Lawrence, while most parks are still open into mid-October. Spring, from the mid-May reopening into June, is quiet and cheap but cooler. Winter is for ice fishing and skiing only, since every campground closes. If you want a single sweet spot, target the first two weeks of September for the best balance of weather, open parks and elbow room.

Yes. Swan Bay Resort is built for big rigs, with oversized 35-by-85-foot sites, 15-by-40-foot concrete pads and room for rigs up to 50 feet, plus full hookups and pull-throughs. The 1000 Islands Campground also has many pull-through sites with up to 50-amp service. On the public side, the Coyote and Fox loops at Wellesley Island take rigs up to about 40 feet, but the smaller state parks like DeWolf Point are tight and better for smaller rigs. If you run a 40-foot-plus coach, the private resorts are your safest bet.

Free camping is scarce in this part of New York, since the riverfront is heavily developed and most land is state park or private. A handful of state-park sites release same-day until 3pm, including at DeWolf Point, so a first-come stay is possible midweek or in shoulder season. In peak summer, though, counting on walking up without a reservation is risky, and you should book ahead. If you need a budget option, the non-electric state-park sites are the closest thing to cheap camping here.

Most campgrounds here have dump stations for registered guests, and some state parks let non-campers dump for a fee. Jacques Cartier State Park, just east along the river, runs a public RV dump station for a small daily entrance fee from mid-May through mid-October. For propane, refill stations are available in and around Alexandria Bay and nearby Watertown. If you are passing through and just need to empty tanks, see our guide to RV dump stations in Alexandria Bay for the closest options and current fees.

You can camp close to the launch points but not on Heart Island itself, since Boldt Castle is water-access only. The best plan is to base at Wellesley Island State Park or a downtown-adjacent resort like Swan Bay, then take a tour boat or your own craft to the island. Uncle Sam Boat Tours and other operators run regular castle cruises from Alexandria Bay through the mid-May to mid-October season. Remember a passport if your cruise crosses into Canadian waters, which several of the longer tours do.

They are among the best in the Northeast for it. The St. Lawrence River is a world-class smallmouth bass, pike and muskie fishery, and several parks and resorts sit right on the water with launches and marinas. Swan Bay Resort has its own marina, and Keewaydin State Park offers boating, fishing and a marina on site. Many RVers bring a boat or rent one locally to explore the islands. Ice fishing keeps a few spots active in winter, but the camping season for anglers runs mid-May through mid-October.

Not to camp on the American side, but you do for anything that crosses into Canada. Alexandria Bay sits right on the international border, and many of the popular cruises, including the Two Nation tour, dip into Canadian waters, so bring a passport or enhanced ID if you plan to take one. The Thousand Islands Bridge also crosses to Ontario if you want to explore the Canadian shore. For camping alone within New York, your normal reservation and ID are all you need.

Swan Bay Resort and the 1000 Islands Campground are the most family-oriented, with heated pools, playgrounds, organized activities and easy access to the downtown waterfront. Wellesley Island State Park is the better choice if your family wants a more natural setting, with a swimming beach, a nature center and miles of trails on the island. Both styles put you minutes from the boat tours, mini-golf and go-karts that kids love in Alexandria Bay. For a mix of amenities and nature, Wellesley Island is hard to beat.

Interstate 81 is your route. It runs north from Syracuse straight to the Thousand Islands Bridge, with Exit 50 serving Alexandria Bay and Exit 51 serving Wellesley Island. Both exits put you within about a mile of camping, so big-rig access is easy and there are no tricky mountain grades. From the south, Watertown is about 30 minutes away with full services and groceries. If you are coming from Canada, the bridge crosses directly into the region from Ontario, and the border station sits right at the span. Plan your last fuel stop in Watertown, since prices near the river run higher and stations with easy RV pull-in are limited once you leave the interstate.

Yes, most parks here welcome leashed pets. New York State Parks allow dogs at campsites with proof of rabies vaccination and a leash limit, though some swimming beaches restrict them. Private resorts like Swan Bay are pet-friendly and even have dog parks on site. Always check the specific park rules when you book, since rules on the number of pets and where they can go vary. Bring vaccination records for state-park stays, since they can be checked at registration. Pack a long lead and plenty of water for hot summer afternoons, and clean up after your dog on the trails so the parks keep staying pet-friendly.

For full hookups and big rigs, Swan Bay Resort is the standout, with about 280 waterfront and pull-through sites, concrete pads, 50-amp service and a marina just off I-81. On the public side, Wellesley Island State Park is the largest campground in the Thousand Islands, with full-hookup sites in the Fox loop and 30/50-amp electric in the Coyote loop. Keewaydin State Park and the private 1000 Islands Campground round out the choices, so you can pick between a resort feel and a quieter state-park riverfront stay.

Yes, though it depends where you stay. Swan Bay Resort offers full hookups with village water and sewer and 20/30/50-amp service at every site. Wellesley Island State Park has full-hookup sites in its Fox loop and 30-to-50-amp electric sites in the Coyote loop. The private 1000 Islands Campground has sewer and non-sewer sites with up to 50-amp power. Smaller state parks like DeWolf Point are mostly non-electric, so if you need sewer at the site, stick with the resorts or the Fox loop and book early.

Public state-park sites are the better value, generally running in the moderate range per night for electric and full-hookup loops at Wellesley Island and Keewaydin. Private waterfront resorts like Swan Bay sit higher, especially for the St. Lawrence-view sites and premium 50-amp pull-throughs, which is normal for a destination marina resort. Expect to pay a premium for any waterfront site anywhere in the region during July and August. Shoulder-season rates in May and late September can be noticeably cheaper, and midweek stays almost always beat weekend pricing.

For summer weekends, plan months ahead. New York State Parks take reservations through ReserveAmerica up to nine months in advance with a one-day minimum, and the riverfront and full-hookup loops at Wellesley Island sell out quickly once the calendar opens. Private resorts like Swan Bay also fill their waterfront sites well ahead for July and August. If you want a specific view site during peak Boldt Castle season, treat nine months out as your target. Midweek and shoulder-season trips are far more forgiving and can sometimes be booked within a week.

Late June through August is the classic season, with warm river days, open castles and full cruise schedules, but it is also the busiest and most expensive. Our pick is early fall: September brings smaller crowds, lower rates and the first color along the St. Lawrence, while most parks are still open into mid-October. Spring, from the mid-May reopening into June, is quiet and cheap but cooler. Winter is for ice fishing and skiing only, since every campground closes. If you want a single sweet spot, target the first two weeks of September for the best balance of weather, open parks and elbow room.

Yes. Swan Bay Resort is built for big rigs, with oversized 35-by-85-foot sites, 15-by-40-foot concrete pads and room for rigs up to 50 feet, plus full hookups and pull-throughs. The 1000 Islands Campground also has many pull-through sites with up to 50-amp service. On the public side, the Coyote and Fox loops at Wellesley Island take rigs up to about 40 feet, but the smaller state parks like DeWolf Point are tight and better for smaller rigs. If you run a 40-foot-plus coach, the private resorts are your safest bet.

Free camping is scarce in this part of New York, since the riverfront is heavily developed and most land is state park or private. A handful of state-park sites release same-day until 3pm, including at DeWolf Point, so a first-come stay is possible midweek or in shoulder season. In peak summer, though, counting on walking up without a reservation is risky, and you should book ahead. If you need a budget option, the non-electric state-park sites are the closest thing to cheap camping here.

Most campgrounds here have dump stations for registered guests, and some state parks let non-campers dump for a fee. Jacques Cartier State Park, just east along the river, runs a public RV dump station for a small daily entrance fee from mid-May through mid-October. For propane, refill stations are available in and around Alexandria Bay and nearby Watertown. If you are passing through and just need to empty tanks, see our guide to RV dump stations in Alexandria Bay for the closest options and current fees.

You can camp close to the launch points but not on Heart Island itself, since Boldt Castle is water-access only. The best plan is to base at Wellesley Island State Park or a downtown-adjacent resort like Swan Bay, then take a tour boat or your own craft to the island. Uncle Sam Boat Tours and other operators run regular castle cruises from Alexandria Bay through the mid-May to mid-October season. Remember a passport if your cruise crosses into Canadian waters, which several of the longer tours do.

They are among the best in the Northeast for it. The St. Lawrence River is a world-class smallmouth bass, pike and muskie fishery, and several parks and resorts sit right on the water with launches and marinas. Swan Bay Resort has its own marina, and Keewaydin State Park offers boating, fishing and a marina on site. Many RVers bring a boat or rent one locally to explore the islands. Ice fishing keeps a few spots active in winter, but the camping season for anglers runs mid-May through mid-October.

Not to camp on the American side, but you do for anything that crosses into Canada. Alexandria Bay sits right on the international border, and many of the popular cruises, including the Two Nation tour, dip into Canadian waters, so bring a passport or enhanced ID if you plan to take one. The Thousand Islands Bridge also crosses to Ontario if you want to explore the Canadian shore. For camping alone within New York, your normal reservation and ID are all you need.

Swan Bay Resort and the 1000 Islands Campground are the most family-oriented, with heated pools, playgrounds, organized activities and easy access to the downtown waterfront. Wellesley Island State Park is the better choice if your family wants a more natural setting, with a swimming beach, a nature center and miles of trails on the island. Both styles put you minutes from the boat tours, mini-golf and go-karts that kids love in Alexandria Bay. For a mix of amenities and nature, Wellesley Island is hard to beat.

Interstate 81 is your route. It runs north from Syracuse straight to the Thousand Islands Bridge, with Exit 50 serving Alexandria Bay and Exit 51 serving Wellesley Island. Both exits put you within about a mile of camping, so big-rig access is easy and there are no tricky mountain grades. From the south, Watertown is about 30 minutes away with full services and groceries. If you are coming from Canada, the bridge crosses directly into the region from Ontario, and the border station sits right at the span. Plan your last fuel stop in Watertown, since prices near the river run higher and stations with easy RV pull-in are limited once you leave the interstate.

Yes, most parks here welcome leashed pets. New York State Parks allow dogs at campsites with proof of rabies vaccination and a leash limit, though some swimming beaches restrict them. Private resorts like Swan Bay are pet-friendly and even have dog parks on site. Always check the specific park rules when you book, since rules on the number of pets and where they can go vary. Bring vaccination records for state-park stays, since they can be checked at registration. Pack a long lead and plenty of water for hot summer afternoons, and clean up after your dog on the trails so the parks keep staying pet-friendly.

The highest-rated station is Cedar Point State Park with a rating of 4.7/5 stars.

Yes — there are free RV waste disposal options available near Alexandria Bay.