Campgrounds near Buffalo bring visitors closer to well-known landmarks like Niagara Falls, while also providing the peace and quiet of less-visited spots like Akron Falls County Park. Get on the water in a kayak or on a stand up paddleboard, or take a relaxing swim at the beach during your Buffalo camping trip.
From CycleBoats to schooner tours on Lake Eerie, water recreation is easy to come across from campgrounds near Buffalo! If trees and trails are more your vibe, head out to Beaver Meadow, Deer Lick Conservation Area, or 18-Mile Creek. Play tourist for a day while camping near Buffalo to witness the heart-thumping wonder of Niagara Falls, or venture across the border to relax on Ontario beaches.
Sherkston, ON (13 miles away)
Visit Sun Retreats Sherkston Shores, Southern Ontario’s vacation destination for friends, family and non-stop fun. Located on over two miles of beautiful Lake Erie beachfront, and close to Niagara Fal...
Colden, NY (21 miles away)
Colden Lakes Resort is your stop for family fun and recreation in Colden, New York. With special events, live music on holiday weekends, four fishing lakes, and more, there is always fun to be had at...
Darien Center, NY (25 miles away)
Cherry Hill is a perfect place for a change of scenery, to isolate with your family in the fresh air. The campsites are well spaced out and private and there are 63 acres of uncrowded hiking trails an...
Java Center, NY (29 miles away)
Located in Western New York’s scenic Wyoming County, Beaver Meadow Family Campground offers a quiet, family oriented atmosphere for the young and the young at heart. Whether your campsite preference i...
Gasport, NY (32 miles away)
Niagara Hartland RV Resort has been family owned and operated since 1985, and offers the perfect mix of camping experience and access to local amenities. Join them in the peaceful tranquility of Gaspo...
North Java, NY (33 miles away)
Situated on 100+ acres of peaceful pines in the heart of Western New York’s Wyoming County, this resort is the perfect location for your family vacation. The pride of the resort is their 16,000 sq. Ft...
Warsaw, NY (36 miles away)
Located in the rolling hills of Wyoming County, New York, Dream Lake Campground is the perfect place to unwind and spend quality time with friends and family. Enjoy waterfront sites in a beautiful nat...
Cayuga, ON (43 miles away)
Bruce’s Landing RV Resort welcomes everyone to this family friendly resort environment, full of fun loving activities for all ages. Proudly located in the Haldimand County location of Southern Grand R...
Portageville, NY (46 miles away)
Your next adventure awaits at Adventure Bound Four Winds. Located in Portageville, New York, you'll be in close proximity to the beautiful Letchworth State Park and more. On site, enjoy the unique ca...
Randolph, NY (47 miles away)
Pope Haven Campground is a beautiful countryside campground in the heart of the Amish Trail. Perfect for people of all ages. Family oriented and pet friendly. Pope Haven offers Cabin rental, golf cart...
Holley, NY (48 miles away)
Whether it’s bass fishing in a tranquil pond, relaxing by the fire under a canopy of hardwoods, or exploring the rich history of upstate New York, Red Rock Ponds has something for everyone. The resort...
Cayuga, ON (50 miles away)
Sun Retreats Cayuga is a seasonal RV Resort scenically located along the beautiful Grand River. With over 1,000 feet of Grand River RV and tent camping, this resort provides stunning views with well-f...
With mild weather through spring, summer, and fall, Buffalo and its surrounding state parks are a great area to go camping. From bird-watching in the estuaries and along the lakeshore to floating through the clouds in a hot air balloon over natural waterfalls, Buffalo has an endless stream of unique and memory-making outdoor activities. As a burgeoning sports mecca and city that several historic residents called home, Buffalo has a little something for everyone. Here are your questions answered on one of the best camping destinations in New York.
The humid continental climate of Buffalo makes it a great camping destination in New York. Buffalo is a four-season city and sees everything from humid summers to brutal winters. The best time to go camping in Buffalo is in summer. Temperatures typically hover between the low 50s and high 80s. Spring and fall are also good times to plan a camping trip as long as you prepare for potentially cold nights.
Buffalo sees a ton of snow come the winter months, averaging almost 100 inches. Talk about a snow globe! While winter is beautiful, snow storms like blizzards can happen suddenly. Think twice before planning a camping trip from December to February.
Camping in Buffalo is the perfect opportunity to soak in all the natural wonders that Western New York has to offer. Here are a few reminders of what to pack that will make your camping trip to Buffalo all the better.
Bringing a fire starter and purchasing wood from within the park will set you on a path toward a great campfire experience. Collecting downed wood is a no-no as logs are considered a habitat for insects and small woodland creatures like chipmunks. Also, more and more areas that weren’t wildfire risks are becoming a threat. Always follow fire-level signage to be sure you aren’t building a fire where it isn’t allowed.
Like many natural areas in the U.S., Buffalo is home to thousands of mosquitoes. Don’t become their next meal! Bug spray, long sleeve shirts, and pants are all great ways to keep them at bay.
Birdwatching in wildlife-ridden Buffalo is world-renowned. Bring along a pair of binoculars to spot those tiny chickadees and snowy egrets.
Outdoor activities are plentiful in Buffalo, making this a great camping destination in Western New York. From proximity to the picturesque Finger Lakes, remote swimming holes, and hundreds of local waterfalls, the Queen City just might be the best place in the Empire State to get away from it all and connect to nature. Here are the best outdoor activities in Buffalo.
Buffalo has endless hiking trails to explore, many of which end in unique sights like the eternal flame, rolling meadows, and waterfalls.
Buffalo’s prime location near both Lake Erie, Lake Ontario, and the Niagara River mean paddling lovers are spoiled for choice. Kayak around the Buffalo Harbor or down the Buffalo River and see why Buffalonians love to be on the water.
The Queen City and the pristine natural wilderness nearby are great locations to do some birdwatching, and in fact, the city has its own ornithological society. Buffalo was designated a “Globally Significant Important Bird Area,” the same accolade that was given to areas like the Everglades and Yellowstone. Bring your binoculars and keep an eye out for yellow warblers, cedar waxwings, and eastern bluebirds.
Dozens of unique swimming holes and the city’s proximity to pristine lakeshore make Buffalo an awesome destination for taking a dip come summer.
Buffalo’s burgeoning biking scene is firmly taking root with new bike trails being added every year.
Check out companies like Balloons Over Letchworth that will take you floating over the stunning Letchworth State Park and offer a perfect bird’s-eye view of the cascading falls below.
Only an hour’s drive from downtown Buffalo, the Zoar Valley is a fun and beautiful weekend destination for floating your troubles away through the rock rivers.
Originally founded in 1801, Buffalo is a an integral part of our nation’s story. The home of both Harriet Tubman and the country’s 13th president, Buffalo offers countless sights that are both exciting and historic while you’re camping in Buffalo. Here are some of the best.
Enjoy sweeping views of the city of Buffalo from the most beautiful building in the downtown area. Ascend 25 stories to the observation deck for not only skyline scenery, but also that of the stunning Lake Erie.
A celebration of the deep historical roots of the Buffalo community, the Buffalo History Museum is an important addition to any history buff’s itinerary. From a pioneer gallery and the Native American exhibit to historic artifacts from Erie County, this is the best place in town to learn about Buffalo’s history.
Serving the Buffalo and Erie communities for well over 100 years, the Buffalo Botanical Gardens host myriad plants from several climate zones, offering sections like the Aquatic Garden, Asian Rainforest, and Carnivorous Plants & Medicinal Garden. Walk through the steamy atmosphere of the replicated Victorian glass greenhouse to enjoy flora from across the globe.
An energetic metropolitan strip in downtown Buffalo, the Theatre District is overflowing with movie theaters, art galleries, and live music venues. Enjoy a true night on the town while also exploring the restaurants and shops around.
Even those who aren’t fans of American football have probably heard of the wiley Bills Mafia. The Buffalo Bills Stadium is a riot of fun come fall and winter.
The historic home of our 13th president, the Millard Fillmore House was built in 1826 by Mr. Fillmore himself. Learn about the president’s illustrious past and tour his home replete with his daughter’s musical instruments and artwork.
The location of Buffalo native Harriet Tubman’s home, this National Historic Park is dedicated to teaching the next generation about the Underground Railroad and the atrocities of slavery. This is an incredibly important landmark in the United States that every visitor to Buffalo should seek out.
State parks are plentiful in the wilderness around Buffalo. From stunning sunsets slipping into the Great Lakes to waterfalls plunging into a scenic gorge, there’s something for every intrepid explorer. While national parks are a bit too far-flung, here are the best state parks to visit when camping near Buffalo.
(6 minutes)
Located within the metropolitan area of Buffalo along the Lake Ontario shore, the Buffalo Harbor State Park lives up to its name with several kayak launch areas, a marina, and an area for fish cleaning. This is one of Buffalo’s premier accesses to the lake within the bounds of the city center.
(35 minutes)
Evangola State Park is situated along Lake Erie’s scenic shores and boasts sprawling picnic areas, craggy cliffs, and swimming areas.
(1 hour, 7 minutes)
With scenic cliff-top views and stunning waterfalls, Letchworth Falls State Park is well worth the hour’s drive outside of Rochester. Called the “Grand Canyon of the East,” the Genesee River carves its way through a narrow gorge. The most iconic of the over-dozen waterfalls here is the Upper Falls, with a beautiful train trestle perched above it.
(1 hour, 10 minutes)
Also known as the Quaker Area, Allegany State Park is a historic nature preserve only an hour’s drive from downtown Buffalo. With over 90 miles of manicured snowmobile trails and boundless wilderness for snowshoeing and cross-country skiing, the park is also home to several historic sites like the Old Quaker Dance Hall and several fire lookout towers.
(2 hour, 25 minutes)
Taughannock State Park’s claim to fame is the incredible, 215-foot Taughannock Falls which plunges into the gorge below. The falls are even more picturesque in October when golden leaves frame the cliffs beside it.
(24 minutes)
Flowing across the border of Canada and the United States, visitors can see over 3,000 tons of water gush every second into the Niagara River. Tourists can come year-round to see frozen plumes of ice or rainbows in the mist, although facilities are limited in winter. The iconic Maid of the Mist runs from April to November, depending on the weather. You can witness the majesty of Niagara Falls from the Hurricane Deck in the Cave of the Winds.
Buffalo’s iconic culinary scene is a foodie wonderland. As the home of the famous buffalo wing and a rich heritage of German cuisine, Buffalo is one of the best places to eat in all of New York. Here are some of the best and most iconic places to eat in Nickel City.
While Anchor Bar claims to be the inventor of the buffalo wing, Duff’s might be the city’s favorite. No trip to Buffalo would be complete without testing out their mild buffalo sauce on a crispy chicken wing. They also offer classic bar food like pizza and jalapeno poppers.
Nestled inside a historic home, Betty’s epitomizes Buffalo’s humble demeanor with homestyle favorites like the Betty Burger and Honey Garlic Chicken.
With a great patio in summer, The Dapper Goose boasts fancy small plates like ricotta toast and blackened green beans with larger mains of Korean fried chicken and saffron risotto. Their playful and unique menu is complemented by their extensive wine list.
Paula’s Donuts has been an institution in Buffalo since its opening in 1996. It’s even been featured on the Travel Channel. Try one of the angel cream donuts or a peanut stick.
Celebrating Buffalo’s German heritage, Schwabl’s claim to fame is their roast beef on traditional kümmelweck bread. Opened in 1837, this joint showcases traditional German fare like potato salad and hungarian goulash.
Camping in Buffalo is one of the best ways to get out in nature and breathe in the fresh air of the countryside. Although a camping trip in this region of New York is fairly straightforward, here are a few things you might not have considered.
The Buffalo area and surrounding wilderness are home to an increasing black bear population. Be sure to store food and toiletries properly when camping in areas that are frequented by bears and follow all park rangers and posted guidelines.
With deep snowfall and blizzards always a lurking threat from December to February, winter isn’t exactly the best time to go camping in Buffalo. If you’re planning to brave the snowy wilderness, be sure to check the weather before venturing out; an imminent storm could be approaching.
Frozen streams, lakes, and rivers might be picturesque, but they’re also dangerous. Ice shelves frequently form along the Great Lakes shoreline, and while they look fun to climb, they are known to collapse. Be cautious around frozen bodies of water.
Animals like bobcats, moose, gray fox, eurasian boars, coyotes, bald eagles, otters, swans, egrets, and thousands of others call Buffalo home. One of the most interesting animals in the area is the American beaver who is busy building intricate dams along the city’s myriad waterways.
Some of the wild areas around Buffalo are seeing an increasing amount of black bears. Nearby parks and wildlife preserves may require proper food storage if you plan to camp in these locations.