Fair Haven Beach State Park RV & Campground Guide
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Nestled on the southeastern shore of Lake Ontario in upstate New York, Fair Haven Beach State Park allows you to enjoy a visit to Lake Ontario without leaving the United States. Another body of water by the park is Little Sodus Bay, a 750-acre bay that flows into Lake Ontario. Within the park, you may come across Sterling Creek, Sterling Pond and Sterling Marsh while walking. Hilly woodlands, shoreline bluffs and sandy beaches make Fair Haven Beach State Park a beautiful retreat from your busy life. Winter sports enthusiasts may want to visit in the winter when they can go sledding, cross-country skiing, snowmobiling and ice fishing.
Spring 28–63 F
Summer 60–78 F
Fall 38–71 F
Winter 21–37 F
RV Resorts & Campsites in Fair Haven Beach State Park
There are three camping areas at Fair Haven Beach State Park: Drumlin Camping Area, Lakeview Camping Area and Bluff Camping Area. Drumlin is the biggest camping area at the park. RVs up to 30 feet can fit in all of the camping areas, but spots for this RV size are limited. Restrooms and showers are available in the Drumlin Camping Area and the Bluff Camping Area. Guests in the Lakeview Camping Area are allowed to use the showers in the Bluff Camping Area. The Bluff Camping Area is the only section that has electric hookups. All campers are allowed to use the park's dump station located in the Drumlin Camping Area. Other amenities include water spigots, picnic tables, dumpsters, recycling bins, play areas and payphones. You'll find pet-friendly campsites too.
What to Do at
Fair Haven Beach State Park
There are two sandy beaches for you to relax on at Fair Haven Beach State Park. You can rent a canoe or a kayak to venture on the Sterling Pond Waterway. Three shelters with one equipped with heating capabilities are available for gatherings. You can go for a round of golf on the park's 18-hole golf course, play on the ball field and have a picnic at one of the five picnic areas.
Fishing
You can catch bass, salmon, trout and walleye from Lake Ontario. Chinook salmon is abundant in the lake from the end of spring to late August or September. In the later part of the salmon fishing season, you have a chance of catching Coho or Atlantic salmon. Brown and lake are the top two species of trout in Lake Ontario. In the winter, your ice fishing adventure can reward you with northern pike and perch. Little Sodus Bay is another area for fishing where you can catch largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, yellow perch, northern pike, brown trout and pumpkinseed sunfish. Northern pike and yellow perch are commonly caught when ice fishing.
Nature Watching
You have a good chance of spotting otters at Sterling Creek. If you go boating in the marsh, then you may come across red-winged blackbirds, herons and other marsh birds. In the summer, just about every Finger Lakes species of woodpecker, vireo and thrush are singing in the woods. You can spot various species of owls and hawks too. Other wildlife that lives in Fair Haven Beach State Park are chipmunks, deer, butterflies, Canada geese and mute swans.
Stargazing
With one of the darkest night skies in New York, Fair Haven Beach State Park is a beautiful place for stargazing.
Flora and Fauna
Plants that you may come across at the park include fringed loosestrife, desert false indigo, Eurasian watermilfoil, starry stonewort and common frogbit.
Hiking
Fair Haven Beach State Park Trail, an easy 5.1-mile loop trail, gives you a lovely overview of the park's wooded and waterfront areas. Dogs are welcome on the trail as long as you keep them on a 6-foot leash.
Boating
You can take large motorboats and sailboats out onto Little Sodus Bay and Lake Ontario. Sea kayaking is allowed on the lake if you're an experienced kayaker. You can also use a rowboat on Sterling Pond for a more mellow experience.
Swimming
East Beach and West Beach are two of the best swimming areas at Fair Haven Beach State Park. You can only swim on the beaches when a lifeguard is on duty. Both of these beaches also have bathhouses for your convenience.
Biking
Fair Haven Beach State Park is part of the Seaway Trail, a 518-mile national scenic byway that allows biking. You're allowed to ride bikes on the park's paved roads too. Bike rentals are available at the dock at West Beach.
How to Get to
Fair Haven Beach State Park
You can reach Fair Haven Beach State Park by traveling on NY-104A W. Turn right onto State Park Road, and within 0.2 miles, the state park will be on the left-hand side. Fair Haven Beach State Park is located at 14985 State Park Road, Fair Haven, NY 13064. I-690 W and NY-370 W are other routes that can take you to the park.
Entering Fair Haven Beach State Park
Fair Haven Beach State Park is open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Parking lots are available throughout the park, including at the beach areas.
Fair Haven Beach State Park Entry Fee (per vehicle) : $9.0
Frequently Asked Questions About Fair Haven Beach State Park
Summer is the best time of year to visit Fair Haven Beach State Park if you'd like to enjoy warm weather during your stay. The swim beaches are also open during the summer.
Deer, otters, waterfowl, marsh birds, woodpeckers, vireos and thrushes are some of the wildlife that you can find in Fair Haven Beach State Park. Most Finger Lakes species of woodpeckers, vireos and thrushes are active in the summer.
Yes, there are over 100 RV camping spots in Fair Haven Beach State Park. Forty-eight of the campsites offer electric hookups.
You're not required to reserve a spot, but you may want to for an electric site or a 30-foot RV. It costs $15 per night at the Drumlin Camping Area, $21 per night at the Bluff Camping Area and $19–$25 per night at the Lakeview Camping Area. The state park also charges an extra $4 per night on Fridays, Saturdays, holidays and Sundays before a Monday holiday.
You can bring up to two pets to Fair Haven Beach State Park, but you need to bring proof of their rabies vaccinations. Pets must also be supervised at all times and either on a 6-foot leash or in a crate. You can't bring your pet inside park buildings or other areas of the park that don't allow pets.