Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
RV Trip Planning Discussions

Go Back   iRV2 Forums > CAMPING, TRAVEL and TRIP PLANNING > Camping Locations, Plans & Trip Reports
Click Here to Login
Join iRV2 Today

Mission Statement: Supporting thoughtful exchange of knowledge, values and experience among RV enthusiasts.
Reply
  This discussion is proudly sponsored by:
Please support our sponsors and let them know you heard about their products on iRV2
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 01-12-2025, 06:39 AM   #1
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2023
Posts: 26
Planning trip to the Thousand Islands, NY

Hi, we are planning a trip to the Thousand Islands and would love some info. This is our first trip there looking for things to do and input on where to stay. We will be traveling in a 37ft Class A Motorhome. Any parking lots to pull over off I81 to crash for the night? Thanks for the help! Stay safe!
Tmaxx2007 is offline   Reply With Quote
Join the #1 RV Forum Today - It's Totally Free!

iRV2.com RV Community - Are you about to start a new improvement on your RV or need some help with some maintenance? Do you need advice on what products to buy? Or maybe you can give others some advice? No matter where you fit in you'll find that iRV2 is a great community to join. Best of all it's totally FREE!

You are currently viewing our boards as a guest so you have limited access to our community. Please take the time to register and you will gain a lot of great new features including; the ability to participate in discussions, network with other RV owners, see fewer ads, upload photographs, create an RV blog, send private messages and so much, much more!

Old 01-12-2025, 06:53 AM   #2
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2024
Location: Maine
Posts: 12
Sounds like you should join Harvest Host. A quick search shows 61 locations along I81.
Mgd1961 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-12-2025, 07:15 AM   #3
Senior Member
 
Souljourner's Avatar


 
Join Date: Apr 2021
Posts: 1,095
If what you are looking for are overnight suggestions along I81, I would second the Harvest Host suggestion, as well as Cracker Barrel. Making that I81 trip twice yearly I have discovered that Cracker Barrels seem to be spaced every two hours, or less, along I81 exits, and they have always been clean, well lit, in well developed areas with other traveler services, and have felt safe.

When in the Thousand Islands, definitely take a boat tour to get a sense of the beauty of the area.
__________________
2021 Forest River RPod 196 - 22' TT
Life is a daring adventure.
@Following_Breadcrumbs
Souljourner is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-12-2025, 08:08 AM   #4
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Watertown NY USA
Posts: 6,755
There are rest areas along Rt. 81

Here's a start on the Thousand Islands region.
https://visitalexbay.org/

https://www.claytonchamber.com/

https://www.capevincent.org/

Unless you plan to stay two or more years you won't run out of things to do or see.

There is a "Cracker Barrel" right off Rt. 81 (Exit 46) in Watertown as well as a Walmart a short ways from exit (45) for 81 in Watertown also.

Route 81 is good traveling albeit there might be a couple places where maintenance is being done.
Lynn
__________________
2002 Fleetwood Storm 30H on Workhorse P32 chassis 8.1 gas.
LETMGROW is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-12-2025, 08:26 AM   #5
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Watertown NY USA
Posts: 6,755
NY State Rt. 81

For anyone planning to drive up or down Route 81 in NY State you should be aware all the exit numbers on Rte. 81 have been changed. Be sure your Phone, GPS or any other device you have picked this up as well as any map you may follow.
__________________
2002 Fleetwood Storm 30H on Workhorse P32 chassis 8.1 gas.
LETMGROW is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-12-2025, 08:46 AM   #6
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2023
Posts: 26
Wow, thanks all for the info! Please keep it coming! Has anyone with a motorhome towed a golf cart on an open trailer and stayed overnight in any of the mentioned places overnight? Thanks again!
Tmaxx2007 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-12-2025, 09:34 AM   #7
Member
 
MattSiegel's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2021
Location: Millstone, NJ
Posts: 79
We did our final trip for the 2024 season there and happy to share a few suggestions. Hoping this is helpful!

We stayed at Swan Bay Resort in waterfront site #201. Great spot to watch passing cargo ships quietly sail past your motorhome's windshield.

Spent an afternoon touring the waterway along with stops at Boldt and Singer Castles with Uncle Sam Boat Tours.

Walking around Alexandria Bay is nice too, though lots of places had already started closing after the prime season ended (we were there in mid-October).

Have fun -- it's a great place.
__________________
2024 Newmar Mountain Aire 4551
Towing 2023 Jeep Wrangler Willys
MattSiegel is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-12-2025, 11:40 AM   #8
Senior Member
 
Souljourner's Avatar


 
Join Date: Apr 2021
Posts: 1,095
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tmaxx2007 View Post
Wow, thanks all for the info! Please keep it coming! Has anyone with a motorhome towed a golf cart on an open trailer and stayed overnight in any of the mentioned places overnight? Thanks again!
If you have a large Class A towing a trailer you may encounter difficulties staying overnight at a Cracker Barrel. If you've never done that before, most CB locations offer long pull-through parking spots in the rear that would be suitable for a TT, Class C, or smaller 5th wheel, but would not be long enough for a large Class A and trailer. When I've stayed overnight at a CB larger RVs have parked along the perimeter of the lot taking up many parking spaces, which I don't think is ideal.
__________________
2021 Forest River RPod 196 - 22' TT
Life is a daring adventure.
@Following_Breadcrumbs
Souljourner is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-12-2025, 03:22 PM   #9
Junior Member
 
Entegra Owners Club
Join Date: Apr 2024
Posts: 12
Wellesley Island State Park

We stayed at Wellesley Island State Park this past September and really enjoyed it. Went to Clayton and rose the boat to the Castle. Very interesting area.
RonJohnW is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-12-2025, 03:40 PM   #10
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 37,096
I-81 New York is being re-routed onto I-481 to bypass Syracuse. It's the preferred route anyway, but there will be interchange construction for a few years, along with widening of future I-81.

Pay close attention of the signs to get thru. I missed one sign and added a few downtown Syracuse miles, and I live 30 miles from the city.
twinboat is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 01-13-2025, 10:01 AM   #11
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2023
Posts: 26
Does anyone know if we would need passports to do sightseeing?
Tmaxx2007 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-13-2025, 11:25 AM   #12
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Watertown NY USA
Posts: 6,755
A little more insight

Plenty to do in the area. By all means take the tour mentioned previously.
https://visitalexbay.org/
__________________
2002 Fleetwood Storm 30H on Workhorse P32 chassis 8.1 gas.
LETMGROW is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-13-2025, 11:26 AM   #13
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Watertown NY USA
Posts: 6,755
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tmaxx2007 View Post
Does anyone know if we would need passports to do sightseeing?
Only if you were to go into Canada.
__________________
2002 Fleetwood Storm 30H on Workhorse P32 chassis 8.1 gas.
LETMGROW is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-13-2025, 12:04 PM   #14
Senior Member
 
RickNC's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: Wilmington,NC USA
Posts: 1,986
Quote:
Originally Posted by MattSiegel View Post
We did our final trip for the 2024 season there and happy to share a few suggestions. Hoping this is helpful!

We stayed at Swan Bay Resort in waterfront site #201. Great spot to watch passing cargo ships quietly sail past your motorhome's windshield.

Spent an afternoon touring the waterway along with stops at Boldt and Singer Castles with Uncle Sam Boat Tours.

Walking around Alexandria Bay is nice too, though lots of places had already started closing after the prime season ended (we were there in mid-October).

Have fun -- it's a great place.
I concur with Matt’s recommendation. Swan Bay is a great campground and central to a lot of interesting places to see. BTW, it you like wines. Thousand Island Winery is 1/2 mile west. Great wines, I recommend sampling the Frontenac , A hearty red with a hint of sweetness, a great fireside wine.
Across the 81 bridge is Wellesley Island and lots to explore. You can cross the bridge on the west side via foot or bicycle. (I don’t recommend riding on the road way over the bridge the steel deck and traffic makes it pretty gnarly.)
__________________
2019 Forest River Sunseeker 2850
RickNC is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply



Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Four Winds Five Thousand :: 2001 Four Winds (now Thor) Five Thousand 081547111 iRV2 Owners Registry 0 09-24-2019 10:18 AM
Campground around the thousand islands, N.Y. Squanto Camping Locations, Plans & Trip Reports 19 04-07-2012 06:12 PM
Thousand Islands Camping BBBEEBOP Camping Locations, Plans & Trip Reports 1 08-19-2007 05:22 PM
thousand islands new york shir Camping Locations, Plans & Trip Reports 4 11-21-2006 05:54 PM
one thousand one, one thousand two...... jodann Just Conversation 9 05-31-2005 07:17 AM

» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 02:49 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2025, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.