19 OF THE BEST THINGS TO DO NEAR FORT DRUM, NY

Introduction

Fort Drum is a U.S. Army installation in northern New York state. There are numerous cities and towns in the surrounding area, and just north of the border, there are plenty of opportunities for fun to be found in Canada. It gets truly cold here, so you’re going to need a lot of opportunities for fun and distraction to keep your mind off the frigid temperatures during the winter months. Know what you are looking for? Click the number(s) to go right to where you want to go: (1-3) Gyms (4) Bowling (5-9) Attractions (10-14) Museums (15-18) Outdoor Recreation (19) Movies

Suggested Read:

Fort Drum: In-Depth Welcome Center

COVID-19 Notice

Due to the ongoing novel coronavirus pandemic, many businesses, venues, and parks may be temporarily closed or operating under restricted hours. Many, if not all, of the ones listed here, are likely subject to health restrictions, though new re-openings and closings occur all the time. Check websites and call ahead to learn each listing’s current status.

19 of the Best Things to do Near Fort Drum NY

Fort Drum Gym

1. Magrath Sports Complex

10050 Tigris River Valley Road Fort Drum, NY 13602

Phone

: 1 (315) 772-9673 The Magrath Sports Complex at Fort Drum is thoroughly stocked with everything you could want as a fitness-conscious soldier. There are 3 courts for basketball or volleyball, a 25-meter pool, an indoor running track, a weight room with machines and resistance/cardio equipment, racquetball courts, classrooms, and a sauna. There’s even more outside. Around the building, you’ll find a football/soccer field, another track, four softball fields, a basketball court, and Magrath Sports Complex’s own urban obstacle course. Join in on several of the programs offered, like IM sports, swimming lessons for children and adults, or go on your own and see all that Magrath has to offer.

2. Monti Physical Fitness Center

4305 Conway Road Fort Drum 13602

Phone

: 1 (315) 772-4936 This Fort Drum gym is equipped with state-of-the-art tools for sculpting your physique. They offer weight rooms with machines and free weights, classrooms to join your colleagues in aerobic bun-burning bliss, an indoor pool and a toddler pool, basketball/volleyball courts, locker rooms, and a sauna.

3. Atkins Functional Fitness Facility

The Atkins Functional Fitness Facility specializes in training soldiers in practical ways that apply specifically to their fitness needs during everyday life, deployment, and combat. The focus here is to strengthen the right muscles and perform exact movements that will support the necessary actions and duties soldiers will come across in their work lives. Stop by for their astroturf, strength training room, and alpha warrior rig.

Fort Drum Bowling

4. Pine Plains Bowling Center

4320 Conway Road Fort Drum, NY 13602

Phone

: 1 (315) 772-6601 Pine Plains Bowling Center has tons to accommodate you, your friends, and family. They offer “Hyperbowling,” which is a unique experience utilizing lights and sensors and mechanized feats that will be sure to thrill even the most ardent bowlers. Pine Plains is also happy to host your group event or birthday party. Their rates are very affordable.

Attractions Near Fort Drum NY

Kingston, ON

Don’t forget to bring your passport or an extended license when you go to visit these options in Canada.

5. Kingston Penitentiary

560 King St W Kingston, ON K7L 4V7, Canada

Phone

: 1 (613) 542-7388 Kingston Penitentiary is Canada’s oldest maximum-security prison. It was closed in 2013 and designated a national landmark. Now, the former penitentiary offers tours and programs to the public. Come see how inmates served their time at this notorious facility, and learn about some of the famous names who stayed here.

6. Kingston K-Pass

248 Ontario St, Kingston, ON K7L 5P7, Canada

Phone

: 1 (844) 449-4513 The K-Pass is a unique opportunity from the city of Kingston to see a wide variety of sites and attractions. You can choose from three passes: 24 hour, 48 hour, or 72 hour. Within that time frame, you’ll get access to Kingston’s 1,000 island cruise, trolley tour, admission to Kingston museums, breweries, and tons of deals on restaurants and rentals, all for one price. The Kingston Penitentiary is included with a 48 or 72 hour K-Pass.

Sackets Harbor

7. Old McDonald’s Farm

14369 County Route 145 Sackets Harbor, NY 13685

Phone

: 1 (315) 583-5737 Old McDonald’s Farm is a working farm that focuses on providing education services for children and families. It’s a totally hands-on experience, so come by to feed the cows, pet the goats, and ride their ponies. They also put on seasonal events to keep you coming back for more. They will also host your personal events in one of their many spaces.

8. Sackets Harbor Battlefield State Historic Site

504 W. Main Street Sackets Harbor, NY 13685

Phone

: 1 (315) 646-3634 The War of 1812 saw fighting breakout in Sackets Harbor, and the Sackets Harbor Battlefield State Historic Site preserves that history for the public today. Visitors are greeted by staff interpreting daily life during the war and get to see a restored navy yard and commandant’s house. The site leads guided and self-guided tours.

9. Sail Ontario

500 West Main Street Sackets Harbor, NY 13685

Phone

: 1 (315) 783-2755 Sail Ontario is out to provide everyone a great time on Lake Ontario. Bring a group for sailing lessons or rent a charter. They offer accommodations for bad weather and seasickness. Every charter can come with snorkel gear and a kayak if you ask nicely. And if you’re really into sailing, consider joining Sail Ontario’s sailing club for one annual price.

Museums

Croghan

10. American Maple Museum

9756 State Route 812 Croghan, NY 13327

Phone

: 1 (315) 346-1107 The American Maple Museum in Croghan, NY is a deep dive into the syrup manufacturing industry. Founded in 1977, this educational museum houses antique equipment to show you how maple syrup was made over the years. The museum inducts two people a year into its American Maple Hall of Fame during opening ceremonies every May. They serve maple syrup-smothered foods in their volunteer-staffed dining room on site.

Stella, ON

Don’t forget to bring your passport or an extended license when you go to visit these options in Canada.

11. Neilson Store Museum and Cultural Center

5220 Front Road Stella Ontario K0H 2S0, Canada

Phone

: 1 (613) 634-9512 The Neilson Store Museum and Cultural Center is a museum of Amherst Island and the people who lived there from the days of its original settlement in 1789. The exhibits here examine daily life on the island including, tools, schools, transportation, and valuables. The museum also offers many programs and events for the public, such as lectures and music. There’s an internet cafe on site for public use.

Bath, ON

Don’t forget to bring your passport or an extended license when you go to visit these options in Canada.

12. Bath Museum

434 Main Street Bath, Ontario K0H 1G0, Canada

Phone

: 1 (613) 352-7716 The Bath Museum in Ontario offers a look at the city from it’s 18th-century British loyalist upbringings. You’ll discover what life was like for the loyalists back then. They also exhibit items from the World Wars. Admission is free.

Watertown

13. Jefferson County Historical Society

228 Washington St. Watertown NY 13601

Phone

: 1 (315) 782-3491 The Paddock Mansion is home to the Jefferson County Historical Society, opened as a museum in 1924. Here you’ll find exhibits and artifacts that detail local life, as well as a library, and an entire floor with full rooms recreated to look as they did in the past. Outside the mansion, you’ll find a one-room schoolhouse, an early American barn, and a pioneer cabin. The collections include numerous photographs, glass pieces, paintings, weavings, and much more.

Clayton

14. Thousand Islands Museum

312 James Street Clayton, NY 13624

Phone

: 1 (315) 686-5794 This small museum in Clayton, NY is a delightful and free spot to check out some of the history of the Thousand Islands region. They have a large collection of duck decoys and fishing artifacts. The museum holds regular lectures on local history as well.

Fort Drum MWR Outdoor Recreation

15. Remington Park

Pech River Road Fort Drum 13602

Phone

: 1 (315) 772-4765 There’s something for every recreational taste at Remington Park. Set on the relaxing shores of Fort Drum’s Remington Pond, this park features multiple pavilions and picnic areas, volleyball courts, playgrounds, fishing docks, horseshoe pits, a fitness trail, a dog park, RV parking, rental cabins, and more. It’s the perfect place for a swim or siesta from May through October. For more information, including rental rates and a park map, visit the park’s MWR webpage.

Watertown

16. Dry Hill Ski Area

23682 County Route 67 Watertown, NY 13601

Phone

: 1 (800) 379-8584 The Dry Hill Ski Area is a resort in Watertown that offers a military discount. Come by for lessons or rentals to take on the slopes on your own. Stop by the ski shop for the very best equipment. Play in the snow all day long and take advantage of the area’s winter chill.

17. Waterworks Park

1630 Huntington St Watertown, NY 13601

Phone

: 1 (315) 785-7780 Waterworks Park on the Black River offers hiking trails and opportunities for canoeing or kayaking. Picnic tables are set up for family picnics. This is also a popular fishing spot.

Harrisville

18. Bonaparte’s Cave State Forest

Harrisville, NY 13648

Phone

: 1 (315) 376-3521 Bonaparte’s Cave State Forest is a 1,435-acre forest with plenty of hiking trails and camping spots. There are numerous locations for fishing, hunting, and trapping. The area gets its name from the fact that Napoleon Bonaparte’s brother and family allegedly escaped from Europe to settle here.

Fort Drum Movie Theater

19. Drum Reel Time Theater

10725 N Riva Ridge Loop Fort Drum, NY 13602

Phone

: 1 (315) 772-5026 Get your fix of first-run, 3D and special films at the Reel Time auditorium on Fort Hood. Check the theater’s Exchange website for more info, including schedules, admission prices, and more.

Conclusion

There’s a lot to do near Fort Drum, NY. From the countless museums and historic centers to the parks and wilderness areas, it’s impossible to get bored here. So when you get a break from your regular duties, make sure to take advantage of all this post and its surroundings have to offer.  

The appearance of U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) visual information does not imply or constitute DoD endorsement.