MJ W.
Guide
GuideSacandaga Campground — Adirondack Preserve
Very nice!
Had a great time. The sites are very spacious. Bathrooms and showers fine. Very pretty. Learned this is a BIG lake, for motor boats, not really for kayaks.
Camping near Altamont, NY
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SUMMARY PRESENTED BY
Campgrounds near Altamont, New York range from developed state parks to dispersed forest sites, with several options within a 30-minute drive. Thompson's Lake Campground at Thacher State Park and Schodack Island State Park Campground provide established camping experiences with amenities like electric hookups, showers, and reservable sites. The region includes both tent and RV-friendly locations, with some campgrounds like Frosty Acres also offering cabin and glamping accommodations. Two dispersed camping areas, Ushers Road State Forest and Featherstonhaugh State Forest, provide more primitive options for those seeking a less developed experience.
Seasonal considerations heavily influence camping availability in the Altamont area, with most established campgrounds operating from May through October. Thompson's Lake Campground typically opens in late April and closes by mid-October, while other facilities follow similar seasonal patterns. Many sites require advance reservations, particularly during summer weekends and holidays when facilities reach capacity. The terrain varies from lakeside settings to wooded forest environments, with some sites offering water access. Cell service can be limited in more remote areas, particularly at the dispersed forest sites. A recent visitor noted, "The sites are well spaced out. Great for families. The lake is huge. Avoid holidays to avoid the crowds."
Campers report high satisfaction with waterfront sites, particularly at Thompson's Lake and North-South Lake Campground. Several campgrounds feature fire rings, picnic tables, and access to hiking trails, with some providing additional amenities like swimming areas and boat launches. The more developed campgrounds typically offer clean restrooms and shower facilities, though quality varies by location. Wildlife sightings, including bears, have been reported at some campgrounds in the broader region. According to one camper, "North South lake has no electricity. The sites are almost all beautiful, tucked in under shady trees. Not a good way to try out our solar panel! Some are by a stream. A few are by the lake. This is a tent campers paradise." Visitors seeking more solitude might prefer the dispersed options at Ushers Road or Featherstonhaugh State Forests, where amenities are minimal but natural settings are preserved.
Best Campgrounds near Altamont (171)
1. Thompson's Lake Campground — Thacher State Park
"It’s across from the bathrooms, behind there’s a trail that takes you to the lake (about a 5 min walk). No electric, water, or dump station."
"Some of the lakeside sites have private foot trails down to the water which was very nice."
from $21 / night
Check Availability2. Schodack Island State Park Campground
"The park ensures you’ll have what you need with stores within close proximity and the staff even offers ice and firewood delivery to your site."
"Wonderful hikes and beautiful walks. Boat docks looked pretty easy for ins and outs, and the pavilions were huge!"
from $21 - $30 / night
Check Availability3. Frosty Acres Campground
4. Arrowhead Marina & RV Park
"We were next to a little fenced in area for dogs that our dog loved."
"Well maintained, located on the Mohawk River. Shady, grassy areas. Boat launch and pier. Friendly people. A perfect campground."
5. North-South Lake Campground
"Our first campground was in New York Aug 8th. Unfortunately, Debbie was socking New York hard. North South Lake Campground in the Catskills was our camping home."
"This is a truly beautiful and scenic campground, easily one of the best places we have visited in New York State."
from $22 - $44 / night
Check Availability6. Max V. Shaul State Park Campground
"Just ok distance between camp sites. If we return we might try the more upper loop further from the front"
"Watched a video on YouTube that was a walk through of each site. So peaceful. Lots of good hiking. Sinks for dishes, clean bathrooms and showers."
from $21 - $50 / night
Check Availability7. A Promise to Gaia/Garden of One
from $75 - $239 / night
Check Availability8. Hide-A-Way Campsites
from $22 - $32 / night
Check Availability9. Ushers Road State Forest
"This trailhead provides access to bicycle-friendly nature trails. I explored both directions on my bike, riding approximately half a mile down each side."
10. Featherstonhaugh State Forest Site
Drive Time
- 20 min from Albany, NY
- 56 min from Glens Falls, NY
- 1 hr 5 min from Pittsfield, MA
- 1 hr 7 min from Kingston, NY
Recent Camping Photos near Altamont, NY
404 Photos of 171 Altamont Campgrounds
George D.
Thompson's Lake Campground — Thacher State Park
Justin L.
Plotter Kill Camping
The Dyrt
Tentrr Signature Site - Campaway on Cotton Hill
The Dyrt
Tentrr Signature Site - Forest Farm Waterfall Camp Site
The Dyrt
Crystal Pond at Hogan's Landing
Tim H.
HOGAN'S LANDING
Jill G.
Schodack Island State Park Campground
Matt F.
Whitetail Meadows
The Dyrt
Tentrr Signature Site - Locust Grove
Darby R.
Max V. Shaul State Park Campground
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Abracadabra magic farm
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Tentrr Signature Site - Calico Ridge, Sap Bush Hollow
Recent Reviews near Altamont, NY
642 Reviews of 171 Altamont Campgrounds
- KKyla M.
TravelerNFR 273 Dispersed Camping Spot
Nice!
I selected a semi shaded site about 25 feet off the road about 2 miles in. There are many sites but you may have to look as a lot are overgrown. I am glad I selected the site I did as it stayed “dry” through 48 hrs of torrential downpours. I had very few problems with the bugs: have a nice smoky fire…best repellant out there!
- ssusan F.
RangerOctober Mountain State Forest Campground
Extensive hiking, well maintained
The campground is on a hillside and we stayed in one of the higher sites, further from the electrical site. The background humming was faint. There are 2 very close sites next to 3 yurts. The first night, our yurt neighbors partied until 1:30 am, and the 2nd night a family stayed and were in bed by 9:30. The closest bathrooms were down the hill a bit and were clean with a nice shower. Amazing hiking trails right from the campground. Our dog encountered a porcupine, and got away with only a couple of quills to the lower lip. If you have a dog, you will need to show a current rabies tag to bring them into the campsite.
- TTracy M.Traveler
Pittsfield State Forest Campground
Clean, quiet, grassy camping with lots of hiking nearby
Tons of hiking trails here. There are two main camping areas: one is at the base of the mountain with potable water, flush toilets, and showers nearby; the other is 2.5 miles up the mountain with a composting toilet and no potable water nearby.
We stayed at site 29, which is in the lower area. It was in a grassy field with trees on only one side of the site. We were able to position our camper to gain some privacy between it and the trees, but tents would be more exposed. Site 30 (right next door) is labeled as a management site so we didn’t have a neighbor during our stay.
Facilities are clean and well-maintained, and the staff is helpful and friendly.
Views from the top are beautiful and can be accessed by hiking or driving. Campsites in this area have more privacy and tree coverage.
We didn’t experience any noise issues with ATVs as other reviewers mentioned.
Overall, a pleasant stay.
- MMichael C.
ScoutCopake Camping Resort
They are not dog friendly
The neighbor cry about a dog that barks and then we are no good
- Tom O.Guide
Luzerne Campground
Remote location
Clean, spacious sites. O shower in this loop.
Amanda W.ScoutCherry Plain State Park Campground
Great family campground
My family and I enjoy going here durning the summer. Always clean campsites and bathrooms.
- SSherree C.Guide
Thompson's Lake Campground — Thacher State Park
Sleepy lake
Stayed at lot #71, loop B! It’s across from the bathrooms, behind there’s a trail that takes you to the lake (about a 5 min walk). No electric, water, or dump station. Firewood is near the entrance, they give you a burlap sack to fill up with!
- JJudi B.Guide
Spruce Creek Campground
Spruce Creek
This place is ab awesome getaway. It was so peaceful and quiet, not like some of the other campgrounds. The new owners are trying to make it all natural nature. They have a small trail around the campground, where you can see the creek and narure. While we were there, I saw 2 beautiful pheasants and rabbits. It was just what we needed, a nice quiet getaway and we will be back
Guide to Altamont
Camping spots near Altamont, New York range in elevation from 200 to 1,400 feet, offering diverse terrain across the Capital Region and nearby Catskills. The camping season typically extends from late April through mid-October, with most sites closing before the first frost. Winter camping options remain limited to a small section at Frosty Acres Campground where hardy campers can experience solitude on the mountainside.
What to do
Trail exploration at North-South Lake Campground: The campground connects to the Catskill Escarpment trail system with multiple difficulty levels for hikers. "Located just about a mile from Kaaterskill Falls this campground couldn't be in a better spot. We had a wonderful weekend there. The restrooms were clean and had showers, which we did not expect," notes reviewer Brittany W.
Water activities at Thompson's Lake Campground: Beyond swimming, the lake offers kayak and boat rentals for visitors wanting to explore the water. "I visit here every summer with friends. They have a great beach with swimming, kayak and boat rentals, a nature center next door you can walk too and the bathrooms are refurbished," reports Sabrina H.
Birding at Schodack Island State Park: Wildlife observation opportunities include multiple bird blinds for spotting local species. "Stopped for one night on way from New England to Finger Lakes region... Best part was hiking out to a couple of different blinds to look for birds. Did see a juv eagle," writes reviewer Patsy E.
What campers like
Private lakeside access: Some waterfront sites at Thompson's Lake offer their own trails to the water, creating semi-private lake access. Clayton H. mentions, "Very friendly and helpful staff, well maintained property. Some of the lakeside sites have private foot trails down to the water which was very nice."
Modern bathroom facilities at Max V. Shaul State Park: Recent renovations have significantly improved the facilities at this smaller campground. "This campground is a secret gem. They have new bathrooms/showers and family bathrooms. There's a playground, a pavilion, they do fireside jams," shares Margaret L.
Spacious, private sites: Many campgrounds offer well-separated sites with natural barriers for privacy. At Schodack Island, Kara W. notes, "The sites are amongst the most spacious I've ever seen... The state did an excellent job designing sites with dense foliage as sound and site barriers creating good privacy for campers."
What you should know
Winter camping options: For off-season camping, Frosty Acres maintains a small winter section for hardy campers. "They have a small winter section. You'll have the entire mountain side all to yourself! Snowshoe, cross country ski. Winter campfires. Very remote. Windy as all get out. Elevation about 1409 feet," reports James S.
Cell service variability: Connectivity fluctuates significantly across camping areas near Altamont. At Schodack Island State Park, Kara W. reports, "ATT and Verizon fluctuate between 1-3 bars. It was enough for me to work - downloading files, sending emails, and conducting non-video zoom calls. At night we were able to stream with just a little buffering needed throughout."
Rabies documentation requirements: Some campgrounds strictly enforce pet vaccination policies. "Be sure to bring your dogs rabies records!! They don't let you in with just the tag, it has to be the paper records. We're full time so not a problem as it's always with me, but they are very strict on rabies requirements," warns a Schodack Island visitor.
Tips for camping with families
Playground proximity: North-South Lake Campground offers family-friendly amenities including a children's play area. "Large family friendly campground with all the amenities - boating, showers, great hiking," notes Becky G.
Dishwashing stations: Thompson's Lake Campground provides dedicated facilities for cleaning dishes, making mealtime cleanup easier. Melissa S. mentions, "Nice bathroom facilities and dish washing station!" which can significantly improve the family camping experience.
Book exchange for rainy days: Some campgrounds like Schodack Island offer book exchanges for entertainment during inclement weather. "Two different book exchanges. Mostly filled with Danielle Steele, which is not my preference, but maybe someone will spice it up in the future," observes Kara W.
Tips from RVers
Water fill stations: At Schodack Island State Park Campground, RVers need to use central fill stations rather than site hookups. "Lots of water fill ups in the campground. Dump station on the way out," notes Kara W., while another reviewer adds, "Water is available at different spots in the campground but not at the sites."
Pull-through site availability: Some camping areas near Altamont offer pull-through sites for easier RV setup. Patsy E. mentioned at Schodack Island, "Fairly level pull-thru. Mix of large rock gravel, dirt, grass/weeds."
Electrical hookup variations: Arrowhead Marina & RV Park offers 50-amp service for larger rigs, while some state parks may only provide 30-amp options. "Well maintained, located on the Mohawk River. Shady, grassy areas. Boat launch and pier. A perfect campground," notes Coffee&Camping T.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Altamont Campground located and how do I get there?
Where is Altamont Campground located and how do I get there?
Altamont is located in the scenic New York region, near the Catskill Mountains. For a nearby reference point, North-South Lake Campground is situated in the Catskills and provides a good landmark for the area. The region is accessible via the New York State Thruway (I-87), which connects to local roads leading to most campgrounds in the area. Thompson's Lake Campground — Thacher State Park near East Berne is also in this vicinity, offering another point of reference for travelers to the Altamont area.
Is reservation required for camping at Altamont and what are the fees?
Is reservation required for camping at Altamont and what are the fees?
Reservations are generally recommended for campgrounds in the Altamont area, especially during peak summer seasons and holidays. At Catskill/Kenneth L Wilson Campground, the sites are spacious and reservable, offering a good mix of privacy and community. Fees vary by campground and site type. Spacious Skies Woodland Hills offers both back-in and pull-through sites with different pricing structures. For the best availability and to avoid crowds, consider camping outside of holiday periods, as many New York campgrounds can get busy during peak times.
What amenities and facilities are available at Altamont Campground?
What amenities and facilities are available at Altamont Campground?
Campgrounds in the Altamont area offer a variety of amenities. Rip Van Winkle Campgrounds features two private lakes for fishing, playgrounds for children, basketball courts, swimming pools, and even a remote control car track. For those seeking a more natural setting, Phoenicia Black Bear Campground provides creek front and wooded campsites, each equipped with a fire ring and picnic table. Most campgrounds in the region offer basic facilities like water access and toilet facilities, though amenities can vary widely between public and private sites.
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