Looking for the best tent campgrounds near Ballston Spa? Finding a place to camp in New York with your tent has never been easier. Each tent campsite offers quick access to one or more of Ballston Spa's most popular destinations.
Hearthstone Campground rests at the end of picturesque Lake George just 2 miles north of the Village of Lake George; this has become a very popular vacation location in New York. Lake George region offers some of the most diverse recreation opportunities in NYS. A Junior Naturalist Program is also offered at Hearthstone, and the successful camper can earn a naturalist patch for their efforts.
$28 / night
Turtle Island is in the Mother Bunch and is a favorite among locals. It does not take long to discover that Turtle Island is the best kept secret of Lake George with jumping rocks, beautiful islands, and quieter waters.
Scout
Mainly an RV ground, but they have about 10-15 great tent sites back beyond the RV area. There are water spigots near all the tent sites and they are nice and spread out. They have special events in a pavilion near the RVs including bingo
Ranger
Quiet private campground along the battenkill river. Pretty clean bathrooms and showers but not the best. They have tent sites to full hook up sites. We were at site 33 which was nice and large but kinda on top of neighbors. The tent sites are nice and private near the river. They have laundry and a fenced in dog area that was much appreciated! Almost everyone camping had a dog or 2. We enjoyed this place but not a lot to do right off the campground in terms of hiking and biking trails
Scout
This place is great! $10 for a tent site right on the canal and the staff is super friendly
TravelerSmall, mostly wooded, quiet campground. Facilities were spotless. The owners are so nice and welcoming. Great river for tubing or hanging out in the swimming hole.
We there last month tent camping. Headed back with the camper next week!
Scout
Great campground for families, we stayed at a tent site right near the playground. Pool, arcade, a short trolley ride to downtown lake George. It was a great stay and the kids loved it.
Scout
Small and quite place to camp and relax not far from home! They have added more every sites so there are less tent sites but the ones they have are on the water so it’s is nice! Everyone is very friendly!
Scout
We reserved a groupsite down by a stream and pond. It had a large common area surrounded by little pockets which made great tent sites. Beautiful site! Other campsites were far enough away that we felt like we had the place to ourselves.
Traveler
LSP on Piseco Lake is just ok. There is nothing but campsites and RV sites. The RV sites are tiny and close together. The majority of tent sites on the water are uneven and look like they are spillways in Teton the
Traveler
Absolutely loved this campground, sites are well spaced and the surrounding area is gorgeous! We had a tent site right on the river and couldn’t have been happier with our stay. Each site has a fire pit and a picnic table. Facilities were exceptionally clean and the camp store was stunning!
Traveler
The location was very good in allowing us to visit family in nearby village and go into nearby Manchester Center. Much more of an RV Park (name is on the money) than camping where we had our site. There were some more “remote” sites available near tent sites. Facilities were extremely well kept. Host was very helpful.
Guide
We never been here. This campground is quite small. But quiet. It’s located off a dead end street . There is a lame right down the street. They have cabins, tent sites and everything sites. Have a small camp store. But downtown Pittsfield very close by. They have a pool. The owners were very professional and friendly . We will return..
Scout
Beautiful sites with lots of trees, some on a lake for RV or Tent camping. Very helpful and friendly staff. Clean restrooms and showers. Preferred the natural wooded sites vs. the "trailer park" atmosphere where some year round campers lived. We selected this site because we wanted to visit Mass MOCA, which was nearby. We will definitely go there again.https://www.northadams-ma.gov/visit_our_city/historic_valley_campground/index.php
ScoutI am motorcycle tent camping and found this place due to recommendations on dyrt. It lived up to all expectations. Friendly staff (Super helpful), Clean campground with an awesome old school vibe. Kids riding around on bikes, no one too loud, quiet times observed, everyone was super nice. Extra pts for this place on the cleanliness of the bathrooms and showers. One does not expect much but these were newer, very bright and super clean.
Wifi is not free. 2.95/day with a 5M download limit.
GuideSpring camping in southern VT. Trees had not fully leafed out yet when we visited, but I would think this would be a well shaded campground. We had our small camper on a tent site to be near the river. Some sites were right on the river, many larger RVs were closer to an open play area/field. There were hookups and dump station. Dog friendly. Fishing and "swimming" or tubing in season I should think.
Traveler
Big sites! Good tenting sites. Great hiking trials with views. We love that it is close to Saratoga Springs as well.
Legend
What a beautiful and well maintained CG! Great owners, facilities, and amenities. Gravel roads and relatively level gravel sites. There are W/E sites, dry sites, and many secluded tent sites. There are two lakes and another nearby. It is close to many hiking trails. We arrived an hour after the water was turned off due to freezing temps. We were allowed to fill the fresh tank from the lodge. We woke the next day to heavy fog. We would definitely stay here again - for longer than an overnight stay!
GuideCheck in people were super nice and welcoming! Firewood was 3 large bundles for $20, or 4 for $20 in the fall. It’s a huge campground. Site 16 had a path to the river and was slightly tucked away. Sites 13 and 14 were cool spots too, I’d imagine in the summer you may have less privacy because it’s near the swimming area. Sites aren’t on top of each other but you can see your neighbors. Very dog friendly campground with a small off leash fenced in area at the entrance. Mostly an RV park with some tent camping. There’s also showers and laundry if you need that. Bathrooms were well lit and clean.
Guide
Keep in mind that this review is written after camping sept 8th (the week that school started for many) so it might not be relevant to peak camping season. We were pleasantly surprised with our weekend getaway to Clarksburg State Park. Nestled in the Berkshires and basically walking distance to Vermont, Clarksburg State Park provides a comfortable and semi-private tent site. Several spots (including ours 6) were very close to the rather large pond. While the trees obstruct the views, the site was waterfront and we were able to walk a few yards downhill to the waters edge where we launched our kayaks (there is a designated launching spot elsewhere). No electric and water hookups are provided but we were totally okay with that. Bear boxes were provided on each site so that you don’t have to keep stinky food or garbage in your car! Each site also had a fire pit with a grate so that you can cook right there on the fire. The bathrooms were some of the cleanest campground bathrooms and showers i’ve experienced (no bugs or webs also) and there was a dishwashing station on the side. The sites were large and well spaced but they had trees in between so that you felt privacy. The campground itself had plenty of sites, firewood for sale in the front and a pavilion and beach area on the day use side. There are plenty of trails you can hop on right outside your tent site and very little light pollution for optimal star gazing. We really enjoyed our time here and will definitely be back!
GuideFamily of four plus one dog tent camped one night after being disappointed by Lake George tourist traps. We welcomed the well-maintained spacious wooded campgrounds. Lots of sites to choose from allowed for privacy. Firewood system was one of the best I've seen. You can fill a large burlap bag with your choice of logs for about $7. This made it easy to choose a fire bundle balanced with kindling logs and large logs. Bathrooms were well maintained, but showers used push in knobs (like the kind in older school bathrooms) that last about 30 seconds per push causing the water temperature to fluctuate. Not my worst camping shower, but was not enjoyable. The trails and lake made for a full day of natural outdoor fun outweighing the weird showers.
Traveler
Me and my friends get a group site at least once a year. It's an amazing place with really great staff that care about the safety of everyone and keeping the areas clean. We always have an amazing time here. The views are great and we have never had any issues.
First time I went it was intimidating because I had never camped in an all tent camping site with no running water or public restroom areas. However, as soon as I got acclimated, I loved it. There are outhouses stationed at different areas all around, and bear boxes for every group. There are bears around so use the boxes seriously.
There are a number of rivers and little waterfalls that are always nice to visit. I plan to go there again very soon!
GuideWe arrived and had booked an RV site thinking it would be large enough for my tent which is 21 x 17‘Immediately upon seeing the site I knew it would not fit without us possibly touching one or both of the RVs in the sites next to us. The sites while clean and well-maintained all shared one bathroom and one shower which was limited to one occupant due to Covid. The man that I checked in with via text immediately offered me a tent site that was right next to the pool and the bathrooms/showers! He gave me my choice of two sites that were not already booked with full electric. All in all this campsite was very nice but the sites did not offer any privacy from your neighbors.
Traveler
Unfortunately, I was not a big fan of this small campground. Right from the start, upon checkin, I bought two $5 ea. bundles of wood after being assured they were "kiln dried". The wood wouldn't catch no matter what I tried -- not even with the help of some fire starter. The tent site itself was very small and barely fit my truck and tent. It was made smaller still because of the mud and holes on the perimeter of the site. At night, there was a lot of traffic noise nearby and despite a posted quiet time, other campers were slamming car doors over and over and talking at the top of their lungs, making it difficult to sleep. The surrounding state forest was pretty and the trails were in decent shape.
Traveler
If you like camping without a lot of extras, this is a good choice. We stayed here for the ADK Balloon Festival in September twice. Pros: cost and close to town. Cons: small sites (my pic is of 2 sites together), loud! We had people party all night both times we were there. Also a truck pulled in late and just parked next to our tent site and left by 5 am so it was used as a rest stop and they were loud. The cannon from the fort and the music from the MinneHaHa also added to the ambiance. We won’t be going back as it doesn’t have electric at the sites but if you are a bare bones camper and don’t mind loud neighbors, it may work for you.
Guide
We camped here with our dog on a tent site in camping area B. I really appreciated the VT state parks interactive campground map, which allowed us to see the sites from home and choose the one that would suit us best.
The site was large and clean, and relatively quiet even though it was a holiday weekend. Hiking trails are steep, so prepare for a good workout. We were a little confused about the No Dogs signs on the hiking trails, because it contradicted the pet policy on the park map that the ranger gave us. But we were glad to have an out of the way spot to launch our kayaks and take our dog for a boat ride.
Campfire wood was a reasonable price, but all of it was very wet! Fires were a challenge. I'm assuming that this was just a wet season here. Restrooms are about average for state parks. They were definitely cleaned daily. Don't forget to bring quarters for the shower.
Overall it was a great weekend, and we can't wait return!
LegendWhat a neat little place to stay. This family owned/run campground is a delight! Ann, Ed and Chris are very friendly, polite and wonderful to talk with. They made you feel like part of the family!! The sites are pretty level and well maintained! Electric and water at several sites as well as many primitive tenting sites around the ponds! Drop on by and stay a while, they'd love to see ya! We did!
Traveler
Beautiful small campground in the heart of the Adirondacks. Old growth abounds, surrounded by Maple, Oak, and massive White Pine making for an understory mostly clear of vegetation. Making for a secluded feel, but not claustrophobic. The river flows right through the middle, giving a nice ambiance with the rush of the water. It also gives opportunities to rock hop up and downstream, a dip to cool off, or float downstream. There is plenty of waterfalls, lakes, and hiking to be had in the area, including checking out the local towns. There were also a handful of the sites were walk-in tent sites to get one off the road. Most sites looked fairly level, but could be a bit akward to back campers into. Sites were also pretty rocky, but drained water quickly. Roads are relatively wide for campers, but the waste dump makes you drive through campsites instead of putting in a turn around at the end of the road, which appears to be feasible. Water was pretty mineral laden and I would get chunks of scale in my water bottles filling up. Make sure to use a filter if filling a campers water system. Overall a great little campground to get away if you want to disconnect from life and reconnect with nature. Can't wait to come back.
Legend
We just returned from two nights at Grout Pond. We were lucky to have 70 degree days and 50 degree nights in October. We were the only campers along the waterfront, but there were a few car campers in the sites near the road. We have camped at Grout Pond a few times in the summer, and while it’s always beautiful, it’s just too busy in July and August. Early October is just about perfect - no bugs, no people, and fantastic views all around.
The campground is maintained by the National Forest Service, and for many years the sites were free. In 2018, the cost will be significantly higher than free - $16 per night with a limit of 14 consecutive days. There are about 18 sites in total. 7 near the road for car camping or RVs, 5 that are hike-in (the farthest is about a mile from the parking lot), and 6 waterfront sites that you can either hike or paddle to. We really love site #2 for the awesome views and proximity to the toilet, but #11 is bigger and probably the most private of all the sites.
If you’re paddling in, you can unload all your stuff in the day-use area, and then park your car in the lot. It’s an easy 5-minute paddle to most of the sites. There are lots of well-marked trails. The only water is in the day-use area, so I recommend bringing a filter so you can drink right from the lake. All tents must be set up on tenting platforms, so you’ll need a smallish tent. Sites 10 and 11 have two platforms.
After camping here in July and October, I would never camp here in the summer again - come in the fall - you won’t be disappointed!
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Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Ballston Spa, NY?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Ballston Spa, NY is Hearthstone Point Campground with a 3.9-star rating from 16 reviews.
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TheDyrt.com has all 23 tent camping locations near Ballston Spa, NY, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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