Tent camping near Cambridge, New York ranges from primitive backcountry sites to established campgrounds with basic amenities. The surrounding landscape features rolling hills with elevations between 500-1,000 feet, creating varied camping terrain throughout the seasons. Winter camping requires additional preparation with nighttime temperatures often dropping below freezing from November through March.
What to do
Paddling and swimming opportunities: At Long Island on Lake George, approximately 40 miles north of Cambridge, tent campers can enjoy water-based activities. "We had a great spot on Long Island! Beautiful view, chill atmosphere, easy boat parking on the slip," notes one visitor to this boat-access camping area.
Hiking the Long Trail: Seth Warner Shelter, located in southern Vermont about 25 miles east of Cambridge, offers access to the Long Trail. "While hiking the Long trail I stopped at the Seth Warner shelter for one night. Its .2 miles off the LT/AT and sleeps 6-7 people," shares a camper who recommends bringing proper shelter equipment.
Winter camping adventures: Stratton Pond Shelter in Vermont's Green Mountain National Forest provides year-round camping opportunities. A winter camper reports, "Spent the weekend here on the last weekend of Feb. 2024. Cold, Snow, Wind, full moon in the middle of the woods with only the people I hiked in with. It was great! The shelter is a 3.75mi hike from the nearest parking lot in winter."
What campers like
Island camping experience: The Lake George Islands sites offer a unique camping setting. According to one visitor at Long Island Group, "Worth a trip from just about anywhere. Absolutely beautiful and you can't beat camping on an island."
Secluded pond settings: Little Rock Pond campsite in Vermont features tent platforms and cabin space in a serene setting. A camper describes it as "Easily my favorite campsite in the Northeast! Operated by the Green Mountain Club caretaker who lives onsite, this campsite costs only $5 per person per night."
Wildlife encounters: Many tent sites around Cambridge provide opportunities to observe local wildlife. Be prepared for potential animal visitors, as one camper at Long Island notes: "The raccoon situation was bad. We were literally bombarded with a group of raccoons each night."
What you should know
Fire restrictions vary by site: Fire policies differ significantly between campgrounds near Cambridge. At Zoar Outdoor in Massachusetts, approximately 60 miles southeast, "They don't allow fires at the campsites though which is annoying and their quiet hours are quite oppressive," according to one reviewer.
Water availability limitations: Most primitive tent sites require carrying in water or filtering from natural sources. Established campgrounds like Camden Creek Farm and Zoar Outdoor provide drinking water, but dispersed camping areas typically have no potable water sources.
Seasonal maintenance issues: Site conditions can deteriorate seasonally. A Long Island Group camper notes, "There were no leveled space whatsoever (except for one platform per site...but where would a second tent go? On the horrible ground beside it. These sites have not been maintained in probably 20 years at least."
Tips for camping with families
Check site accessibility: Some tent sites require significant hiking to reach. At Stratton Pond Shelter, the winter access requires a 3.75-mile hike from parking, which may be challenging for families with young children or substantial gear.
Look for sites with amenities: Zoar Outdoor offers more family-friendly facilities than primitive sites. A visitor notes, "Amenities are well maintained. Could use a refresh but overall great experience will be back."
Consider staff support: Campgrounds with attentive staff can enhance the family camping experience. One Zoar Outdoor camper shares, "This place is great. Everyone is so knowledgeable and helpful and kind. They really seem to care about what they do, and it shows."
Tips from RVers
Limited RV options near Cambridge: Most camping in the immediate Cambridge area focuses on tent camping with minimal RV facilities. The few campgrounds accepting RVs typically offer primitive sites without hookups.
Access challenges: When considering RV camping, note potential access restrictions. At Ushers Road State Forest, camping is limited to areas "at least 150 feet off the trail," which can create access challenges for larger vehicles on forest roads.
Alternative RV destinations: RVers seeking full hookups may need to venture farther from Cambridge. Long Island Group at Lake George offers electric, water and sewer hookups, though requires boat transportation to reach the island sites.
