G
Greg F.
Scout
ScoutCooperstown KOA
Great location and campground
Spaces were easy in/out. Mature trees between sites. Pool, office, pickleball, k9kamp, bathrooms were all nice.
Tent Camping near Caroga Lake, NY
22 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
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Tent campsites around Caroga Lake in New York's Adirondack region range from designated campgrounds to dispersed primitive sites, offering options for different comfort levels and budgets. E16 Canal Lock offers designated tent camping spots along the canal with a 48-hour maximum stay limit, while Murphy Lake Leanto provides a more secluded backcountry option accessible only by foot or bike through the Murphy Bennett Trails.
Most primitive tent sites in the area feature basic amenities such as fire rings, but lack facilities like potable water or maintained restrooms. Cod Pond Dispersed Pull-Off provides tent camping with river access down a semi-steep bank, though visitors should note the site requires careful navigation via dirt roads. According to one visitor, "The site has its own private road. A car is not recommended. Possible to turn around but you definitely need a smaller SUV." Tent campers at North Lake Reservoir Campground have access to 32 sites around the lake, including walk-in options directly on the shoreline, with only basic toilet facilities.
Areas farther from town offer deeper seclusion and less noise for tent campers seeking solitude. Cedar River Entrance Camping features tent sites with picnic tables, fire rings, and several outhouses nearby, making it suitable for those wanting minimal amenities without completely roughing it. A camper noted that "There is a small landing to launch kayaks or canoes. A dam with some additional sites on the other side." Tent campers at Ushers Road State Forest can find numerous potential camping spots in the woods, as long as they maintain at least 150 feet distance from established trails. Most sites throughout the region provide good tree cover for shade and hammock setups, though many visitors report significant mosquito activity near water features, especially during summer months.
Best Tent Campgrounds near Caroga Lake (22)
1. E16 Canal Lock
"The Canal Corporation provides designated spots for tent and van camping along the canal. Stays are limited to a maximum of 48 hours."
2. Murphy Lake Leanto
"The Murphy Bennett Trails is a technical challenge to hike, or bike in on. And be prepared to go over downfalls. The area is maintained, but windhappens in the old growth forest."
3. Sunset Bay Vacation Resort - RV Park and Marina
4. HOGAN'S LANDING
"This was a perfect location for the first 2 days of our vacation. Steve and Michelle were incredibly accommodating and wonderful hosts! We truly enjoyed our stay and will definitely return!"
from $130 / night
Check Availability5. Whitetail Meadows
from $65 - $110 / night
Check Availability6. Cod Pond Dispersed Pull-Off
"This site is campsite 6 and very private (I believe there must be others located close by). The site has it’s own private road. A car is not reccomended."
7. North Lake Reservoir Campground
"32 sites all around the lake. Some are walk in right on the lake. Quiet, peaceful, and clean."
"We got there after dark and it was beautiful to wake up to the view of the lake. Car camped, but there was enough room for a tent."
8. Stony Creek Family Campground
9. Betty and Wilbur Davis State Park — Betty & Wilbur Davis State Park
"Although there may be times when there may be people and groups around for day use, the small number of cabins and they way they are spread out will make you feel like you are at your own private retreat"
from $80 / night
Check Availability10. 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."
Drive Time
- 53 min from Utica, NY
- 57 min from Albany, NY
- 1 hr 7 min from Glens Falls, NY
- 1 hr 44 min from Pittsfield, MA
Recent Tent Camping Photos near Caroga Lake, NY
41 Photos of 22 Caroga Lake Campgrounds • uploaded by The Dyrt campers
Tent Camping Reviews near Caroga Lake, NY
612 Reviews of 22 Caroga Lake Campgrounds
SkywaystoHighways.com Y.
LegendDelta Lake State Park Campground
Nice Park!
Had an overnight stay here and it was really peaceful. The reservoir had been drained but it was still lovely to look out across the property. You definitely can’t beat $30 for an electric site! Restrooms were a bit dated but clean. Staff was very friendly. Our site was spacious and next to a short walking trail through the trees.
- SkywaystoHighways.com Y.Legend
HOGAN'S LANDING
So many amenities
What an amazing find! This was a perfect location for the first 2 days of our vacation. Steve and Michelle were incredibly accommodating and wonderful hosts! We truly enjoyed our stay and will definitely return!
Joshua G.ScoutLake Chalet Motel and Campground
One of my favorite campgrounds
Always have a good time, staff is always friendly. Ive been coming here since i was a kid my grandparents always had a seasonal here.
- DDana L.Scout
Hide-A-Way Campsites
Awesome Quiet
This is a very pleasant campground just a couple of miles off the interstate. The staff is very friendly and helpful. Full hookups at most sites. Many amenities available. A very quiet setting to rest and repose. Highly recommended!
- DDwight F.
GuideMoffitt Beach Campground
Many waterfront sites,bathrooms clean.
Got a super site almost level with the water. Went for a swim. Oddly, the lake has no plant life, but a sand bottom. Lots of ducks. Many people enjoying the shallow warm water on kayaks and such. Most sites level. The bathrooms did not offer hot water, or any way to dry your hands .They were clean, and enough to go around. The showers on the other hand were quite distant. A 5 minute walk . But clean, and plentiful. I guess better that than dirty and close by? No hiking trails is a letdown, but here its all about the lake.
Maureen G.
RangerLake Durant Campground
Beautiful lakeside campground
Shadey lakeside campground with large sites, mine has easy lake access.
- Maureen G.Ranger
Golden Beach Campground
Golden Sand Beach
Large sites, shade, beautiful beach,
Matt S.LegendMoose Hillock Camping Resorts
Huge sites but sloped, dirty, and pricey
We spent a long weekend at Moose Hillock in Fort Ann, New York, to visit Lake George. This is a difficult place for me to review. But I’ll do my best to share my experience.
The pool is the main attraction here and probably the largest and most ridiculous I’ve ever seen at a campground. Great for young kids.
THINGS I LIKED:
— The sites are enormous and private, probably the biggest sites we’ve ever seen at any campground we’ve stayed at.
— The mature trees are everywhere, great for privacy.
— It’s located about 25-minutes to the heart of Lake George. Easy drive away but not in the loud and busy area.
— The camp store is pretty good and sells snacks, drinks, basic supplies, and souvenirs.
THINGS I DIDN’T LIKE SO MUCH:
— Our site(# 709) was sloped, so much that even with leveling boards under the rear wheels, rear jacks fully extended and front jacks fully retracted, we couldn’t level. That’s annoying and so easily fixed by a campground this size with this array of equipment and resources.
— Except for the entry roads, the rest of the park is gravel and dirt, which was extremely dusty. Our vehicles and our stuff were instantly covered by this dusty dirt which was a never-ending battle to keep outside.
— I’m ok paying premium money for a great site, but this site wasn’t matched to the price. I paid$647.38 for 3-nights. That’s$215.79 per night.
WOULD WE COME BACK?
Probably not. For me, having a level site that’s not covered in dirt and dust is important— especially when it costs$215 per night. There’s a much nicer park about 10-minutes away(closer to Lake George) where we’ve stayed in the past. The sites are smaller, but they’re level.
Guide to Caroga Lake
Dispersed camping options surround Caroga Lake in the southern Adirondack region, with sites scattered throughout nearby forest lands. Elevations range from 1,200 to 1,800 feet, contributing to cooler evening temperatures even in summer months. Most primitive sites require campers bring their own water and pack out all trash.
What to do
Water activities at Cedar Lake: Access the reservoir through several primitive campsites around Cedar River Entrance Camping. Matthew D. mentions, "Beautiful surroundings. There is a small landing to launch kayaks or canoes. A dam with some additional sites on the other side."
Mountain biking access: Ushers Road State Forest offers direct trail connections from camping areas. According to The L., "This trailhead provides access to bicycle-friendly nature trails. I explored both directions on my bike, riding approximately half a mile down each side."
Fishing opportunities: North Lake Reservoir provides shoreline fishing access from multiple sites around the 32-site camping area. J B. notes, "Some are walk in right on the lake. Quiet, peaceful, and clean."
What campers like
Quick registration process: E16 Canal Lock simplifies arrival procedures. Mona M. reports, "Upon arrival, campers must scan the QR code at the entrance and complete a brief survey. RVs and travel trailers are not permitted."
Lake views from sites: North Lake Reservoir impresses visitors with its waterfront camping options. Ashlee C. shares, "Very remote and secluded. We got there after dark and it was beautiful to wake up to the view of the lake."
Privacy between campsites: Cod Pond Dispersed Pull-Off offers separation from neighboring campers. Taylor A. confirms, "The site has its own private road. You can hear cars from the site but the cars can't see you-loved this!"
What you should know
Vehicle limitations: Several sites restrict vehicle types due to narrow access roads. At Cod Pond, Josie W. advises, "Site was big enough to pull our mid-size SUV down and unfold rooftop-tent, but we did have to back out in the morning; not enough room to turn around."
Navigation challenges: Forest roads can confuse first-time visitors to tent camping areas near Caroga Lake. At North Lake Reservoir Campground, J B. cautions, "Make sure to take a left at the start of the lake, the right is all private road and you will have to turn around."
Distance from supplies: Most remote sites require advance planning for provisions. When visiting Cedar River Entrance Camping, Matthew D. notes, "Town is about 20-30 minutes away. Several trails nearby."
Tips for camping with families
Basic facilities: Stony Creek Family Campground provides family-friendly amenities not found at most dispersed sites. Elizabeth P. states, "It's a nice family ran campground. We love it here and plan to come back!"
Terrain assessment: Tent platforms at most sites require careful selection. At Cod Pond, Taylor A. warns, "Ground may look flat but when sleeping-definitely is not. Plenty of trees for hammocks etc."
Insect considerations: Lakeside sites experience increased mosquito activity throughout summer. According to Taylor A., "There is a river down the hill from the campsite which helps keep it fairly cool at night. The bugs were terrible."
Tips from RVers
Site selection for vehicles: Murphy Lake Leanto area requires specific planning for those with vehicles. Tony F. explains, "This leanto is worth the effort it takes to get there. And you have to earn it on foot, bike or other. A two hour bike ride with a couple of breaks."
Forest road conditions: Access roads to tent camping areas around Caroga Lake deteriorate after rain. At North Lake Reservoir, campers report the terrain "transitions into a low-lying, swampy area, likely due to recent rainfall."
Electrical considerations: Most dispersed sites lack hookups, requiring self-contained power solutions. At Cedar River Entrance Camping, expect only basic amenities such as "picnic table, fire ring and several outhouses nearby" according to Matthew D.
Frequently Asked Questions
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campsite near Caroga Lake, NY?
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Caroga Lake, NY?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Caroga Lake, NY is E16 Canal Lock with a 5-star rating from 1 review.
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Caroga Lake, NY?
What is the best site to find tent camping near Caroga Lake, NY?
TheDyrt.com has all 22 tent camping locations near Caroga Lake, NY, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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