93 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Primitive and developed campgrounds surround Carthage, New York in the foothills of the Adirondack Mountains. Several established camping areas like Fort Drum Recreation Area and Natural Bridge/Watertown KOA provide full-service experiences with electric hookups, shower facilities, and picnic tables. Within a 30-mile radius, campers can find options ranging from basic tent sites at Green Pond in Bonaparte State Forest to cabin rentals at Cedar Creek Cabin. The region includes private campgrounds with RV hookups alongside state-managed facilities offering varied accommodation types, including tent camping, RV parking, and cabin rentals.
Many campsites in the region operate seasonally from May through October due to harsh winter conditions. Primitive camping areas like Green Pond require self-sufficiency with limited amenities, while established campgrounds maintain shower buildings and electric hookups. One camper noted, "This is our go to area close to town but still just want to get away from it all. DEC is nice and stop and talk to the campers." Reservations are strongly recommended for developed campgrounds, particularly during summer weekends when facilities reach capacity. Road conditions vary significantly, with some dispersed sites requiring high-clearance vehicles. Cell service is generally available near larger campgrounds but can be unreliable at more remote locations in state forests.
Waterfront camping represents a major draw for visitors to the region, with several campgrounds providing access to lakes, ponds, and rivers. Campers consistently highlight the quiet atmosphere at smaller, less developed sites. A review for Whitaker Falls Park mentioned it has "Clean bathrooms with showers, sites for tents and RVs, and a breathtaking trail to overlooks and waterfalls." The 1000 Islands area campgrounds offer boat access and marina facilities for water recreation enthusiasts. Family-friendly amenities like playgrounds and swimming areas are common at state park campgrounds such as Whetstone Gulf State Park. For those seeking solitude, the primitive dispersed camping options in state forests provide a more rustic experience away from crowds, though these sites lack amenities and require proper preparation.
"The sites are small, but there are mature trees between them & woodsy areas around the campsites. The campground is clean and well kept. The laundry room and bathrooms were clean."
from $40 - $131 / night
Check Availabilityfrom $25 / night
Check Availability"Our site is located adjacent to a mowed grass path that leads to the main road, close to the camp store. Beautiful area, lots of hiking and biking trails and swim area."
"Walking areas. Access to water for swimming."
from $24 - $200 / night
Check Availability"This is our go to area close to town but still just want to get away from it all. DEC is nice and stop and talk to the campers. There is a doc down the road for boats and fishing!"
"This is my second time camping at this location and I’ve enjoyed it so much. Not very well know and really quite however the training range can be a little loud at times."
"It’s an easy mile from I-81 and just 10-minutes drive to Alexandria Bay downtown. The staff was great— friendly and helpful."
"We paralleled Cayuga Lake (which is part of the Finger Lakes) for some time and then took the Great Lakes Seaway Trail."
"But like I said the best part is the riding and close to several local bar/restaurants that have good food and good folks."
"We also hike the gorge hiking trail. What a wonderful hike. Mid level rigor but the view of the gorge from the top are truly breath taking!!"
from $21 - $30 / night
Check Availability"Clean bathrooms with showers, sites for tents and rv’s, and a breathtaking trail to overlooks and waterfalls."
"The sunsets were spectacular and our site was literally just steps from Lake Ontario. All sites are full hook up. Wifi is available and fairly good."
"Great location offering both sunrise and sunsets over the water of Lake Ontario. Loved the access to the water for our dogs to swim and for beautiful views."
from $53 - $116 / night
Check Availability
ScoutVery nice campground, pool is awesome when it’s hot and, the water’s edge of the campground is beautiful, expect noise. Not a quiet place. From fellow campers to boats and sirens. No tru till station just a water line when you enter. Also check sites out was extremely up hill. Camper barely cleared.
GuideMy boyfriend and I rented out cabin 26 at this camping resort and it was very worth it ! Our cabin was right next to the bathroom/shower facility. We also had a very spacious cabin with a fire pit outside.
GuideVery nice night spent at Winona State Forest with my boyfriend and our dog, Michelob. Lots of horseflies and mosquitoes but big spray did help and the fire. We have a truck bed tent we used for this trip and a canopy tent to put all of our stuff under. Each site does have a fire pit of some sort.
TravelerWe thought the campground was beautiful, tight to your neighbors on majority of sites, and lack of trash cans for pet waste especially since the campground is so big. It has ball field, 2 playgrounds, rec room, camp store, lake Ontario to swim, trails for multi use, and pavillions. Down fall for us was small site , lack of trash cans to toss pet waste, not being told about fill station because there is no water faucets like most state parks along campground. We were there for first time so not familiar with park. Office did not offer us a map to get to our site or clue us in on filling our tank prior to parking camper. Main gate personnel not on same information. bathrooms could be cleaned more often. bathhouse building is all gender with bathrooms on one side of building and showers on other. Bathroom and showers are private space rooms. Beach is very rocky with little sand area. Life guards only guard one side of beach making everyone crowded to one side
ScoutNot very welcoming at night. Kinda creepy.
TravelerThe campground facilities are very outdated. That's most likely due to the majority of "campers" having RV's and not needing to use the facilities. The restrooms/dish sink area Only having Cold water to wash up hands & dishes, the 1 and Only shower area for All 3 Loops reminded me of being in a horror film...full of dead insects everywhere, ther are signs posted letting you know its gonna take about 5 minutes to semi-heat up, and the shower spray directly on the floor vs staying contained withvh
GuideI've stayed here twice, once in 2024 and again in 2026, both on Memorial Day Weekend. In 2024 I woke to the sound of loons but did not hear them in 2026.
This is a large campground on the shores of Cranberry Lake with access to many hiking trails and other activities. Quite a few of the sites are lakefront but they seem to book up fast. Most of the sites are spaced out fairly well although a few are close and will result in you seeing & hearing everything your neighbors are doing. However, they are mostly designed well and blend into the environment. A few seem like afterthoughts and are right on the road, so you'll want to choose carefully.
Dumpsters are in the center of the campground near the bathhouse, which has hot showers. There is a sandy beach area near the entrance of the campground and a volleyball area near the dumpsters/bathhouse.
It's a beautiful area and is mostly quiet. Other campers were respectful and didn't play loud music although a few talked loudly late into the night. There are lots of trailer camping sites, so you should expect to hear generators although most people were considerate and only ran them in the daytime.
This is a great campground for exploring the Adirondack Mountains. The town of Cranberry Lake seems mostly dead so don't plan on eating in restaurants nearby.
TravelerGood place to fish and stay. Good welcoming friendly host also. Well come back
TravelerStill quite a bit of snow at the entrance once I got past that it was easy site are perfect right on the water with a little out house across. Breathtaking views!
Camping sites near Carthage, New York range from primitive forest locations to full-service campgrounds with RV facilities and cabins. The area sits in the Black River Valley between the Tug Hill Plateau and the Adirondack foothills, with elevations typically between 600-900 feet. Summer temperatures average 75-85°F during the day, dropping into the 50s at night, with moderate humidity and occasional thunderstorms.
Water activities on the St. Lawrence River: Swan Bay Resort offers boat, kayak, and paddleboard rentals for exploring the St. Lawrence. "There is a free boat launch and boat slips for guests. I was hoping to spend a bit of time on my paddleboard but soon realized it is very windy here and found very few windows to paddle," notes one camper.
Hiking at state parks: Whetstone Gulf State Park features a gorge trail with moderate difficulty and spectacular views. A visitor shares, "Did not slow the kids down. We also hike the gorge hiking trail. What a wonderful hike. Mid level rigor but the view of the gorge from the top are truly breath taking!!"
Fishing opportunities: Local waterways provide excellent fishing opportunities, especially at Green Pond in Bonaparte State Forest. "There is a doc down the road for boats and fishing!" mentions one regular visitor to the area.
Private sites at military campgrounds: Fort Drum Recreation Area offers a quieter experience than many public campgrounds. "Remington is a Military campground, but for the several military families looking to disconnect a couple of miles from home this would be it. They offer regular camping sites and RV sites, they also have a dog park for the little furry ones," writes a military family visitor.
Scenic waterfront views: Sun Outdoors Association Island provides waterfront camping with panoramic views. "Great location offering both sunrise and sunsets over the water of Lake Ontario. Loved the access to the water for our dogs to swim and for beautiful views. Our site backed up to the water and although it was windy they thought ahead and built the fire pit up to block it," reports a camper.
Trails and waterfalls: Whitaker Falls Park combines camping with natural attractions. "Whitaker park is such a fabulous place to spend a picnic day or stay for a few! Wide open flat fields for kickball or baseball and a view of the Adirondack foothills, spread out a blanket and read, play on the jungle gym or cook a great lunch on the grills at the pavilion."
Seasonal operations: Most campgrounds in the region operate from May through October with specific opening and closing dates. Natural Bridge/Watertown KOA runs from "May 12 to October 15," while Sun Outdoors Association Island operates "May 26 to October 9."
Bug populations: Lake areas can have significant insect activity. One camper at Association Island noted: "One HUGE downfall was the amount of BUGS! Millions (not exaggerating) of midges and mayflies swarming the grounds from Lake Ontario. Be prepared to deal with this as we were not and had to vacuum inside the RV every night for about an hour."
Wind conditions: Waterfront sites often experience strong winds. "Our neighbor (who has camped here seasonally for the last four years) mentioned that he lost three awnings to the wind. So, don't leave your awning out when you leave your camper," warns a visitor to Swan Bay Resort.
Swimming options: Several campgrounds offer swimming areas for children. Whetstone Gulf State Park features a "Cute swimming hole, although the water was brisk, as it's a dammed steam. Did not slow the kids down."
Playground access: Multiple campgrounds provide playground equipment. "The playground is awesome and huge with lots of cool features for kids to explore," notes a visitor to Swan Bay Resort about their facilities.
Child-friendly activities: Wellesley Island State Park provides diverse recreation options for children. "We camped here with one of our children, and had a wonderful time canoeing, fishing, and spending time together!" remarks one parent.
Site positioning: Consider sun exposure when selecting sites. At Association Island, "The sunset is of course beautiful but sunrise sites are much bigger and can lead right to the water which is much nicer. It's a lot less windy and easier to be in the water."
RV facilities: Natural Bridge/Watertown KOA offers full hookups for RVs. "The sites are small, but there are mature trees between them & woodsy areas around the campsites. The campground is clean and well kept. The laundry room and bathrooms were clean," reports a recent visitor.
Space considerations: Site dimensions vary significantly between campgrounds. For larger rigs, Swan Bay Resort offers ample space. "Our site was a 'standard site' near the pool, boat launch, activities, and Tiki Bar. All the sites are the same in that they have paved parking areas with gravel in front, pavers for a patio and full hook-up."
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Carthage, NY?
According to TheDyrt.com, Carthage, NY offers a wide range of camping options, with 93 campgrounds and RV parks near Carthage, NY and 11 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Carthage, NY?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Carthage, NY is Fort Drum Recreation Area with a 5-star rating from 1 review.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Carthage, NY?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 11 free dispersed camping spots near Carthage, NY.
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