Lake Champlain offers prime glamping opportunities beyond the well-known Burton Island and Camp Skyland locations. The region features over 587 miles of shoreline with numerous access points at elevations ranging from 95-100 feet above sea level. Glamping near Champlain, New York provides opportunities to explore both Vermont and New York sides of the lake, with seasonal water temperatures reaching 70°F in July and August.
What to do
Lake swimming and beaches: Cumberland Bay State Park Campground offers accessible swimming areas with maintained facilities. One visitor noted, "The beach is very clean and beautiful. There is a pump station for RVs but a lot of tent camping as well." Another camper highlighted, "The beach parking is separate from the camping which is great when you have a family with kids."
Biking on the Island Line Trail: Camp Skyland provides direct access to this unique cycling experience. A recent visitor shared, "Definitely bring your bikes to ride the trail & catch the ferry! Such a unique experience to cycle across a lake! Photos & videos do not give the actual in-person views justice!"
Rock collecting along shorelines: The geological formations around Lake Champlain create excellent rock hunting opportunities. A Camp Skyland visitor explained, "Water was clean & clear. Fantastic lake for rock collecting!!! Very pretty and diverse geological landscape! We immediately started googling the rock formations and it was super interesting!"
Kayaking and canoeing: Burton Island State Park Campground has rental options for water exploration. A camper mentioned, "We went fishing, swimming, and out in a canoe. We rented a canoe from the campground and paddled over to Wood Island."
What campers like
Car-free camping experience: Burton Island State Park requires boat or ferry transport. A visitor explained, "This is one of my favorite places to camp because it's on an island and just getting there is part of the experience. After getting all of our stuff packed on the ferry and arriving on the island, we chose to have the campground deliver our stuff to our campsite for $10."
Proximity to multiple states: AuSable Chasm Campground serves as a central base for exploring. According to a visitor, "This camp ground is a short drive to Lake Placid, Plattsburgh, Vermont State and so much more."
Convenient urban access: North Beach Campground balances nature with city amenities. As one camper described, "Burlington is my favorite city by far, and this campground is right on the beach! Biking into Burlington takes 5-10 minutes and you're also right on the beach of Lake Champlain."
Wildlife viewing: Many shoreline campgrounds provide opportunities to observe local fauna. One North Beach camper shared, "We caught frogs at our shoreline, rented a paddleboard, played in the waves, and enjoyed the icecream sandwiches from the camp store, skipped stones in the lake, and explored the island."
What you should know
Reservation timing: Waterfront sites at popular locations book quickly. For Lake Carmi State Park, a visitor advised, "The sites were very private. Would love to come back! The sites and bathrooms were also VERY clean."
Algae concerns: Water quality can vary seasonally. A Lake Carmi visitor warned, "The lake had green algae and we spotted several dead fish floating. It made me nervous about the water."
Mosquito preparation: Lake Placid/Whiteface Mountain KOA Holiday and other forested sites require insect protection. A Camp Skyland visitor cautioned, "Mosquitos were intense here, so bring spray & plan accordingly! Our screened-in tent area saved us from being eaten up."
Shower facilities: Quality varies between campgrounds. At Lake Carmi, a visitor mentioned, "The showers do take quarters and although you get five minutes for each quarter, it was quite possibly the wimpiest shower I've experienced in quite some time."
Tips for camping with families
Beach amenities: Cumberland Bay State Park offers child-friendly facilities. A visitor noted, "Beautiful bbq area by the beach and the view from the beach is amazing."
Off-peak camping: Lake Carmi State Park Campground provides a quieter experience after summer. A camper shared, "Our stay was very quiet during the week after Labor Day, but I imagine the vibe is quite different during summer weekends, especially given the sign in the restroom stating that quiet hours are strictly enforced."
Playground access: Multiple campgrounds feature play areas. One AuSable Chasm visitor mentioned, "Large and nice-looking playground, pool, volleyball net, disc golf and mountain biking/hiking trails."
Cabin options: For families wanting glamping near Champlain, New York with fewer setup hassles, Burton Island offers alternatives. A camper explained, "You can stay in a cabin! If you don't want to rough it, you don't have to."
Tips from RVers
Site selection: Iroquois Campground & RV Park offers various site sizes. A visitor advised, "Sites somewhat small and tight but there are some larger sites. Staff very friendly, under new ownership, lots of seasonal sites and folks, fun activities, campers friendly and welcoming."
Low-season availability: Many RV-friendly campgrounds around Lake Champlain remain partially vacant during shoulder seasons. A visitor to Lake Placid KOA noted, "We stayed over Memorial Day weekend and were surprised that the campground was not full."
Connectivity considerations: Wireless access varies throughout the region. An Iroquois Campground visitor shared, "Wifi at campsite was inconsistent and unreliable. Had to work from rec center and pool which was ok but not what we were told."
Road conditions: Campground entrance roads may require careful navigation. One AuSable Chasm visitor mentioned, "The road through the campground is dirt and rutted but the speed limit is 5 mph, so it wasn't that bad, but it would be a mess if it was raining."
