Best Campgrounds near Cohoes, NY

Camping options around Cohoes, New York range from developed state parks to dispersed forest sites within a short drive of the city. Schodack Island State Park Campground, located on the Hudson River, offers electric hookups for RVs and tent sites with amenities including showers and reservable spaces. Ushers Road State Forest provides dispersed camping opportunities for those seeking more primitive experiences. Adventure Bound Camping Resort at Deer Run in nearby Schaghticoke accommodates tents, RVs, and offers cabin options for those preferring more comfort. These mixed-use campgrounds typically operate from May through October, with some facilities closing after Labor Day.

Most developed campgrounds in the region require reservations, especially during summer months when sites fill quickly. The camping season generally runs from late spring through mid-fall, with many facilities closing for winter. Roads within state parks are well-maintained, though forest access roads may require higher clearance vehicles. "The staff was friendly. The sites are spaced out enough and have greenery in between so it feels a little more private than some places," noted one visitor about Schodack Island State Park. Cell service varies throughout the area, with most campgrounds reporting 1-3 bars of coverage, sufficient for basic communication but potentially limiting for streaming or remote work needs.

Waterfront camping represents a notable feature across several area campgrounds. Campers at Schodack Island State Park appreciate the access to both the Hudson River and Schodack Creek, with one visitor noting "the boat ramp dock turns into a death trap when a big wake from a boat hits the river bank!" Several campgrounds provide boat launches, making the area suitable for paddlers and boaters. Sites at state parks typically offer more privacy with vegetation buffers between campsites. Family-oriented activities are common at private campgrounds like Adventure Bound, which features water attractions. Wildlife viewing opportunities abound throughout the region, with reviewers frequently mentioning birds, rabbits, and occasional bald eagle sightings. Bathrooms at state park campgrounds generally receive positive reviews for cleanliness.

Best Camping Sites Near Cohoes, New York (184)

    1. Schodack Island State Park Campground

    17 Reviews
    Coeymans, NY
    17 miles
    Website
    +1 (518) 732-0187

    $17 - $26 / night

    "The park ensures you’ll have what you need with stores within close proximity and the staff even offers ice and firewood delivery to your site."

    "Wonderful hikes and beautiful walks. Boat docks looked pretty easy for ins and outs, and the pavilions were huge!"

    2. Adventure Bound Camping Resort at Deer Run

    3 Reviews
    Mechanicville, NY
    9 miles
    Website
    +1 (866) 333-7462

    "There was a nice little dog park fenced in area for my dog to run around in."

    3. Ushers Road State Forest

    2 Reviews
    Round Lake, NY
    10 miles

    "This trailhead provides access to bicycle-friendly nature trails. I explored both directions on my bike, riding approximately half a mile down each side."

    4. Mt. Greylock Campsite Park

    30 Reviews
    Lanesborough, MA
    29 miles
    +1 (413) 447-9419

    $40 - $70 / night

    "Great access to Mt Greylock and LOTS of hiking close by. Staff was so accommodating-always willing to spend time giving recommendations."

    "Great family atmosphere w very positive neighbors and owners... Fantastic. 5 stars"

    5. Cherry Plain State Park Campground

    6 Reviews
    Cherry Plain, NY
    18 miles
    Website
    +1 (518) 733-5400

    $14 - $17 / night

    "We love the loop of sites near the entrance near the water for views but close to the bathroom, ranger station, and trails. Farther from the beach so there is less impact from the day visitors."

    "There are a number of “walk in” sites that are all lovely, I suggest the sites toward the back of the park. Hot showers, bathrooms, and dishwashing stations are available."

    6. Aqua Vista Valley Campgrounds

    7 Reviews
    Petersburg, NY
    18 miles
    Website
    +1 (518) 658-3659

    7. Thompson's Lake Campground — Thacher State Park

    7 Reviews
    Altamont, NY
    19 miles
    Website
    +1 (518) 872-1674

    $17 / night

    "Some of the lakeside sites have private foot trails down to the water which was very nice."

    "Hiking was near by and also the beach and if you wanted to drive to where the falls are and the overlook it wasn't too far! We had an amazing time!"

    8. Lee's Park Campground

    7 Reviews
    Saratoga Springs, NY
    18 miles
    Website
    +1 (518) 584-1951

    $20 - $45 / night

    "Close to SPAC, lots of area to set up tents, dog friendly, campfire friendly, and there’s a lake minutes away. Some of the crowd seemed a little rowdy but overall nothing that was obnoxious."

    "I have absolutely nothing but good things to say about Lee’s after spending my weekend there, the park staff was so awesome, the vibes were great, there was parking along the dirt pathed roads that ran"

    9. Arrowhead Marina & RV Park

    2 Reviews
    Rotterdam Junction, NY
    16 miles
    Website
    +1 (518) 382-8966

    "We were next to a little fenced in area for dogs that our dog loved."

    "Well maintained, located on the Mohawk River. Shady, grassy areas. Boat launch and pier. Friendly people. A perfect campground."

    10. Sperry Road Campground — Mount Greylock State Reservation

    15 Reviews
    New Ashford, MA
    28 miles
    Website
    +1 (413) 499-4262

    $8 - $35 / night

    "We arrived at the shelter and there were some campers we greeted and then we pitched a tent nearby (vincinity camping allowed)."

    "The site was clean, dry, and a nice walk off the main trail. The staff was friendly as well. We hikes around during the days and saw some spectacular views."

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Recent Reviews near Cohoes, NY

742 Reviews of 184 Cohoes Campgrounds


  • Pete V.The Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 12, 2025

    Fort Plain Lock 15 on Empire Trail

    Nice quiet overnight stay

    This was a quiet overnight stay, just as the other reviewers say, a gravel parking lot that is easy to find a level spot in. This is on the river with a nice view. Lots of trains rolling through across the river but the noise wasn't an issue for me. There was a police officer that drove through the lot and drove around my campervan and continued on his way so I know that it is okay to overnight there.

  • M
    Oct. 26, 2025

    North-South Lake Campground

    Beautiful grounds HORRIBLE STAFF

    I don’t normally write reviews especially a negative one. We had a very upsetting experience at North-South Lake. We drove over two hours to visit my husband’s childhood campground for the first time with our three kids(ages 5, 7, and 9). When we arrived at the entrance, we were asked if it was a day visit, and we said yes, we were only staying for the day. We paid the fee, received a map, and drove in. My husband was so excited to finally share this place and create memories with our children. Looking for a place to park, we thought we were lucky to find an empty campsite in one of the loops where he used to camp as a child.

    We parked the car hoping to enjoy the view of the lake, take a walk, and maybe make the kids a couple of s’mores before heading home.

     At around 2:15–2:30 p.m., the “SUPERVISOR” in the white Kia approached us in an extremely rude and nasty manner, speaking as if we were committing a serious crime and comparing our situation to“sleeping in someone else’s hotel room.” She asked us if we had a reservation; we said no. She said,“Someone else reserved this spot.” We were very apologetic, embarrassed, and immediately put our stuff in the car. I said they could have told us; we would have moved right away. I’m sorry. 

    She said,“They aren’t supposed to talk to you; that’s why they send me here.” She told us we had ten minutes to leave, waited there while we put our chair, blanket, and s’more cookies in the car, and refused our 9-year-old daughter access to the bathroom while we packed up our three things, and even followed us out of the loop to make sure we didn’t park elsewhere. My daughter came to us crying because the lady told her she couldn’t use the bathroom and had to get in the car. Well, she had an accident in the car right as we were pulling out. 

    We were mortified and apologetic. My husband even offered to leave the firewood we had just purchased for the next campers, but she was dismissive and harsh about that as well. 

    The following day, I called and asked to speak with a manager to explain how we were treated. The manager was just as unfriendly and miserable sounding as the supervisor. I was told they had been looking for us“for hours” and that it’s“common sense” not to park in a campsite. She actually said it’s considered trespassing. So, a friendly warning for first-time visitors: Apparently, if you don’t know that“day use” doesn’t mean“park in any empty campsite,” just for the day, you’re officially a trespassing criminal, at least according to the manager. 

    Reading the website now, I see that check-in for people with reservations is at 2 p.m., which was the time we were trying to make a small fire, so unless someone left their site and returned, it’s unclear how they could have been looking for us“for hours.” We were right there at 2pm. 

    The website also states: Day Use• Anyone who is not camping is a day-user. Day-use hours are from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Day-users are not allowed between 9 p.m. and 7 a.m. 

    We were not camping but didn’t realize we couldn’t park in an empty campsite. I think“common sense” would be to inform DAY USE visitors at the ENTRANCE to use public parking, especially for families or first-time visitors who may not be camping experts. Bottom line: this was my husband’s childhood family spot. We just wanted to take a beautiful fall drive and have a special day with our kids. 

    We understand now that we needed to reserve the parking spot ahead of time, and it was an honest misunderstanding. I would have even offered to pay for the campers’ stay for their trouble. What we wish for is that the staff had approached us respectfully and explained the situation instead of treating us like criminals. Imagine being such a miserable person and working in such a BEAUTIFUL and peaceful place for families. 

    This was meant to be a special family day, honoring memories of my father-in-law and creating new ones with our children. Instead, it became stressful and humiliating. Sadly, this is what our children will remember about the day and about North South Lake

  • AThe Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 18, 2025

    Zoar Outdoor

    Nice and would like to visit again but not within 12 hours-BOO

    I’m writing this mid-October from western MA. In between homes and looked forward to staying another night, but can not because of a 12 hour advance policy. There were plenty of tent sites available last night. Not a happy camper.

  • Carroll K.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 16, 2025

    Gus's Gardens Camping

    It was quite and peaceful

    We enjoyed our stay with Gus very much. With the email to confirm our stay, there were excellent directions to get there. It is behind his home by a lake with creek nearby. There is also a hiking trail. We had no problems. If we are in the area again, we would camp here again.  Thanks

  • Chelsea B.
    Oct. 6, 2025

    Brookside Campground

    Not a recreational campsite

    Full disclosure, we did not stay here. PLEASE, folks that leave reviews on this app, PLEASE say whether it’s a full-timer campsite or a recreational campsite. We paid for two weeks in advance of arriving at this site based on reviews available on Google and Dyrt. However, when we arrived we were surprised that this was mostly a trailer park. Call me picky, but I really prefer not to camp in an area where folks are living full time. Just not the vibe I’m going for. We decided to leave without staying. We called to see if we could get a refund and they were very kind and it wasn’t a problem. But just be warned… this is not a recreational campsite.

  • Chelsea B.
    Oct. 6, 2025

    Whip O Will Campsites

    Not for recreational campers

    Full disclosure, we did not stay here. PLEASE, folks that leave reviews on this app, PLEASE say whether it’s a full-timer campsite or a recreational campsite. We arrived after leaving another campsite in the area (that was also 100% full timers) and were disappointed to find that this site was all permanent campers with crap everywhere. One site even had a funeral home sign hanging out front of an entire plywood addition to their camper…like what? Call me picky, but I don’t feel entirely comfortable camping for fun next to folks who live in the campground like this. After driving through the super narrow and rutted out roads to the site they recommend, a man came hauling a** into our site (with a beer in his hand) and was saying “hello hellooooo.” Said he was the owner of the campsite and asked if we were staying, we said we were thinking about it, just checking out the available sites (as the lady up front told us to do). TL;DR- bad vibes. Didn’t stay. Be warned this is a full time campsite with crap everywhere. The lady working the office was super nice though.

  • BThe Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 1, 2025

    Branch Pond on National Forest Hwy

    Amazing camping spots with fire pits!

    Tons of different styles of camping spots (if you get there while its still sunlight you can pick a spot by a flowing stream/river). No public bathrooms, no hookups, I personally didn’t have service.

  • PThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 30, 2025

    NF 83 - riverside

    NF83

    Great camping site. The road into the site was pretty rough.

  • BThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 25, 2025

    Statton Pond Camp on Forest Road 71

    Amazing Numerous Free Dispersed Camping!

    Easy to get to, had service the whole time, fire pits for every spot. I did see a huge blackbear. I didn’t see any bathrooms.


Guide to Cohoes

Camping near Cohoes, New York, offers a great mix of outdoor fun and relaxation. With beautiful campgrounds nearby, you can enjoy nature while making lasting memories with family and friends.

What to do

  • Hiking: Explore the scenic trails in the area. Many campers enjoy the nearby hiking options, with one reviewer mentioning, "This is a hiking park, and for this middle-aged overweight flatlander, they are pretty strenuous."
  • Swimming: Take a dip in the lakes. One camper shared, "There are two nice lakes with beaches," making it a perfect spot for a refreshing swim.
  • Fishing: Cast a line in the local waters. Campers have noted the beauty of the lakes, which are great for fishing and relaxing by the shore.

What campers like

  • Natural beauty: Campers rave about the stunning surroundings. One visitor said, "The Catskills are very scenic, and we enjoyed our time there!"
  • Privacy: Many sites are well-spaced, allowing for a more secluded experience. A reviewer mentioned, "Each of the campsites in our loop has a lot of foliage around it, creating privacy between you and the site next to you."
  • Clean facilities: Campers appreciate the cleanliness of the restrooms and showers. One camper remarked, "The bathrooms/showers are state park clean," which is a plus for many.

What you should know

  • Limited cell service: Be prepared to unplug. One camper noted, "There is NO cell service and just forget about WiFi. You are unplugged."
  • Wildlife encounters: Keep an eye out for bears. A visitor shared, "There are bears that visit the campground," so it's essential to store food properly.
  • Reservations recommended: Especially during peak season, it's wise to book your spot in advance. A camper advised, "It can get a little busy on the weekends, so worth reserving in advance."

Tips for camping with families

  • Choose the right campground: Look for family-friendly amenities. One reviewer mentioned, "There’s a full schedule of themed activities for the kiddos," making it a great choice for families.
  • Plan for activities: Bring games and outdoor toys. A camper noted, "There’s a lot of bear activity here, so constantly cleaning up your food is very important," which means keeping kids entertained is key.
  • Pack snacks and drinks: Having food on hand can make family outings easier. One camper suggested, "Make sure you stock up before you get there; stuff is expensive at the corner stores."

Tips from RVers

  • Check site sizes: Some sites may not accommodate larger RVs. A reviewer mentioned, "Some campsites were pretty small and would not fit large RVs," so it's essential to verify before booking.
  • Be prepared for fees: Some campgrounds charge for amenities. One camper noted, "Showers cost money at $0.25 per 4 minutes," so budget accordingly.
  • Know your route: Campgrounds can be tricky to navigate. A visitor shared, "The roads in the park are confusing because none are parallel or perpendicular," so take your time when driving in.

Camping near Cohoes, New York, is a fantastic way to enjoy the great outdoors. With beautiful campgrounds like North-South Lake Campground, Woodland Valley Campground - DEC, and Mt. Greylock Campsite Park, you can find the perfect spot for your next adventure.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are there any free camping options near Cohoes?

Free camping options are limited near Cohoes, but budget-conscious campers can find affordable alternatives. Devil's Tombstone Campground in the Catskills region offers basic facilities at lower rates than private campgrounds. This no-frills experience provides just the essentials for overnight stays between hiking adventures. DevilDoc Campsites is another economical option that has been noted as suitable for quick overnight stays. For true free camping, you'll need to venture further into Adirondack Forest Preserve areas where dispersed camping is permitted (following proper regulations including camping at least 150 feet from water sources, roads, or trails).

What are the best campgrounds near Cohoes, NY?

Within driving distance of Cohoes, Schodack Island State Park Campground offers waterfront sites along the Hudson River with well-maintained facilities and hiking trails. For RV travelers, Arrowhead Marina & RV Park in nearby Glenville provides easy access to the Mohawk River. If you're willing to drive a bit further, Thompson's Lake Campground at Thacher State Park features scenic views and family-friendly amenities. Lake George area offers multiple options, with campgrounds that provide access to swimming, boating, and hiking in the southern Adirondacks region.

What amenities do Cohoes area campgrounds offer?

Campgrounds near Cohoes offer diverse amenities to suit various camping preferences. Spacious Skies Woodland Hills provides pull-through sites ideal for RVs and is known for its accommodating staff. For families, Lake George RV Park stands out with premium facilities including pools, playgrounds, and entertainment options. Many area campgrounds feature water access for fishing and boating, with Rip Van Winkle Campgrounds offering private lakes for fishing. The region's campgrounds typically provide standard amenities like restrooms and shower facilities, while private campgrounds often add extras such as camp stores, Wi-Fi, and recreational activities. Specialty options include equestrian camping at Luzerne Campground and unique glamping experiences at Treetopia.