Glamping options near Dannemora, New York extend beyond the established sites at AuSable Chasm and Cumberland Bay. Located in northeastern New York at approximately 1,300 feet elevation, this region sits between the Adirondack Mountains and Lake Champlain, creating diverse terrain for camping. Winter temperatures often drop below freezing from November through March, while summer nights can still be cool, requiring campers to pack layers even for summer glamping excursions.
What to do
Explore hidden swimming spots: A short hike from Lake Placid/Whiteface Mountain KOA Holiday leads to natural swimming areas. "Walk to the back of the campground to the Ausable river, go down the path about 500 ft. there is an awesome swimming hole," notes Laura T.
Mountain biking trails: The AuSable Chasm Campground area offers extensive biking networks. One visitor mentioned, "I wish I had my bike!!! I didn't know that this was a biking campground and there were SO MANY trails."
Ferry adventures: From several camping locations, you can access the Lake Champlain ferry system. A visitor to Camp Skyland recommends: "Definitely bring your bikes to ride the trail & catch the ferry! Such a unique experience to cycle across a lake!"
Rock collecting: Lake Champlain's shoreline offers distinctive geological specimens. "Fantastic lake for rock collecting!!! Very pretty and diverse geological landscape!" reports Whitney W. about the Camp Skyland area.
What campers like
Spacious wilderness sites: Buck Pond Campground offers secluded sites with minimal neighbor visibility. "Our site was tucked back into some trees and you couldn't see any other sites from it. To look around, it was as if we had all of the Adirondacks to ourselves!" shares Trina W.
Island camping experiences: Burton Island State Park Campground provides a unique car-free environment accessible only by boat. "It's like going to a tropical island without leaving Vermont. There are no cars on the island. You have to paddle yourself out or take the VT State Park passenger ferry," explains a camper.
Beach access: Sites with direct water access are highly valued. "We had a great holiday weekend in this campground of Adirondack. It's nice to close to the river, also you can rent boats from the registration," notes Maggie H. about Lake Placid/Whiteface Mountain KOA.
Multi-generational amenities: Many campgrounds cater to various age groups. "The campground on the mountain side has a playground, huge store, gem mining, arcade (which needs some love), hiking trails and a common area with some games," reports Nicole S.
What you should know
Seasonal considerations: Most glamping facilities and campgrounds operate from May through early October, with limited winter options. "We stayed over Memorial Day weekend and were surprised that the campground was not full," reports Nancy W. about Lake Placid/Whiteface Mountain KOA.
Visitor fees: Some campgrounds charge additional fees for day visitors. "One bad thing about this park is that you have to pay high fees for visitors. Day passes for adults are $12 and $6/kid. Overnight fees are crazy high at $15/adult, $8/kid and $7/car," warns a Lake Placid/Whiteface Mountain KOA visitor.
Campground sections: Several larger facilities have distinct camping areas with different experiences. "There are two distinct sections of this campground– the 'Resort' section and the '100-Acre Woods' section... This section has tall shade trees and much more space between sites than the resort area."
Shower facilities: Shower quality varies widely between locations. "The shower could use an update and definitely bring some shoes to shower in and a mat/towel for the floor as it gets slippery when wet," suggests a camper at Buck Pond Campground.
Tips for camping with families
Free-range play areas: North Beach Campground offers open spaces for children to explore safely. "Burlington is my favorite city by far, and this campground is right on the beach! You get the best of both worlds at this location."
Ice cream excursions: Local ice cream stands make popular family outings. "There was an ice cream place not far away, with a long line, and it was the best ice cream we had all summer!" recommends a Buck Pond Campground visitor.
Beach play areas: Many campgrounds feature dedicated swimming areas. "Amazing views and great hospitality. The playground is great. New bath house. Some sites with electric. Even with a windy, cold, rainy day it is still beautiful," shares Sheri C. about Cumberland Bay State Park.
Activity planning: During peak summer periods, book adventure activities in advance. "KOA was recently moved from a different location... They have a jumping pad on that side also. Both sides have the tractor driving around, pulling the kids around."
Tips from RVers
Site selection strategy: RVers recommend researching specific sites before booking. "We stayed in site #73 of the 100-Acre section and would highly recommend staying in this area as opposed to the other. This section has tall shade trees and much more space between sites than the resort area."
Site verification: Before committing to a site, check electrical and water systems. "My husband is a licensed electrician and of course had his own testing equipment. It showed 25 amp coming out of it," reports an RVer about verifying power connections at Shelburne Camping Area.
Tree clearance: Large rigs may struggle with low-hanging branches at some campgrounds. "Another ding for us was that there were lots of tree limbs that needed to be trimmed. Maneuvering through the park was pretty tight for us and we had to take it really slow."
Overnight options: For RVers needing last-minute accommodations, some areas offer alternatives. "We had to drive down the road and try to find someplace else at 7:00 in the evening. Another thank God, the Walmart about 10 or 15 miles down the road would allow overnight."
