Duanesburg sits at the foothills of both the Catskill and Adirondack mountain ranges in eastern New York, creating a unique transitional landscape at approximately 1,000 feet elevation. The area experiences distinct seasonal changes with camping options primarily available from April through mid-October, when daytime temperatures typically range from 65-85°F during peak season. Winter closures affect most facilities after Columbus Day weekend.
What to do
Waterfront activities: Thompson's Lake at Thacher State Park offers swimming, kayaking, and paddleboarding during summer months. "They have a great beach with swimming, kayak and boat rentals, a nature center next door you can walk too and the bathrooms are refurbished! It's absolutely beautiful!" notes a visitor to Thompson's Lake Campground.
Hiking trails: Multiple trail systems connect around Duanesburg and neighboring communities. "Bike trails throughout with a connection to the local bike trails leading to Lake George and Glens Falls area" reports a camper at Lake George RV Park, which offers access to regional trail networks within driving distance of Duanesburg.
Recreational programming: Seasonal activities and entertainment options supplement outdoor recreation. "Animal shows kept daytime events going strong. Water park was great, kids spent all day there. Arcades and game rooms are great for rainy days," explains one family who enjoyed the structured activities at Lake George RV Park.
What campers like
Spacious sites: Many RV parks near Duanesburg offer larger camping spots compared to more densely packed facilities. "Our site was back-in and had plenty of space. There's a lot of green space in this campground and it's right on the river," notes a camper at Arrowhead Marina & RV Park in Glenville, just 15 minutes from Duanesburg.
Waterfront access: Private water access points enhance the camping experience at several locations. "Some of the lakeside sites have private foot trails down to the water which was very nice," reports a visitor to Thompson's Lake Campground, highlighting one of the premium features at certain sites.
Pet amenities: Dog-friendly facilities make traveling with pets easier. "We were next to a little fenced in area for dogs that our dog loved," shares a camper who stayed at Arrowhead Marina & RV Park, while another notes "Best part- the 2 acre dog park with shaded seating for humans, bathrooms and a dog wash station" at Lake George RV Park.
What you should know
Site variations: The quality and layout of campsites can differ significantly even within the same campground. At Country Roads Campground in Gilboa, "Mainly an RV ground, but they have about 10-15 great tent sites back beyond the RV area. There are water spigots near all the tent sites and they are nice and spread out."
Seasonal operation: Most RV parks Duanesburg, New York and surrounding areas operate within a limited season. Alpine Lake RV Resort runs from "May 6 to October 10," while Thompson's Lake Campground operates from "April 29 to October 10," with some facilities closing immediately after Columbus Day.
Road access considerations: Navigation to some campgrounds requires planning. "The roads are narrow and many should be one way, but are not. It would have been impossible many places in the grounds to pass a rig on the road due to the amount of other's vehicles," cautions a visitor describing internal roads at Alpine Lake RV Resort.
Tips for camping with families
Recreation facilities: Campgrounds with dedicated children's activities provide entertainment options. "This campground has always been my go to. Now that I have kids, I appreciate the playground area near the beach more. All public areas including the bathrooms are very clean," shares a regular visitor to Thompson's Lake Campground.
Activity schedules: Structured programming helps fill rainy days and downtime. "Free shows every night at the playhouse kids loved. Animal shows kept daytime events going strong," reports a family who appreciated the organized activities at Lake George RV Park.
Campsite selection: Terrain and safety considerations matter when selecting specific sites. At Alpine Lake RV Resort, one family cautions: "Once in our site had a steep drop off to the lake, not all are like this, but be cautious about this if you have young kids."
Tips from RVers
Site specifications: Getting accurate site information matters for smooth arrival. At Ledgeview Village RV Park, "Big sites, grounds were very clean, level sites, quiet, staff was very pleasant," while at Alpine Lake, "Booked an 'Elite 50amp' site but had no realistic map to go by... If your site neighbors are in their spots already when you arrive it will probably be hard to navigate unless you have a 20' rig."
Utility reliability: Water pressure can fluctuate during peak usage times. One camper at Alpine Lake RV Resort reported: "Had an issue with water pressure on Saturday around 10am and called the office to make sure there was not a known water issue... The situation improved so we think it was just a high demand time of day."
Garbage service: Waste management varies between campgrounds around Duanesburg. Alpine Lake campers noted, "The dumpsters were FAR away from everything so that was also an annoyance. They also have hundreds of sites and only one area with dumpsters," while others mentioned daily trash pickup at individual sites at different facilities.
