The North Country region surrounding Edwards, New York sits within the western Adirondack foothills, where elevations range from 600-900 feet above sea level. The area experiences distinct seasonal changes with heavy snowfall in winter and humid summers that average 75-80°F. This region's unique location places campers between the St. Lawrence River and Adirondack Park, creating diverse camping conditions from waterfront sites to forest settings.
What to do
Watercraft rentals at Swan Bay Resort: Swan Bay Resort offers boat, kayak, and paddleboard rentals for exploring the St. Lawrence River. "There is a marina with pontoon boat rentals. They put on Octoberfest during our stay which featured a live band and food and craft vendors," notes Matt S. at Swan Bay Resort.
Fishing opportunities: Multiple campgrounds provide access to prime fishing areas with varied catch. "Plenty of sand for the kids to play in and the water was warmer than expected," reports Joseph B. about the swimming and fishing at Jacques Cartier State Park. The park's waterfront sites allow both swimming and fishing from your campsite.
Hiking at Cranberry Lake: The campground connects to multiple trailheads for hiking adventures. "The main trailheads were a 2-minute walk from camp, and everything was very well maintained," shares Ally B. about Cranberry Lake Campground. The park includes access to the Cranberry Lake 50 trail system with numerous free lean-tos along hiking routes.
What campers like
Spacious concrete sites: Many campers appreciate the large, level sites at premium RV parks. "This is a great park. It's an easy mile from I-81 and just 10-minutes drive to Alexandria Bay downtown. Our waterfront pull-IN site was a level concrete pad and gravel with FHU and everything worked great," explains Matt S. at Swan Bay Resort.
Observing wildlife: The area offers opportunities to view local wildlife from your campsite. "Very beautiful area. Pictures don't do it justice! We paralleled Cayuga Lake (which is part of the Finger Lakes) for some time and then took the Great Lakes Seaway Trail," shares Bran P. about their experience at Swan Bay Resort.
Dark skies for stargazing: The region's limited light pollution creates excellent conditions for night sky viewing. "Clean, well maintained property with lots of sidewalks around the property. Quite dark at night, but that was a bonus as we were able to see the Milky Way!" notes Dawn L. about their stay at Wellesley Island State Park.
What you should know
Bear awareness: Black bears are active in some camping areas. "Lots of black bears in area heed the warnings regarding keeping cars and camper locked keep food and cooler secure," warns Becky M. about Old Forge Camping Resort.
Electrical limitations: Some campgrounds have power restrictions that affect appliance usage. "Spent this weekend on a 'full hookup site' in our class A motorhome. We used a surge protector when plugging in to electric. It wasn't long before our power kept kicking off," reports a camper at HTR Adirondacks.
Variable cell coverage: Cell service weakens in more remote areas. "Within walking distance is a Price Chopper Grocery, Dollar General, gas station, and wine and liquor store," notes Nancy W. about the conveniences near Swan Bay Resort, where better cell service is available compared to more remote campgrounds.
Weather considerations: The region experiences rapid weather changes and seasonal temperature fluctuations. "I came here totally unprepared and ended up getting soaked. I didn't check the forecast and it started pouring. It gets really cold at night and the weather is unpredictable," shares kevin T. about Jacques Cartier State Park.
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Several campgrounds feature quality playground facilities. "The playground is awesome and huge with lots of cool features for kids to explore," reports Nancy W. about Swan Bay Resort's family amenities.
Swimming beaches: Many campgrounds offer supervised swimming areas. "There's a great guarded beach if you have young ones with a newer playground right next to it," recommends Alycia M. about Jacques Cartier State Park.
RV sites near Edwards, New York with kid-friendly activities: Look for campgrounds with scheduled events for children. "In between the pools is a community fire pit with nice Adirondack chairs which is pretty cool. There are gobs of activities for kids and adults," notes Nancy W. about the family programming at Swan Bay Resort.
Tips from RVers
Wind protection: The St. Lawrence area experiences strong winds that can damage RV equipment. "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 and beware of winds if you want to be on the water," advises Nancy W. about camping at Swan Bay Resort.
Access limitations for large rigs: Not all campgrounds can accommodate big rigs. "This is NOT a place for big rigs. We had booked a water front lot, full hookup and their most expensive lot. About $75 for the night. The roads and lot signs are scarce and other than handing us a very inaccurate map of the property, we were on our own," warns Mark B. about HTR Adirondacks.
Off-season advantages: For motorhome camping near Edwards, consider visiting outside peak times. "I'll start by saying Swan Bay is a busy, family-oriented campground. We arrived on a weekend and it was pretty busy but loved it during the week when everybody left and things were quieter," shares Nancy W. about the benefits of mid-week camping.
