Camping sites near Elizabethtown, New York primarily operate on a reservation system, with most requiring bookings through New York State's reservation portal. The region sits at elevations between 700-1,200 feet with the surrounding High Peaks rising to over 4,000 feet, creating distinct microclimates that affect camping conditions. Nighttime temperatures can drop significantly even in summer, with July averages ranging from 50-75°F.
What to do
Mountain hiking access: Sharp Bridge Campground provides direct access to multiple Adirondack trailheads. A camper noted, "We did a few smaller hikes but the best and longest hike was up Giant Mountain. I highly recommend this hike! Beautiful views and Trail was well marked. It's on more of the challenging side so bring plenty of water and snacks to keep your fueled."
Waterfall exploration: Wilmington Notch Campground features an accessible trail to natural water features. "There is an accessible trail from the back of the campground to an amazing waterfall on the west branch of the Ausable River and plenty of spots to trout fish/swim. A mile down the road is flume falls trails, which leads to a great swimming hole and various height choice cliff jumping."
Historic site visits: Crown Point Campground combines camping with colonial-era exploration. "The ruins of Fort Douglas and the bridge were both amazing views. Biking across the bridge was a great workout as well as a tour of the fort. So much history. Went across the bridge for ice cream."
Sunrise viewing: Mount Philo State Park Campground offers exceptional dawn vistas within a short hike from camp. "My favorite part about camping here is getting up early and hiking the short trail to the top for a spectacular sunrise."
What campers like
Remote boat-in sites: Lincoln Pond Campground offers both standard and secluded water-access camping options. "This state campground offers a variety of wooded sites, some drive in and others remote boat-in (29R-31R). The main campground offers full service bathrooms with showers; remote sites (including several drive-in sites) have an outhouse, but no potable water."
Proximity to High Peaks: Wilderness Campground at Heart Lake provides immediate trail access. "We stayed at the Heart Lake Campground for a week and a half utilizing it as our home base for adventures into the High Peaks Wilderness and the greater Adirondack region. We had a very pleasant stay here and personally found the weekdays to be best for 'camp days' given there were few people."
Lean-to camping options: Several Adirondack campgrounds feature traditional open-air shelters. "Lean to camping at it's best! The lean to I had was right on the lake and on the edge of the campground. It's a bit of a trek to a bathroom but well worth it. You can sit and chill by the lake, hike a mountain or hike around the lake."
Spring and fall camping: The region offers exceptional shoulder-season experiences with fewer crowds. "We've been camping at Button Bay for years, and while it can be hot and buggy in the summer months, there is no place we'd rather be in September!"
What you should know
Cell service variability: Reception fluctuates significantly between campgrounds. "Checked in on 9/2 for one evening. The campground received 4g LTE service. One of the quietest campsites I've ever stayed at in the Adirondacks."
Off-season facilities: Lake Placid/Whiteface Mountain KOA Holiday offers year-round options but with service variations. "The KOA was recently moved from a different location, so some pictures see on a Google search are no longer the location. This newly acquired property has 2 sides, the mountain side and river side you can choose when booking they are about 1/4 mile away from one another."
Road conditions: Access roads to wilderness campgrounds can be challenging. "Road going in is very rough use extreme caution on a motorcycle with street tires."
Site privacy levels: Campground layouts vary widely in terms of seclusion. "The campground is in a forest of red and white pines, giving it an open feeling. Highway noise can be heard, but it's distant enough to tune out."
Tips for camping with families
Swimming options: Draper's Acres offers family-friendly water access. "Tent sites are not very big. Although we comfortably fit with one vehicle. Free hot showers."
Playground access: Some campgrounds feature dedicated children's areas. "This state park is so fun to camp at! It has a great playground for kids and a nice swimming pool! You can hike on the trail and Lake Champlain is right there!"
Quieter times: Strategic scheduling helps secure better experiences. "We had a full hookup, pull through site surrounded by trees. There was some road noise during the day but it was nice and quiet at night. The bathhouses looked very 'rustic' but we didn't use them. Nice field, swings and small playground for kids."
Family-friendly campsites: Sites vary in their suitability for children. "Multiple different types of sites to accommodate all forms of camping. Family-friendly."
Tips from RVers
Hookup availability: Electric service varies widely between campgrounds. "We stayed in a full hook-up site that was plenty long enough for our 45' RV and tow car. The water spigot at our site broke when I was hooking up the water which was then gushing everywhere. Staff were really prompt at coming out and shutting off the water and getting it fixed."
Campground navigation: Many Adirondack campgrounds have limitations for larger vehicles. "The roads are really tight for big rigs. Between the trees, rocks, and low hanging branches, you have to take it really slow. I recommend unhooking your tow car at check-in so you are free to back up."
Site selection strategy: Specific areas within campgrounds may better accommodate RVs. "There are two distinct sections of this campground– the 'Resort' section and the '100-Acre Woods' section. 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 shad trees and much more space between sites than the resort area."
