Whether you're a tent camper, an RVer, or just passing through, Fort Drum, NY has a lot to offer. Fort Drum is a great camping destination for everyone. There are tons of nearby hikes, adventurous activities, and sights to see. Find the best campgrounds near Fort Drum, NY. Read helpful reviews and tips to find the perfect camping option for you and your crew.
$53 - $116 / night
$18 - $36 / night
$53 - $116 / night
$18 - $36 / night
Legend
We stayed at Swan Bay Resort in Alexandria Bay, NY, for our last trip this year. Spoiler alert… we had a great stay!
This is a great park. It’s an easy mile from I-81 and just 10-minutes drive to Alexandria Bay downtown. The staff was great— friendly and helpful. Our waterfront pull-IN site was a level concrete pad and gravel with FHU and everything worked great. Oh, and the best part was our view of the St. Lawrence River with passing ocean liners and lots of migrating birds.
The park has 2 swimming pools, a tiki bar, a food truck, and nice communal hang-out areas. There’s a marina with pontoon boat rentals. They put on Octoberfest during our stay which featured a live band and food and craft vendors.
There are plenty of restaurants and stores nearby. Adjacent to the entrance is a self-service car wash with bay large enough for motorhomes.
I have nothing bad to say about this place and encourage you to visit when you can.
Legend
We came to this campground after a week in Algonquin Provincial park in Canada and the contrast couldn't have been greater. Up north we stayed on a large, shady site in a radio free loop and everyone had canoes. In New York we had a cramped, open site and everyone seemed to have a motorboat on a trailer. Our neighbors across the road set up a movie screen . The overall feel was NOT "getting away from it all".
The facilities are good and there's a nice beach and well stocked General store, also a big boat ramp facility with some docks.
We chose this location because we were attending the Antique Boat Show in Clayton, 13 miles away, and this was the closest available. It suited us just fine for that.
Keep your stuff secure, there are brazen raccoons.
Guide
Stayed here one night and it was super quiet and dark 8pm until we woke up. I hammocked right next to the water of Cranberry Lake. It has showers with hot water, which is timed and high pressure. Checkout was at 10am
Scout
A great park on Sandy Pond and Lake Ontario. Mostly Permanent sites with 6 transient sites overlooking the marina. The park has a nice pool, pavilion, store and kids playground with a basketball court. Great area for fishing, bass, trout, salmon and walleye. Very clean and well maintained park.
Ranger
Pulled in on a Thursday afternoon and found a single camp site. While there I talked to a state forest maintenance guy. He said there were currently two camping sites and that more might be added.
The campsite was just feet off of Bargy Road. The only amenity was a fire ring made of rocks. The campsite appears to be the trailhead for a man-made trail.
It rained while we were here but overall the campsite was quiet and peaceful.
Scout
Took me five hours to drive there but finally made it. It was nice and peaceful. I will go there again
Guide
The roads are through the campground are very tight making backing into a spot very difficult. There was very little grass around the sites, mainly dirt. They also charge for every extra activity. In general just too tight for my liking.
Guide
Unfortunately when we arrived at southwick the rangers & staff had all gone home so we were unable to get a map or check in. We went to our camp site & there were people playing very loud music until about 12am, no rangers around the say anything about quiet hours so I had to. Sites are on top of eachother & there’s no boarders inbetween, fine for some people but not for me. After it rained one night our site & others around us were completely flooded. The beach area & bathhouses we’re nice though so that helped the stay not be a complete wash
Scouta 20 mile ride of just woods on a bumpy road. Pretty cool! Surprisingly the place wasn't that populated as I expected it to be. I went to a accessible campsite near the dam so I can pull stuff i needed from my car. The restaurant in the town had great food, the staff were nice, and had two cute dogs!
Scout
Add this stop when visiting the Adirondacks! This was the perfect spot located on Cranberry lake -They have everything you need at their lakeside store, including boat and kayak rentals! The lake was beautiful, the campground was quiet and we had the best view of the stars at night (we were there during a meteor shower). You can tell the campers truly love this place and had nothing but great things to say about the owners. We will be back again soon
ScoutBeautiful lakeside campsites, Birch’s has a super convenient store that is stocked with anything you may have forgotten.. along with some easy bites and fresh Sammies. Best part was meeting the mascot pup, Brodie. We met some regulars and some passer through-ers, loved the community here! I can’t wait to go back!
ScoutWow, stumbled upon this little gem this past August!! Always lived in the South so, wanted to explore somewhere different and what a great choice! Birches had everything we wanted, small town feel(as in everyone we met was super friendly), all the necessities, the charm, the views, the food and comfort. We will be back next year as long as they have room. This is one of those places you don’t want too many people to find out about, that way you always get a spot hahaha
Legend
This campground is 4 different loops- A loop is like the loop for people here for fishing, B loop is the mellower crowd, and C and D were our nightmares: mass chaos, children running amok, loud groups, no thanks. Apparently C and D are always booked and full, because people like that it’s closest to the beach trail, the playground, and the camp store. We chose a site in loop B and were happy with our choice. None of the sites at the campground have any privacy from your neighbor, you’re all sort of camped in a big circle. Sites 66 and 67 are the exception that we saw, they’re off together to the side and would be a good choice for two groups camping together.
There are dumpsters here, and there’s recycling for redeemable bottles and cans only, with proceeds going to the campground’s rec center. That was the most recycling I’ve seen offered at a NY state park campground yet, at least it’s something.
All sites are electric, some are 30 and some are 50amp. There’s a nice new dump station with several dumps and potable water. Good cell reception for both Verizon and ATT. NY State campgrounds require proof of rabies vaccinations for your dogs.
TravelerExceeded expectations!! This place has it all, especially being as remote as it is. (Laundry facilities, fishing, firewood, quaint general store for supplies and fuel) We thoroughly enjoyed out time here, there were kids on site, boat rentals and extremely nice seasonal campers.. The campers became our friends, they were all willing to help from the moment of our arrival, even shared fishing spots on the lake! Lots to do here between the lake and public beach/tennis courts within walking distance. Star gazing is FANTASTIC!
LegendJake from the Dyrt here! Birch's Lakeside Campground has all the amenities needed to enjoy a stay in upstate New York, a general store, laundry & propane on site keep everything you need right there! Check them out and leave a review about your stay on the Dyrt!
Traveler
nice place to sleep. good for someone who doesn’t want something too off the road. when you get to the destination you have to go a little more up the road until you see a sign and a sand patch on the side of the road.
GuideA big park right on the St Lawrence. Sites are concrete and level. WiFi was ok. Washrooms were clean and adequate. From waterside sites you can see vessels on the seaway. There are a lot of rules!
GuideSites are large level concrete. You can watch ships on the seaway from the front
Guide
Great view. Nice windy not too much tho. Quiet camp ground, sites a little close
Legend
We stopped here for a night going from Niagara Falls area to upper vermont. All sites are a back in site yet it was long enough for us to stay hooked up. We had full hook up. The sites are tight like most RV parks. The office is at the 19th hole. There is a bar that serves food called Divots. They had prime rib on the menu yet Sundays they close early so we didn't get to eat there.
There is a 12 hole golf coarse that surrounds the campground.
There are a lot of seasonal campsites that have decks, nice furniture out at their spots. They all left Sunday afternoon yet the rigs stay there.
we paid #37.50 for a one night stay. That is a good price for full hook up.
Guide
Mostly long term folks but transient spots have easy road access. Clean bathrooms good WiFi. Sites are gravel, pretty level. Campground is well maintained.
Guide
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. We contacted the office and a staff member came and advised us that they do not have enough power for all of the campsites they have and we should not have our hot water on electric. Until we get our LP fixed that is all we have so no hot water the whole weekend and our power kept kicking off the entire weekend. When we left the sewer backed up on our site when we emptied out tanks. The staff is not friendly and our site was mostly mud. Just an FYI before you go. Wish I knew these things before I made reservations.
Guide
Tons of free campsites and lean-to everywhere.
Some with picnic tables and fire area.
First arrive type!
I camped while hiking the full CL50 loop.
You can also swim or go fishing!
ScoutTotal Shi!-Hole.
First let me start by saying that we are not new to rv parks or camping. We average about 10,000 miles a year in our coach.
This particular trip is 5,000 miles over 23 days and 18 campgrounds.
We are a “big rig”. 45 ft Class A with a 16ft tow.
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.
We damaged our rig getting to our lot. The roads and turns are not wide enough for a 45’ rig even with the tow disconnected to make turns.
Wide enough for travel trailers and 5th wheels but not a large class a.
The lots are also not gravel and not level. Ours was dirt and mostly mud and even with our leveling jacks down, we could not level due to the mud and lack of a gravel base.
Ours (lot 134) was filthy. Food, cigarette butts, trash and dog shit. Not to mention a pile of mulch. Maintenance seems non existent.
ZERO prep or cleanup was done on the site.
Water pressure good but water reaks of chlorine. DO NOT drink the water. Made the mistake of using it for morning coffee. So much chlorine its like pool water.
Internet very good. Only positive thing that I can say.
Power sucks. 30amp only but not truly providing that. We kept blowing the breaker and noted our lights flickering. We can easily run on 30amp. This is typical of an overbuilt park with not enough power for the campers onsite.
Once we were in and set, we first noted that other campers were cutting through our lot to get to the river. A constant flow of kids, adults and inner tubs all walking through our site.
We then went to walk our dogs and had numerous encounters by dogs not on leashes. We could not leave our dogs outside on their tether's due to worrying about unattended dogs.
The other thing is that cars and trucks were flying on the roads with no safe speed limit. It seems that they drop off tubers on the river near our lot and then the drivers fly out of here to go meet them downriver.
This is a low class dump made up of travel trailers, tent campers and fifth wheels. No maintenance, no enforced rules. No pride in the property or operation.
Not a place for large coach owners or seasoned RVrs who know how the rest of the country is.
We will not be back and strongly advise any Class A big rig owners to avoid.
TravelerThe sites are small, but there are mature trees between them & woodsy areas around the campsites. The campground is clean and well kept. The laundry room and bathrooms were clean. I didn’t have a chance to use the deck or the indoor pool.
The owners made me feel welcome from the minute I arrived. They went above & beyond for me.
The facilities are not wheelchair accessible. The owners said that they are working on that.
ScoutFamily like experience. The owner and his wife are fully involved. They take you in with a golf cart ride so that you know which way to go. They check on with you thru out your stay. Simple and nice place. We will visit every year.
TravelerSo far this has been the best campground we have experienced in NY. Cranberry Lake is massive and absolutely gorgeous. The people that work here are very nice and helpful. Try to get a site on the water. Pretty good privacy site to site. The hike up and around Bear Mountain was a good workout and fun experience for our whole family (littlest is 6). We cannot wait to get back there and camp again!
Camping near Fort Drum, New York, offers a mix of beautiful landscapes and fun activities for everyone. Whether you're looking for a peaceful getaway or an adventure-filled trip, there are plenty of campgrounds to choose from.
Camping near Fort Drum, New York, has something for everyone, from families to solo adventurers. Just remember to plan ahead and enjoy the great outdoors!
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Fort Drum, NY?
According to TheDyrt.com, Fort Drum, NY offers a wide range of camping options, with 82 campgrounds and RV parks near Fort Drum, NY and 8 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Fort Drum, NY?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Fort Drum, NY is Wellesley Island State Park Campground with a 4.4-star rating from 28 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Fort Drum, NY?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 8 free dispersed camping spots near Fort Drum, NY.
What parks are near Fort Drum, NY?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 4 parks near Fort Drum, NY that allow camping, notably White Mountain National Forest and Blue Mountain Lake.
