Best Campgrounds near Fort Hunter, NY

Fort Hunter, New York provides access to various camping experiences across developed campgrounds and primitive sites in the Adirondack foothills. DevilDoc Campsites offers tent camping, RV spots, cabin rentals, and glamping options with fire pits and picnic tables in a rustic woodland setting. Northampton Beach Campground on the Great Sacandaga Lake provides lakeside camping with both tent and RV accommodations, featuring full hookups, showers, and sanitary dump stations. Caroga Lake Campground, approximately 15 miles northwest, allows tent and RV camping with electric hookups, showers, and toilets from May through September.

The camping season in this region typically runs from May through October, with most established campgrounds closing during winter months. Weather patterns can significantly impact access and comfort, particularly in spring when rainfall affects ground conditions. "Site 4 is magical, it is road side, but the view, and access to the river is great. There is a path right from the site. Occasionally you will get the yahoo that speeds by and makes a dust cloud but otherwise it's great," noted one visitor about nearby dispersed camping options. Cell service varies considerably throughout the area, with some locations having no coverage whatsoever. Many campgrounds require advance reservations, especially during summer weekends and holidays when facilities reach capacity quickly.

Waterfront camping receives consistently high ratings from visitors, with sites near lakes and rivers being particularly sought after. Northampton Beach Campground stands out for its Great Sacandaga Lake access, which one camper described as "one of my favorite campgrounds. Great facilities, and friendly staff. MANY campsites with lakeside access, although do pay attention to the time of year as the water level can drop considerably over the summer." Several primitive camping areas, such as Fort Plain Lock 15 on the Empire Trail, offer more secluded experiences for those seeking fewer amenities and more solitude. Campgrounds with cabin options, including Crystal Grove Diamond Mine Campground and Royal Mountain Campsites, provide alternatives for those without tents or RVs, with varying levels of facilities from rustic to well-appointed accommodations.

Best Camping Sites Near Fort Hunter, New York (150)

    1. DevilDoc Campsites

    14 Reviews
    Caroga Lake, NY
    17 miles
    Website
    +1 (518) 844-1591

    $15 - $25 / night

    "My buddy and I were looking for a campsite for a quick overnight stay before a bike trip around the Adirondacks, and this spot was a perfect fit."

    "He and his buddy, Rick, live on acres and acres of forested property, with my favorite campsites located at a seemingly magical pond surrounded by beautiful pine and birch trees."

    2. Northampton Beach Campground

    11 Reviews
    Northville, NY
    18 miles
    +1 (518) 863-6000

    $22 - $40 / night

    "MANY campsites with lakeside access, although do pay attention to the time of year as the water level can drop considerably over the summer. large swimming area and great fishing."

    "Lots of bike riding and walking. Couple nice general stores that are reasonably priced AND a miniature golf place right outside of the entrance."

    3. Caroga Lake Campground

    6 Reviews
    Caroga Lake, NY
    16 miles
    Website
    +1 (518) 835-4241

    $20 / night

    "This site also is bordered by a small stream so expect mosquitoes and the occasional visit from wildlife (we had raccoons at our site each night, so kept food in the car)."

    "It is also conveniently situated for a variety of nearby hikes."

    4. Royal Mountain Campsites

    3 Reviews
    Caroga Lake, NY
    14 miles
    Website
    +1 (518) 762-1946

    "The ice cream shop at the entrance was a huge bonus. We both ordered a small and it was near enough to consider a full meal! A very pleasant stay!"

    "Plenty to see nearby or just stay in. Truly loved camping here and will go back if the option ever presents itself again."

    5. Fort Plain Lock 15 on Empire Trail

    5 Reviews
    Fort Plain, NY
    17 miles

    "Continue driving past the original coordinates until you reach the dirt parking lot on the right. You’ll see signs that say “No Vehicles Past This Point” — those apply only to the grassy picnic area."

    "It offers sounds of the highway and freight trains going by, my wife and I love it. If you need quiet, keep on moving. There are grills in the grassy area for tent camping, also a potable water tap."

    6. Frosty Acres Campground

    3 Reviews
    Duanesburg, NY
    13 miles
    Website
    +1 (518) 864-5352

    7. Arrowhead Marina & RV Park

    2 Reviews
    Rotterdam Junction, NY
    15 miles
    Website
    +1 (518) 382-8966

    "We were next to a little fenced in area for dogs that our dog loved."

    "Well maintained, located on the Mohawk River. Shady, grassy areas. Boat launch and pier. Friendly people. A perfect campground."

    8. Crystal Grove Diamond Mine & Campground

    5 Reviews
    St. Johnsville, NY
    19 miles
    Website
    +1 (518) 568-2914

    "Along with staying at this peaceful wooded campground, one can “mine” Herkimer Diamond quartz crystals adjacent to the campground via a bridge over the stream. I enjoyed a site next to the stream."

    "A fine campground with it's own Herkimer Diamond Mine walking distance (or you can drive up your vehicle) to the mining area. A fairly small, nicely wooded campground."

    9. Pop's Lake Campground

    1 Review
    Galway, NY
    14 miles
    Website
    +1 (518) 883-8678

    "Love love love pops lake. The lake is beautiful especially during sunrise, and the sites are large. Will be returning soon."

    10. Hide-A-Way Campsites

    2 Reviews
    Sloansville, NY
    15 miles
    Website
    +1 (518) 868-9975

    $22 - $32 / night

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Recent Reviews near Fort Hunter, NY

512 Reviews of 150 Fort Hunter Campgrounds


  • Abby H.
    Apr. 19, 2026

    Herkimer Diamond Mine KOA

    Disrespect & Discrimination

    Long read, but so worth it! Below is the review that I posted last August after our vacation. Mind you, the vacation for my immediate family has been 10 years in a row and when I was a kid the same! The incident that happened was with our friends and therefore when I wrote the review, it stated what I witnessed! I was hoping that management changed and/ or they fixed the problems so I was willing to give it another try, I mean, this has been apart of my childhood and my children’s so why not! I called today, lady was super nice and helping me look through all the campsites because we come with so many people! I paid and then friends of ours called. After they called, our friends said that my reservation was cancelled. What??? So I called back thinking it was something on my end. I then had to wait for management to call back. Called back, and whoever I spoke with was extremely rude! She basically told me I was never welcome back and that the owners said so! Now mind you through this whole thing, I never talked to the owners. So do the owners only take one side of the story? I’m not even someone that this incident directly happened to! I said, well can I please speak to your manager or the owner. No, i am the manager, you are not welcome back. I told her that everyone in our party will probably cancel as well and her response was“I’m just waiting for 1 person to call me”! I said a few choice words and I hung up. CRYING. WHAT????? Are you discriminating me because of an issue you had with another camper???? I can’t believe what this has amounted to. So instead of dealing with your issues you just don’t allow people back? Instead of having the owner or management actually call and have a respectful, which was not had, conversation with someone you just brush it off! I have come to Herkimer longer than some of these people have worked there! I really don’t have words for how I feel. And to make matters worse I always go over my dad’s anniversary of his death, August 5, because this was his favorite place and now I can’t go and neither can my children. Great job herkimer diamond mines koa! I applaud you on your discrimination, disrespect and the lack of empathy you have for your campers! Especially the ones who have been a constant! I’m assuming Phil and his wife are still management, good luck! And to the campers that wish to go there, I really hope you enjoy yourselves because it truly is an amazing place. Unfortunately, my memories had to stop here! August 2025 This review is extremely hard for me to write, but what I had witnessed for a week of being there is disgusting& just simply not right. My family has been coming to Herkimer KOA for decades. Throughout the years, we have shown many other families this"gem"... or so we thought. This year was a bit different, there are new camp managers... This week I have witnessed human waste being sprayed all over campsites, management that discredits everything you say, management that thinks its okay to have charges on your bill that they cant even explain, ice cream cart that closes right before the last kid orders& leaves in tears, bathrooms that are disgusting! This is NOT THE HERKIMER I REMEMBER AS A KID! If you look on google, the owners of this campground is a family that has owned it for 50 years! That's amazing& kudos to them! But Phil, Phil is going to ruin every ounce of what they have worked so hard for!& being a business owner, you want management there representing YOU! Doing what YOU would do if you were there. Those owners should not be receiving mine& my friends reviews today if management did their job! Unfortunately, again very hard to say, we will not be returning if Phil is there.& I can honestly say, that the 14-20 families we bring every time, that spend thousands of dollars, will not be as well! Thank you Phil for ruining a vacation I personally held so close to my heart.& because you don't care about how you treat people& how you manage, you have lost years& years& years of loyalty.

  • Dale H.The Dyrt PRO User
    Feb. 23, 2026

    Fort Plain Lock 15 on Empire Trail

    Not plowed in winter

    Great spot, great location. FYI to anyone who comes in the winter, it's not plowed, so you may need to adjust your plans accordingly.

  • Pete V.The Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 12, 2025

    Fort Plain Lock 15 on Empire Trail

    Nice quiet overnight stay

    This was a quiet overnight stay, just as the other reviewers say, a gravel parking lot that is easy to find a level spot in. This is on the river with a nice view. Lots of trains rolling through across the river but the noise wasn't an issue for me. There was a police officer that drove through the lot and drove around my campervan and continued on his way so I know that it is okay to overnight there.

  • Chelsea B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 6, 2025

    Whip O Will Campsites

    Not for recreational campers

    Full disclosure, we did not stay here. PLEASE, folks that leave reviews on this app, PLEASE say whether it’s a full-timer campsite or a recreational campsite. We arrived after leaving another campsite in the area (that was also 100% full timers) and were disappointed to find that this site was all permanent campers with crap everywhere. One site even had a funeral home sign hanging out front of an entire plywood addition to their camper…like what? Call me picky, but I don’t feel entirely comfortable camping for fun next to folks who live in the campground like this. After driving through the super narrow and rutted out roads to the site they recommend, a man came hauling a** into our site (with a beer in his hand) and was saying “hello hellooooo.” Said he was the owner of the campsite and asked if we were staying, we said we were thinking about it, just checking out the available sites (as the lady up front told us to do). TL;DR- bad vibes. Didn’t stay. Be warned this is a full time campsite with crap everywhere. The lady working the office was super nice though.

  • BThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 18, 2025

    Bear Slide in Lake George Wild Forest

    Night alone in my jeep

    It was rocky getting there but super super remote - zero service. Great space for my jeep and honestly you could fit a LARGE RV. There is a bathroom at the entrance. No fires because it’s super remote. Peaceful and almost untouched.

  • JThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 6, 2025

    Hide-A-Way Campsites

    Quaint and truly hid away

    Well maintained clean campground. Friendly attendants guided us to site and directed in spot. Gravel unlevel pad full hookups.

  • Lorraine H.
    Sep. 2, 2025

    Aqua Vista Valley Campgrounds

    2 month stay started July

    It's ok great water views stuff for kids to do every weekend it's the seasonal campers that make it not fun at times u have some very friendly then others that are noisy judging ,parting witch parting really ain't problem until ur not watching ur kids or being loud at times I give it a 7 out of 10

  • T&J  F.
    Aug. 28, 2025

    West Canada Creek Campground

    Nice place, a little pricey

    Pros: clean campground, camp store, ice cream/pizza shack, shuttle to tubing, sites are pretty flat, pool is large and clean, quiet hours are enforced. Cons: $5 per dog "surprise" when we arrived. Even though we camped there 2 nights for 3 years in a row, $15 per person for the tubing shuttle seems steep; a discount or free would be nice for campers, as drop off points are just down the road. Sites are narrow.

  • M
    Aug. 26, 2025

    Aqua Vista Valley Campgrounds

    kids always have a blast!

    We went for the Halloween event, and the kids had a great day and evening! They really enjoyed trick or treating!!!


Guide to Fort Hunter

Camping opportunities near Fort Hunter, New York extend throughout the southern Adirondack region at elevations ranging from 400-1400 feet above sea level. The area sits at the junction of the Mohawk River and Schoharie Creek, providing water-based recreation alongside woodland camping options. Most campgrounds in this region experience seasonal transitions from spring mud to summer heat, with average July temperatures reaching 85°F during peak camping months.

What to do

Explore Herkimer diamonds: At Crystal Grove Diamond Mine & Campground, campers can search for double-terminated quartz crystals unique to the region. "Looking for adventure this is a place to find it. Along with staying at this peaceful wooded campground, one can 'mine' Herkimer Diamond quartz crystals adjacent to the campground via a bridge over the stream," notes a visitor who enjoyed a streamside site.

Go fishing: The Mohawk River and Great Sacandaga Lake offer prime fishing spots for multiple species. "At the lock parking area, you'll find pit toilets, a dumpster, and potable water available on the side of the building as you enter," explains a visitor to Fort Plain Lock 15 on Empire Trail, which provides river access for anglers.

Kayak on Sacandaga Lake: Paddlers find accessible launches at several campgrounds with minimal boat traffic during weekdays. "Large sites on huge lake perfect for kayaking. Few bugs," reports one camper about Northampton Beach Campground, highlighting the favorable conditions for water recreation.

What campers like

Private woodland campsites: DevilDoc Campsites offers secluded spots away from crowds. "We were lucky enough to be the only campers on site that weekend, and had the entire spread by the pond to ourselves," shared one visitor who appreciated the 25-acre property's natural setting.

Spacious waterfront sites: Campers consistently praise the room to spread out at lakeside locations. "Our site was next to the creek and relaxed to the quiet sound of water flowing by," noted a Crystal Grove visitor, while another camper at Northampton Beach Campground mentioned "very spacious with a beautiful view."

Fishing opportunities: Multiple campsites offer direct water access for fishing without driving. "The parking lot is large, rocky, and uneven, situated right on the Mohawk River. It's a great spot for wildlife viewing and fishing (with a valid license)," explains a Fort Plain Lock 15 reviewer.

What you should know

Bathroom facilities vary widely: Some campgrounds have limited or rustic facilities. "The bathrooms were pretty awful though. The showers were broken and there was no hot water the entire 5 days we were there," reported a Northampton Beach visitor, while others mentioned clean but dated facilities.

Seasonal water levels fluctuate: Water access changes throughout summer as reservoir levels drop. "Simply it's a parking lot with a view. The parking area is right on the water. It offers sounds of the highway and freight trains going by," notes a Fort Plain Lock 15 camper about environmental conditions.

Primitive options require preparation: Royal Mountain Campsites and other locations have limited services. "We paid for wood and the owner drove it to our site and gave us half a tree for $10!! Navigating the campground was easy and they had social fires by their pond in the evenings," explains a visitor about available amenities.

Tips for camping with families

Choose campgrounds with kid-specific activities: Several locations offer recreational options beyond hiking. "Great family place," notes a simple but enthusiastic review about Northampton Beach Campground, while another mentions "Lots of nice amenities like showers, toilets, water fill stations, recycling stations, etc."

Consider noise factors: Some campgrounds experience traffic sounds that might disturb light sleepers. "This campground was incredibly noisy. A number of the sites had been closed for the camping season. The beach area offered a great view, but again, so noisy. If you have children, and you're not looking for quiet time, this could be the campground for you!" advises a Caroga Lake camper.

Look for ice cream access: Hide-A-Way Campsites and Royal Mountain have treats nearby. "The 'office' is an ice cream shop off the side of the road that all the locals apparently love based on lines and what we tasted!" exclaimed one Royal Mountain camper who appreciated this family-friendly perk.

Tips from RVers

Check amperage availability: Some campgrounds advertise 30-amp but actually provide 50-amp service. "Website stated sites were 30Amp so very happy to have found 50Amp upon arrival!" shared a Royal Mountain visitor about the unexpected upgrade.

Consider site leveling needs: Terrain varies across the region with some challenging spots. "It is a cool place, Richard and Rick are great guys. The land they share has a pond that is very secluded. We used his power source so we were near his home and site was level for the travel trailer," noted a DevilDoc camper.

Use the dump stations early: Popular campgrounds experience long dump station lines on departure days. "Large sites, there is a fire pit and a picnic table. You are allowed a maximum of 3 tents per site, and that's still plenty of room for car parking," explains a visitor about the spaciousness at Northampton Beach.

Frequently Asked Questions

What camping is available near Fort Hunter, NY?

According to TheDyrt.com, Fort Hunter, NY offers a wide range of camping options, with 150 campgrounds and RV parks near Fort Hunter, NY and 12 free dispersed camping spots.

Which is the most popular campground near Fort Hunter, NY?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Fort Hunter, NY is DevilDoc Campsites with a 4.9-star rating from 14 reviews.

Where can I find free dispersed camping near Fort Hunter, NY?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 12 free dispersed camping spots near Fort Hunter, NY.