Nestled in the foothills of the Adirondack Mountains, camping near Galway, New York puts visitors at an elevation of around 1,400 feet, creating cooler summer temperatures than surrounding lowlands. The area's unique landscape features a mix of dense woodland, rolling hills, and accessible waterways that transition dramatically between seasons. Winter campers should prepare for temperatures that can drop well below freezing with significant snowfall from December through March.
What to Do
Hiking nearby trails: Several campgrounds offer direct access to hiking paths suitable for different skill levels. At DevilDoc Campsites, visitors can explore trails leading to nearby lakes. "Hiking is available directly from the campgrounds and connects to nearby trails, leading wherever your heart desires, from treks to the lakes nearby to one that even goes all through the Adirondacks," notes one camper.
Paddling opportunities: The region's waterways provide excellent kayaking and canoeing with minimal motorboat traffic on smaller lakes. "The lake is nice for canoeing and kayaking but fish number and sizes are limited due to number of people fishing it on a regular basis," mentions a reviewer about Moreau Lake State Park Campground.
Winter recreation: For cold-weather enthusiasts, the area transforms into a snow sports destination. One visitor noted, "Hiking trails become nice XC skiing trails," making Moreau Lake State Park a year-round option for outdoor activities.
What Campers Like
Private, spacious sites: Many campgrounds offer generous spacing between sites, a frequently mentioned positive. At Moose Hillock Camping Resorts, "The sites at this park are huge. You could have parked three RVs in our site. Added bonus is that there is nice separation between sites with trees and shrubs that block out your neighbors and provide lots of privacy."
Clean facilities: Consistently mentioned across reviews is the cleanliness of bathhouses and shower facilities. According to one camper at Alpine Lake RV Resort, "The RV sites were spacious and clean, with full hookups and easy access. Everything was well organized, and I appreciated the quiet atmosphere and friendly neighbors."
Swimming options: Both natural and constructed swimming areas receive positive mentions. "Nice sandy beach with lifeguard hours. Facilities are relatively modern but still basic, nice and clean," writes one visitor about Moreau Lake State Park Campground.
What You Should Know
Seasonal popularity: During peak summer months, especially holiday weekends, campgrounds fill quickly and quieter experiences diminish. A Moreau Lake visitor observed, "Campground and swimming area becomes very crowded, especially on holiday weekend due to proximity to I-87 and number of downstate tourists that frequent the park."
Weather variations: The region experiences significant temperature fluctuations, even in summer. At Frosty Acres Campground, one seasonal camper noted, "Windy as all get out. Elevation about 1409 feet. View of the sunrise over the entire valley are awesome. Very very cool place."
Water conditions: Water access points can have variable conditions throughout the season. "The beach area seems to be a draw for people so the summer camping season is probably packed," mentions one reviewer about their experience at a local campground.
Tips for Camping with Families
Kid-friendly amenities: Many campgrounds offer dedicated recreation spaces for children. A visitor to Lake George RV Park shared, "Great for families. Nicely wooded and not crazy packed. We only stayed one night because we were passing thru but it was easy to get a spot! Too hilly to ride bikes but walking to lake is fine."
Entertainment options: Several campgrounds schedule regular activities specifically for younger campers. "They have movies, dances and even some kayaking, padding, etc. They have these dinos scattered throughout the park and also a few pools. So much to do on the camp ground and great for group camping!" one family noted after their stay.
Safety considerations: Families should note varying water depths at swimming areas. At King Phillip's Campground, a visitor mentioned, "The pool was up to 8ft deep, so watch your children at all times!"
Tips from RVers
Site selection importance: RVers consistently mention the importance of choosing the right site based on rig size and desired privacy. "Our campsite was spacious but required some maneuvering to avoid scraping trees with our RV. Campsites are spacious, shady, and had good separation between the neighboring sites which we enjoyed," reports one RVer at Moreau Lake.
Hookup considerations: Water pressure can vary throughout the day at busy campgrounds. One camper reported, "Had an issue with water pressure on Saturday around 10am... The situation improved so we think it was just a high demand time of day."
Access challenges: Some campgrounds have narrow or winding roads that present challenges for larger rigs. "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, golf carts, decorations etc... so patience is important when arriving and departing," warns one experienced RVer.
For those interested in glamping in Galway, New York, multiple luxury tent options exist offering premium bedding and private outdoor spaces. The Galway area glamping experience typically includes elevated platforms, climate control systems in some units, and access to the same natural surroundings as traditional camping.
