Best Tent Camping near Greenfield, NY

Tent campsites near Greenfield, New York range from dispersed forest camping to established island sites on Lake George. Ushers Road State Forest offers primitive tent camping in a natural setting with access to bicycle-friendly nature trails and multiple potential sites located at least 150 feet from the main paths. Murphy Lake Leanto provides a secluded backcountry option requiring a hike in, while several Lake George Islands offer unique tent camping experiences accessible only by boat.

Most primitive tent sites require campers to be self-sufficient, as amenities are minimal or nonexistent. Ushers Road State Forest features no drinking water, toilets, or trash facilities, though fires are permitted with proper safety precautions. Sites typically consist of ungraded forest floor with pine needles and natural ground cover. Walk-in tent sites at Murphy Lake Leanto are free and include a fire pit, but access requires navigating technical trails through rocky, rooted terrain. A recent reviewer described the Murphy Lake trail as "a technical challenge to hike or bike in" with campers needing to "go over downfalls" along the route.

Lake George Islands offer a completely different tent camping experience with established sites requiring boat transportation. Long Island and Glen Island groups provide scenic tent platforms with picnic tables and fire rings, creating level surfaces for tent setup not found at more primitive locations. Reservations are essential for these popular island tent sites, especially during peak summer months. Island camping provides unique advantages for tent campers, including relative privacy despite proximity to other sites. A visitor commented, "We rented kayaks and actually reserved a spot on our own private island. It was little, slightly wooded, and private. Nothing beats being alone and hearing only the tide crashing next to you all night."

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Best Tent Sites Near Greenfield, New York (23)

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Tent Camping Reviews near Greenfield, NY

559 Reviews of 23 Greenfield Campgrounds


  • Erin B.
    Sep. 11, 2019

    Clarksburg State Park Campground

    low key and beautiful fall getaway

    Keep in mind that this review is written after camping sept 8th (the week that school started for many) so it might not be relevant to peak camping season. We were pleasantly surprised with our weekend getaway to Clarksburg State Park. Nestled in the Berkshires and basically walking distance to Vermont, Clarksburg State Park provides a comfortable and semi-private tent site. Several spots (including ours 6) were very close to the rather large pond. While the trees obstruct the views, the site was waterfront and we were able to walk a few yards downhill to the waters edge where we launched our kayaks (there is a designated launching spot elsewhere). No electric and water hookups are provided but we were totally okay with that. Bear boxes were provided on each site so that you don’t have to keep stinky food or garbage in your car! Each site also had a fire pit with a grate so that you can cook right there on the fire. The bathrooms were some of the cleanest campground bathrooms and showers i’ve experienced (no bugs or webs also) and there was a dishwashing station on the side. The sites were large and well spaced but they had trees in between so that you felt privacy. The campground itself had plenty of sites, firewood for sale in the front and a pavilion and beach area on the day use side. There are plenty of trails you can hop on right outside your tent site and very little light pollution for optimal star gazing. We really enjoyed our time here and will definitely be back!

  • Christina W.
    May. 28, 2019

    Sperry Road Campground — Mount Greylock State Reservation

    I go every year!

    Me and my friends get a group site at least once a year. It's an amazing place with really great staff that care about the safety of everyone and keeping the areas clean. We always have an amazing time here. The views are great and we have never had any issues. 

    First time I went it was intimidating because I had never camped in an all tent camping site with no running water or public restroom areas. However, as soon as I got acclimated, I loved it. There are outhouses stationed at different areas all around, and bear boxes for every group. There are bears around so use the boxes seriously. 

    There are a number of rivers and little waterfalls that are always nice to visit. I plan to go there again very soon!

  • Heidi R.
    Jun. 1, 2018

    Sperry Road Campground — Mount Greylock State Reservation

    Awesome backpacking with amenities!

    The hike in was a fairly easy 1.3 to the csmpground. The sites were huge and spread out. Although we could kind of see our neighbors if we tried, we were far enough away that we weren't looking at them all weekend. SO PEACEFUL! Uou will hear the bard owls call at night and not much else. Sites 11, 8, and 9 are pretty set back and private.

    Amenities include:

    1. The rangers deliver wood to your site
    2. The bear lockers are roomy and clean and could double as storage to keep items out of the rain (highly recommend reviewing being "bear aware" as we had a sighting in our neighboring site and not all other campers are bear smart and left food/trash out even though rangers gave reminders).
    3. The composting toilets were so spacious and clean you could sleep on the floor in an emergency!
    4. Each site has a fire ring and a picnic table.

    There are plenty of options for hiking including two nearby falls, a section of the AT, and of course the summit. The summit lodge offers breakfast & lunch. Although abut pricey, the large fire place, friendly hiker conversations, and a warm cup of coffee brightened our rainy day. They also do dinner by reservation. The summit is accessible by hiking or car. They have educational and entertainment programs scheduled throughout the weekend.

  • Tara S.
    Oct. 11, 2017

    Grout Pond Campground — Green Mountain & Finger Lakes National Forests

    Best Fall Camping Ever!

    We just returned from two nights at Grout Pond. We were lucky to have 70 degree days and 50 degree nights in October. We were the only campers along the waterfront, but there were a few car campers in the sites near the road. We have camped at Grout Pond a few times in the summer, and while it’s always beautiful, it’s just too busy in July and August. Early October is just about perfect - no bugs, no people, and fantastic views all around.

    The campground is maintained by the National Forest Service, and for many years the sites were free. In 2018, the cost will be significantly higher than free - $16 per night with a limit of 14 consecutive days. There are about 18 sites in total. 7 near the road for car camping or RVs, 5 that are hike-in (the farthest is about a mile from the parking lot), and 6 waterfront sites that you can either hike or paddle to. We really love site #2 for the awesome views and proximity to the toilet, but #11 is bigger and probably the most private of all the sites.

    If you’re paddling in, you can unload all your stuff in the day-use area, and then park your car in the lot. It’s an easy 5-minute paddle to most of the sites. There are lots of well-marked trails. The only water is in the day-use area, so I recommend bringing a filter so you can drink right from the lake. All tents must be set up on tenting platforms, so you’ll need a smallish tent. Sites 10 and 11 have two platforms.  

    After camping here in July and October, I would never camp here in the summer again - come in the fall - you won’t be disappointed!

  • Cynthia K.
    Jun. 26, 2023

    Clarksburg State Park Campground

    Choose your site carefully

    We took the family up here for a long weekend. The weather wuickly made this an overnight stay instead, as the rain was relentless. Our site (#6) was on a slope, and there was the telltale sign of stormwater runoff tracks running through the middle. We pitched our tents to the left and the right, which worked out well because the next day we had a stream running through our site. The hiking trails were extremely wet and muddy (even before the rain) so we didn't get too explore very much.

    They have great firewood here - kiiln dried cedar for $7 a bundle! And the restrooms were fairly clean. The boat launch area looked great, but we didn't get our kayaks in due to the weather.

    Before we packed up, we took advantage of a break in the rain to get photos of as many sites as we could. Hopefully they'll come in handy for future campers.  These were all taken after several hours of heavy rain, so the photos should give you a good idea of what sites have drainage issues.

  • Miccal  M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Mar. 1, 2024

    Downed Bridge Camp

    Odd Job Primitive Camping

    Great location for a small group to camp at.  Can't wait to go back.  The main area is a walk in and is worth it.  The road into here was easy to drive.  The only thing you will find at this primitive site is a fire ring.

  • Kevin C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 30, 2024

    Somerset Airfield

    Good stopover location

    Only the first section of the campground was open due to flooding. As a result, there were puddles everywhere.

    Campsites are listed as disbursed but there are only 7 trees to separate 9 camp sites. The campsites are all next to the road and have fire circles.

    There is a single pit toilet at the end of the camping area. No garbage service, no water, no cell service. Basically a camp site where you can share a fire with the neighbors.

  • j
    May. 22, 2018

    Sperry Road Campground — Mount Greylock State Reservation

    amazing views

    Went and did some hiking in early October for a birthday trip. The staff at the visitors center were very informative and were able to point us in the right direction for overnight parking and somewhat shorter hikes to shelters. The views along the drive and the hikes were amazing. The shelter was in great condition and had bear box/shelters to store your items. Once we reached the summit the next day, we were able to watch hang gliders take off which was awesome. The whole area is great.

  • R
    Sep. 1, 2020

    Lewey Lake Campground

    Beautiful, great location

    We stayed here for 2 nights at sight 122. Although not a waterfront site, it was beautiful. Slightly muddy during a downpour but the puddles cleared quickly. No complaints, campers were all respectful of quiet hours.


Guide to Greenfield

Dispersed camping options near Greenfield, New York offer access to the southern Adirondack region, where camping on state forest land provides a more primitive experience than established campgrounds. The area features a mix of hardwood forests and wetlands at elevations ranging from 600-1,200 feet. Winter camping requires additional preparation due to temperatures that regularly drop below freezing from November through March.

What to do

Hiking and biking trails: Ushers Road State Forest provides access to bicycle-friendly nature trails that transition into wetland areas. According to one visitor, "I explored both directions on my bike, riding approximately half a mile down each side. The terrain eventually transitions into a low-lying, swampy area, likely due to recent rainfall over the past week."

Island camping experiences: For a unique water-based adventure, Lake George Islands offers camping spots accessible only by boat. "Worth a trip from just about anywhere. Absolutely beautiful and you can't beat camping on an island," notes one camper who visited Long Island on Lake George.

Fishing opportunities: The waterways around Glen Island Group provide excellent fishing conditions. One camper reports, "Great fishing, lots of fun to be had on the water and quiet peaceful evening by the campfire."

What campers like

Private waterfront sites: The dispersed camping at Cod Pond offers secluded sites with natural water features. A camper notes, "There is a river down the hill from the campsite which helps keep it fairly cool at night. The site was mostly shaded-the sun shines through a bit but not much."

Family-friendly atmosphere: Stony Creek Family Campground maintains a welcoming environment for family camping trips. One regular visitor mentioned, "It's a nice family ran campground. We plan to come back!"

Waterfront views: Camping on Long Island in Lake George provides exceptional scenery. "We had a great spot on Long Island! Beautiful view, chill atmosphere, easy boat parking on the slip," reports one satisfied camper.

What you should know

Access challenges: Some sites require significant effort to reach. At Murphy Lake Leanto, "This leanto is worth the effort it takes to get there. And you have to earn it on foot, bike or other. A two hour bike ride with a couple of breaks."

Wildlife encounters: Prepare for raccoons and other wildlife, especially on the islands. One camper at Long Island Group warned, "We were literally bombarded with a group of raccoons each night. It was bad."

Remote camping preparations: When tent camping near Greenfield, New York at dispersed sites, bring everything you need. As one camper advised, "TAKE EVERYTHING you need including extra ice. Once there, settle in & relax, you aren't going anywhere."

Tips for camping with families

Hidden site access: Watch carefully for unmarked roads leading to campsites. A camper at Cod Pond noted, "The directions in the app are accurate - but do keep in mind that the campsite is down a dirt road which is well hidden from the main road if you aren't paying close attention."

Terrain considerations: Check site conditions before setting up tents. One camper observed, "Ground may look flat but when sleeping-definitely is not. Plenty of trees for hammocks etc."

Vehicle requirements: Some dispersed camping access roads require appropriate vehicles. At Narrow Island Group, "You must have a power boat ride out there or be up for a long paddle."

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Greenfield, NY?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Greenfield, NY is Ushers Road State Forest with a 5-star rating from 2 reviews.

What is the best site to find tent camping near Greenfield, NY?

TheDyrt.com has all 23 tent camping locations near Greenfield, NY, with real photos and reviews from campers.