K
Ken D.
Scout
ScoutLone Pine Campsites
Nice place
Spent a night here. Sites are grass for most part and level. Plenty of room. We did the water and electric site.
Camping near Jay, NY
179 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Search destinations
Add dates
SUMMARY PRESENTED BY
The Adirondack region surrounding Jay, New York features a variety of mixed-use campgrounds suited for different camping styles. Established facilities like Lake Placid/Whiteface Mountain KOA Holiday provide full hookup sites for RVs, tent camping areas, and cabin rentals with amenities including showers, electric hookups, and water. Located approximately 10 miles from Jay, Wilmington Notch Campground offers more primitive options with seasonal availability from May through October, catering primarily to tent and RV campers without the full suite of amenities found at resort-style campgrounds.
Access to campgrounds in the area typically depends on seasonal weather patterns, with many sites operating only from May through mid-October. "This campground lacked all of the typical activities a KOA usually has which when I booked the site, I usually expect them since the prices are fairly high compared to state parks," noted one visitor about amenities expectations. Road conditions can vary significantly, with some campgrounds featuring dusty gravel roads that may present challenges for larger rigs. Most developed campgrounds in the region require reservations, especially during peak summer months and holiday weekends. Elevation differences contribute to temperature variations, with higher elevation sites experiencing cooler nighttime temperatures even during summer months.
Campers consistently mention the natural beauty and outdoor recreation opportunities as highlights of the Jay area. The proximity to hiking trails, particularly around Whiteface Mountain, provides excellent day-trip options from basecamp. Several visitors noted that many campgrounds in the Adirondack region offer direct trail access, allowing hikers to start adventures without driving to trailheads. The region experiences high demand during fall foliage season, with visitors appreciating the shade and scenery of wooded sites. While some campgrounds feature spacious sites with privacy between neighbors, others position campsites closer together. According to a camper at one Adirondack campground, "The sites are really large and really spread out. We loved it. Large sites, level and tons of trees." Winter camping options are limited, though a few campgrounds like Wilderness Campground at Heart Lake operate year-round for cold-weather enthusiasts.
Best Campgrounds near Jay (179)
1. Lake Placid/Whiteface Mountain KOA Holiday
"Close to hiking trails, Whiteface Mt Parkway & Lake Placid. Nice, helpful staff. It is NOT wheelchair accessible. There are steep steps to the office, no grab bars in the bathrooms."
"Very large and busy campground, close to Lake Placid and other cool activities to take in. Pros- hot showers, convenient laundromat, you are guided to your site by staff on golf carts."
2. Wilmington Notch Campground
"Only about a hour and a half from the border of Canada. This is a great home base for Lake Placid area and Whiteface Mountain. Great clean bathrooms with free hot showers."
"Great location, very close to Lake Placid and many different trails. The sites are closer together and not as much privacy in some sections, be sure to reserve to get a prime spot."
from $18 / night
Check Availability3. Draper’s Acres
"Some if the sites are rather close to each other, and the proximity to the road was noticeable but my white noise app dealt with that while I slept. Prices were more than fair for what was provided."
"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."
from $30 - $40 / night
Check Availability4. AuSable Chasm Campground
"Sites were a medium distance apart but still spacious enough to not be close to neighbors."
"Pretty decent campground with lots of sites anod close by to some fun attractions."
5. Taylor Pond
"Its definitely way out there, and the beauty is worth the drive! Very nice primitive style campground :)"
"Long skinny lake can be windy and rough. Boat launch is rough"
from $16 / night
Check Availability6. Wilderness Campground at Heart Lake
"Despite the lake being frozen over, the views just steps away from our lean to were gorgeous. The staff were really friendly and someone is available 24/7 in case you run into issues."
"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."
from $25 - $55 / night
Check Availability7. Camp Whiteface Mountain
"Nestled in the trees by the Ausable River its a convenient place to explore the area. 20 minutes from downtown Lake Placid at the base of Whiteface mountain. 2 hours away is Montreal or Burlington VT."
from $39 / night
Check Availability8. North Beach Campground
"Sites 1 to 16 are close to each other. Sites 113 to 119 are bad. Very close to each other. No redeeming qualities.
Sites have 30 amp electric and water but might need a longish cord or hose."
"A very short and easy drive right outside of Burlington, with direct access to the greenway along the lakefront."
from $37 - $100 / night
Check Availability9. Meadowbrook Campground
"This is a very basic campground situated in a small village in the Adirondacks – situated between Saranac Lake and Lake Placid. "
"It's an average campground, but has a really good location between Lake Placid and Saranac Lake. Our site had the standard DEC picnic table and fire pit."
from $18 - $40 / night
Check Availability10. Poke-O-Moonshine
"Easy distance to Poko-moonshine mountain and several smaller mountains.Beautiful location. Removed from trafficked roads, very quiet. Can be busy in summer. Waterfront access to Long Pond."
Drive Time
- 1 hr 10 min from Burlington, VT
- 1 hr 18 min from Glens Falls, NY
- 2 hrs 46 min from Watertown, NY
- 2 hrs 46 min from Utica, NY
Recent Camping Photos near Jay, NY
295 Photos of 179 Jay Campgrounds
Michael
Lake Placid/Whiteface Mountain KOA Holiday
Jennifer
Camp Whiteface Mountain
Monica S.
Wilmington Notch Campground
Isabel D.
Copperas Pond
Alyssa C.
Draper’s Acres
Daniel L.
AuSable River Campsite
Lee D.
AuSable Chasm Campground
Tigan W.
Wilderness Campground at Heart Lake
Jean C.
Lincoln Pond Campground
Sarah K.
KZ Farm
Jean C.
Meadowbrook Campground
Cody F.
Ausable Pines RV Park & Campground
Recent Reviews near Jay, NY
733 Reviews of 179 Jay Campgrounds
Stu T.
TravelerDraper’s Acres
They Are What They Advertise!
Just stayed at Drapers Acres for the Iron Man in Lake Placid. We stayed in a cabin and daughter and her husband stayed in their rig in an RV site. They clearly state that they are not a camping resort, but a base camp for the area adventures. Rest rooms were clean and had plenty of hot water. Staff was friendly and welcoming! Great playground for the kids to play on and plenty of privacy. Cabin was basic - had fan, heat, mini-fridge and microwave. If visiting the area again, I would not hesitate to stay there again! The RV site was large with plenty of space for their 40 foot rig and jeep. Use AT&T towers and had the ability to use phone as a hotspot.
Courtney L.ScoutMagic Pines
Feels like home
This is my first year seasonal at Magic Pines and my fiance and I love it. It's quiet, everyone is friendly, it's pet friendly and has a beautiful nature vibe to it.
Adam and Suzanne B.
GuideLake Placid Volunteer Fire Dept.
exactly as described
This is a mostly dirt camper parking lot with full hook-ups next to the fire station. There is no shade for sites 1-13 and little shade for the rest. The The hook-ups were fine, although our sewer connection was slightly uphill. There are NO amenities. As this campground is run by volunteers, communication is SLOW. You must be patient. The location is excellent, just a mile from Main Street. The price is great for full hook-ups in the area. The other campers and the firefighters were friendly. It was quiet at night. We slept with windows open without a problem. The rail trail adjacent to and easy to access from the campground and there is a bike shop across the street.
Joe K.ScoutWaterbury Reservoir Remote Sites — Waterbury Center State Park
Remote but most campsites aren't really on water
We camped here in June of 2026. It is not as remote as some other locations, mainly because you are in Waterbury, VT and Waterbury can be quite busy with visitors.
We parked on Cotton Brook Rd and were told by multiple people that you need to be aware of rain. The parking lot can flood if you get days of rain. The days we camped we did have heavy downpours the morning of day 2 and by the time we left the reservoir was probably 6 ft higher. So it is a real thing. The benefit of that is tons of waterfalls lead into the reservoir and they are quite pretty.
It is a long canoe from the Cotton Brook lot and you need to go to campsite 14 to really get a campsite with a full view of the lake. We were on campsite 18 and it is surrounded by trees. Thats great if you want privacy, but not great if you want a view of the lake.
No loons while we were there. : (
In short, it is pretty good, but we would recommend others.
Paige M.ScoutButton Bay State Park Campground
Love this state park!
We have stayed here a few times. It’s always clean and quiet. Pool is nice but very family (kid) oriented. Love the trails to the water from both camp loops. Great place to stay with a kayak or paddle board!
Kelly R.ScoutLake Durant Campground
Great showers!
We are hiking the northville placid trail and left a car here for a resupply, spent a night, quiet campground, excellent showers that were super clean and appear to be new.
- Adam and Suzanne B.Guide
Lone Pine Campsites
Exceeded expectations
We stayed only on weekdays. It was very quiet for having so many sites. Sites are very close together. Sites on the upper loop have less noise from the interstate. Showers on the upper loop at dated and have poor pressure and fickle temperatures, but the other bathhouses are newer. Two pools. Large laundry room. They even have rolls of quarters at the office. Most of the sites are seasonal and are very tidy and well-kept. The grounds are mowed and well-maintained.
RebeccaTravelerCrane Pond Dispersed Site
4th of July
My partner and I went on 4th of July weekend for the first time and was greeted by a man in the parking lot who had been coming there for 40 years. The site was gorgeous with 10 different campsites to choose from. The past reviews are correct with a lifted four wheel drive vehicle being needed for this drive in if you plan on getting paddled boats/kayaks in the water. Our plan was to go in and out to explore but decided to hunker down once we took the road in to avoid driving it multiple times. There are four hike-in camps from the parking lot. All campsites are marked on AllTrails. We stayed on the East side camp, #10, which after setting up and visiting the rest of the sites, had the least views from camp of the water but was the most secluded. Many sites have a privy or a box with a hole and a lid. There were a total of four trucks/jeeps in the lot all weekend and only a few camps being used. The black flies and mosquitos were bad given the time of the year so be prepared if you come during the same time. There are some beautiful trails that connect to the parking lot that lead to other hike-in camps at other small ponds/lakes.
There are green tags on the trees marked next to the water where the camp sites are. We made the mistake of setting up our tent at a makeshift campsite someone made and found the "no camping" sign after and ended up moving. There are beaver, ducks, and loons living at the pond.
Guide to Jay
The Jay area offers a gateway to Adirondack wilderness experiences at elevations ranging from 1,200 to 4,400 feet across the surrounding mountains. Camping options near Jay primarily operate from May through mid-October, with fall temperatures often dropping below 40°F at night even when daytime temperatures remain warm. Campsites in this region typically feature varying degrees of tree cover which influences both privacy and temperature management.
What to do
Waterfall access trails: Campers at Wilmington Notch Campground can directly access the West Branch of the Ausable River and its waterfalls. "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," notes Zachary M.
Whiteface Mountain day trips: For hikers seeking elevation, the area provides numerous options starting directly from campsites. "Behind the 100-Acre section are trails that lead to Whiteface Mountain so you don't have to get in the car to start a hike," explains Nancy W., highlighting the convenience for those staying at area campgrounds.
Winter recreation: Unlike many Adirondack camping options, Wilderness Campground at Heart Lake operates throughout the winter months. "My boyfriend and I braved the 12° nights and pitched a tent. There were a lot of campers, but the sites are spaced out and people were very respectful of noise/lights/other campers," writes Laura Nicole A.
What campers like
Clean, modern facilities: Bathroom quality varies significantly between campgrounds near Jay. At Wilderness Campground at Heart Lake, "The bathrooms are really nice and warm, especially during the cold off season," according to Kayla M., who visited during March when many facilities in the region remain closed.
Lake recreation: While not all campgrounds offer water access, those that do provide additional recreational opportunities. "The welcome center and store are so cute, sites are well maintained amid everyone is super friendly. There is a secret we discovered the last day. Walk to the back of the campground to the Ausable river, go down the path about 500 ft. There is an awesome swimming hole," reports Laura T. about her experience at Lake Placid/Whiteface Mountain KOA Holiday.
Site privacy differences: Campgrounds in the region vary significantly in how sites are arranged. "The sites are pretty small and close together but overall the campground is excellent. The camp host is spectacular and it is extremely well maintained for a primitive area," explains Steph about Taylor Pond, offering insight into the trade-offs between amenities and site spacing.
What you should know
Road conditions: Several campgrounds feature challenging access roads that require preparation. "The road into the campground is dirt and rutted but the speed limit is 5 mph, so it wasn't that bad, but it would be a mess if it was raining," notes Lee D. about AuSable Chasm Campground.
Reservation requirements: During peak season, securing a campsite without advance booking becomes increasingly difficult. "Definitely make reservations in advance during the summer!" advises Maggie F. about camping at Wilmington Notch.
Seasonal water availability: Water systems at many campgrounds are seasonal and may have unconventional connections. "Luckily I had a water bandit, as the water spigot does not have threads for a hose," shares Nathan S. about his experience at Wilmington Notch Campground, pointing out the need for specialized equipment at some locations.
Tips for camping with families
Look for recreation variety: Families benefit from campgrounds offering multiple activity options. "Multiple different types of sites to accommodate all forms of camping. Family-friendly," notes Stefan S. about Lake Placid/Whiteface Mountain KOA Holiday.
Check playground locations: Not all area campgrounds offer playgrounds, and those that do place them in various locations. "The campground on the mountain side has a playground, huge store, gem mining, arcade (which needs some love), hiking trails and a common area with some games," writes Nicole S.
Consider spacing between sites: For families seeking more privacy, outer campsite loops often provide better separation. "The sites in the two loops closest to Rte 86 (#1-13, 27-34, and 51-62) were much closer together, and some didn't have trees between sites. Even at our more 'isolated' site, we could still see our neighbors," observes Sam L. about Meadowbrook Campground.
Tips from RVers
Site leveling challenges: RV campers should inquire about site grading before arrival. "RV site 8 is so out of level that we couldn't get our Airstream level unless we put 10" of blocking under both axles," reports Brian P., suggesting the need to research specific sites at AuSable Chasm Campground.
Section selection matters: Campgrounds with multiple sections often have significant differences between areas. "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," advises Nancy W.
Tree clearance for large rigs: Low-hanging branches can create hazards for taller RVs. "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," warns Nancy W. about navigating certain campgrounds.
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Jay, NY?
What camping is available near Jay, NY?
According to TheDyrt.com, Jay, NY offers a wide range of camping options, with 179 campgrounds and RV parks near Jay, NY and 23 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Jay, NY?
Which is the most popular campground near Jay, NY?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Jay, NY is Lake Placid/Whiteface Mountain KOA Holiday with a 4.4-star rating from 44 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Jay, NY?
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Jay, NY?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 23 free dispersed camping spots near Jay, NY.
Keep Exploring