Glamping accommodations near Jordanville, New York are nestled within the rolling hills of Herkimer County, with elevations ranging from 1,200 to 1,600 feet above sea level. The area experiences four distinct seasons with summer temperatures averaging 70-85°F during peak camping season from May through September. Winter snow often persists into early spring, making late April openings common for many campgrounds in this central New York region.
What to Do
Swimming at pristine beaches: Glimmerglass State Park Campground offers a well-maintained beach area for families. One camper noted, "The beach is great and well kept. The lake is pristine and wonderful to swim in."
Baseball heritage exploration: Cooperstown KOA provides easy access to local attractions beyond baseball. A visitor shared: "Approximately five miles away is Glimmerglass State Park which was great for hiking and kayaking on Otsego Lake. There is also a historic house at the park that you can tour and the country's oldest covered bridge."
Mining for unique crystals: At Ace of Diamonds Mine & Campground, visitors can try their hand at finding quartz crystals. A camper reported: "Very busy during the day. But great diamonds to find!"
Tubing through campgrounds: Herkimer Diamond Mine KOA features a creek running through the property perfect for tubing. "There is a beautiful river where some of the sites are located next to, where you can wade into, kayak, tube down, or just sit on the bank and watch the local wild life swim by," one reviewer explained.
Stargazing in dark skies: DevilDoc Campsites offers excellent night sky viewing opportunities. A guest mentioned: "We got lucky in so many ways - between the early booking being accepted and the weather miraculously being perfect the couple nights we were there. It was exactly the getaway we needed from the stress of NYC and the pandemic."
What Campers Like
Secluded pond settings: The DevilDoc Campsites feature a beautiful artesian-fed pond surrounded by forest. As one visitor described, "Rich is the owner and he's an absolute riot. A dude with an obvious zeal for life, his mission for this campground is to share this truly beautiful place he's lucky to call home with other people who are seeking to immerse themselves in nature."
Spacious camping areas: Glimmerglass State Park Campground offers generous sites that accommodate multiple tents. One reviewer commented, "The sites are a great size for accommodating two tents and have many people gather at meals. The bathrooms and showers are well kept."
Family-friendly amenities: Crazy Acres Campground at Beaver Spring Lake caters particularly well to families. A visitor noted, "We are full timers and took our daughter, her boyfriend and our granddaughter for a weekend camping. We had fun, plenty of activities, a big lake to fish in and a pool to relax by. Nighttime family fun as well."
Clean facilities: Delta Lake State Park Campground maintains exceptionally clean facilities. A camper shared, "There were bathrooms in the middle of our loop which was great and easy to walk to and it was very clean. There is a water fill station when you enter but there are also a couple water spigots in our loop."
Natural water features: Many glamping sites near Jordanville feature ponds, lakes, or streams. At Herkimer Diamond Mine KOA, "the campground is also right across the street from one of the Herkimer diamond mines, so it's convenient if that is your intended purpose."
What You Should Know
Seasonal operation: Most glamping facilities near Jordanville operate from May through October. Caroga Lake Campground specifies its season runs "May 19 to September 30," which is typical for the region.
Varying site privacy: Site selection matters for privacy levels. At Caroga Lake, a reviewer cautioned: "Site F-90- there is a slope on the site with limited privacy. I suggest avoiding this site but there are quite a few other sites that looked nice and a stream flowing through."
Water pressure fluctuations: Some campgrounds experience occasional water issues. One camper at Cooperstown KOA observed: "One annoyance is the water pressure seemed to drop on occasion and one night was low for quite a while due to the pool being filled."
Bathroom availability: Consider proximity to facilities when booking. A camper at Caroga Lake mentioned: "As I said, our site was out of the main population, but it was a bit of a hike to the restroom which is something to keep in mind if you've really got to get to a bathroom first thing in the morning."
Road conditions: Access roads to more remote glamping sites may be challenging. At Ace of Diamonds Mine & Campground, a visitor noted: "I called and booked ahead of time knowing I'd arrive late and leave early, which was absolutely no problem, so I'm very thankful for that."
Tips for Camping with Families
Designated swimming areas: Delta Lake State Park Campground offers excellent swimming opportunities for children. A visitor shared: "This place was awesome for hosting a birthday party for my niece and relaxing at the beach/day facilities. They have plenty of picnic tables, charcoal grills, a huge beach and locker rooms."
Bring water filtration: For more primitive glamping options, clean water access is important. At DevilDoc Campsites, one camper advised: "There's no running water at the tent sites, but the pond is available and with a carbon water filter, it was delicious. Bringing your own water also works."
Plan for bugs: Insect protection is essential, particularly near water. A reviewer at Caroga Lake noted: "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)."
Consider noise levels: Some campgrounds are quieter than others. A visitor to Caroga Lake Campground commented: "We spent a relatively quiet long weekend here on loop F 97, which is a bit removed from the main campground. It was a bit noisy on Saturday night but nothing disturbing."
Tips from RVers
Parking logistics in Cooperstown: RVers should note parking restrictions. A visitor to Cooperstown KOA advised: "You can't park any vehicle over 20' in Cooperstown, but you can park for free (even a motorhome) in the Yellow Lot and take the Trolley into town for $2.50. Super convenient!"
Site maneuverability: Some pull-through sites may have obstacles. One RVer at Cooperstown KOA explained: "Our site (#41) was a pull-thru but there was no way we could drive our 45' motorhome forward out of the site because of a large tree and narrow roads. So we ended up having to back out."
Available hookups: Electric service varies between campgrounds. At Delta Lake State Park Campground, a visitor noted: "They have recently added electricity to the sites and a new playground at the beach. The concession stand at the beach will deliver to your camp site."
Site selection for satellite reception: TV reception may be challenging in wooded areas. A camper at Cooperstown KOA shared: "The park does have a fair amount of trees that would interfere with roof-mounted satellite dishes so you would have to pick your site carefully. But, there are some 30 amp and no hook-up sites that are clear."
