137 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
The camping areas near Lake Clear in New York give you good access to Adirondack wilderness without being too remote. Fish Creek Pond Campground sits about eight miles away, with sites right along the water that make it easy to drop in a canoe or fishing line whenever you want. If you're bringing horses, Frontier Town Campground has dedicated equestrian sites and connects to trail systems for riding. Most people can reach these campgrounds without trouble since the main roads are paved, though a few of the more secluded spots might need vehicles with better clearance after rain. From May through September is when most campers visit, avoiding both black fly season in early spring and the heavy snow that typically blocks access during winter months. Keep your food secured at night since deer, foxes, and bears all roam the area. Birdwatchers should bring binoculars as loons, eagles, and numerous songbirds are common sights. Stick to established fire rings and pack out all trash to help keep these camping areas in good shape. Lake Clear camping works well for both families wanting amenities and individuals looking for quieter forest sites.
"Most of the campsites at Fish Creek Pond are along the waterfront, offering easy access to the pond. Some campers even build temporary docks that they leave behind for subsequent campers."
"Bike path, kayak rentals, close to Lake Placid Olympic center, Wild Center in Tupper Lake"
from $22 - $40 / night
Check Availability"As it isn't too far of a drive for us, it quickly became our go-to campgrounds for quite a while due to the mostly flat campground and who doesn't love hearing the slow trickle of water splashing close"
"It was generally quiet Memorial Day weekend, and we were able to snag a lakeside site with plenty of trees and space for our tent, SUV, and more."
from $20 - $40 / night
Check Availability"Outhouse was a little rough around the edges, but doable. Town is close by for ice and things. Our island had 4 other campsites on it and we barely saw or heard our neighbors."
"This lake is so peaceful and the remote islands that are only accessible by boat make this spot really special. It's a gorgeous place to get away from everything and to really connect to nature."
from $22 - $40 / night
Check Availability"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."
"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 Availability"Our site was tucked back into some trees and you couldn't see any other sites from it. To look around, it was as if we had all of the Adirondacks to ourselves!"
"wonderful place to get away from it all"
from $20 - $40 / night
Check Availability"There is a hand launch for small boats/kayaks to access the pond near the entrance. Site #1 is near the entrance and near the road."
"It took me about two hours 45 minutes and well worth the drive, I first stopped at site four and fully set up my Truck tent and the rest of camp, awesome location."
"We spent a week here and didn't have a lakeside site, but one of the small ones on the stream. Great place to visit. If you do score a lakeside site, your views will be spectacular!"
"One side of the lake is a bit crowded and can get rowdy. This side has flush toilets and showers. There are waterfront sites here."
from $20 - $40 / night
Check Availability"Some require driving down a bumpy access road that can be muddy after a rain. Sites are on the Pond. Pond has a small beach to swim. Tree covered sites."
"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 Availability
ScoutOne of the best parts for us was not having to pack up the RV every time we wanted to go somewhere. We stayed put and explored the Adirondacks from here. Lake Champlain, Ausable Chasm and a bunch of other spots were all easy to get to.
ScoutGreat setting. We were there by ourselves, so very quiet place to view the sky. The hookups were 50A only, no 30A connection, so we just used a conversion to 20A.
ScoutHaving the river and Adirondacks nearby made for a really nice change of scenery. We spent our days exploring and came back to the campground for dinner and a fire.
GuideA few sites around the lake all seem to have good to great view of the lake. Ours was nice but next to a house no one was there! However The site had lots of room! The road was mildly rough. But nothing worth complaining about it’s dispersed camping! There was a few loons making noise great spot.
ScoutWe were looking for somewhere to stay while checking out Ausable Chasm and this worked out really well. Easy drive over, then back to the camper in the afternoon. Made the whole trip alot easier.
ScoutWe only planned on staying a few nights but ended up adding another week. Once we got settled in, it was hard to leave.
GuideCar camped on Sunday of Columbus Day weekend in October. This was their closing weekend and lots of spaces were available. Stayed in tent circle loop and it was almost empty. Great access to lake shore and bike path. Walked back toward marina and town in the evening and ran in the morning the other direction going out to Rock Point. Didn’t use the shower facilities. The bathroom near our loop only had sinks and toilets and was fine.
TravelerThis area has two drive-up camping spots each with a picnic table and fire pit. One site is on the lake side of the small road which had very few other drivers. This lakeside spot has small paths to access the shore and decent shade. The other site, about a quarter mile down the road, is tucked into the woods and feels more private. It has a more open view of the lake and paths across the road to access the water. This site is a little muddier in rainy weather and gets more sun.
Some road noise from the highway here but amazing view of the stars at night!
These sites have no running water or bathrooms, however there is both a gas station and port-a-potty about two miles east, though both sites have some woods access that give you privacy (though any waste should be packed out as this area is surrounded by water).
Suprisingly good AT&T coverage, between one and three bars. Sometimes slow but eventually loads.
There is also a boat trailer parking/unloading area between the two sites.
The old route 28 & 30 road is very gravely and uneven - drive slow!
ScoutCame here with our fifth wheel and had plenty of room for everything. Nice spot to use as a home base while exploring the Adirondacks.
Adirondack campgrounds near Lake Clear, New York sit at elevations between 1,600-1,800 feet, creating cooler summer temperatures than surrounding regions. The area features over 200 lakes and ponds within a 20-mile radius that provide abundant fishing and paddling opportunities. Winter access is limited by heavy snowfall, with most remote sites becoming inaccessible from November through April.
Paddling network exploration: At Rollins Pond Campground, kayakers can access multiple interconnected waterways. "Great kayak and canoe access to a whole network of lakes in the St. Regis/Saranac area," notes Jeffrey B. The campground offers direct water access for launching small watercraft.
Waterfall hiking: Behind Wilmington Notch Campground lies a steep trail leading to impressive cascades. "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," explains Zachary M. The trail takes approximately 25 minutes to complete.
Fly fishing spots: The AuSable River contains numerous public access points for anglers. "A mile down the road is flume falls trails, which leads to a great swimming hole and various height choice cliff jumping," adds Zachary. Local regulations permit catch-and-release fishing throughout most of the season.
Island camping privacy: Saranac Lake Islands Adirondack Preserve Campground offers boat-access-only campsites. "Pretty much had an entire island to ourselves and got to enjoy the beautiful saranac lake," says Erin T. Most sites require a short paddle of 15-30 minutes from the mainland launch points.
Waterfront wake-ups: Many campers appreciate sites directly on the water. "We had a waterfront site and were absolutely delighted to be able to sit on the beach and watch the sunset, kayak at our leisure, and swim," explains Amie C. about her stay at Rollins Pond. Water access varies by site, with some having gradual sandy entries while others feature steeper rocky approaches.
Wildlife encounters: The quiet surroundings attract various animal visitors. "We always have wildlife at our site. This past trip we had chipmunks, squirrels, ducks, and a crane. The time before, we had a family of loons!" shares Kristina L. Early mornings and dusk offer the best viewing opportunities.
Limited connectivity: Cell service varies drastically throughout the region. At Meacham Lake Campground, "There is no cell or internet there," reports Debbie T. Visitors should download maps and important information before arriving.
Terrain challenges: Some campgrounds feature challenging terrain. "The West side of the campground is reserved for primitive tent campers with a few choice sites right on the water. These sites generally have tent platforms which is a good thing. On my recent trip there the ground was saturated and boggy," explains Kristin G. about Meacham Lake. Weather can dramatically affect ground conditions.
Shower availability: Bathroom and shower facilities vary widely between locations. "Bathrooms are a bit run down but great value for how much it costs!" notes Meag F. about Wilmington Notch. Many primitive sites have only pit toilets or outhouses.
Bike-friendly areas: Fish Creek Pond Campground provides excellent cycling opportunities for children. "Lots of kids biking and a nice trail behind the sites to walk or run," reports Emma B. The relatively flat terrain makes it suitable for younger riders.
Beach access considerations: Some campgrounds feature swimming areas with gradual entry points. "The water is super shallow all along the shoreline. It's perfect for dogs, kids, and hanging out in the water. The bottom is sandy with some rocks, good to have water shoes but not essential," explains Oleńka S. about Fish Creek Pond.
Evening entertainment options: Several campgrounds offer evening activities. "We loved riding bikes, ice cream truck every night. Ice and firewood available," notes one reviewer about Rollins Pond. Most ice cream vendors operate between 6-8 PM during peak season.
Site selection advice: When bringing larger rigs to Buck Pond Campground, choose carefully. "Some sites do have an uphill driveway lined with trees. If you have an RV, looking at the site on ReserveAmerica.com might be the way to go," advises Danielle S. Most sites have sand or gravel surfaces rather than paved pads.
Utility limitations: RVers should note power and water restrictions. "We didn't see any sites with electricity and there is one outlet in the bathroom area (I plugged my coffee percolator into this outlet every morning)," continues Danielle about Buck Pond. Many campgrounds require self-contained units.
Navigation challenges: Roads within some campgrounds can be difficult for larger vehicles. "The roads are really tight for big rigs. 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. Arrival during daylight hours is strongly recommended.
Frequently Asked Questions
What amenities are available at Lake Clear camp?
The Lake Clear area offers various camping options with excellent amenities. Birch's Lakeside Campground and Marina provides comprehensive amenities including a general store, laundry facilities, and propane on-site. For a more budget-friendly option, Eighth Lake Campground offers showers, bathrooms, and a dump station. Most campgrounds in the region provide picnic tables and fire grills at each site. Many also feature boat launches, swimming areas, hiking trails, and fishing opportunities, allowing visitors to fully enjoy the natural beauty of the Adirondacks.
Where is Lake Clear campground located?
Lake Clear is located in the Adirondack region of upstate New York. While there isn't a specific campground called "Lake Clear Campground," the area is surrounded by several excellent camping options. Meadowbrook Campground is situated in a small village in the Adirondacks between Saranac Lake and Lake Placid, making it conveniently close to Lake Clear. Visitors to the Lake Clear area can also explore nearby Lake Durant Campground, which offers beautiful views of the surrounding Adirondack Mountains and early fall foliage beginning in September.
Can you camp on the island at Lake Clear?
While Lake Clear itself doesn't have designated island camping, the nearby Saranac Lake Islands Adirondack Preserve Campground offers spectacular island camping opportunities just a short distance away. For island camping in the Adirondacks region, many sites are boat-access only and typically require reservations. Golden Beach Campground offers waterfront sites with beautiful sunset views that provide a similar experience to island camping. Always check current regulations before planning island camping trips, as permits may be required and specific rules about fires and waste disposal often apply.
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