3 campgrounds with availability this weekend
Campgrounds across the Lake Placid region provide varied options for outdoor accommodations within the Adirondack Mountains of New York. Established sites include the Lake Placid/Whiteface Mountain KOA Holiday with tent, RV, cabin, and glamping facilities, and Meadowbrook Campground between Lake Placid and Saranac Lake offering more primitive camping experiences. The Wilderness Campground at Heart Lake serves as a popular basecamp for hiking adventures into the High Peaks Wilderness area, while Draper's Acres provides year-round camping closer to town. The region features a mix of state-operated facilities and private campgrounds, with accommodations ranging from rustic tent sites to full-hookup RV spots.
Most developed campgrounds in the Lake Placid area operate seasonally from May through October, with only a few sites remaining accessible during winter months. The Adirondack region experiences significant seasonal variation, with summer high seasons bringing warmer temperatures and increased tourism activity. Several campgrounds require advance reservations, particularly during summer weekends and fall foliage season when visitation peaks. State-operated facilities like Fish Creek Pond Campground and Wilmington Notch offer well-maintained facilities but fill quickly during prime months. Weather conditions can change rapidly in the mountains, particularly at higher elevations. As one visitor noted, "The location to the high peaks couldn't be better. The staff was great! The only negative is that the sites are a little bit difficult to navigate and find, especially when arriving at dusk."
Proximity to hiking trails represents a significant draw for campers in the Lake Placid area. Several campgrounds provide direct access to popular trails, including the Scarface Mountain trail from Meadowbrook Campground and numerous High Peaks access points from Heart Lake. Many visitors use these campgrounds as basecamps for exploring the region's extensive outdoor recreation opportunities. Campers report variable experiences with amenities, with state campgrounds typically offering basic but clean facilities. Road noise affects some camping areas located near main thoroughfares. One camper shared: "We stayed at the Heart Lake Campground for a week and a half utilizing it as our home base for adventures into the High Peaks Wilderness and the greater Adirondack region. We had a very pleasant stay here and personally found the weekdays to be best for 'camp days' given there were few people."
"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."
"Lots to do, hiking trails within walking distance. Just a short drive to white face mountain and the village of lake placid."
"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."
Campground full this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $22 - $40 / night
"Bike path, kayak rentals, close to Lake Placid Olympic center, Wild Center in Tupper Lake"
"A quiet campground just outside of Lake Placid"
from $22 - $40 / night
"Good location for major trailheads and near by lake placid keene. Tent sites are not very big. Although weconfortavly fit with one vehicle. Free hot showers."
"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
"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."
"free showers, close to Whiteface Mt & Lake Placid"
Campground full this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $18 / night
"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
"I didn’t spend any time inside the Loj by the lake because I was camping with my dog and intentionally stayed off the Wi-Fi the whole trip, but family made use of the connection option."
"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
"There are great hiking and biking trails as well. The camp ground is very wooded and private and many sites are right on the water."
"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"
from $20 - $40 / night
"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."
from $40 - $55 / night
"It’s perfectly secluded, but still not far from Lake Placid. You do have to travel a little ways (6-10 miles) for a grocery store, but the view is worth it. I highly recommend this beautiful place."
"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!"
Campground full this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $20 - $40 / night
ScoutFirst trip with our new RV and we were a little nervous about getting everything set up. Having full hookups made it way less complicated than we expected. Once we were settled, we just enjoyed the area and took a few day trips. Would definatly come back for another Adirondack trip.
ScoutWe came up for a quick Adirondack getaway and ended up spending most of our time outside. A little disc golf, some time by the pool, dinner at the site and plenty of walks with the dog. Pretty much everything we wanted out of the trip.
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.
Lake Placid provides a range of camping opportunities throughout the Adirondack region of upstate New York. Established campgrounds like Meadowbrook Campground and Draper's Acres offer traditional tent and RV sites, while the Wilderness Campground at Heart Lake serves as a popular base for hiking the High Peaks. Accommodation options span from basic tent sites to full-service RV hookups, cabins, and glamping facilities. Several campgrounds, including Lake Placid/Whiteface Mountain KOA Holiday, provide more amenities like showers, electricity, and water hookups for those seeking a less rustic experience.
Camping season in the Lake Placid area generally runs from May through October, with most developed campgrounds closing during winter months. Fish Creek Pond Campground operates from April to late October, while a few facilities like Wilderness Campground at Heart Lake remain open year-round for winter camping enthusiasts. Reservations are strongly recommended during summer and fall peak periods, especially for weekends. Many campgrounds require advance booking through ReserveAmerica or directly with private operators. Sites with water access or views tend to fill fastest. One visitor noted, "Bathrooms are mostly clean and the showers are nice. The campground is ok, but needs a bit of a facelift. You can hear sounds of the city, so you're not truly in the woods."
Camping locations near water features receive consistently positive feedback from visitors. Saranac Lake Islands Campground offers boat-in tent sites that provide greater seclusion and direct lake access. Proximity to hiking trails ranks as another important feature for many campers, with trailheads to popular Adirondack peaks accessible from several campgrounds. A camper shared that Wilderness Campground at Heart Lake offers "gorgeous" views with access to multiple trails. Road noise affects some campgrounds closer to highways, while more remote options provide quieter environments. Bathhouse facilities vary widely across campgrounds, from basic to recently renovated. Sites with hookups typically command higher rates but offer convenience for RV travelers and those wanting more amenities during their Adirondack camping experience.
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Lake Placid, NY?
According to TheDyrt.com, Lake Placid, NY offers a wide range of camping options, with 159 campgrounds and RV parks near Lake Placid, NY and 15 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Lake Placid, NY?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Lake Placid, NY is Lake Placid/Whiteface Mountain KOA Holiday with a 4.4-star rating from 45 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Lake Placid, NY?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 15 free dispersed camping spots near Lake Placid, NY.
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