Best Campgrounds near Mechanicville, NY

Dispersed camping opportunities exist in the Mechanicville area at locations like Ushers Road State Forest, while developed campgrounds such as Lee's Park Campground and Adventure Bound Camping Resort at Deer Run provide more amenities. The Mechanicville region includes a mix of state-operated campgrounds, privately managed RV parks, and primitive camping areas. Most campgrounds near Mechanicville accommodate tent camping, while many also offer RV sites with hookups. Ushers Road State Forest provides primitive camping with no facilities but allows both tent and limited RV camping.

Camping seasons in the Mechanicville area typically run from May through mid-October, with most established campgrounds closing during winter months. Adventure Bound Camping Resort operates from May 1 to October 15, while other nearby campgrounds follow similar seasonal patterns. Reservations are recommended for developed campgrounds, especially during summer weekends and holidays. Facilities at established campgrounds vary widely, with options ranging from primitive sites with no amenities to full-service RV parks with electric, water, and sewer hookups. A visitor to Ushers Road State Forest noted, "This trailhead provides access to bicycle-friendly nature trails. Given that camping is permitted anywhere in the woods as long as it's at least 150 feet off the trail, the surrounding area offers an abundance of potential camping spots."

Waterfront camping represents a significant draw in the broader region, with Lee's Park Campground offering boat-in access on Saratoga Lake. Campers at locations like Moreau Lake State Park Campground, approximately 20 miles north of Mechanicville, report enjoying lake activities and hiking opportunities. The camping experiences range from quiet forest settings to more developed family-friendly resorts. Many campgrounds in the region include amenities such as fire rings, picnic tables, and access to bathrooms and showers. While Ushers Road State Forest receives excellent reviews for its natural setting and primitive camping opportunities, visitors should prepare for self-sufficient camping as it lacks facilities like toilets, drinking water, or trash service. A camper described finding "a previously used campsite, approximately 200 feet from the main trail" that includes "a stone fire ring, indicating prior use."

Best Camping Sites Near Mechanicville, New York (183)

    1. Lee's Park Campground

    7 Reviews
    Saratoga Springs, NY
    10 miles
    Website
    +1 (518) 584-1951

    $20 - $45 / night

    "Close to SPAC, lots of area to set up tents, dog friendly, campfire friendly, and there’s a lake minutes away. Some of the crowd seemed a little rowdy but overall nothing that was obnoxious."

    "I have absolutely nothing but good things to say about Lee’s after spending my weekend there, the park staff was so awesome, the vibes were great, there was parking along the dirt pathed roads that ran"

    2. Adventure Bound Camping Resort at Deer Run

    3 Reviews
    Mechanicville, NY
    1 mile
    Website
    +1 (866) 333-7462

    "There was a nice little dog park fenced in area for my dog to run around in."

    3. Ushers Road State Forest

    2 Reviews
    Round Lake, NY
    4 miles

    "This trailhead provides access to bicycle-friendly nature trails. I explored both directions on my bike, riding approximately half a mile down each side."

    4. Moreau Lake State Park Campground

    18 Reviews
    Gansevoort, NY
    23 miles
    Website
    +1 (518) 793-0511

    $20 - $75 / night

    "This campground is close to the highway between Albany and the Adirondacks. There’s a nice big lake and the Hudson RIver. Many campsites are near the lake."

    "Moreau Lake has (in my opinion) superb facilities as far as state run campsites go."

    5. Schodack Island State Park Campground

    17 Reviews
    Coeymans, NY
    26 miles
    Website
    +1 (518) 732-0187

    $17 - $26 / night

    "The park ensures you’ll have what you need with stores within close proximity and the staff even offers ice and firewood delivery to your site."

    "Wonderful hikes and beautiful walks. Boat docks looked pretty easy for ins and outs, and the pavilions were huge!"

    6. Aqua Vista Valley Campgrounds

    7 Reviews
    Petersburg, NY
    20 miles
    Website
    +1 (518) 658-3659

    7. Arrowhead Marina & RV Park

    2 Reviews
    Rotterdam Junction, NY
    16 miles
    Website
    +1 (518) 382-8966

    "We were next to a little fenced in area for dogs that our dog loved."

    "Well maintained, located on the Mohawk River. Shady, grassy areas. Boat launch and pier. Friendly people. A perfect campground."

    8. Mt. Greylock Campsite Park

    30 Reviews
    Lanesborough, MA
    34 miles
    +1 (413) 447-9419

    $40 - $70 / night

    "Great access to Mt Greylock and LOTS of hiking close by. Staff was so accommodating-always willing to spend time giving recommendations."

    "Great family atmosphere w very positive neighbors and owners... Fantastic. 5 stars"

    9. Camping On The Battenkill

    20 Reviews
    Arlington, VT
    30 miles
    Website
    +1 (802) 375-6663

    $45 - $57 / night

    "Site 16 had a path to the river and was slightly tucked away. Sites 13 and 14 were cool spots too, I’d imagine in the summer you may have less privacy because it’s near the swimming area."

    "Friends and I camp here every June, and we love being close to the river. We sleep in tents so the sound of the river put  you to sleep at night."

    10. Cherry Plain State Park Campground

    6 Reviews
    Cherry Plain, NY
    24 miles
    Website
    +1 (518) 733-5400

    $14 - $17 / night

    "We love the loop of sites near the entrance near the water for views but close to the bathroom, ranger station, and trails. Farther from the beach so there is less impact from the day visitors."

    "There are a number of “walk in” sites that are all lovely, I suggest the sites toward the back of the park.

    Hot showers, bathrooms, and dishwashing stations are available."

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Recent Reviews near Mechanicville, NY

688 Reviews of 183 Mechanicville Campgrounds


  • Chelsea B.
    Oct. 6, 2025

    Brookside Campground

    Not a recreational campsite

    Full disclosure, we did not stay here. PLEASE, folks that leave reviews on this app, PLEASE say whether it’s a full-timer campsite or a recreational campsite. We paid for two weeks in advance of arriving at this site based on reviews available on Google and Dyrt. However, when we arrived we were surprised that this was mostly a trailer park. Call me picky, but I really prefer not to camp in an area where folks are living full time. Just not the vibe I’m going for. We decided to leave without staying. We called to see if we could get a refund and they were very kind and it wasn’t a problem. But just be warned… this is not a recreational campsite.

  • Chelsea B.
    Oct. 6, 2025

    Whip O Will Campsites

    Not for recreational campers

    Full disclosure, we did not stay here. PLEASE, folks that leave reviews on this app, PLEASE say whether it’s a full-timer campsite or a recreational campsite. We arrived after leaving another campsite in the area (that was also 100% full timers) and were disappointed to find that this site was all permanent campers with crap everywhere. One site even had a funeral home sign hanging out front of an entire plywood addition to their camper…like what? Call me picky, but I don’t feel entirely comfortable camping for fun next to folks who live in the campground like this. After driving through the super narrow and rutted out roads to the site they recommend, a man came hauling a** into our site (with a beer in his hand) and was saying “hello hellooooo.” Said he was the owner of the campsite and asked if we were staying, we said we were thinking about it, just checking out the available sites (as the lady up front told us to do). TL;DR- bad vibes. Didn’t stay. Be warned this is a full time campsite with crap everywhere. The lady working the office was super nice though.

  • BThe Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 1, 2025

    Branch Pond on National Forest Hwy

    Amazing camping spots with fire pits!

    Tons of different styles of camping spots (if you get there while its still sunlight you can pick a spot by a flowing stream/river). No public bathrooms, no hookups, I personally didn’t have service.

  • PThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 30, 2025

    NF 83 - riverside

    NF83

    Great camping site. The road into the site was pretty rough.

  • BThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 25, 2025

    Statton Pond Camp on Forest Road 71

    Amazing Numerous Free Dispersed Camping!

    Easy to get to, had service the whole time, fire pits for every spot. I did see a huge blackbear. I didn’t see any bathrooms.

  • Rachael K.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 22, 2025

    Gus's Gardens Camping

    Nice weekend getaway

    This place was really nice. Easy to pull our 20ft camper in. Two minutes drive to the very cute town of Wilmington. Good places to eat there. The campsite was really private. Had a picnic table and fire pit. The pond was sweet and the Deerfield Valley Trail is right off the campsite. We would definitely like to stay there again.

  • BThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 18, 2025

    Bear Slide in Lake George Wild Forest

    Night alone in my jeep

    It was rocky getting there but super super remote - zero service. Great space for my jeep and honestly you could fit a LARGE RV. There is a bathroom at the entrance. No fires because it’s super remote. Peaceful and almost untouched.

  • alicianlv The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 7, 2025

    Grout Pond Campground — Green Mountain & Finger Lakes National Forests

    Grout Pond Loop

    Camping Grout Pond Loop is truly nice after Labor Day (Sept 5-7). Campsites 15 & 16 offer pull-out space to turn around truck campers --we lucked out w/ 4 wheel camper pop-up). Over hanging trees would make it difficult for larger equipment, plus saw posting that excludes trailers from certain roads. We reserved well in advance; however many fellow campers were trying to find first come sites and ended up hiking in to camp around pond sites. Sites are in eye-site of each other but you don't feel crowded. Temps during day around 65-70 F. Nights dipped to 45-55F.
    We saw deer & turkeys driving the surrounding woods after short hikes.
    We love chatting w locals and learned of a special shrine that was faithfully built from stone to resemble original in modern day Turkey. What a special & serene place.


Guide to Mechanicville

Camping sites near Mechanicville, New York offer diverse terrain options from riverside locations to wooded state forests. The region sits within the Hudson Valley at elevations ranging from 200-500 feet, creating varied camping microclimates. Winter temperatures regularly drop below freezing, making most campgrounds in the area operational only from May through October, with a few dispersed camping locations available year-round.

What to do

Water activities at local rivers: Lee's Park Campground provides access to Saratoga Lake for swimming and boating. A camper noted, "We did some fishing and swimming. I get the feeling the other end of the campground with the RVs is not as nice and can be loud, but you can avoid it by staying on the tent side."

Mountain biking on forest trails: Ushers Road State Forest offers bicycle-friendly nature trails in multiple directions. A visitor shared, "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."

Hiking nearby mountains: Moreau Lake State Park Campground features over 20 miles of hiking trails just 20 miles north of Mechanicville. A camper reported, "I love the spacious campsites. It's very woodsy between sites, so it seems very private. Over 20 miles in hiking trails, this is one of the nicest parks, I've visited."

Swimming in managed facilities: Several campgrounds offer swimming options beyond natural water bodies. Adventure Bound Camping Resort has water attractions specifically designed for families. One visitor mentioned, "Family oriented. The kids loved love water attractions. Our site was large and shaded."

What campers like

Privacy and natural settings: The wooded campsites at Cherry Plain State Park Campground offer seclusion for those seeking quiet. A camper observed, "There are a number of 'walk in' sites that are all lovely, I suggest the sites toward the back of the park. Hot showers, bathrooms, and dishwashing stations are available."

Riverside camping spots: Many campers appreciate waterfront sites available near Mechanicville. A visitor to Camping on the Battenkill remarked, "I stayed right on the river in site 14 with a small popup. The river is beautiful and the site was huge."

Clean facilities: Schodack Island State Park Campground maintains high standards for their amenities. According to a camper, "The bathrooms are clean. The showers are large, but they do operate on a push system where you can't adjust the pressure, temp, or how long the water comes out, so just be aware of that."

Accessibility to urban centers: The location of camping areas near Mechanicville provides easy access to nearby towns. One visitor commented, "Located in the Hudson River Valley south of Albany lies this nice and clean campground. Very clean bathrooms, firewood can be delivered to your campsite as well as Ice."

What you should know

Seasonal operation limitations: Most campgrounds in the Mechanicville area close during winter months. For example, Adventure Bound Camping Resort at Deer Run operates from "May 1 to October 15" according to their official listing.

Variable site levels: Be prepared for uneven terrain at some campgrounds. One camper at Adventure Bound noted, "The drawback is where you need to park the camper is about 7 inches out of level. If we stay in the same site again we would come better prepared."

Weekend noise levels: Some campgrounds experience significant changes between weekday and weekend camping. A visitor at Mt. Greylock Campsite Park reported, "It was a very quiet campground during the week. However, I have it only 4 stars because when Friday came and the weekend campers arrived, it got loud and rowdy."

Cell service limitations: Don't count on reliable connectivity at all sites. One camper at Cherry Plain State Park Campground advised, "Don't expect any cell service or internet, but the site is close enough to town if you need."

Tips for camping with families

Water feature selection: When camping with children, prioritize sites with dedicated swimming areas. At Aqua Vista Valley Campgrounds, a visitor shared, "We went for the Halloween event, and the kids had a great day and evening! They really enjoyed trick or treating!"

Playground accessibility: Choose campgrounds with play areas for kids to burn energy. A visitor to Arrowhead Marina & RV Park mentioned, "This was one of our favorite campgrounds of our cross-country trip. Our site was back-in and had plenty of space. There's a lot of green space in this campground and it's right on the river."

Bathroom proximity: With young children, select sites near restroom facilities. A camper at Cherry Plain State Park recommended, "We love the loop of sites near the entrance near the water for views but close to the bathroom, ranger station, and trails. Farther from the beach so there is less impact from the day visitors."

Activity planning: Many campgrounds offer scheduled events for families. A visitor noted about Mt. Greylock Campsite Park, "The rec room had some nicely maintained games (pool table, ping pong, air hockey, and more). The caretakers were very friendly and helpful."

Tips from RVers

Site selection for larger rigs: Bigger RVs should research site dimensions before booking. According to a Moreau Lake State Park camper, "The road to our campsite was paved and in good shape but there were a few tight spots because of the trees that make it tricky for a big rig (Loop A seems to be the best for big-rigs)."

Seasonal considerations: Many RVers recommend calling ahead during shoulder seasons. One RVer at Camping On The Battenkill explained, "We were at site 33 which was nice and large but kinda on top of neighbors. The tent sites are nice and private near the river."

Leveling preparations: Bring leveling blocks for uneven sites. A camper at Adventure Bound Camping Resort at Deer Run shared, "It was nice and calm at the campground. The staff where nice and the pond was beautiful. Very quite and relaxing."

Frequently Asked Questions

Where can I meet new friends in Mechanicville, NY?

Campgrounds near Mechanicville offer excellent opportunities to meet fellow outdoor enthusiasts. Lake George RV Park is particularly social with organized activities and communal areas where campers naturally gather. The park's recreational facilities create natural meeting points for families and solo travelers alike. Another option is Northampton Beach Campground, where the lakeside setting encourages socializing with neighbors. Many campers gather at the swimming area and around the campfire in the evenings, making it easy to strike up conversations and form new friendships.

What are the best community events for socializing in Mechanicville?

The Mechanicville area hosts several campground-based community events perfect for socializing. Treetopia Campground in the nearby Catskills offers unique social experiences with guided tours and special camping events that bring guests together. Caroga Lake Campground hosts weekend gatherings during summer months that draw both locals and visitors. While the campground can be quiet on weekdays, Saturday nights often feature informal community gatherings where you can meet fellow campers and share stories around the campfire.

What camping is available near Mechanicville, NY?

According to TheDyrt.com, Mechanicville, NY offers a wide range of camping options, with 183 campgrounds and RV parks near Mechanicville, NY and 26 free dispersed camping spots.

Which is the most popular campground near Mechanicville, NY?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Mechanicville, NY is Lee's Park Campground with a 3.3-star rating from 7 reviews.

Where can I find free dispersed camping near Mechanicville, NY?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 26 free dispersed camping spots near Mechanicville, NY.