Searching for the best camping near Middle Grove, NY? Middle Grove is an adventure-filled destination for those who love the outdoorsy camper lifestyle. But it's also great for those who prefer to spend time near the city, exploring and sightseeing. Find the best campgrounds near Middle Grove, plus reviews and photos from other campers like you.
"This trailhead provides access to bicycle-friendly nature trails. I explored both directions on my bike, riding approximately half a mile down each side."
"The Murphy Bennett Trails is a technical challenge to hike, or bike in on. And be prepared to go over downfalls. The area is maintained, but windhappens in the old growth forest."
$28 / night
"This site is campsite 6 and very private (I believe there must be others located close by). The site has it’s own private road. A car is not reccomended."
$28 / night
"When camping on lake George, staying on an island to camp is a must-do. We rented kayaks and actually reserved a spot on our own private island. It was little, slightly wooded, and private."
"The Canal Corporation provides designated spots for tent and van camping along the canal. Stays are limited to a maximum of 48 hours."
$28 / night
"I have stayed on Nobles Island & Floating Battery Island in the Narrows of Lake George. You must have a power boat ride out there or be up for a long paddle."
$130 / night
GuideKeep in mind that this review is written after camping sept 8th (the week that school started for many) so it might not be relevant to peak camping season. We were pleasantly surprised with our weekend getaway to Clarksburg State Park. Nestled in the Berkshires and basically walking distance to Vermont, Clarksburg State Park provides a comfortable and semi-private tent site. Several spots (including ours 6) were very close to the rather large pond. While the trees obstruct the views, the site was waterfront and we were able to walk a few yards downhill to the waters edge where we launched our kayaks (there is a designated launching spot elsewhere). No electric and water hookups are provided but we were totally okay with that. Bear boxes were provided on each site so that you don’t have to keep stinky food or garbage in your car! Each site also had a fire pit with a grate so that you can cook right there on the fire. The bathrooms were some of the cleanest campground bathrooms and showers i’ve experienced (no bugs or webs also) and there was a dishwashing station on the side. The sites were large and well spaced but they had trees in between so that you felt privacy. The campground itself had plenty of sites, firewood for sale in the front and a pavilion and beach area on the day use side. There are plenty of trails you can hop on right outside your tent site and very little light pollution for optimal star gazing. We really enjoyed our time here and will definitely be back!
TravelerMe and my friends get a group site at least once a year. It's an amazing place with really great staff that care about the safety of everyone and keeping the areas clean. We always have an amazing time here. The views are great and we have never had any issues.
First time I went it was intimidating because I had never camped in an all tent camping site with no running water or public restroom areas. However, as soon as I got acclimated, I loved it. There are outhouses stationed at different areas all around, and bear boxes for every group. There are bears around so use the boxes seriously.
There are a number of rivers and little waterfalls that are always nice to visit. I plan to go there again very soon!
TravelerThe hike in was a fairly easy 1.3 to the csmpground. The sites were huge and spread out. Although we could kind of see our neighbors if we tried, we were far enough away that we weren't looking at them all weekend. SO PEACEFUL! Uou will hear the bard owls call at night and not much else. Sites 11, 8, and 9 are pretty set back and private.
Amenities include:
There are plenty of options for hiking including two nearby falls, a section of the AT, and of course the summit. The summit lodge offers breakfast & lunch. Although abut pricey, the large fire place, friendly hiker conversations, and a warm cup of coffee brightened our rainy day. They also do dinner by reservation. The summit is accessible by hiking or car. They have educational and entertainment programs scheduled throughout the weekend.
LegendWe just returned from two nights at Grout Pond. We were lucky to have 70 degree days and 50 degree nights in October. We were the only campers along the waterfront, but there were a few car campers in the sites near the road. We have camped at Grout Pond a few times in the summer, and while it’s always beautiful, it’s just too busy in July and August. Early October is just about perfect - no bugs, no people, and fantastic views all around.
The campground is maintained by the National Forest Service, and for many years the sites were free. In 2018, the cost will be significantly higher than free - $16 per night with a limit of 14 consecutive days. There are about 18 sites in total. 7 near the road for car camping or RVs, 5 that are hike-in (the farthest is about a mile from the parking lot), and 6 waterfront sites that you can either hike or paddle to. We really love site #2 for the awesome views and proximity to the toilet, but #11 is bigger and probably the most private of all the sites.
If you’re paddling in, you can unload all your stuff in the day-use area, and then park your car in the lot. It’s an easy 5-minute paddle to most of the sites. There are lots of well-marked trails. The only water is in the day-use area, so I recommend bringing a filter so you can drink right from the lake. All tents must be set up on tenting platforms, so you’ll need a smallish tent. Sites 10 and 11 have two platforms.
After camping here in July and October, I would never camp here in the summer again - come in the fall - you won’t be disappointed!
GuideWe took the family up here for a long weekend. The weather wuickly made this an overnight stay instead, as the rain was relentless. Our site (#6) was on a slope, and there was the telltale sign of stormwater runoff tracks running through the middle. We pitched our tents to the left and the right, which worked out well because the next day we had a stream running through our site. The hiking trails were extremely wet and muddy (even before the rain) so we didn't get too explore very much.
They have great firewood here - kiiln dried cedar for $7 a bundle! And the restrooms were fairly clean. The boat launch area looked great, but we didn't get our kayaks in due to the weather.
Before we packed up, we took advantage of a break in the rain to get photos of as many sites as we could. Hopefully they'll come in handy for future campers. These were all taken after several hours of heavy rain, so the photos should give you a good idea of what sites have drainage issues.
RangerOnly the first section of the campground was open due to flooding. As a result, there were puddles everywhere.
Campsites are listed as disbursed but there are only 7 trees to separate 9 camp sites. The campsites are all next to the road and have fire circles.
There is a single pit toilet at the end of the camping area. No garbage service, no water, no cell service. Basically a camp site where you can share a fire with the neighbors.
GuideWent and did some hiking in early October for a birthday trip. The staff at the visitors center were very informative and were able to point us in the right direction for overnight parking and somewhat shorter hikes to shelters. The views along the drive and the hikes were amazing. The shelter was in great condition and had bear box/shelters to store your items. Once we reached the summit the next day, we were able to watch hang gliders take off which was awesome. The whole area is great.
ScoutWe stayed here for 2 nights at sight 122. Although not a waterfront site, it was beautiful. Slightly muddy during a downpour but the puddles cleared quickly. No complaints, campers were all respectful of quiet hours.
ScoutStayed 3 nights with 2 buddies. We had 2 tents set up on the ground (2 man and 6 man capacity tents) and a third specialty tent in the bed my buddy's pick-up truck. Plenty of room for a pop-up canopy over the picnic table and my car with its own attached awning. We had a third car parked just off the roadway and we were never asked to move it to the parking area since there is usually a 2 car limit (my friend is lazy like that).
Weather was warm, so we were mostly trying our best to stay cool. Unfortunately, I did not take full advantage of the park's amenities. I did some light biking, walking around and mostly relaxing at the campsite. The electricity and running water work 100%, the campsite was cleared and clean. The picnic table was very new and stable. Ice and firewood were delivered at our request at a decent price. best of all, this campsite had the cleanest bathrooms and shower facilities of any place I have ever been. Only one of my friends had trouble with his shower as the water stopped running and he could not completely rinse off. There must have been some momentary problem with the plumbing. I know it was fixed quickly and everything was running once again.
Not a lot of tents, mostly RV's. All my neighbors were quiet and in bed around 9p. Unfortunately, my group of three like to stay up late so I hope our talking didn't interfere with our neighbor's ability to sleep. No one complained, so I am assuming we kept it down low enough. Pet friendly, though we didn't bring ours.
I recommend this place for families, though the age group observed there were mostly late 30's, 40's and 50's. Not too many kids. Many "exotic" birds (for a Brooklyn boy, anything that is not a pigeon or sparrow is exotic). We had frequent visits from Gray Catbirds, and I saw a glimpse of a Bald Eagle through the treeline. Didn't spot any turtles, though I hear they are there if you go looking.
I plan to return to this campsite, and likely very soon. I had a great time and it was nice not having a park ranger sniffing around every 2-3 hours like I have experienced in other parks and campsites.
Tent camping near Middle Grove, New York, offers a variety of scenic locations and unique experiences for outdoor enthusiasts. Whether you're looking for a family-friendly atmosphere or a secluded getaway, there are options to suit every camper's needs.
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