Best Campgrounds near Onchiota, NY

Camping options near Onchiota, New York center around multiple Adirondack lakes and ponds with both primitive and developed sites. Buck Pond Campground provides sandy, spacious sites with a mix of waterfront and forested locations approximately 20 minutes from Paul Smiths College. Jones Pond offers free primitive camping with five designated sites along its northeastern shore. The region includes a range of accommodations from basic tent sites to cabins and glamping opportunities at locations like Lake Placid/Whiteface Mountain KOA Holiday and Fish Creek Pond Campground.

Most Adirondack campgrounds in the area operate seasonally from May through September or early October, with limited winter accessibility. Buck Pond Campground typically opens May 19 and closes September 4. Campers should note that electrical hookups are limited or nonexistent at many sites, with one visitor mentioning, "We didn't see any sites with electricity and there is one outlet in the bathroom area." Cell service can be spotty or nonexistent, particularly at more remote locations like Meacham Lake Campground where a camper noted, "There is no cell or internet there."

Waterfront access represents a significant draw throughout the region, with lakeside sites consistently receiving top reviews. At Jones Pond, primitive sites offer direct water access, with one camper describing site five as "absolutely beautiful and right on the water, I mean right on the water." Several campgrounds feature a mix of accessibility options, with some sites requiring more effort to reach. Meacham Lake Campground operates like "two campgrounds in one," with one side offering flush toilets and showers while the west side features more private waterfront sites requiring a short hike from parking areas. Privacy varies significantly between campgrounds and specific sites, with Buck Pond receiving praise for sites that are "tucked back into some trees" where "you couldn't see any other sites from it."

Best Camping Sites Near Onchiota, New York (132)

    1. Lake Placid/Whiteface Mountain KOA Holiday

    44 Reviews
    Wilmington, NY
    16 miles
    Website
    +1 (518) 946-7878

    "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."

    2. Fish Creek Pond Campground

    33 Reviews
    Tupper Lake, NY
    18 miles
    Website
    +1 (518) 891-4560

    $22 - $40 / night

    "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"

    3. Buck Pond Campground

    8 Reviews
    Onchiota, NY
    1 mile
    Website
    +1 (518) 891-3449

    $20 - $40 / night

    "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"

    4. Saranac Lake Islands Adirondack Preserve Campground

    15 Reviews
    Saranac Lake, NY
    15 miles
    Website
    +1 (518) 891-2841

    $22 - $40 / night

    "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."

    5. Meacham Lake Campground

    7 Reviews
    Rainbow Lake, NY
    10 miles
    Website
    +1 (518) 483-5116

    $20 - $40 / night

    "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."

    6. Rollins Pond Campground

    20 Reviews
    Tupper Lake, NY
    19 miles
    Website
    +1 (518) 891-3239

    $20 - $40 / night

    "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."

    7. Meadowbrook Campground

    10 Reviews
    Ray Brook, NY
    14 miles
    Website
    +1 (518) 891-4351

    $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."

    8. Jones Pond NYSDEC Primitive Campsites

    3 Reviews
    Rainbow Lake, NY
    4 miles
    Website
    +1 (518) 897-1200

    "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."

    9. Wilmington Notch Campground

    11 Reviews
    Wilmington, NY
    16 miles
    Website
    +1 (518) 946-7172

    $18 / 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."

    "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."

    10. Taylor Pond

    3 Reviews
    Wilmington, NY
    15 miles
    Website
    +1 (518) 647-5250

    $16 / night

    "Its definitely way out there, and the beauty is worth the drive! Very nice primitive style campground :)"

    "Long skinny lake can be windy and rough. Boat launch is rough"

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Recent Reviews near Onchiota, NY

563 Reviews of 132 Onchiota Campgrounds


  • Marc D.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 15, 2025

    Shelburne Camping Area

    Nice Campground

    This is a nice little private campground in Shelburne, just outside of Burlington. Close to Lake Champlain. Good place to spend the night and good access to activities. Sides are somewhat small close together. Bathrooms spotlessly clean. Older couple is the staff, very friendly and unhelpful.

  • Jenna L.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 10, 2025

    Crown Point Campground

    Nice with a view

    Pretty nice campground all things considered, bathrooms are definitely rustic but kept clean. Some of the campsites are very close together, and others have a decent amount of space between them, not necessarily a lot of trees in between campsites for privacy. Beautiful views of the water, and surrounding mountains. Staff was extremely friendly!

  • R
    Oct. 10, 2025

    AuSable Chasm Campground

    Beautiful/Fun Campground

    I wish I had my bike!!! I didn’t know that this was a biking campground and there were SO MANY trails. Made the most of them with running, but overall, a fantastic campground. Showers were clean, staff was very friendly. Sites and attractions within walking distance (but busy roads to cross).

  • Chelsea B.
    Oct. 5, 2025

    Frontier Town Campground

    So clean!

    We stayed in site 33 which is in the equestrian camping area. It’s really open with little tree cover which is perfect for those who work remote using Starlink. We had fantastic connection. The sites in the equestrian camping area are huge and so clean. The bathrooms are the cleanest I’ve seen so far and we do this full time. The only disappointment was that the hot water doesn’t get very hot in the shower so you better do some jumping jacks to get pumped before showering during colder temps! The trails are well marked and well maintained. Overall, this is a fantastic campsite. There’s even a brewery a ten minute walk down the road. We didn’t go but looks nice. Get your supplies before you arrive! Not many places around to quickly grab charcoal if you need it.

  • Mindie C.
    Sep. 14, 2025

    North Beach Campground

    Ok for the night

    It’s basically a public park with beach access. The views on the beach are absolutely beautiful. No frills sites.

  • RThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 5, 2025

    Horseshoe Lake

    NY Designated Camping

    Along Co 421, by Horseshoe Lake, there are 10-11 designated campsites. Most have fire pits.

    Road is rough but easily doable if you take it slow.

    As it’s a forest, the sites are pretty shaded, so solar and Starlink may present challenges. Slight AT&T at earlier sites.

  • Robert K.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 24, 2025

    Jones Pond NYSDEC Primitive Campsites

    awesome place

    I came from the Albany area. 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. You can walk down to the water, which is only a small ledge and enough space to put a chair, me and my German Shepherd were walking around the trails and we found site five which was absolutely beautiful and right on the water, I mean right on the water. I went back to site for packed up a bunch of stuff into the truck and left the truck tent in there since it takes about 30 minutes to take up and down, I had walked the road a couple of times to see if I could get my truck down there, definitely need four-wheel-drive, but it is possible to get your truck down there and I did, set up camp there spent the rest of the day the night and all of the next day. Absolutely beautiful the dog loved the water being right there, I definitely love this place. This is my first campsite that I found using the app highly recommend.

  • X
    Aug. 23, 2025

    Carry Falls Recreation Area

    Quite, not high quality.

    Thai place is very cute, quiet, and not a lot of people frequent. The bathrooms are kind of “rundown” they are old and they use composing toilets with no showers and one sink located outside of the facility. It is NOT FREE they charge 16.00 a night. Located on an inlet of the man made lake. Water access, quiet, not busy, small, gives small town feel. Comes with picnic table and fireplace. We had site 6 and fit our 30 ft camper with 4 cars.

  • LThe Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 11, 2025

    Little Green Pond

    Peaceful spots under the pines

    12 designated camping spots. 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.


Guide to Onchiota

Camping spots near Onchiota, New York range from primitive to developed facilities across a diverse terrain at elevations of 1,500-1,700 feet. The region's continental climate features warm summer days with temperatures typically 70-80°F and cooler evenings around 50-55°F. Seasonal access typically runs from mid-May through early October with shoulder seasons experiencing temperature swings that can include occasional frost even in June.

What to do

Paddling network opportunities: Rollins Pond connects to a vast waterway system ideal for multi-day explorations. "You can paddle for days and not get bored" notes one visitor at Fish Creek Pond Campground, where most sites offer direct water access with sandy, shallow shorelines perfect for launching kayaks or canoes.

Hiking from camp: Several campgrounds feature trailheads accessible directly from camping areas. "Behind the 100-Acre section are trails that lead to Whiteface Mountain so you don't have to get in the car to start a hike," reports a Lake Placid KOA visitor who appreciated having immediate trail access without driving to trailheads.

Fishing access: Taylor Pond offers quality fishing opportunities in a remote setting. "Long skinny lake can be windy and rough. Boat launch is rough," warns one visitor to Taylor Pond, but the fishing rewards justify the effort with northern pike and smallmouth bass being common catches throughout summer months.

What campers like

Waterfront campsites: Direct lake access ranks as a top feature for many campers. At Saranac Lake Islands, "Our island had 4 other campsites on it and we barely saw or heard our neighbors," reports one visitor who enjoyed the water-bound seclusion that requires boat transportation to access.

Late season camping: September offers reduced crowds while maintaining decent weather. "We try to make an annual trip here in late September, after the throngs of summer crowds have left," shares a Fish Creek camper who recommends "the last week of September when the colors and the mountains are just gorgeous!"

Campsite privacy variations: Different campgrounds offer varying levels of seclusion. Meacham Lake has distinct camping areas with different privacy levels. "The west side is completely different, and a bit hidden... No flush toilets or showers, simply outhouses at each site... the views are so worth it!" explains a Meacham Lake Campground visitor describing the more secluded section.

What you should know

Limited technology access: Cell service varies significantly by location and carrier. "There is no cell or internet there," notes one Meacham Lake camper, making this area ideal for those wanting to disconnect but challenging for those needing reliable connectivity for work or emergencies.

Site reservation strategy: Book well in advance for waterfront locations, especially during peak season. At Jones Pond, "Site #1 is near the entrance and near the road. It is the only site that would be accessible for larger rigs such as an RV," explains a visitor to the free primitive Jones Pond NYSDEC Primitive Campsites.

Variable facilities: Bathroom and shower quality varies widely between campgrounds. "The bathrooms were clean and the showers are nice. There is a quality dishwashing sink by the bathrooms," reports a Meadowbrook camper, while others noted that facilities at some campgrounds need updating or are more primitive.

Tips for camping with families

Kid-friendly activities: Several campgrounds offer structured recreation for children. "The campground on the mountain side has a playground, gem mining, arcade (which needs some love), hiking trails and a common area with some games," describes a visitor to Lake Placid/Whiteface Mountain KOA Holiday.

Biking opportunities: Flat terrain at some campgrounds makes for safe cycling with children. "Very family oriented great for water sports or biking with kids," notes a Fish Creek Pond visitor about the relatively level camping areas and connecting roads that allow younger riders to explore safely.

Wildlife viewing: Many campgrounds offer regular wildlife sightings. "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!" reports one family camping at Rollins Pond, highlighting the natural encounters that create memorable experiences for children.

Tips from RVers

Site accessibility challenges: Several campgrounds have tight access for larger rigs. At Wilmington Notch Campground, "The roads are really tight for big rigs. Between the trees, rocks, and low hanging branches, you have to take it really slow," warns one RVer who suggests unhooking tow vehicles at check-in for easier maneuvering.

Hook-up limitations: Electrical service is uncommon at many state campgrounds. "We didn't see any sites with electricity and there is one outlet in the bathroom area," notes a Buck Pond camper who adapted by plugging a coffee percolator into the bathroom outlet each morning.

RV size considerations: Research specific sites before booking for larger units. "We have a rather large rig (36 ft fifth wheel plus the truck) & while fish creek is notoriously a tent only/small rig campground we fit perfectly & our site has cell service! 10/10! Site 106!" shares an RVer who found success despite the campground's reputation for smaller units.

Frequently Asked Questions

What camping is available near Onchiota, NY?

According to TheDyrt.com, Onchiota, NY offers a wide range of camping options, with 132 campgrounds and RV parks near Onchiota, NY and 14 free dispersed camping spots.

Which is the most popular campground near Onchiota, NY?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Onchiota, NY is Lake Placid/Whiteface Mountain KOA Holiday with a 4.4-star rating from 44 reviews.

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

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 14 free dispersed camping spots near Onchiota, NY.