The Onchiota area sits at approximately 1,700 feet elevation in New York's Adirondack region, with typical summer temperatures ranging from 65-80°F during camping season. Weather patterns can shift quickly with afternoon thunderstorms common in July and August. Campgrounds near Onchiota feature both heavily wooded sites and open waterfront options depending on location and camping style.
What to do
Hiking trails nearby: Davey Falls ADK offers access to private waterfall hiking routes just a short drive from Onchiota. "Perfect location to explore eastern Adk," noted Keith D., highlighting the secluded nature of this smaller campground with only two sites.
Swimming spots: Natural swimming holes provide refreshing alternatives to campground pools. At Lake Placid/Whiteface Mountain KOA Holiday, Laura T. discovered "a secret we discovered the last day. Walk to the back of the campground to the Ausable river, go down the path about 500 ft. There is an awesome swimming hole."
Fishing access: The Ausable River running through the region offers excellent trout fishing opportunities. Zachary M. at Wilmington Notch Campground mentioned the campground has "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."
What campers like
Wooded privacy: Many RV sites near Onchiota offer natural separation between campsites. At Lake Placid/Whiteface Mountain KOA Holiday, Nancy W. noted the campground has "two distinct sections – the 'Resort' section and the '100-Acre Woods' section... This section has tall shad trees and much more space between sites than the resort area."
Waterfront locations: Several campgrounds offer river or waterfront access. Gale from Babbling Brook RV Park described it as a "riverfront town park. Nice for families. Electric, water and sewer available. Reasonable rates. Spacing okay."
Family activities: Campgrounds in the area maintain varied recreational options. Amanda K. at Spacious Skies Adirondack Peaks praised the "spacious sites close to great amenities! Super staff! Clean and updated facilities. Close to beautiful hiking, lake activities and rail bikes."
What you should know
Site selection matters: Campgrounds often have distinctly different sections. Nicole S. commented that at Lake Placid/Whiteface Mountain KOA Holiday, "This campground has 2 sides, the mountain side and river side you can choose when booking they are about 1/4 mile away from one another... The river side is new and on the side of the river but has you baking in the sun, there is no trees at all for shade."
Reservation timing: Book well in advance for summer and fall seasons. First-time solo camper Kathryn V. at Spacious Skies Adirondack Peaks found it to be a "great place! Felt safe and campground was quiet and clean."
Road conditions: Many campground roads present navigation challenges for larger rigs. At Iroquois Campground & RV Park, Rick G. noted the "roadway a little rough but overall ok," while describing the campground as "nice campground near Plattsburgh. Sites somewhat small and tight but there are some larger sites."
Tips for camping with families
Gem mining activities: Several campgrounds offer family-friendly mining attractions. Krys M. at Spacious Skies Adirondack Peaks shared, "The doggos and husband absolutely loved being able to walk the beautiful trail in the cooler weather... And being a fan of gems, I definitely bought an embarrassing amount of dirt for the gem mining (Got some good finds, so worth it!)"
Swimming options: Pools provide supervised water activities for children. At Wilmington Notch Campground, Rachael W., a "longtime annual visitor," mentioned "all your basic amenities are provided (clean water, showers, bathrooms) and the campground itself is usually clean and well-kept."
Playground access: Family-oriented campgrounds maintain playground equipment. Michelle D. at Shady Oaks Camping Resort observed "a small pool, playground and a picnic table and hook ups from the sites. Overnight sites are grassy with fire rings."
Tips from RVers
Site selection for larger rigs: Some RV sites near Onchiota work better for big rigs than others. Meag F. described Shady Oaks as a "great place for big rigs" with "mostly seasonal area with some overnight spots. No tents allowed. But pet friendly. Small but clean areas with electric at each site."
WiFi reliability: Internet connectivity varies widely between campgrounds. At Iroquois Campground & RV Park, Kirsty W. found that "WiFi at campsite was inconsistent and unreliable. Had to work from rec center and pool which was ok but not what we were told."
Pull-through availability: Limited pull-through sites require early booking. Kristine B. reported that at Lake Placid/Whiteface Mountain KOA Holiday, they "reserved a full hook up 50a pull through for 3 nights as we toured the northeast... set up rather easily. Water pressure was good, road noise was minimal, sites are spaced apart well, enough mature tree growth for shade and hammock!"
