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Camping near Paul Smiths, NY

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    SUMMARY PRESENTED BYT-Mobile

    Dispersed camping opportunities abound in the Adirondack region surrounding Paul Smiths, New York, with options ranging from primitive sites to developed campgrounds. The area includes notable locations such as Fish Creek Pond Campground and Buck Pond Campground, both offering waterfront camping experiences within short driving distance. Established campgrounds typically provide tent and RV sites with varying levels of amenities, while primitive options like Jones Pond NYSDEC Primitive Campsites offer more secluded experiences. Little Green Pond provides additional dispersed camping options with designated sites situated on the water, particularly appealing for campers seeking quieter alternatives to the more developed facilities.

    Most campgrounds in the region operate seasonally, with typical openings from May through September or early October. Weather conditions can change rapidly in the Adirondacks, with cool temperatures even during summer months, particularly at higher elevations. Cell service is limited or non-existent at many campgrounds, especially at more remote sites like Jones Pond and Little Green Pond. Many primitive sites operate on a first-come, first-served basis with maximum stay limits of three nights without permits. The access roads to primitive sites often require higher clearance vehicles, as noted by one camper who mentioned, "The two track access road is rough and all dirt," when describing Jones Pond.

    Waterfront access represents a significant draw for many campgrounds in the Paul Smiths area, with several visitors highlighting the pristine lake and pond views. Many sites at Fish Creek Pond Campground sit just feet from the water, making them ideal for paddling enthusiasts. Privacy varies considerably between campgrounds, with Buck Pond offering more secluded sites compared to the more open layout at Fish Creek. A visitor to Buck Pond noted, "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!" Primitive sites generally provide greater solitude but fewer amenities, often limited to pit toilets and fire rings. Campground density also varies, with some locations allowing larger groups and multiple vehicles, while others are better suited for smaller camping setups.

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    Best Campgrounds near Paul Smiths (122)

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      1. Fish Creek Pond Campground

      4.6(34)10mi from Paul Smiths330 sitesRVs, Tents, Cabins

      "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"

      from $22 - $40 / night

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      2. Rollins Pond Campground

      4.6(20)12mi from Paul Smiths269 sitesRVs, Tents, Glamping

      "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."

      from $20 - $40 / night

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      3. Saranac Lake Islands Adirondack Preserve Campground

      4.9(15)11mi from Paul Smiths85 sitesTents

      "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."

      from $22 - $40 / night

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      4. Lake Placid/Whiteface Mountain KOA Holiday

      4.4(44)21mi from Paul SmithsRVs, Tents, Cabins, Glamping

      "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."

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      5. Buck Pond Campground

      4.8(8)8mi from Paul Smiths112 sitesRVs, Tents, Glamping

      "Buck Pond is a quiet, sublime campground about 20 minutes from Paul Smiths College.  The sites are sandy and our site was mostly flat.  Some sites do have an uphill driveway lined with trees. "

      "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!"

      from $20 - $40 / night

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      6. Meacham Lake Campground

      4.3(7)10mi from Paul Smiths214 sitesRVs, Tents, Glamping

      "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."

      from $20 - $40 / night

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      7. Meadowbrook Campground

      3.7(10)13mi from Paul Smiths59 sitesRVs, Tents, Cabins

      "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

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      8. Jones Pond NYSDEC Primitive Campsites

      4.7(3)4mi from Paul SmithsTents

      "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."

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      9. Little Green Pond

      5.0(1)6mi from Paul Smiths

      "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."

      10. Wilmington Notch Campground

      4.3(11)20mi from Paul Smiths52 sitesRVs, Tents

      "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."

      from $18 / night

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    Recent Camping Photos near Paul Smiths, NY

    184 Photos of 122 Paul Smiths Campgrounds

    Recent Reviews near Paul Smiths, NY

    480 Reviews of 122 Paul Smiths Campgrounds

    • Stu T.
      Jul. 22, 2026

      Draper’s Acres

      They Are What They Advertise!

      Just stayed at Drapers Acres for the Iron Man in Lake Placid.   We stayed in a cabin and daughter and her husband stayed in their rig in an RV site.   They clearly state that they are not a camping resort, but a base camp for the area adventures.   Rest rooms were clean and had plenty of hot water.  Staff was friendly and welcoming!   Great playground for the kids to play on and plenty of privacy.  Cabin was basic - had fan, heat, mini-fridge and microwave.  If visiting the area again, I would not hesitate to stay there again!  The RV site was large with plenty of space for their 40 foot rig and jeep.  Use AT&T towers and had the ability to use phone as a hotspot.

    • Courtney L.
      Jul. 20, 2026

      Magic Pines

      Feels like home

      This is my first year seasonal at Magic Pines and my fiance and I love it. It's quiet, everyone is friendly, it's pet friendly and has a beautiful nature vibe to it.

    • Adam and Suzanne B.The Dyrt PRO User
      Jul. 17, 2026

      Lake Placid Volunteer Fire Dept.

      exactly as described

      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. The The hook-ups were fine, although our sewer connection was slightly uphill. There are NO amenities. As this campground is run by volunteers, communication is SLOW. You must be patient. The location is excellent, just a mile from Main Street. The price is great for full hook-ups in the area. The other campers and the firefighters were friendly. It was quiet at night. We slept with windows open without a problem. The rail trail adjacent to and easy to access from the campground and there is a bike shop across the street.

    • Paige M.The Dyrt PRO User
      Jul. 15, 2026

      Button Bay State Park Campground

      Love this state park!

      We have stayed here a few times. It’s always clean and quiet. Pool is nice but very family (kid) oriented. Love the trails to the water from both camp loops. Great place to stay with a kayak or paddle board!

    • Kelly R.
      Jul. 11, 2026

      Lake Durant Campground

      Great showers!

      We are hiking the northville placid trail and left a car here for a resupply, spent a night, quiet campground, excellent showers that were super clean and appear to be new.

    • Rebecca The Dyrt PRO User
      Jul. 9, 2026

      Crane Pond Dispersed Site

      4th of July

      My partner and I went on 4th of July weekend for the first time and was greeted by a man in the parking lot who had been coming there for 40 years. The site was gorgeous with 10 different campsites to choose from. The past reviews are correct with a lifted four wheel drive vehicle being needed for this drive in if you plan on getting paddled boats/kayaks in the water. Our plan was to go in and out to explore but decided to hunker down once we took the road in to avoid driving it multiple times. There are four hike-in camps from the parking lot. All campsites are marked on AllTrails. We stayed on the East side camp, #10, which after setting up and visiting the rest of the sites, had the least views from camp of the water but was the most secluded. Many sites have a privy or a box with a hole and a lid. There were a total of four trucks/jeeps in the lot all weekend and only a few camps being used. The black flies and mosquitos were bad given the time of the year so be prepared if you come during the same time. There are some beautiful trails that connect to the parking lot that lead to other hike-in camps at other small ponds/lakes.

      There are green tags on the trees marked next to the water where the camp sites are. We made the mistake of setting up our tent at a makeshift campsite someone made and found the "no camping" sign after and ended up moving. There are beaver, ducks, and loons living at the pond.

    • A
      Jul. 3, 2026

      Fish Creek Pond Campground

      Site 266

      The site we had was amazing, all sites are right on the water so they all may be just as nice. Ours was flat and easy to level a tent or camper.

      The lake was beautiful, fun to swim in and fish in (caught perch, bass, white fish, bluegill, and crappie).

      Beautiful trees and surrounding area has boat rentals.

      The bathrooms were flush toilets which is a plus, but pretty gross otherwise.

      Local store across the road has everything you’d need (fresh baked pizzas, ice, entire convenience store, wood, etc) and gives 4% discount for cash purchases.

    • Glen E.The Dyrt PRO User
      Jun. 26, 2026

      Lake Harris Campground

      Only the sound of generators during daytime

      The sites are wooded, with cement fire places and picnic tables. Lake access is easy by public access points or from lakeside sites. It is clean, has showers and flush toilets, and water filling and dump station.

      Negatively, the sites are close together. RV's fit lengthwise, but there is little privacy in the width direction. Also, generators run constantly during the day. There is no way to enjoy the sounds of nature or any sense of peace and quiet.

    • Ryan A.
      Jun. 17, 2026

      Cranberry Lake Campground

      Family Friendly with Thoughtful Sites

      I've stayed here twice, once in 2024 and again in 2026, both on Memorial Day Weekend. In 2024 I woke to the sound of loons but did not hear them in 2026. 

      This is a large campground on the shores of Cranberry Lake with access to many hiking trails and other activities. Quite a few of the sites are lakefront but they seem to book up fast. Most of the sites are spaced out fairly well although a few are close and will result in you seeing & hearing everything your neighbors are doing. However, they are mostly designed well and blend into the environment. A few seem like afterthoughts and are right on the road, so you'll want to choose carefully.

      Dumpsters are in the center of the campground near the bathhouse, which has hot showers. There is a sandy beach area near the entrance of the campground and a volleyball area near the dumpsters/bathhouse. 

      It's a beautiful area and is mostly quiet. Other campers were respectful and didn't play loud music although a few talked loudly late into the night. There are lots of trailer camping sites, so you should expect to hear generators although most people were considerate and only ran them in the daytime.

      This is a great campground for exploring the Adirondack Mountains. The town of Cranberry Lake seems mostly dead so don't plan on eating in restaurants nearby.

    Guide to Paul Smiths

    Camping sites near Paul Smiths, New York range from waterfront locations on ponds and lakes to forest sites tucked into the hemlock groves. The region sits at elevations between 1,500-1,700 feet, contributing to temperature variations that can drop 30 degrees from day to night even in summer months. Most primitive campgrounds operate from mid-May through early October, with water access serving as a primary attraction for paddlers.

    What to do

    Paddling expeditions: Little Green Pond offers 12 designated camping spots with easy water access for canoeing and kayaking. "You hear the word 'pond' and you might think of a small body of water however this 'pond' is massive. It's more like a lake," notes Amanda K. about Rollins Pond Campground.

    Island camping adventures: For a more remote experience, paddle to island sites at Saranac Lake Islands Adirondack Preserve Campground. "I have camped at Saranac Lake Islands for two summers in a row. The first time, my children and I had an island and the second time we had a spot on a little peninsula. It's such a gorgeous place!" shares Joanna H.

    Hiking trails: Access trails directly from some campgrounds without needing to drive. At Meadowbrook Campground, "There's a trail to Scarface that leaves from the campground. Like many of the towns in the area, Saranac has a hiking challenge. Complete 6 hikes in the area and earn a patch; Scarface is one of the 6," explains Jean C.

    What campers like

    Waterfront access: Many campers value sites directly on water. At Fish Creek Pond Campground, "The water is super shallow all along the shoreline. It's perfect for dogs, kids, and hanging out in the water. The bottom is sandy with some rocks, good to have water shoes but not essential," according to Oleńka S.

    Privacy between sites: Buck Pond Campground offers more secluded sites compared to busier locations. "Sites are large enough to have an RV, a canopy, and a small tent, or several tents. There is a canoe/kayak rental at the campground as well as a beach," notes Danielle S.

    Natural sounds: Campers frequently mention the peaceful sounds at night. At Rollins Pond Campground, Kristina L. appreciates "falling asleep to loons is priceless! We always have wildlife at our site. This past trip we had chipmunks, squirrels, ducks, and a crane."

    What you should know

    Bathroom facilities vary widely: While some campgrounds offer modern facilities, primitive sites have basic amenities. At Jones Pond NYSDEC Primitive Campsites, "There are two pit toilets, both primitive, one of which did not have a door when we visited," reports Dylan J.

    Site accessibility considerations: Many primitive sites require specific vehicles or hiking in. At Jones Pond, "The two track access road is rough and all dirt. 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," according to Dylan J.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    What outdoor activities are available in Paul Smiths, NY?

    Paul Smiths offers abundant outdoor recreation opportunities throughout the year. In summer, enjoy paddling, fishing, and swimming in the region's numerous lakes and ponds. Hiking trails range from easy walks to challenging mountain climbs. Mountain biking is popular on local trails, while wildlife viewing opportunities abound. The area around Lake Durant Campground showcases spectacular fall foliage. Winter activities include cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and ice fishing. Birch's Lakeside Campground and Marina provides boat rentals and water access for exploring the region's interconnected waterways.

    Where can I find camping near Paul Smiths in the Adirondacks?

    The Adirondacks around Paul Smiths offer excellent camping options. Meacham Lake Campground provides drive-in access with reservable sites that accommodate RVs. For a more secluded experience, Rollins Pond Campground near Saranac Lake features waterfront sites. Both public and private options exist, with state campgrounds typically offering more primitive settings and private campgrounds providing additional amenities. Most campgrounds in the area are open from May through October, with peak season in July and August. Many sites can be reserved in advance, though some operate on a first-come, first-served basis.

    What is Paul Smiths College known for?

    Paul Smiths College is renowned for its environmental and natural resource programs, particularly forestry, wildlife, and natural resource management. Located in the heart of the Adirondacks near Buck Pond Campground, the college emphasizes hands-on outdoor education with its campus situated on Lower St. Regis Lake. The college maintains a strong focus on sustainability, hospitality management, and culinary arts programs. Its unique setting provides students with immediate access to 14,000 acres of college-owned lands that serve as living laboratories for environmental studies and outdoor recreation.

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