Best Campgrounds near Plattsburgh, NY
State parks and campgrounds along Lake Champlain's western shore provide the primary camping options near Plattsburgh, New York. Cumberland Bay State Park Campground, located within city limits, offers tent and RV sites with electric hookups and lake access for swimming and boating. Just south of Plattsburgh, Ausable Point Campground sits on a peninsula with waterfront sites popular for watching sunrises and sunsets over Lake Champlain. Across the lake in Vermont, Grand Isle State Park and Burton Island State Park provide additional camping opportunities accessible by boat or ferry. Valcour Island, reachable only by boat, offers primitive tent camping with minimal facilities for those seeking a more remote experience. Most established campgrounds in the region accommodate both tent and RV camping, with several offering cabin rentals for those preferring more shelter.
Most campgrounds in the Plattsburgh area operate seasonally from May through mid-October, with reservations strongly recommended during summer weekends and holiday periods. Winter camping is generally unavailable due to harsh Adirondack weather conditions. As one camper noted about Cumberland Bay State Park, "Lots of shady spots, very nice camping spots on Lake Champlain and the morning sunrise is beautiful!" Road access to most established campgrounds is suitable for standard vehicles, though boat-in sites require water transportation. Cell service is generally reliable near Plattsburgh but may be limited on islands or in more remote areas. Many campgrounds are situated close to town amenities, with one reviewer mentioning Monty's Bay Campsites is "very close to Plattsburgh which has the mall and anything you might need."
Waterfront sites consistently receive the highest ratings from campers, particularly those with views of the Adirondack Mountains across Lake Champlain. Kayaking, swimming, and fishing are popular activities, with one visitor to Cumberland Bay noting, "Kayaking is probably one of my favorite things to do, and the lake is perfect for this." Sites at AuSable Chasm Campground provide convenient access to hiking trails, tubing, and rock climbing at the adjacent natural attraction. Campers frequently mention the region's proximity to Canada (15 minutes from some northern campgrounds) and Vermont as advantages for day trips. Road noise can be an issue at campgrounds near highways, with several reviewers recommending sites farther from main roads. Evening temperatures can drop significantly even in summer, with one camper advising, "Make sure you bring a light jacket in the summer, the evenings can still get chilly from time to time."