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Best Campgrounds near Plattsburgh, NY

506 Reviews

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."

Map showing campgrounds near Plattsburgh, New YorkExplore the Map

Best Camping Sites Near Plattsburgh, New York (130)

    1. Grand Isle State Park Campground

    28 Reviews
    Grand Isle, VT
    8 miles
    Website
    +1 (802) 372-4300

    $6 - $28 / night

    "Beautifully set on Lake Champlain in Vermont! This is a relatively large campground but is well laid out and doesn't feel small even when it's packed to the gills."

    "We biked to this park from Burlington via the Island Line Trail. It was a super trip. The lakeside lean-to was awesome."

    2. Apple Island Resort

    12 Reviews
    Grand Isle, VT
    10 miles
    Website
    +1 (802) 372-3800

    $55 - $105 / night

    "Brewery and vineyards close by"

    "The campground is located a short trip away from Burlington and about an hour away from Stowe. The store on the property was very cute! I suggest visiting Arbor Farm Market down the road!!"

    3. Cumberland Bay State Park Campground

    8 Reviews
    Plattsburgh, NY
    3 miles
    Website
    +1 (518) 563-5240

    $21 - $28 / night

    "I'm from this part of Upstate New York State, and we came up for a weekend to go to a baby shower and decided to camp out at Cumberland Head!"

    "The Cumberland Bay State Park in New York is a great place to go and relax. If you like the beach scene, swimming, or having a picnic, then you will enjoy this park."

    4. Ausable Point Campground

    11 Reviews
    Keeseville, NY
    9 miles
    Website
    +1 (518) 561-7080

    $22 - $40 / night

    "Good birding, water activities, sunsets, geology/gorge, short easy forest hikes, beach walking, all the good stuff you expect from this part of New York."

    "Take a walk up the path next to the chasm. So relaxing listening to the water falls. Great place to watch the sunset! "

    5. North Beach Campground

    27 Reviews
    Burlington, VT
    18 miles
    Website
    +1 (802) 862-0942

    $37 - $100 / night

    "Sites 1 to 16 are close to each other.

    Sites 113 to 119 are bad. Very close to each other. No redeeming qualities.

    Sites have 30 amp electric and water but might need a longish cord or hose."

    "A very short and easy drive right outside of Burlington, with direct access to the greenway along the lakefront."

    6. AuSable Chasm Campground

    11 Reviews
    Keeseville, NY
    12 miles
    Website
    +1 (518) 834-9990

    "This camp ground is a short drive to Lake Placid, Plattsburgh, Vermont State and so much more. The Chasm has their own store and cafe"

    "Sites were a medium distance apart but still spacious enough to not be close to neighbors."

    7. Champlain Resort Adult Campground

    5 Reviews
    Grand Isle, VT
    5 miles
    Website
    +1 (802) 372-5938

    "This campground is a gem in the Lakes Region of Northern Vermont. It sits right on Lake Champlain and has the most amazing sunsets."

    "Our camp spot had an amazing view of the lake which we didn’t ask for specifically which made it even better."

    8. Plattsburgh RV Park

    4 Reviews
    Plattsburgh, NY
    3 miles
    Website
    +1 (518) 563-3915

    "Great location right near lake Champlain, and only about a 20 minute drive from Canada. The ferry to Burlington VT is also a very short distance away!"

    "Very close to Burlington VT and Canada there are many different hiking and adventuring options. It did seem that many of the sites were seasonal. Clean, and well kept."

    9. Burton Island State Park Campground

    8 Reviews
    North Hero, VT
    13 miles
    Website
    +1 (802) 524-6353

    "I've been exploring Vermont State Parks since before I could walk, and Burton Island State Park is my all time favorite!"

    "Burton Island is a 2.5 mile long island state park off of the shoreline of Lake Champlain."

    10. Valcour Island

    3 Reviews
    Plattsburgh, NY
    5 miles

    "Just a truly beautiful place ♡ One of Lake Champlains BEST hidden gems!"

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Recent Camping Photos near Plattsburgh, NY

230 Photos of 130 Plattsburgh Campgrounds

Recent Reviews near Plattsburgh, NY

506 Reviews of 130 Plattsburgh Campgrounds

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • K
    Aug. 11, 2025

    Mount Philo State Park Campground

    Hidden gem!

    Great little campground at a beautiful state park. The campground had widely spaced wooded sites and was exceptionally quiet. Very well-maintained! Recommend nearby Charlotte town beach for swimming ($10 for non-residents).

  • E
    Aug. 7, 2025

    Indian Brook Reservoir

    Family of 4 tent camping

    I mistakenly assumed they had drive up campsites. They do not. It was a 15 minute hike to the site, so pack light. If you have a kayak, you can transport your stuff over. Site was gorgeous and private, right on the reservoir. Really lovely setting!

  • Snooz H.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 5, 2025

    Shelburne Camping Area

    Oh My God. NO!

    Electricity would not work. We got an error on our control panel that said stop! Power source is not correct! Dan, one of the owners, said that somebody must have tried to hook a 50 amp into the 30 amp. box. He went about a half block to check breaker said that it was not flipped but it was wobbling pretty loose in there.

    My husband is a licensed electrician and of course had his own testing equipment. It showed 25 amp coming out of it. So he said move to spot 50. Well before we moved our vehicle, we went down there and checked it. He took off before we could. And guess what the exact same problem. We did not even hook into the second one. (#50)
    So he proceeded to tell us that it was our equipment that had gone bad. Even though we never plugged into spot 50!

    I had planned on one night thank God! He did refund our $52. we had to drive down the road and try to find someplace else at 7:00 in the evening. Another thank God, the Walmart about 10 or 15 miles down the road would allow overnight.

    So we are now on our way to our next location which is about a 7 hour drive. We are just hoping that they did not damage our equipment. It has been extremely stressful if you go there you better watch out!

  • C
    Jul. 27, 2025

    Camp Whiteface Mountain

    Awesome Adirondack Campground

    If you want a nice camping spot for exploring the Adirondacks this is it. Nestled in the trees by the Ausable River its a convenient place to explore the area.  20 minutes from downtown Lake Placid at the base of Whiteface mountain. 2 hours away is Montreal or Burlington VT.

  • Nicole S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 26, 2025

    Lake Placid/Whiteface Mountain KOA Holiday

    The Great Outdoors!!!

    The KOA was recently moved from a different location, so some pictures see on a Google search are no longer the location. This newly acquired property has 2 sides, the mountain side and river side you can choose when booking they are about 1/4 mile away from one another. This campground is very maintained. The campground on the mountain side has a playground, huge store, gem mining, arcade (which needs some love), hiking trails and a common area with some games. They have cabins, tent site areas, and huge wooded camper sites. The mountain side in general is my ideal campground full of trees and nature. The bathrooms were always clean and shower areas had great water pressure. 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. And there is no separation between you and the next person. There is only camper sites on that side. On the river they have a small place to put in kayaks and wade in water. They have a jumping pad on that side also. Both sides have the tractor driving around, pulling the kids around. The area is awesome with beach access along the river with a huge playground. Your at the bottom of whiteface mountain which is full of hikes and watering holes to swim in, lake placid downtown area is 20 mins away. Its a beautiful area. The girl working in the store Kyla rocked and her gf Jess who drove around on the golfcart and helping out everywhere were so fun. They lived on site and were such great people who made the trip more fun!!

  • J
    Jul. 11, 2025

    Grand Isle State Park Campground

    Great family friendly park

    What a lovely state park! We had a huge campsite that was comfortable for 3 tents and 6 adults. The restrooms/showers are vintage but clean and functional. Showers are coin operated. It was a quiet, family friendly campground with a cute little beach and nature center with youth programs. The only small drawback is that the water front sites are overgrown with trees on the other side of a fence. You could see the water in some parts but not all of the site. Overall- a great place!

  • B The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 3, 2025

    Little River State Park Campground

    Tranquil

    Stopped by midweek without reservation after vehicle issues forced a stop by the nearby shops in Barre/Berlin. Very peaceful with ample hammock spots. They sell wood stacked in cribs, wish I'd planned for that as I ended up using my only towel to haul it. Good price on the wood, though.

    I'd come back here if it were just to quietly meditate or read or something, but don't know if there's much to do. I didn't experience the same issues others did with bathroom as some other reviews and surprised to learn there are campers who require a full kitchen sink- I just use a couple of rags.

    Bottom line, a lovely but unmemorable stay.

Guide to Plattsburgh

Camping near Plattsburgh, New York, offers a mix of beautiful scenery and outdoor activities. Whether you're looking for a peaceful retreat or an adventure-filled getaway, there are several campgrounds to choose from.

What to do:

  • Hiking: Explore the nearby trails, especially around the Lake Placid/Whiteface Mountain KOA Holiday. One reviewer mentioned, "There are plenty of hikes nearby to wear them out if you desire."
  • Water Sports: Enjoy kayaking and fishing at Fish Creek Pond Campground. A camper shared, "This is a gorgeous campground on the banks of Fish Creek Pond... perfect for dogs, kids, and hanging out in the water."
  • Wildlife Watching: Campers at Saranac Lake Islands Adirondack Preserve often spot various animals. One visitor noted, "We always have wildlife at our site... chipmunks, squirrels, ducks, and a crane."

What campers like:

  • Clean Facilities: Many campers appreciate the cleanliness of the restrooms and showers. A review for Grand Isle State Park Campground stated, "The cleanliness of the facilities was excellent."
  • Spacious Sites: Campers enjoy the roomy sites at Moosalamoo Campground. One camper mentioned, "Sites are generously spaced out."
  • Friendly Staff: Good customer service is a highlight at many campgrounds. A visitor at North Beach Campground said, "Nice, helpful staff."

What you should know:

  • Limited Amenities: Some campgrounds, like Saranac Lake Islands, are primitive and lack basic utilities. A camper warned, "Primitive camping with water access only."
  • Bugs in Spring: Be prepared for bugs, especially in late spring. A reviewer at Fish Creek Pond Campground noted, "Pretty buggy during the last week of May."
  • Reservations Recommended: Popular spots fill up quickly. A camper at Rollins Pond advised, "Super popular, so plan ahead and reserve early."

Tips for camping with families:

  • Kid-Friendly Activities: Look for campgrounds with activities for kids. At Lake Placid/Whiteface Mountain KOA Holiday, one family mentioned, "They had lots of activities to take back to the campsite for rainy days."
  • Pet-Friendly Options: Many campgrounds allow pets, like Grand Isle State Park Campground. A reviewer said, "Pets allowed, picnic table, reservable."
  • Safety First: Ensure your campsite is safe for kids. A camper at North Beach Campground mentioned, "Very safe and super close to town."

Tips from RVers:

  • Big Rig Friendly: Many campgrounds, including Lake Placid/Whiteface Mountain KOA Holiday, are suitable for larger RVs. A camper noted, "Big rig friendly, drinking water, electric hookups."
  • Check Hookups: Make sure to check for electric and water hookups. A reviewer at Little River State Park Campground mentioned, "The restroom is a bit dated and dingy, but clean."
  • Plan for Dump Stations: Some campgrounds may not have sanitary dump stations. A camper at Moosalamoo Campground pointed out, "There are outhouses, but no showers."

Camping around Plattsburgh, NY, has something for everyone, whether you're a family looking for fun or an RVer seeking adventure.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best campgrounds near Plattsburgh, NY?

Plattsburgh offers several excellent camping options nearby. Cumberland Bay State Park Campground stands out with its shady spots and beautiful Lake Champlain views, making it perfect for both relaxation and water activities. Pine Ridge Park Campsite is another top choice, known for its friendly staff and excellent summer activities for kids. For those seeking a campground with additional attractions, AuSable Chasm Campground provides easy access to hiking, tubing, rafting, and rock climbing opportunities, plus it's a convenient base for exploring the wider Plattsburgh region.

Are there lakeside camping options near Plattsburgh?

Yes, Plattsburgh offers excellent lakeside camping options along Lake Champlain. Ausable Point Campground sits on a beautiful peninsula with prime lakeshore sites where you can enjoy both sunrises and sunsets over the water. The campground provides water activities, beach walking, and forest hiking trails. Monty's Bay Campsites is another lakeside option located right across from a bay filled with boats, just 15 minutes from Canada and a short drive from Plattsburgh's amenities. For boat-in camping, Valcour Island offers a more secluded lake camping experience on Lake Champlain.

Is camping allowed at Plattsburgh City Beach?

No, overnight camping is not permitted at Plattsburgh City Beach itself. The beach is designed for day use only with recreational activities like swimming and picnicking. For camping options near the beach, consider Iroquois Campground & RV Park, a nearby facility with friendly staff and reasonable prices. Another alternative is Plattsburgh RV Park, which accommodates larger vehicles. Both provide convenient access to Plattsburgh City Beach and other local attractions while offering proper overnight camping facilities.

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