Best Tent Camping near Potsdam, NY

Rollins Pond was the perfect tent-camping campground for our first trip to the Adirondacks. 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. The campground is hilly, so we drove to the nearby showers and garbage. The only drawbacks were the campground’s boathouse doesn’t open until June/July, which was not mentioned on the website, so we weren’t able to rent kayaks to use on the pond. There are no dishwashing sinks at the bathrooms.

Cranberry Lake is a fantastic place to get away from it all. It really has so much to offer. Many of the sites offer quite a bit of privacy from your neighbor, and are laid out nicely for tent camping. We go there to kayak so it’s also nice that there are a lot of water front sites. If hiking is your thing, there’s a nice trail right within the campground. It’s not a terribly long hike, but it takes you up to a spectacular view of the lake and islands. Bonus points for the campground being within 30 minutes of two breweries (Tupper Lake) 👍🏻

50 sites, full hookup ($40), water& electric ($35) and tent ($??). Has the feel of an RV park with three rows of sites plus some more (I think the tent sites) closer to the road. Not much separation between sites. The lucky ones get beachfront sites with unobstructed views; we were in the second row. The beach was closed for the season when we were there; the campground is open May- September and an on-site caretaker is there the entire five months. Gorgeous sunsets. Coin-operated showers($1 for approximately 15 minutes)– did not use so cannot say how they were. Playground. Clean restroom but the women's only had one operable stall. Although there was a hot water spigot, I was not able to coax any hot(or even warm) water out of it. No defined quiet hours but it was very quiet by 8:30 pm.

Lovely State Park in the 1,000 Islands where water activities are the main attraction. Make sure to check out the island too! The park spans the island and a little snaking river-like bay. Really pretty to explore on boat. Easy and very pretty trails on site, walk along the shore too. Decent wildlife and great birding. Feels very isolated though easy to get to. Bring your passport, you can see Canada from some of the picnic grounds. Incredible sunsets!!!

Quality State Park facilities, clean. Camping ranges from tents in shady woods to cabins. Some sites are pretty private, even the ones that aren't are quiet.

Note: Robert Moses apparently did a lot in New York State. This park is near Canada! There is also a Robert Moses beach on Long Island near NYC (Fire Island National Seashore) and Robert Moses parkway near Niagara Falls. These are all 8+ hours from each other! Be careful with your mapping apps and in getting advice for travel.

Jake from the Dyrt here! Birch's Lakeside Campground has all the amenities needed to enjoy a stay in upstate New York, a general store, laundry & propane on site keep everything you need right there!  Check them out and leave a review about your stay on the Dyrt!

This campground has the best staff you can find in northern New York. The whole time they are open they have activities planned for the kids all summer long. The staff is always smiling and welcoming you into the campground. Quiet and comfortable place to stay. If your kids like to read. There is place they can find a book and read a book.

Whether it's playing in the water or in the playground this place is awesome to bring your children. The showers and restrooms were kept very clean and The Pavilions were wonderful places to have a family picnic. The campsites are also well maintained and it was very simple to just back up a little mobile home into the camping spot the picturesque Landscapes made the sunsets absolutely beautiful. Out of all of the places that I have been in New York this is by far one of my favorite places to go

Small and quiet campground, just about 20 miles from the Village of Tupper Lake, along the Raquette River.  Great campground for an extended river trip, as there is a nice launch at the far end of the campground.

Sites are basic with a picnic table and open grill. Composting toilets (very clean smelling), trash, and drinking water (somewhat rusty thought) are available. Some sites can accommodate longer RV’s and some are perfect for tents (no tent pads though).  All sites have quite a bit of shade and privacy as they are lined with trees and shrubs.

The major problem with this campground is that there are thousands of mosquitos who don’t seem to be crepuscular! They are out all day and night and even found ways to get inside our camper. Our only saving grace was the downpour that kept them away.

No reservations, first-come first served.  The current camp hosts have been coming here every year for 15 years and are sweet as can be.  And, are evidently immune to mosquitoes!

WE love staying at Rollins Pond in a tent! Our family always meet friendly people and falling asleep to loons is priceless! 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!

Love this place. Have gone the last three years, and I have reserved again for August 2018. You'll need a boat or canoe (rentals available in Saranac Lake). Sites have tables, fire rings, and outhouses. You'll need a tent, bag, pad, cooking equipment, etc. Bring warm clothing for nights; temps can drop 30 degrees in hours. Sites are carry in/carry out.

The West side of the campground is reserved for primitive tent campers with a few choice sites right on the water. These sites generally have tent platforms which is a good thing. On my recent trip there the ground was saturated and boggy. Not sure if that is normal or was just due to wet weather this spring. These platform sites are all hike-in, with a few of them located a good distance from the camp road. Each of these sites has its own outhouse. The one on my site was cleaned once or twice over the course of five days. There are other sites on the west side, not located on the water, but closer to your vehicle so you don't have to carry gear in and out. These sites are also close to water spigots. On the more developed side of the campground things are much as you would expect at a NYS campground. The sites are not especially private, but they come in all sizes. There is a beach with canoe rentals and swimming, an amphitheater, showers, a recycling center and a dump station. Wood and ice are also offered for sale. I'll take the quiet privacy of the west side, but there is plenty on offer for all different camping styles at Meacham Lake.

Beautiful campground. The ladies at the check in point were very nice and helpful! Bathrooms were clean (no hot water). Just didn't expect the plots to be so small with no privacy. Thought we chose a plot in an area with tents only, but there was a massive camper right beside us with noisy people. I would go back again if I could pick a site that had the neighboring ones not reserved, to get a little more privacy.

We've camped here every year but it's getting difficult to get in here. We've camped all over from tents to all kind of campers. Never stayed in cabins but been inside. It's beautiful park. Goose bay on one side St Lawrence River on other. Every site is beautiful with rocks. But the rocks make it beautiful. We love sitting on a big rocks, watching sunsets and ships go by. Playground, private bathrooms, boat launch, docks, beach and fishing.

if you want a nice place you can combine all 4 items. Rollins pond is for you. some campgrounds are by the roadway but some are really just bu the water. i highly recommend number 201, ot is pretty much secluded from others and has areally nice natural docking spot to put your kayak or whatever easily next to your tent. this site is pretty large, i am sure you will like it. the restroom could be in better condition but all in all it is definitely a place i wouls go back again

Stayed here with a group of friends at site #4. Was a great spot and lots of room for our 4 tents/3vehicles. It was over the July 4th week, so very busy and found people would just walk through your campsite. Which of course would make our dogs bark at them. Also a lot of people just walking the road, so privacy can really be hit or miss. A lot of people have their dogs off leash as well. One of the rangers stopped by and sure did have a big chip on his shoulder. Overall would stay again, but would maybe instead stay at site 5 or over at a short hike in spot along Jones Pond rd. Overall a great place, just wish people would have more respect when around others campsites.

Beggars can’t be choosers and when you’re winging it and it happens to be Labor Day weekend, you take what you can get. This place is not my ideal... It’s a large campground that’s well kept, well maintained with good facilities and is located on the St.Lawrence River. However, sites are tightly packed and a lot is in open areas where you’re camping with all of your neighbors, good or bad. Personal preference but, I prefer seclusion, separation, quiet. I don’t want to see my neighbor much less 100 of them all in the periphery. I was in the “never have I ever” conversation with the young group of partiers near me as well as there music selection. (It was only one group but it brought down the vibe). The place is nice. Sunset and sunrise were great. If you like living in a field out of your tent or R.V., this place is just fine. If you want to feel like you’re in nature and away from the world...look elsewhere.

My family and I have stayed at Rollins Pond many times. 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 by? The site we have stayed at almost exclusively has amentities very close by which is always handy, but you do get quite a bit of traffic nearby as such. While I have really enjoyed Rollins Pond, I would caution going prior to June unless you are prepared for varying weather. I have been up there pitching the tent in a t-shirt one day only to need to throw on a jacket the next day due to rain and even snow. If you are prepared for that though, you'll have an amazing time.

Jones Pond has five primitive campsites along its northeastern shore accessible by a two track service road. The sites are on a first come basis and are free to use. You can stay a maximum of three nights without a permit. 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 is the only site that would be accessible for larger rigs such as an RV. Site #2 is along the water and is accessible by car/suv/truck. Site three sits away from the water and on a hill. It is not accessible by vehicle and you would need to park at the bottom of the hill near site #4 to access it. Site #4 is very large and could be occupied by a large group and multiple vehicles. It is accessible by car/suv/truck. Site #4 is near the water and has a fire ring and access to the water. Site #5 sits the furthest back and is also close to the water and accessible by car/suv/truck. The campsites are perfect for a short stay with a tent or suv camper. The two track access road is rough and all dirt. There are two pit toilets, both primitive, one of which did not have a door when we visited. The views from site #4 of the pond were beautiful. We were the only campers during our stay on a weekday. There are an additional three primitive sites on the northwestern shore but are only accessible by foot.

Cousins went here a lot while they were in college nearby, but it never seemed overrun with college kids. ADK foothills so you don’t get high peak views, but the lake and forests on site are lovely. Went XC skiing in winter, was nice and pretty easy. Basic and clean state facilities.

We usually head for the Adirondack lakes further down the road but it's still in the foot hills, close to our home and very pretty especially at sunset. It's convenient for the locals nearby to group camp there so it can be a little busy and loud during the day if you don't get a more private site which there are plenty of. Those sites are large and wooded, most all paved (not always very level!) and if you don't get a water site you may still be able to drag your small boat and walk to the water bit there is a nice boat launch. It's convenient that the park supplys trash containers by the roadside of your site for recyclables and trash and also pick it up often. Since this river has many dams and is used for hydro power the water level can go up and down 2-3 feet from one day to the next. It didnt affect our kayaking fun, swimming or fishing and was intriguing. I came across the largest and most beautiful sounding loon early in the morning...perfect before we had to pack it up and leave. Will post a video of the loon calling another along with pictures. Turn up the volume.

We love coming to Higley. Always at least once a year. Really nice sites that are private and easy to back into. Great playground for the kids, hiking trails and more. I also cross country ski in the winter and the trails are fabulous!