Best Dog-Friendly Camping near Rainbow Lake, NY

Fish Creek Pond Campground permits pets in its tent, RV, and cabin sites with designated pet-friendly areas around the premises. Campers can access the campground by boat, vehicle, or on foot, making it easy to bring animals while enjoying the surrounding Adirondack landscape. Lake Placid/Whiteface Mountain KOA Holiday offers year-round accommodations for pets with amenities including drinking water, electric hookups, and waste disposal. Most campgrounds in the area require pets to remain on leash at all times and owners to clean up after their animals. Jones Pond NYSDEC Primitive Campsites offers five free primitive campsites along the northeastern shore, providing excellent options for campers with dogs who appreciate a more rustic experience without sacrificing water access.

Buck Pond Campground features large, semi-private sites that provide plenty of space for pets to relax while remaining close to their owners. The sites are sandy and mostly flat, making them comfortable for dogs and their owners alike. Meacham Lake Campground splits into two distinct areas—the west side offering more seclusion and views, while the east side accommodates more RVs and campers. The campground is well-managed and meticulously maintained, offering a peaceful environment for pets. When staying at Saranac Lake Islands, campers should note these sites are boat-access only, requiring planning when bringing pets along. Wildlife encounters are common throughout the region, so keeping dogs leashed and supervised protects both local fauna and pets. The west side of Meacham Lake gets significantly fewer bugs than the east side, making it more comfortable for outdoor time with pets.

Best Dog-Friendly Sites Near Rainbow Lake, New York (89)

    1. Fish Creek Pond Campground

    33 Reviews
    Tupper Lake, NY
    15 miles
    Website
    +1 (518) 891-4560

    $22 - $40 / night

    "Square pond is a lovely little lake that connects to a larger lake (Upper Saranac I believe) by passing through a canal. This campground has great facilities."

    "This is a gorgeous campground on the banks of Fish Creek Pond and Square pond close to Tupper Lake and Saranac Lake."

    2. Lake Placid/Whiteface Mountain KOA Holiday

    44 Reviews
    Wilmington, NY
    18 miles
    Website
    +1 (518) 946-7878

    "They do not have a dog park and this caused our pup to get a bit hyper."

    "They do have a very nice network of trails, both within the campground property and in the surrounding forest, all of which were leashed dog friendly.  "

    3. Saranac Lake Islands Adirondack Preserve Campground

    15 Reviews
    Saranac Lake, NY
    12 miles
    Website
    +1 (518) 891-2841

    $22 - $40 / night

    "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."

    "Saranac Lake Marina has great rental boats. I even think the dogs look forward to these camping trips."

    4. Buck Pond Campground

    8 Reviews
    Onchiota, NY
    4 miles
    Website
    +1 (518) 891-3449

    $20 - $40 / night

    "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!"

    "wonderful place to get away from it all"

    5. Rollins Pond Campground

    20 Reviews
    Tupper Lake, NY
    16 miles
    Website
    +1 (518) 891-3239

    $20 / night

    "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"

    "Saw many dogs. Mine loved our own little beach at the back of our campsite. Perfect for paddleboards, canoes, kayaks (these can also be rented at the boat launch)Bathrooms are so clean!"

    6. Meacham Lake Campground

    7 Reviews
    Rainbow Lake, NY
    9 miles
    Website
    +1 (518) 483-5116

    $20 - $40 / night

    "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."

    7. Meadowbrook Campground

    10 Reviews
    Ray Brook, NY
    13 miles
    Website
    +1 (518) 891-4351

    $18 / night

    "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."

    8. Jones Pond NYSDEC Primitive Campsites

    3 Reviews
    Rainbow Lake, NY
    1 mile
    Website
    +1 (518) 897-1200

    "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."

    "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."

    9. Wilmington Notch Campground

    11 Reviews
    Wilmington, NY
    17 miles
    Website
    +1 (518) 946-7172

    $18 / night

    "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."

    10. Draper’s Acres

    10 Reviews
    Lake Placid, NY
    21 miles
    Website
    +1 (518) 523-9322

    $30 - $40 / night

    "Some if the sites are rather close to each other, and the proximity to the road was noticeable but my white noise app dealt with that while I slept. Prices were more than fair for what was provided."

    "We had a full hookup, pull through site surrounded by trees. There was some road noise during the day but it was nice and quiet at night. The bathhouses looked very "rustic" but we didn't use them."

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Dog-Friendly Camping Reviews near Rainbow Lake, NY

565 Reviews of 89 Rainbow Lake Campgrounds


  • D
    Oct. 3, 2021

    North Beach Campground

    Great Campground “On The Water”

    I have a 24’ RV towing a 30 foot trailer for perspective. I easily fit in site 107 and lots of other sites would have worked. They have a place to drop trailers if you don’t fit.

    Sites 90 to 108 are best. Spaced out under trees.

    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. Clean easy to use dump with water.

    Tent sites looked nice.

    Short walk to nice beach or you can drive a car. Short tunnel so no campers or bikes on the roof.

    Right next to rails to trails path that goes onto a causeway over the lake. There is a bike ferry to keep going. Nice ride.

    Nice dog park 3/4 miles to the South on the trail.

    Far away from noise. Can’t comment on loud campers.

  • Erin J.
    Sep. 24, 2022

    Lake Placid/Whiteface Mountain KOA Holiday

    Great Area

    We visited this campground twice this summer after the switchover to KOA. They had lots of activities to take back to the campsite for rainy days. They do not have a dog park and this caused our pup to get a bit hyper.

  • Jake C.The Dyrt ADMIN User
    Oct. 4, 2023

    Birch’s Lakeside Campground and Marina

    A Convenient Stay in the Adirondacks

    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!

  • Shari  G.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 28, 2018

    Meadowbrook Campground

    Conveniently Located, but a bit Noisy

    This is a very basic campground situated in a small village in the Adirondacks – situated between Saranac Lake and Lake Placid. Every site has a picnic table and an open fire grill and most of the sites on the outer ring have a lot of privacy as they are lined with trees and shrubs. Lots of spaces for larger RV’s, but we saw mostly tent campers.

    Bathrooms are mostly clean and the showers are nice. There is a quality dishwashing sink by the bathrooms. Overall, the campground is ok, but needs a bit of a facelift, repainting, etc. Also, you can hear the sounds of the city (cars, leaf blowers, and other things that remind you that you are not truly in the woods).

    The best part about this campground is that it is conveniently located between two awesome places and is relatively inexpensive, so if you don’t plan to spend much time in the campground itself, it’s perfect.

    We used this campground as a basecamp to mountain bike on an awesome trail just outside of Saranac Lake, the Bloomingdale Bog trail. The following day, we did a quadrathlon that involved kayaking the length of Lake Placid, hiking to the summit of Whiteface Mountain, kayaking back, and then finished the day at Lake Placid Pub and Brewery for dinner. Highly recommended, but plan on a 9-10 hour day on the lake/trail!

    With its central location, this campground is close to everything you may need, most even within walking distance.

  • Amy M.
    Aug. 30, 2018

    Cumberland Bay State Park Campground

    We had a fantastic time!

    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! Lots of shadey spots, very nice camping spots on Lake Champlain and the morning sunrise is beautiful!! Do yourself a favor, and visit Cumberland Head State Park!!!

  • Brandon L.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 12, 2024

    Lake Placid/Whiteface Mountain KOA Holiday

    This is a good place to sleep, but not much more to it

    To start off, we are avid KOA campers. So when we looked at this campground, we expected the typical layout which had a swimming pool and other stuff for the kids, however, this campground lacked all of the above. When we arrived here, check-in was easy we did drive along ways to get to our campsite which was nice to be wooded, but I did miss the typical activities and KOA usually has which when I booked the site, I usually expect them since the prices usually, fairly high compared to state parks. Our main reason for seeing KA versus state parks for these extra activities. With that said the bathrooms were clean, which we barely use since we have a full hook up camper. The dog park was very small and it looked like they did the very minimum to check the block. If you’re looking for a place to run your little guy around, he might be disappointed at this place. However, there are plenty hikes nearby to wear them out if you desire. As far as location, there is a lot of stuff to do in the area as we went and hike, the mountain, which was amazing.

  • Kyle I.
    Jun. 22, 2019

    Pine Ridge Park Campsite

    Family with kids get away location

    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.

  • Shanna M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 12, 2025

    Valcour Island

    Valcour Island

    I've camped on Valcour all my life since I was 7. It was amazing. So beautiful. Now it's covered in cockroaches and the water is murky and everything is covered in Zebra muscles. Other campers are rude and have no respect for your property. Has been all Canadians from my experience. They let their pets on the island to defecate and we've had one let their two large dogs swim ashore from their yacht and urinate on all our tents and destroyed our campsite and stole our food off from the picnic table all while the owners watched and laughed it off from their boat. The dogs then swam back and boarded the boat and they left. It's not like it used to be. We were yelling at them the whole time, trying to get the dogs away from our campsite and the owners didn't even apologize. One of the dogs defecated on my son's clothing that has fallen off the line.

  • Amber A.
    Jun. 30, 2016

    Robert Moses State Park Campground

    Robert Moses in 1,000 Islands near Canada

    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.


Guide to Rainbow Lake

If you're looking for a pet-friendly camping experience near Rainbow Lake, New York, there are several great options that welcome your furry friends. Enjoy the beauty of the Adirondacks while making memories with your pets in these well-reviewed campgrounds.

Pet owners like the amenities offered at these campgrounds

  • At Lake Placid/Whiteface Mountain KOA Holiday, pets are allowed, and the campground features electric hookups and clean showers, making it a comfortable stay for both you and your pet.
  • Fish Creek Pond Campground offers drinking water and picnic tables, perfect for enjoying meals with your pet in a scenic setting.
  • Rollins Pond Campground provides a peaceful atmosphere with well-maintained sites and access to water, ideal for a refreshing dip with your dog.

Tips for camping with dogs near Rainbow Lake

  • Ensure your pet is comfortable by bringing their favorite bedding and toys when you visit Wilderness Campground at Heart Lake, which has spacious sites and a welcoming environment for pets.
  • Keep your dog leashed and clean up after them at Meadowbrook Campground, where the friendly staff can assist with any pet-related inquiries.
  • Pack plenty of water and snacks for your dog while exploring the trails around Saranac Lake Islands Adirondack Preserve, which offers beautiful views and a chance for your pet to enjoy nature.

Dog-friendly activities while camping near Rainbow Lake

  • Take your dog for a hike along the scenic trails near Buck Pond Campground, where you can both enjoy the stunning views and fresh air.
  • Enjoy kayaking or canoeing at Fish Creek Pond - DEC, where your dog can accompany you on the water for a fun day out.
  • Explore the nearby hiking paths from Draper’s Acres, which provide ample opportunities for outdoor adventures with your pet.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Rainbow Lake, NY?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Rainbow Lake, NY is Fish Creek Pond Campground with a 4.6-star rating from 33 reviews.

What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Rainbow Lake, NY?

TheDyrt.com has all 89 dog-friendly camping locations near Rainbow Lake, NY, with real photos and reviews from campers.