The Adirondack region surrounding Saranac Lake sits at approximately 1,600 feet elevation with several campgrounds positioned on glacial lakes formed 10,000 years ago. Summer temperatures typically range from 50-80°F, while winter temperatures can drop below 0°F. The forested terrain transitions between hardwoods and conifers with distinct seasonal changes affecting camping conditions.
What to do
Paddling the interconnected waterways: Rollins Pond Campground offers direct access to a network of lakes in the St. Regis/Saranac area. As Jeffrey B. notes, "Almost all the sites are lakefront. Great kayak and canoe access to a whole network of lakes in the St. Regis/Saranac area." The pond itself is substantially larger than its name suggests.
Hiking from your campsite: At Wilderness Campground at Heart Lake, trails lead directly to popular peaks. "You can hike Algonquin, Iriquois, Wright Peak, and Mt. Jo all right from the campground," shares Hannah O. This convenience eliminates driving to trailheads.
Swimming in natural settings: Meacham Lake Campground features two distinct camping areas with water access. Colin J. explains, "It's split into 2 sides. The west side is way cooler, less bugs and more views. The east side is RV/camper heaven." Many sites include private beach access.
Mountain biking on dedicated trails: AuSable Chasm Campground maintains trail networks for cyclists of various skill levels. One camper discovered this unexpectedly: "I wish I had my bike! I didn't know that this was a biking campground and there were SO MANY trails. Made the most of them with running, but overall, a fantastic campground."
What campers like
Privacy levels vary by location: Draper's Acres offers separated camping areas for different styles. "Great campground with secluded sites most with woods behind each site, especially the tent area. The RV and tent camping is well separated and there are different kinds of RV space available as well," explains Natalie N.
Waterfront sites: At Lake Placid/Whiteface Mountain KOA Holiday, water access options exist despite recent location changes. Laura T. discovered, "There is a secret we discovered the last day. Walk to the back of the campground to the Ausable river, go down the path about 500 ft. There is an awesome swimming hole."
Clean facilities: Buck Pond Campground maintains well-kept amenities despite its rustic setting. Danielle S. points out practical details: "There is one outlet in the bathroom area (I plugged my coffee percolator into this outlet every morning). The shower could use an update and definitely bring some shoes to shower in and a mat/towel for the floor as it gets slippery when wet."
Wildlife viewing opportunities: The natural surroundings support diverse animal sightings. At Rollins Pond, Kristina L. shares, "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."
What you should know
Seasonal conditions impact access: Early season camping requires preparation for temperature swings. At Rollins Pond, a camper cautions, "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."
Connectivity limitations: Cell service varies significantly between campgrounds. At Meacham Lake, Debbie T. warns, "There is no cell or internet there." Other sites have limited coverage with Verizon typically showing 1-2 bars in certain areas.
Reservation requirements: Rogers Rock Campground and other popular sites fill quickly during peak season. John W. recommends, "As a little girl my mother was brought here by my grandparents. I spent 2 weeks here every year as a kid." Weekdays offer better availability and quieter conditions.
Site selection considerations: Some sites have specific challenges. At Meacham Lake, one camper shares, "We camped on site 188 for 3 nights and really enjoyed having our own private 'beach,' however, it was extremely boggy! The campground had put down sheets of plywood to help, but still the ground was so soggy."
Tips for camping with families
Ice cream access: Multiple campgrounds feature ice cream deliveries or nearby shops. At Rollins Pond, Amie C. mentions, "An ice cream truck and firewood truck make the rounds (ice cream truck may just be on weekends)." This adds a welcome treat for children after a day outdoors.
Playground availability: North Beach Campground includes play areas within walking distance of sites. "Burlington is my favorite city by far, and this campground is right on the beach! You get the best of both worlds at this location. Biking into Burlington takes 5-10 minutes and you're also right on the beach of Lake Champlain," shares Brittany R.
Site spacing for noise management: When glamping in Saranac Lake, New York with children, sound considerations matter. At Wilderness Campground at Heart Lake, one visitor noted, "Despite rather high density of sites they are well designed and the campground is quiet and dark at night for good rest!"
Kid-friendly hiking options: Mount Jo at Wilderness Campground offers a manageable summit for children with rewarding views. The 2.3-mile round trip gains 700 feet elevation with several rest spots along the route.
Tips from RVers
Section choices matter: At Lake Placid KOA, Nancy W. explains the layout differences: "There are two distinct sections of this campground—the 'Resort' section and the '100-Acre Woods' section. We stayed in site #73 of the 100-Acre section and would highly recommend staying in this area as opposed to the other. This section has tall shade trees and much more space between sites than the resort area."
Road conditions: Unpaved access roads can present challenges for larger rigs. Lee D. notes at Ausable Chasm, "The road through the campground is dirt and rutted but the speed limit is 5 mph, so it wasn't that bad, but it would be a mess if it was raining."
Tree clearance: Watch for low-hanging branches when navigating campground roads. At Lake Placid KOA, "Another ding for us was that there were lots of tree limbs that needed to be trimmed. Maneuvering through the park was pretty tight for us and we had to take it really slow."
Electric options: For luxury glamping near Saranac Lake, electric sites come at premium pricing. At Ausable Chasm, "Upon arrival at Ausable Chasm, we were told we had to take a site with water and electric since we had a camper van. These sites were $13 more per night."
