31 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Saranac Lake in New York's Adirondack region offers tent campsites ranging from boat-accessible island sites to free primitive backcountry locations in the High Peaks Wilderness. Tent camping near Saranac Lake spans boat-in sites, walk-in primitive spots, and backcountry tent campsites - giving campers access to solitude, island settings, and high-elevation wilderness in a single area. Jones Pond NYSDEC Primitive Campsites feature free tent camping along the northeastern shore with walk-in access options.
Most tent campgrounds in the area follow Adirondack Park regulations with specific fire policies and bear canister requirements. Access varies significantly between locations, with boat-in sites at Saranac Lake Islands requiring watercraft, while primitive backcountry sites like Ward Brook require hiking several miles on established trails. Sites typically include fire rings and picnic tables at established campgrounds, but many backcountry tent sites have minimal amenities. A camper noted, "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." Several locations maintain pit toilets, though campers should bring their own toilet paper and pack out all waste.
Areas farther from main access points offer deeper wilderness immersion for tent campers seeking solitude. The High Peaks region provides challenging but rewarding backcountry tent camping with strict regulations against fires and requirements for bear-proof food storage. According to one visitor, "This campground is conveniently located near the trails for Mt. Marcy, Mt. Colden, and Avalanche Pass. Everything is first come first serve." Most tent campsites fill quickly during summer weekends, particularly at popular locations like Lake Colden, where arriving by early afternoon is recommended. Winter tent camping remains possible at many sites, though specialized cold-weather gear becomes essential as temperatures frequently drop well below freezing. The dense forest provides good wind protection and natural tent platforms at most backcountry sites.
"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."
"All campsites have picnic tables, firepits/grills, and privies. Saranac Lake Marina has great rental boats. I even think the dogs look forward to these camping trips."
from $22 - $40 / night
Check Availability"There’s no explaining the views around here. The mountains are beautiful, Lake Placid is beautiful, and this campsite is amazing."
"Rode in on a motorcycle late at night expecting to not be able to get in, but you can take a parking pass and drop an envelope with your fee at the entrance booth. $15 for a full day $8 after 1PM."
from $25 - $55 / night
Check Availability"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."
"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."
"On the Blueberry trail not far from the Ward lean-to. Very close to the trail to Seward, Donaldson and Emmons.
Lean-to, privy, fire pit, table, and water around."
"Fire pit, picnic table, and a privy. A bit further you will find some tent spots too.
Plenty of water around."
"This campsite is a first come first serve site located along Floodwood Road. The site sits on Middle Pond. Beautiful location but this campsite is popular during the summer months."
"This campground is conveniently located near the trails for Mt. Marcy, Mt. Colden, and Avalanche Pass. Everything is first come first serve."
"The scenery was gorgeous and there were lots of nice hikes around."
"The view of the lake is stunning, and there's a quick walk down to the edge of the lake."
"The lake is gorgeous, although it wasn't as big as I thought it was going to be. I went late August, so I beat the initial summer rush, but there was still a good amount of people there."
"It's on a side trail (left side). Bear canisters required."
"First and foremost, I had a black bear encounter at this location. Make sure that you remain bear aware and are taking the appropriate safety measures. "
"Lake Colden camping area is a spread out collection of campsites lean-tos surrounding the south side of Lake Colden in the High Peaks Wildnerness in Adirondack Park."
from $30 - $60 / night
ScoutFirst trip with our new RV and we were a little nervous about getting everything set up. Having full hookups made it way less complicated than we expected. Once we were settled, we just enjoyed the area and took a few day trips. Would definatly come back for another Adirondack trip.
ScoutWe came up for a quick Adirondack getaway and ended up spending most of our time outside. A little disc golf, some time by the pool, dinner at the site and plenty of walks with the dog. Pretty much everything we wanted out of the trip.
ScoutOne of the best parts for us was not having to pack up the RV every time we wanted to go somewhere. We stayed put and explored the Adirondacks from here. Lake Champlain, Ausable Chasm and a bunch of other spots were all easy to get to.
ScoutGreat setting. We were there by ourselves, so very quiet place to view the sky. The hookups were 50A only, no 30A connection, so we just used a conversion to 20A.
ScoutHaving the river and Adirondacks nearby made for a really nice change of scenery. We spent our days exploring and came back to the campground for dinner and a fire.
ScoutWe were looking for somewhere to stay while checking out Ausable Chasm and this worked out really well. Easy drive over, then back to the camper in the afternoon. Made the whole trip alot easier.
ScoutWe only planned on staying a few nights but ended up adding another week. Once we got settled in, it was hard to leave.
GuideCar camped on Sunday of Columbus Day weekend in October. This was their closing weekend and lots of spaces were available. Stayed in tent circle loop and it was almost empty. Great access to lake shore and bike path. Walked back toward marina and town in the evening and ran in the morning the other direction going out to Rock Point. Didn’t use the shower facilities. The bathroom near our loop only had sinks and toilets and was fine.
ScoutCame here with our fifth wheel and had plenty of room for everything. Nice spot to use as a home base while exploring the Adirondacks.
Saranac Lake camping offers access to over 30 primitive wilderness tent sites across the Adirondack Park's 6 million acres. Most tent camping near Saranac Lake sits at elevations between 1,500-2,000 feet, with temperatures that can drop to the 40s even in summer months. Water access dominates the camping experience, with 87 different lakes and ponds within a 15-mile radius of town providing options for both established and primitive camping.
Paddle the Saranac Chain of Lakes: Launch from Middle Pond Campsite and explore the interconnected waterways. "This campsite sits on Middle Pond. Beautiful location but this campsite is popular during the summer months. Off season is generally when you will find this campsite available," notes Kurt V.
Summit nearby High Peaks: Wilderness Campground at Heart Lake serves as an ideal basecamp for hiking several 4,000+ foot mountains. "You can hike Algonquin, Iriquois, Wright Peak, and Mt. Jo all right from the campground," shares Hannah O.
Explore backcountry waterfalls: The 2.1-mile trail to MacIntyre Brook Falls campground rewards hikers with cascading water and secluded tent sites. "Great campsite going up toward Algonquin peak. Just a bit before the MacIntyre Brook Falls. Easy to collect water at the falls," explains Alex R.
Privacy between campsites: The island camping experience at Saranac Lake Islands provides natural separation. "Huge sites, a lot of privacy (nearest campsite in most cases is not even visible). We kayaked before, and found the biggest drawback was impossible to bring a lot of food and a cooler," shares Kelly H.
Lakeside tent platforms: Jones Pond offers five primitive waterfront sites along its northeastern shore. "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," describes Dylan J.
Multiple day-hike options: Feldspar Lean-to provides a strategic basecamp for multiple summit attempts. "If you're coming from Marcy Dam by way of Lake Colden, this campsite is a great spot to stop for the night on the way to Mt. Marcy. There's a good water flow for water that is safe to drink," notes Seth K.
Bear canister requirements: High Peaks Wilderness camping requires proper food storage. "Use bear bins- and clean up your camp. You'll save the Bears lives and you'll be happier!" advises Mike F. at Flowed Lands.
Boat-access-only sites: Many tent camping options require watercraft. "We rented a motorboat to get to our own private little peninsula (not one of the very sought after islands but just as neat) on the middle saranac," explains Sambath T.
Limited facilities at backcountry sites: Ward Brook Campsite offers basic amenities for wilderness campers. "Great campsite with a nice lean-to. Fire pit, picnic table, and a privy. A bit further you will find some tent spots too. Plenty of water around," describes Alex R.
Choose island camping for kids: Family-friendly options provide natural boundaries. "I camped at Saranac Lake Islands for two summers in a row. The first time, my children and I had an island and the second time we had a spot on a little peninsula. It's such a gorgeous place!" shares Joanna H.
Consider temperature swings: Pack appropriately for weather changes. "Bring warm clothing for nights; temps can drop 30 degrees in hours. Sites are carry in/carry out," cautions Jerry M.
Bring wildlife identification materials: Campers frequently spot loons, toads, fish, and occasionally larger mammals. "Canoed into our campsite, #15. It took 3 trips to bring in all our gear. Beautiful site. Quite a climb up to the actual site. Great swimming from site. Found a great rock to jump from. Lots of loons, toads and fish," reports Angela.
Limited RV options exist: Only a few tent camping areas near Saranac Lake accommodate RVs. "The sites are spaced out and people were very respectful of noise/lights/other campers," notes Laura Nicole A. at Wilderness Campground at Heart Lake.
Site #1 at Jones Pond works for larger rigs: The entrance area provides the only RV-accessible site. "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," advises Dylan J.
Beware rough access roads: Approach with caution in larger vehicles. "Road going in is very rough use extreme caution on a motorcycle with street tires," warns Max about the route to Wilderness Campground at Heart Lake.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Saranac Lake, NY?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Saranac Lake, NY is Saranac Lake Islands Adirondack Preserve Campground with a 4.9-star rating from 15 reviews.
What is the best site to find tent camping near Saranac Lake, NY?
TheDyrt.com has all 31 tent camping locations near Saranac Lake, NY, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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