Situated at around 500 feet elevation in Washington County, New York, Shushan offers campers a temperate climate with warm summers and cold winters. The region features mixed hardwood forests and open meadows along the Battenkill River watershed. Winter camping isn't common in the immediate area, with most campgrounds operating from May through October due to seasonal temperature fluctuations.
What to do
Hiking trails at Woodford State Park: Several miles of trails surround the park with options for all skill levels. "There are tons of different types of campsites with either tent spots, lean tos, and a few (hard to get) cabins. bathrooms are plentiful and clean, hot showers for a small price. beautiful clean swimmable lake with a walking trail around it," reports Sambath T. about Woodford State Park Campground.
Swimming at Emerald Lake: Located about 25 miles from Shushan, the lake features clear water and a sandy beach area. "Best Park for Swimming in Southern Vermont. We try and get to Emerald Lake State Park at least a few times every summer. It's an awesome park for kids, and the turquoise water is a dream to cool off in," notes Tara S. from Emerald Lake State Park Campground.
Paddling on Moreau Lake: The lake offers kayak and canoe rentals from May through September. "Nice stopover or basecamp for this area. Very wooded. Hiking trails become nice XC skiing trails. Nice sandy beach with lifeguard hours," mentions Amber A. about her experience at Moreau Lake State Park.
What campers like
Private wooded sites: Campers consistently mention the spacious, wooded sites at many campgrounds. "Sites are huge. Plenty of room for our RV, and small tent. Private. Can't say enough about the pool. We had multi-generations camping. From the great grandmother to 2 1/2 yr toddler we all enjoyed the pool," says Julie E. about Moose Hillock Camping Resorts.
Clean facilities: Many campgrounds in the region maintain exceptional cleanliness standards. "The campground is so clean and nice! Perfect for the dogs with best dog park I ever saw. Pools and hot tubs extremely clean and the grounds looked more like a hotel resort than campground," writes Michael C. about Lake George RV Park.
Waterfront access: The natural water features are major draws for pet friendly camping near Shushan, New York. "Most wonderful place! Has an awesome spot to go paddle boarding or kayaking! In fact you can load up your water vessel and go across the lake to your campsite!" raves Cortne about Grout Pond Campground.
What you should know
Site reservation timing: Popular campgrounds fill up quickly, especially for summer weekends. "This is a popular camp ground so reserve as early as 11 months before arrival," advises Ming R. about Emerald Lake State Park Campground.
Weather preparation: The region can experience significant temperature drops at night, even in summer. "We camped for two nights in Lean-tos with 20 Girls and Leaders. It's a great place to bring a Troop and use the the lake and trails for badges plus cooking badges as well," shares Tammy E., suggesting good preparation for overnight temperature changes.
Access challenges: Some campgrounds have difficult access roads or challenging terrain. "Grout Pond has dirt roads and very deep potholes that you can just barely avoid. Our site was a half a mile away from the lot, and while this wasn't a problem, we would have packed completely different if we had known we would have to be hauling all our stuff that far in," explains Molly G.
Tips for camping with families
Entertainment options: Look for campgrounds with dedicated family activities. "Free shows every night at the playhouse kids loved. Animal shows kept daytime events going strong. Water park was great, kids spent all day there. Arcades and game rooms are great for rainy days," notes Michael C. about Lake George RV Park.
Kid-friendly swimming areas: Several campgrounds feature shallow-entry beach areas ideal for children. "We were at site 17, and it was a massive site. Lots of room would be great for a large family or group. The beach on the river is beautiful and clean! Easy swimming for all," Christina M. shares about Camping On The Battenkill.
Campsite selection for safety: For families with young children, site location matters. "Many of them are perched on a steep ledge, making them a bit sketchy for families with kids. If you have little ones, check out the map before you reserve a site and find one on the opposite side of the ledge," advises Tara S. about Emerald Lake State Park.
Tips from RVers
Hookup availability: Electric, water, and sewer connections vary widely between campgrounds near Shushan. "Site 13 was the only one available. It's on the corner of the first loop, but that wasn't an issue to us at all! There were plenty of trees and brush and space so we didn't feel we were in the road," shares Melissa S. about Woodford State Park Campground.
Site leveling challenges: Some campgrounds require additional equipment for leveling. "Our campsite was level but some definitely were not. We got twenty or so television channels with the cable hookup. The hookups were all well-placed and we didn't have any issues with the electric and the wifi at our site worked well," explains Nancy W. about camping in the region.
Tree clearance on access roads: Large RVs may face challenges with low-hanging branches. "Tree placement and a pretty sharp 110+ degree turn makes it challenging to maneuver. I don't think campground staff is familiar with their own campground and that larger rigs are likely to have issue in this loop," Katie E. cautions about one of the pet-friendly camping options near Shushan.
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