Sloansville, New York camping options span the western edge of the Catskill Mountains and southern Adirondack foothills, with most campgrounds situated 900-1,500 feet above sea level. The camping season typically runs from mid-April through mid-October, with September offering cooler temperatures averaging 45-70°F. The region's forested terrain features mixed hardwoods and pines surrounding numerous creeks and small lakes.
What to do
Creek exploration and fishing: The Schoharie Creek watershed offers accessible fishing spots at several campgrounds. At Spruce Creek Campground, "the property is huge and surrounded by the beautiful creek, which is more like a river. We swam in the creek and the kids enjoyed the pirate ship and castle playground," notes a visitor.
Hiking nearby mountains: Trails ranging from 1-5 miles access scenic overlooks within 30 minutes of most campgrounds. "Hiking was near by and also the beach and if you wanted to drive to where the falls are and the overlook it wasn't too far!" reports a camper at Thompson's Lake Campground.
Water activities on smaller lakes: Kayaking, paddleboarding, and swimming opportunities exist at several locations. "There were plenty of activities to keep me entertained—from relaxing by the lake and enjoying the hiking trails to spending time at the recreation areas," notes a review for Alpine Lake RV Resort.
What campers like
Quiet, spacious sites: Many campgrounds offer adequate separation between sites for privacy. At Max V. Shaul State Park Campground, "the sites are large, flat and sited well apart from each other," according to one camper, while another mentioned "lots of space between sites."
Clean facilities: Newer or renovated bathhouses get frequent positive mentions. "This campground has always been my go to. Now that I have kids, I appreciate the playground area near the beach more. All public areas including the bathrooms are very clean," reports a Thompson's Lake visitor.
Helpful staff: Personal assistance with setup and local information stands out in reviews. At Spruce Creek Campground, "he leads you to your site, helps you back in, and doesn't leave til he knows your power is working," according to a review.
What you should know
Campground size varies dramatically: From intimate 30-site parks to large 118-site operations. "Peaceful for such a large campground. Waterfront sites worth the dollars!" notes a visitor to Alpine Lake RV Resort.
Road conditions and site access: Some campgrounds have challenging internal roads. At Spruce Creek, "roads within the campground are dirt and pretty rough," while another review mentioned "pot holes in the campground road are so bad that it caused damage to my trailer."
Seasonal popularity: Many campgrounds fill completely during summer weekends and holiday periods. Country Roads Campground has 118 sites but can reach capacity, particularly for their "tent sites back beyond the RV area" where "water spigots near all the tent sites and they are nice and spread out."
Winter closures: Most rv parks near Sloansville close between mid-October and early May. Max V. Shaul operates from "May 19 to October 10," while Thompson's Lake runs slightly longer from "April 29 to October 10."
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Several campgrounds feature dedicated play areas. "They have a great beach with swimming, kayak and boat rentals, a nature center next door you can walk to," reports a visitor to Thompson's Lake.
Swimming options: Both lake and pool swimming exist at several locations. A Country Roads Campground visitor noted it's a "great family spot" that has "special events in a pavilion near the RVs including bingo."
Site selection for kids: Waterfront sites often have safety considerations. At Alpine Lake, one camper noted "our site had a steep drop off to the lake, not all are like this, but be cautious about this if you have young kids."
Tips from RVers
Site type considerations: Most rv parks near Sloansville, New York offer different site configurations. At Arrowhead Marina & RV Park, "our site was back-in and had plenty of space. There's a lot of green space in this campground and it's right on the river."
Site selection timing: Early reservations secure premium spots. "Booked an 'Elite 50amp' site but had no realistic map to go by. Many of these types of sites are parallel to the water, but the map makes them look like back in sites," reported one Alpine Lake visitor.
Roadway navigation: Internal roads at some campgrounds present challenges for larger rigs. "The roads are narrow and many should be one way, but are not. It would have been impossible many places in the grounds to pass a rig on the road due to the amount of other's vehicles."
