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Best Campgrounds near Upper Jay, NY

665 Reviews

Upper Jay, New York sits in the heart of the Adirondacks, offering varied camping experiences from established campgrounds to more remote options. Campgrounds like Lake Placid/Whiteface Mountain KOA Holiday and Wilmington Notch provide access to the region's natural beauty with amenities including tent sites, RV hookups, and cabin rentals. The area between Lake Placid and Saranac Lake features several developed campgrounds that serve as convenient basebases for exploring the surrounding mountains, lakes, and trails. Mixed-use campgrounds accommodate different camping styles, with some sites offering more privacy than others.

Seasonal considerations dramatically affect camping availability in the Adirondack region. Most campgrounds operate from May through October, with a few remaining open year-round. "This is a very basic campground situated in a small village in the Adirondacks – situated between Saranac Lake and Lake Placid. The best part about this campground is that it is conveniently located between two awesome places and is relatively inexpensive," noted one visitor about Meadowbrook Campground. Winter conditions can be harsh with significant snowfall, while summer brings black flies and mosquitoes. Many sites require advance reservations, particularly during peak foliage season in autumn when the region attracts numerous visitors. Road access to some locations may require high-clearance vehicles, especially at more remote campground options.

The region's campground options vary in privacy levels and proximity to attractions. Sites along lakes receive consistently positive reviews, with water access being a key feature many campers seek. Several visitors mentioned the opportunity to watch sunrise or sunset over the water as a highlight of their stay. Campgrounds closer to main roads often provide convenient access to towns but may experience traffic noise. According to reviews on The Dyrt, sites with tree cover and natural screening tend to provide better privacy compared to more open camping areas. Wildlife viewing opportunities abound throughout the area, with bird watching particularly rewarding near water bodies. Campers appreciate the balance of natural surroundings and access to amenities that many of the developed campgrounds in the Upper Jay vicinity provide.

Map showing campgrounds near Upper Jay, New YorkExplore the Map

Best Camping Sites Near Upper Jay, New York (164)

    1. Lake Placid/Whiteface Mountain KOA Holiday

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

    "Close to hiking trails, Whiteface Mt Parkway & Lake Placid. Nice, helpful staff. It is NOT wheelchair accessible. There are steep steps to the office, no grab bars in the bathrooms."

    "Very large and busy campground, close to Lake Placid and other cool activities to take in. Pros- hot showers, convenient laundromat, you are guided to your site by staff on golf carts."

    2. Wilmington Notch Campground

    11 Reviews
    Wilmington, NY
    4 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."

    3. Draper’s Acres

    10 Reviews
    Lake Placid, NY
    10 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."

    4. Wilderness Campground at Heart Lake

    9 Reviews
    Lake Placid, NY
    14 miles
    Website
    +1 (518) 523-3441

    $25 - $55 / night

    "Despite the lake being frozen over, the views just steps away from our lean to were gorgeous. The staff were really friendly and someone is available 24/7 in case you run into issues."

    "The lean to I had was right on the lake and on the edge of the campground. It's a bit of a trek to a bathroom but well worth it."

    5. Meadowbrook Campground

    10 Reviews
    Ray Brook, NY
    15 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."

    6. Saranac Lake Islands Adirondack Preserve Campground

    15 Reviews
    Saranac Lake, NY
    20 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."

    "This lake is so peaceful and the remote islands that are only accessible by boat make this spot really special. It's a gorgeous place to get away from everything and to really connect to nature."

    7. Camp Whiteface Mountain

    1 Review
    Wilmington, NY
    4 miles
    Website
    +1 (518) 946-7705

    $39 / night

    "Nestled in the trees by the Ausable River its a convenient place to explore the area.  20 minutes from downtown Lake Placid at the base of Whiteface mountain. 2 hours away is Montreal or Burlington VT."

    8. Taylor Pond

    3 Reviews
    Wilmington, NY
    11 miles
    Website
    +1 (518) 647-5250

    $16 / night

    "Its definitely way out there, and the beauty is worth the drive! Very nice primitive style campground :)"

    "Long skinny lake can be windy and rough. Boat launch is rough"

    9. Copperas Pond

    1 Review
    Lake Placid, NY
    6 miles
    Website

    "The campground by Copperas Pond is up a trail in the Sentinel Range Wilderness Area. The hike up to the campground was pretty rocky and steep, but not that long."

    10. AuSable Chasm Campground

    11 Reviews
    Keeseville, NY
    20 miles
    Website
    +1 (518) 834-9990

    "Sites were a medium distance apart but still spacious enough to not be close to neighbors."

    "Pretty decent campground with lots of sites anod close by to some fun attractions."

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Recent Camping Photos near Upper Jay, NY

282 Photos of 164 Upper Jay Campgrounds

Recent Reviews near Upper Jay, NY

665 Reviews of 164 Upper Jay Campgrounds

  • RThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 5, 2025

    Horseshoe Lake

    NY Designated Camping

    Along Co 421, by Horseshoe Lake, there are 10-11 designated campsites. Most have fire pits.

    Road is rough but easily doable if you take it slow.

    As it’s a forest, the sites are pretty shaded, so solar and Starlink may present challenges. Slight AT&T at earlier sites.

  • Laura W.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 25, 2025

    Rogers Rock Campground

    Roger's Rock

    It was a pretty good park. Wooded nicely. Big lots where we were. Down near the water the sites were pretty crammed together Not parked in a row like an RV park.

  • Robert K.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 24, 2025

    Jones Pond NYSDEC Primitive Campsites

    awesome place

    I came from the Albany area. It took me about two hours 45 minutes and well worth the drive, I first stopped at site four and fully set up my Truck tent and the rest of camp, awesome location. You can walk down to the water, which is only a small ledge and enough space to put a chair, me and my German Shepherd were walking around the trails and we found site five which was absolutely beautiful and right on the water, I mean right on the water. I went back to site for packed up a bunch of stuff into the truck and left the truck tent in there since it takes about 30 minutes to take up and down, I had walked the road a couple of times to see if I could get my truck down there, definitely need four-wheel-drive, but it is possible to get your truck down there and I did, set up camp there spent the rest of the day the night and all of the next day. Absolutely beautiful the dog loved the water being right there, I definitely love this place. This is my first campsite that I found using the app highly recommend.

  • X
    Aug. 23, 2025

    Carry Falls Recreation Area

    Quite, not high quality.

    Thai place is very cute, quiet, and not a lot of people frequent. The bathrooms are kind of “rundown” they are old and they use composing toilets with no showers and one sink located outside of the facility. It is NOT FREE they charge 16.00 a night. Located on an inlet of the man made lake. Water access, quiet, not busy, small, gives small town feel. Comes with picnic table and fireplace. We had site 6 and fit our 30 ft camper with 4 cars.

  • LThe Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 11, 2025

    Little Green Pond

    Peaceful spots under the pines

    12 designated camping spots. Some require driving down a bumpy access road that can be muddy after a rain. Sites are on the Pond. Pond has a small beach to swim. Tree covered sites.

  • K
    Aug. 11, 2025

    Mount Philo State Park Campground

    Hidden gem!

    Great little campground at a beautiful state park. The campground had widely spaced wooded sites and was exceptionally quiet. Very well-maintained! Recommend nearby Charlotte town beach for swimming ($10 for non-residents).

  • M
    Aug. 8, 2025

    Brookwood RV Resort

    Nice Campground

    Well maintained campground. Shop onsite with all you can possibly need. Beautiful pool. And easy access to Fort Ticonderoga, restaurants in town and Lake George area.

  • E
    Aug. 7, 2025

    Indian Brook Reservoir

    Family of 4 tent camping

    I mistakenly assumed they had drive up campsites. They do not. It was a 15 minute hike to the site, so pack light. If you have a kayak, you can transport your stuff over. Site was gorgeous and private, right on the reservoir. Really lovely setting!

  • Snooz H.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 5, 2025

    Shelburne Camping Area

    Oh My God. NO!

    Electricity would not work. We got an error on our control panel that said stop! Power source is not correct! Dan, one of the owners, said that somebody must have tried to hook a 50 amp into the 30 amp. box. He went about a half block to check breaker said that it was not flipped but it was wobbling pretty loose in there.

    My husband is a licensed electrician and of course had his own testing equipment. It showed 25 amp coming out of it. So he said move to spot 50. Well before we moved our vehicle, we went down there and checked it. He took off before we could. And guess what the exact same problem. We did not even hook into the second one. (#50)
    So he proceeded to tell us that it was our equipment that had gone bad. Even though we never plugged into spot 50!

    I had planned on one night thank God! He did refund our $52. we had to drive down the road and try to find someplace else at 7:00 in the evening. Another thank God, the Walmart about 10 or 15 miles down the road would allow overnight.

    So we are now on our way to our next location which is about a 7 hour drive. We are just hoping that they did not damage our equipment. It has been extremely stressful if you go there you better watch out!

Guide to Upper Jay

Camping near Upper Jay, New York, offers a mix of beautiful scenery and outdoor activities. Whether you're looking for a peaceful retreat or an adventure-filled getaway, there are several campgrounds to choose from.

What to do:

  • Hiking: There are plenty of trails nearby. Campers love the access to hiking trails, especially around the Lake Placid/Whiteface Mountain KOA Holiday. One reviewer mentioned, "We went and hiked the mountain, which was amazing."
  • Water Activities: If you enjoy kayaking or fishing, Fish Creek Pond Campground is a great spot. A visitor shared, "Every site has water access, and the water is super shallow all along the shoreline."
  • Exploring Local Attractions: The area is rich in attractions. One camper noted that the Wilmington Notch campground is "about a mile down the road from the high falls gorge tourist destination."

What campers like:

  • Clean Facilities: Many campers appreciate the cleanliness of the campgrounds. A review for the Lake Placid/Whiteface Mountain KOA Holiday stated, "The bathrooms were clean, which we barely use since we have a full hook-up camper."
  • Spacious Sites: Campers enjoy the spaciousness of the sites at Grand Isle State Park Campground. One visitor mentioned, "Our site was large and sunny but most sites that we saw are in the shade."
  • Friendly Staff: The helpfulness of the staff is often highlighted. A camper at North Beach Campground said, "Nice, helpful staff."

What you should know:

  • Limited Amenities: Some campgrounds may not have all the amenities you expect. A review for the Wilmington Notch mentioned, "Not much going on besides fire pits and fellow car campers."
  • Bugs in Early Season: Be prepared for bugs, especially in late spring. A visitor at Fish Creek Pond Campground noted, "Pretty buggy during the last week of May."
  • Reservations Recommended: Many campgrounds fill up quickly, especially in summer. One camper advised, "Definitely make reservations in advance during the summer!"

Tips for camping with families:

  • Activities for Kids: Look for campgrounds with activities for children. The Lake Placid/Whiteface Mountain KOA Holiday was noted for its "lots of activities to take back to the campsite for rainy days."
  • Dog-Friendly Options: If you’re bringing pets, check for dog parks. One review mentioned that the dog park at the Lake Placid/Whiteface Mountain KOA Holiday was "very small."
  • Nature Exploration: Encourage kids to explore nature. A camper at Saranac Lake Islands said, "The experience of camping on one of these islands is something special."

Tips from RVers:

  • Big Rig Friendly: Look for campgrounds that accommodate larger RVs. The Grand Isle State Park Campground is noted as "big rig friendly."
  • Check Hookups: Ensure the campground has the necessary hookups for your RV. A review for the Wilmington Notch mentioned, "The water spigot does not have threads for a hose."
  • Plan for Dusty Roads: Some campgrounds have gravel roads that can get dusty. A visitor at the Lake Placid/Whiteface Mountain KOA Holiday noted, "The roads were extremely dusty, especially with all the speed demons in the campground."

Camping near Upper Jay, New York, offers a variety of experiences for everyone. Whether you're hiking, fishing, or just enjoying the great outdoors, there's something for every camper.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best hiking trails near Upper Jay in the Adirondacks?

Upper Jay offers excellent access to Adirondack hiking trails for all skill levels. Near Flowed Lands, you'll find stunning lakeside trails with views of the surrounding mountains. The area around Calamity Lean-to provides both quick walks to the lake edge and more challenging hikes. For early fall hiking with beautiful foliage, trails near Lake Durant Campground showcase the Adirondacks' famous color changes. Many trails in the region connect to the extensive High Peaks Wilderness network, offering everything from family-friendly paths to challenging mountain ascents. For waterfall views, the paths near Ausable Chasm allow you to walk alongside impressive water features and enjoy sunset views over the surrounding landscape.

Where can I find campgrounds with amenities in Upper Jay, NY?

Meadowbrook Campground offers basic but practical amenities, with each site featuring a picnic table and open fire grill. The outer ring sites provide excellent privacy thanks to trees and shrubs as natural barriers. Showers are available, though hot water availability may vary. For more extensive facilities, Lone Pine Campsites provides spacious sites, a large playground perfect for families, and easy highway access. For those seeking additional options, Draper's Acres near Lake Placid features water, toilets, and is big-rig friendly. Most public campgrounds in the area maintain the rustic Adirondack feel while still offering essential amenities like restrooms, picnic areas, and access to recreational activities.

What is the best time of year to camp in Upper Jay?

Late spring through early fall offers the best camping weather in Upper Jay. Early September brings spectacular foliage displays, as noted at Lake Durant Campground where trees begin showing beautiful color changes. Summer provides warm days ideal for water activities, particularly at Ausable Point Campground which offers excellent lakeshore camping with sunrise and sunset views. Fall camping is especially rewarding with fewer crowds, comfortable temperatures, and vibrant autumn colors throughout the region. Memorial Day weekend marks the beginning of the reliable camping season, though facilities like showers might experience occasional maintenance issues early in the season. Winter camping is possible for experienced cold-weather campers, but most campgrounds close for the season.

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