204 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Willsboro, New York provides access to diverse camping experiences across the Adirondack region and nearby Lake Champlain shorelines. Established campgrounds like Ausable Point Campground and Poke-O-Moonshine offer a mix of tent sites, RV hookups, and cabin accommodations. The camping landscape extends into Vermont with options like North Beach Campground and Mount Philo State Park, both within 30 miles of Willsboro. Campgrounds in this area generally support both primitive tent camping and developed sites with amenities, while several locations feature waterfront access to Lake Champlain and mountain views.
Seasonal operations significantly affect camping availability, with most facilities operating from May through mid-October. "We were 2 nights here. The plazas are private, through trees shielded from each other," noted one visitor about Shelburne Camping Area, which remains open year-round unlike most seasonal operations. Reservations are strongly recommended during summer months when waterfront sites fill quickly. Weather conditions change rapidly in the Adirondack region, with cooler temperatures at higher elevations even during summer. Many campgrounds offer electrical hookups and shower facilities, though amenities vary considerably between primitive and developed sites. Cell coverage can be spotty in more remote camping areas, particularly in mountain terrain away from main roads.
The region's campgrounds receive consistent praise for their scenic settings and access to outdoor recreation. Areas near Lake Champlain provide opportunities for swimming, boating, and fishing, while mountain locations offer hiking trails with panoramic views. "Fantastic spot in VT! Not many sites so book early, but so much nature, great for a family trip, the views from the summit of the mountain overlook Lake Champlain and the mountains of VT and NY," shares a camper about Mount Philo State Park. Proximity to attractions in Burlington, Vermont is noted as an advantage for several campgrounds on the eastern side of Lake Champlain. Campers frequently mention the area's natural beauty, with mountain views and lakefront access being particular highlights. Privacy between campsites varies significantly between locations, with state parks generally offering more secluded options than private campgrounds.
"Sites 1 to 16 are close to each other. Sites 113 to 119 are bad. Very close to each other. No redeeming qualities.
Sites have 30 amp electric and water but might need a longish cord or hose."
"A very short and easy drive right outside of Burlington, with direct access to the greenway along the lakefront."
from $37 - $100 / night
Check Availability"This is a nice little private campground in Shelburne, just outside of Burlington. Close to Lake Champlain. Good place to spend the night and good access to activities."
"Lastly, the location was perfect, just outside of Burlington made access to the area ideal."
"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."
"The toilets are composing toilets, but from the user experience, it's very close to a regular toilet in that it's in a stall in a nice, well maintained proper bathroom (unlike some composting toilets in"
"There are less than 20 sites total, and all sites are near walk-in paths to excellent views of Lake Champlain and the Adirondacks or the Green Mountains. The facility is small, but adequate."
from $23 / night
Check Availability"We selected it because it was nearby for our second outing with our new (used) R-Pod camper. Turns out it's a wonderful park."
"Wonderful state park, the waterfront sites are fantastic, they are wide so smaller units can be parked parallel to the lake. Bathrooms are clean, facilities are great. Easy access to the lake."
"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."
"Good birding, water activities, sunsets, geology/gorge, short easy forest hikes, beach walking, all the good stuff you expect from this part of New York."
"Take a walk up the path next to the chasm. So relaxing listening to the water falls. Great place to watch the sunset! "
from $22 - $40 / night
Check Availability"Beautifully set on Lake Champlain in Vermont! This is a relatively large campground but is well laid out and doesn't feel small even when it's packed to the gills."
"We biked to this park from Burlington via the Island Line Trail. It was a super trip. The lakeside lean-to was awesome."
from $6 - $28 / night
Check Availability"We had one right next to the playground so our daughter could walk straight to it without having to cross a road. And speaking of playground, it was large and very nice."
"Cool little campground right in Mallets Bay on Lake Champlain. Campsites are kind of close together. Nice pool, game room, and little store. Its a fun place for families!"
from $8 - $12 / night
Check Availability"Easy distance to Poko-moonshine mountain and several smaller mountains.Beautiful location. Removed from trafficked roads, very quiet. Can be busy in summer. Waterfront access to Long Pond."
ScoutSimply said, if you like a well maintained place with a swim beach, floating dock, grass galore, space to stretch out, and more, this is the place. It’s beautiful. As a bonus, it’s cost effective over other RV parks. If you want free, nope. If you want wild open spaces, nope. You a great lush big clean park that feels like your Owen estate, then come check this place out. We will be back.
ScoutWe wanted to visit Lake Placid but preferred bringing our RV instead of booking a hotel for the whole trip. We spent a full day around Lake Placid and the surrounding area, then drove back to Ausable Pines that evening. I liked having some separation between the busy sightseeing part of the day and where we were staying. The next morning we took our time making breakfast before heading out again. It gave the trip a nice balance between exploring and camping.
ScoutWe have a bigger RV, so I always pay attention to how easy a campground is going to be before booking. Kings Bay turned out to be a comfortable choice for our setup.
ScoutThis was our first longer trip with our new fifth wheel and we were definitely nervous about taking it somewhere unfamiliar. We had plenty of room for our setup and having full hookups made the whole experience much easier than expected. By the end of the stay we were already talking about where to take it next.
ScoutTook a paddleboard out in the afternoon and ended up staying on the water way longer than planned. Such a fun way to spend a summer day.
ScoutNice spots, clearly marked. Only if humans would practice leave no trace. Take all items you brought with you, out with you.
GuideIt’s a nice relatively small campground in a pretty setting. Sites are fairly close, and there’s definitely some longer tempura residents, but it’s well kept and seems like a nice place to stay.
ScoutWe chose Kings Bay because we wanted to spend most of our trip outdoors and close to Lake Champlain. One afternoon we borrowed a paddleboat and just cruised around for a while with no real destination. Came back, made dinner at the camper, and called it a day. Hard to complain about that kind of vacation.
ScoutWe stayed here because we wanted to spend a few days exploring the Adirondacks without moving the RV every night. It worked perfectly for that. We headed out early each morning, explored somewhere new, and had our camper waiting for us when we got back.
Camping sites near Willsboro, New York range from isolated mountain retreats to waterfront locations along Lake Champlain shorelines. The region experiences temperature fluctuations with summer highs averaging 75-80°F during peak camping months, but dropping significantly in higher elevation sites. Fall campers should prepare for nighttime temperatures that can dip below 40°F by mid-September at many Adirondack campgrounds.
Kayaking at Lake Placid/Whiteface Mountain KOA Holiday: Located near the Ausable River, this campground provides water access for paddlers. "We had a great holiday weekend in this campground of Adirondack. It's nice to close to the river, also you can rent boats from the registration," notes Maggie H. The nearby swimming hole offers a natural alternative to the on-site pool.
Hiking at Mount Philo State Park Campground: This small park with only 8 campsites offers a short but rewarding hike to panoramic views. "Only 8 campsites, dispersed in the trees. $23/night. Picnic table and fire pit. Moderate cell service. Nice hikes and cool views of the area!" shares Kaelin P. The park's summit trail takes approximately 10-15 minutes from the campground area.
Biking at Grand Isle State Park Campground: Cyclists can ride directly from camp to Burlington without returning to their vehicles. "We biked to this park from Burlington via the Island Line Trail. It was a super trip. The lakeside lean-to was awesome," writes John L. The trail includes a bike ferry that connects segments across a small section of Lake Champlain.
Waterfront access at North Beach Campground: Proximity to Lake Champlain with multi-use paths connecting to Burlington. "Right on the Burlington bike path and across the beach, there is plenty to do and easy access to town and other attractions. Other than the beach itself, this is not a resort campground but it is in an outdoor paradise with plenty to do in the area," reports Michael G.
Secluded sites at Shelburne Camping Area: Open year-round when most other campgrounds close for winter. "We didn't advance book, so we were in one of the last available spots. Site 2 is a flat, gravel back in, 30 amp, full hookup. We were near the pool and office," explains C O. Despite its proximity to town, sites maintain a sense of privacy.
Lakefront views at Apple Island Resort: Sites with premium views of Lake Champlain. "This campground is located in a central area between Burlington and north hero. The views of lake Champlain are amazing. Ex check in and plenty of amenities," says Ronald C. The resort features a 9-hole par-3 golf course with putting green for campers.
Seasonal operation limitations: Most campgrounds in the region operate between May and October, with very limited winter camping options. "We stayed over Memorial Day weekend and were surprised that the campground was not full. One thing we noticed was that all the campers were clustered together while they could have been spaced out so there was an empty site between us and our neighbors," observes Nancy W. at Lake Placid/Whiteface Mountain KOA Holiday.
Waterfront site considerations: Not all waterfront sites provide direct water access. At Ausable Point Campground, "I was on a water spot but the only problem is u have to climb over logs to get to the water, from the riverside," mentions Debbie T. Beach sites may have steep drop-offs at some locations.
Reservation requirements: Popular sites fill quickly, especially waterfront locations. "Only 8 campsites so try to book early. Nice trails that lead to scenic views of Lake Champlain. Bathrooms and showers were clean. Showers were quarter operated, 50 cents for 5 minutes," advises Beau B. about Mount Philo State Park.
Beach access options: Selecting campgrounds with swimming facilities. "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," says Brittany R. about North Beach Campground.
Playground facilities: Button Bay State Park offers structured recreation areas for children. "This state park is so fun to camp at! It has a great playground for kids and a nice swimming pool! You can hike on the trail and Lake Champlain is right there!" recommends Debbie S.
Nature programs for children: Grand Isle State Park features educational opportunities. "They have a small place to put in kayaks and wade in water. They have a jumping pad on that side also. Both sides have the tractor driving around, pulling the kids around," reports Nicole S. about activities at Lake Placid/Whiteface Mountain KOA.
Hook-up placement awareness: At Apple Island Resort, "The hook-ups at our site (11AD) were well-placed but the sewer pipe was high off the ground which did not let it drain even with a 'slinky.' The cable yielded a number of channels but was not HD. Campground Wifi was good and our Verizon phone and hotspot worked well," notes Nancy W.
Site selection for water views: Different tiers of sites offer varying levels of lake views. "Some Platinum Plus sites are in the first row with unobstructed views; whereas, our site was three rows back. Not sure why they charge the same when our site was overlooking two rows of RVs," comments Nancy W. about Apple Island Resort's tiered pricing structure.
Dump station availability: Button Bay State Park offers dump stations but no full hookups. "Great campground. Everything from sunny meadow sites to more wooded private sites. Nice pool. No hookups but have a dump station," advises Barbara Y. for those requiring waste disposal services.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I find camping spots in Willsboro, NY?
Willsboro and the surrounding Adirondack region offer several camping options. Meadowbrook Campground is a basic campground located between Saranac Lake and Lake Placid with picnic tables, open fire grills, and spacious sites with privacy along the outer ring. For more wilderness camping, Flowed Lands offers beautiful lakeside lean-to sites with stunning views. Both campgrounds provide access to the natural beauty of the Adirondacks. Other nearby options include Lake Placid/Whiteface Mountain KOA Holiday in Wilmington and various primitive camping sites throughout the region. Most campgrounds in the area are seasonal, typically operating from May through October.
What amenities are available at Willsboro Bay Marina and Campground?
While specific review information for Willsboro Bay Marina and Campground is limited, similar waterfront campgrounds in the region like Cumberland Bay State Park Campground offer amenities typical for Lake Champlain camping areas. These generally include shoreline access, picnic areas, swimming areas, and basic facilities like restrooms and fire rings. Many Lake Champlain campgrounds feature boat launches and docking facilities. For more developed camping options with additional amenities, Brookwood RV Resort is in the general vicinity and offers more extensive services for RV campers. Contact Willsboro Bay Marina directly for current amenity information and reservation details.
What are the best camping spots near Lake Champlain in Willsboro?
Ausable Point Campground offers exceptional Lake Champlain camping on a beautiful peninsula with sunrise and sunset views. The campground provides excellent water activities, birding opportunities, beach walking, and easy forest hikes. It's particularly scenic in autumn. Another excellent option is North Beach Campground, which offers beautiful views of the Adirondacks across Lake Champlain. Sites 90 to 108 are well-spaced under trees and considered the best options. The campground connects to Burlington's paved bike/walking trail with easy beach access. Both campgrounds provide the quintessential Lake Champlain camping experience with water access and scenic views.
Keep Exploring
