Best Tent Camping near Winthrop, NY

Tent campsites near Winthrop, New York provide access to the Adirondack region's pristine wilderness areas with several established options for primitive camping. Jones Pond NYSDEC Primitive Campsites offers five free tent sites along the northeastern shore, accessible by a rough dirt service road on a first-come basis. Middle Pond Campsite provides another primitive option along Floodwood Road with waterfront access. The highly-rated Saranac Lake Islands Adirondack Preserve Campground offers unique boat-access tent camping on secluded islands.

Most tent campgrounds in this region feature basic amenities with varying levels of access. Jones Pond sites are accessible by vehicle for sites #1, #2, #4, and #5, with site #3 requiring a walk-in approach. Fire rings are available at most locations, but drinking water is not provided, requiring campers to bring their own supplies. Most sites have pit toilets with varying maintenance conditions. The primitive sites at Jones Pond allow a maximum three-night stay without a permit. Saranac Lake Islands is boat-access only, with sites featuring picnic tables, fire rings, and outhouses, operating seasonally from May 19 to October 9.

The backcountry tent camping experience varies across these areas, with Saranac Lake Islands offering the most seclusion. The island sites provide remarkable privacy where neighboring campers are often not visible. According to one visitor, "The experience of camping on one of these islands is something special that will remain with you for years." Middle Pond Campsite is noted for its peaceful setting but becomes popular during summer months, with off-season visits recommended for greater solitude. Jones Pond sites provide varying levels of privacy, with site #4 accommodating larger groups with multiple tents and vehicles. Weather conditions can change rapidly in the Adirondacks, with temperature swings of 30 degrees possible within hours, requiring tent campers to prepare for a range of conditions.

Best Tent Sites Near Winthrop, New York (6)

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Recent Tent Camping Photos near Winthrop, NY

13 Photos of 6 Winthrop Campgrounds


Tent Camping Reviews near Winthrop, NY

183 Reviews of 6 Winthrop Campgrounds


  • N
    Jun. 18, 2017

    Fish Creek Pond Campground

    Fish Creek

    Campsite was phenomenal beautiful scenery and weather, the ground and tree cover were great and just enough privacy. Bathrooms, showers, and water were all accesable and the staff is accomodatin. Best site I have ever had I would return.

  • Lee D.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 28, 2019

    Little Wolf Beach Campground

    Glorious sunsets and an even more beautiful morning view!

    50 sites, full hookup ($40), water& electric ($35) and tent ($??). Has the feel of an RV park with three rows of sites plus some more (I think the tent sites) closer to the road. Not much separation between sites. The lucky ones get beachfront sites with unobstructed views; we were in the second row. The beach was closed for the season when we were there; the campground is open May- September and an on-site caretaker is there the entire five months. Gorgeous sunsets. Coin-operated showers($1 for approximately 15 minutes)– did not use so cannot say how they were. Playground. Clean restroom but the women's only had one operable stall. Although there was a hot water spigot, I was not able to coax any hot(or even warm) water out of it. No defined quiet hours but it was very quiet by 8:30 pm.

  • Shari  G.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 28, 2018

    Meadowbrook Campground

    Conveniently Located, but a bit Noisy

    This is a very basic campground situated in a small village in the Adirondacks – situated between Saranac Lake and Lake Placid. Every site has a picnic table and an open fire grill and most of the sites on the outer ring have a lot of privacy as they are lined with trees and shrubs. Lots of spaces for larger RV’s, but we saw mostly tent campers.

    Bathrooms are mostly clean and the showers are nice. There is a quality dishwashing sink by the bathrooms. Overall, the campground is ok, but needs a bit of a facelift, repainting, etc. Also, you can hear the sounds of the city (cars, leaf blowers, and other things that remind you that you are not truly in the woods).

    The best part about this campground is that it is conveniently located between two awesome places and is relatively inexpensive, so if you don’t plan to spend much time in the campground itself, it’s perfect.

    We used this campground as a basecamp to mountain bike on an awesome trail just outside of Saranac Lake, the Bloomingdale Bog trail. The following day, we did a quadrathlon that involved kayaking the length of Lake Placid, hiking to the summit of Whiteface Mountain, kayaking back, and then finished the day at Lake Placid Pub and Brewery for dinner. Highly recommended, but plan on a 9-10 hour day on the lake/trail!

    With its central location, this campground is close to everything you may need, most even within walking distance.

  • Kristin G.
    Jul. 20, 2019

    Meacham Lake Campground

    Something For All Camping Styles

    The West side of the campground is reserved for primitive tent campers with a few choice sites right on the water. These sites generally have tent platforms which is a good thing. On my recent trip there the ground was saturated and boggy. Not sure if that is normal or was just due to wet weather this spring. These platform sites are all hike-in, with a few of them located a good distance from the camp road. Each of these sites has its own outhouse. The one on my site was cleaned once or twice over the course of five days. There are other sites on the west side, not located on the water, but closer to your vehicle so you don't have to carry gear in and out. These sites are also close to water spigots. On the more developed side of the campground things are much as you would expect at a NYS campground. The sites are not especially private, but they come in all sizes. There is a beach with canoe rentals and swimming, an amphitheater, showers, a recycling center and a dump station. Wood and ice are also offered for sale. I'll take the quiet privacy of the west side, but there is plenty on offer for all different camping styles at Meacham Lake.

  • Jane B.
    Jun. 20, 2018

    Fish Creek Pond Campground

    A little slice of heaven

    I have stayed here many times over the years, usually for a 10-18 day stretch at a time. This is one of my favorite places. Most sites are right on the water. Square pond is a lovely little lake that connects to a larger lake (Upper Saranac I believe) by passing through a canal. This campground has great facilities. There are restrooms located convieniently throughout the park so you never have to walk more than a few sites no matter where you are. There are hot showers located at one end of the park and a dump station for RVs. The restrooms and showers are cleaned daily. There is a great little general store just outside the park that sells pretty much anything you could want. Sites are equipped with a table and fireplace (most have grates). There are vendors that drive through the park daily selling wood, ice cream (from an old fashioned wagon, get the moose tracks!), and ice. There is a boat supplier that travels the lake every morning and evening dropping off and picking up kayak and canoe rentals. If you love water front camping this is for you! The park is pet friendly but you need to show proof of vaccines. There are great things to do nearby like the Adirondack Museum, Lake Placid, and beautiful hiking spots. You can have power boats and jets skis on the lake as well as non motorized boats. Some of the best sunsets I have ever viewed happened right here. Quiet hours are taken very seriously and rangers walk the park at night warning rowdy fireside folks to quiet down. However, as dusk turns to night, you can always count on the chorus of yodels going back and forth across the lake. This is a wonderful spot! Check it out! You won’t be sorry! Oh, but sites go on sale nine months in advance through reserve America and the best spots wind up booked for the season pretty quickly.

  • 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.

  • Tami W.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 12, 2025

    Birch’s Lakeside Campground and Marina

    4.85 stars

    I’d love to give the campground the full 5⭐️ that it deserves but there were a few things that need tending to. In spot 14 where we were located the wooden platform was a little rickety and the strip under door of the women’s restroom is very loose posing a tripping hazard since I’m disabled. But the staff at the store (which has everything you could ever want) was fantastic. The place was quiet and peaceful. Besides a few dogs running around with no leashes it was paradise. This place even has WiFi!!!

  • Rebecca D.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 11, 2021

    Cranberry Lake Campground

    Great location if you time it right

    First thing about Cranberry Lake: the staff are wonderful. We arrived when the check in staff had the day off. Not a problem we only needed wood which was available just down the street from the campground. No need, the ranger, who let us know the overworked staff was off, brought it to our site once he had figured out the key. Sweet. Our site was on the uphill slope so we had some road noise due to that. We walked a bit of the campground until we realized it's larger than first assumed. I will say do your homework, check out the site photos which you can easily find online. Get a waterfront site but be aware the privacy isn't great at many sites, at least the ones we saw. There is a shower house which is great but be ready to drive to it, as I said the campground is bigger than expected! Some sites are super close which would be great for groups who may like to visit or it could be a nightmare with loud folks. The lake is beautiful. We weren't set up for it but if you can plan for the sunset view I think it's worth rescheduling your trip for the right site. Brand new sewer dump area for folks who need it.

  • Jill R.
    Jul. 15, 2016

    Higley Flow State Park Campground

    Favorite place to camp in NY

    Whether it's playing in the water or in the playground this place is awesome to bring your children. The showers and restrooms were kept very clean and The Pavilions were wonderful places to have a family picnic. The campsites are also well maintained and it was very simple to just back up a little mobile home into the camping spot the picturesque Landscapes made the sunsets absolutely beautiful. Out of all of the places that I have been in New York this is by far one of my favorite places to go


Guide to Winthrop

Tent camping near Winthrop, New York provides access to the northern Adirondack region where elevation ranges from 1,500 to 2,000 feet above sea level. Weather patterns in this area can be unpredictable, with summer daytime temperatures typically between 65-80°F and nighttime temperatures dropping into the 40s. Many sites require visitors to navigate rough dirt access roads that become challenging during or after rain events.

What to do

Water activities at Saranac Lake Islands: Paddling and fishing opportunities abound in the interconnected waterways. According to Sambath T., "We rented a motorboat to get to our own private little peninsula on the middle saranac. One of the coolest experiences I've ever had in my life- surrounded by nature- water, woods, birds and fishing for pike, bass and sunfish!"

Wildlife viewing on secluded islands: The remote nature of island camping provides excellent opportunities for spotting local wildlife. Molly G. shared her experience at Saranac Lake Islands Adirondack Preserve Campground: "Brought our dog and he had a blast exploring the island at his own whim. We jumped from the rocks and swam and played games."

Swimming from waterfront sites: Many campsites provide direct water access for swimming. One camper at Jones Pond noted, "You can walk down to the water, which is only a small ledge and enough space to put a chair," while another camper added, "Site #5 was absolutely beautiful and right on the water, I mean right on the water."

What campers like

Island privacy and seclusion: Camping on islands creates a unique sense of isolation. Kelly H. shared about her stay at Saranac Lake Islands Adirondack Preserve Campground: "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. Bought a small aluminum boat with a motor and now can bring a lot more gear."

Waterfront accessibility: Direct lake access ranks among the most appreciated features. Angela describes her experience: "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."

Off-season tranquility: Visiting during shoulder seasons increases chances for solitude. At Middle Pond Campsite, Kurt V. notes: "Beautiful location but this campsite is popular during the summer months. Off season is generally when you will find this campsite available."

What you should know

Primitive facilities: Most sites offer minimal amenities. Dylan J. describes Jones Pond NYSDEC Primitive Campsites: "There are two pit toilets, both primitive, one of which did not have a door when we visited. The views from site #4 of the pond were beautiful."

Access challenges: Vehicle accessibility varies widely by site. At Jones Pond, "The two track access road is rough and all dirt. Site #3 sits away from the water and on a hill. It is not accessible by vehicle and you would need to park at the bottom of the hill near site #4 to access it."

Storage considerations: Limited space means careful packing, especially for boat-in sites. One camper advises: "We kayaked before, and found the biggest drawback was impossible to bring a lot of food and a cooler. Bought a small aluminum boat with a motor and now can bring a lot more gear."

Tips for camping with families

Multiple-vehicle sites: Some campsites accommodate larger family groups. Tyler C. shares about Jones Pond NYSDEC Primitive Campsites: "Stayed here with a group of friends at site #4. Was a great spot and lots of room for our 4 tents/3vehicles."

Child-friendly water activities: Many sites offer safe water access for children. Joanna H. reports: "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!"

Seasonal timing considerations: School breaks coincide with peak crowds. "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."

Tips from RVers

Site size limitations: Most primitive sites accommodate smaller rigs only. Dylan J. notes about Jones Pond: "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. The campsites are perfect for a short stay with a tent or SUV camper."

Rough road conditions: Access roads require appropriate vehicles. Robert K. advises: "I went back to site five... 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."

Stay limits: Free sites have occupancy restrictions. "You can stay a maximum of three nights without a permit. The sites are on a first come basis and are free to use."

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Winthrop, NY?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Winthrop, 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 Winthrop, NY?

TheDyrt.com has all 6 tent camping locations near Winthrop, NY, with real photos and reviews from campers.