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Established Camping

Wilmington Notch

Warning 1 Alert is In Effect

There is 1 alert for this campground. Camp safely!

DEC Campgrounds: Same-day reservations will be allowed until 5pm on day of arrival at all DEC campgrounds. Reservations can be made online or through the Reserve America Call Center: 1-800-456-2267. Walk-ins will not be permitted.

Wilmington Notch, near Lake Placid, New York, is a solid choice for campers looking to enjoy the beauty of the Adirondacks. This campground offers a mix of tent and RV sites, all conveniently located near essential amenities like clean bathrooms and hot showers.

The setting is beautifully wooded, with plenty of hemlocks providing shade and a peaceful atmosphere. Visitors have noted the proximity to outdoor activities, including hiking trails and fishing spots along the Ausable River. As one camper mentioned, “I can hear the falls from my bed,” highlighting the natural sounds that add to the experience.

While the sites are somewhat close together, making it feel a bit communal, many appreciate the friendly vibe and the chance to meet fellow campers. The campground is just a short drive from Lake Placid, where you can explore local attractions or grab a bite to eat. If you’re looking for a base to explore the High Peaks region, Wilmington Notch is a great spot to set up camp.

Description

NYS Department of Environmental Conservation

Wilmington Notch Campground

Wilmington Notch is located beside the Ausable River and accommodates fishermen looking to challenge the rapids in search of a great catch. Olympic Whiteface Mountain is on the other side of the river and offers a gondola ride to the summit with a great view for miles. Lake Placid Olympic Village is a short 8 miles from this campground, offering unlimited attractions. The campground is situated in a birch and pine grove at the base of Whiteface Mountain.

CAMPGROUND SPECIFIC INFORMATION

  • Your garbage must be taken to the recycling area at designated times for processing. Clear plastic bags are required. Instructions will be provided directing you to the proper recycling policies
  • Use extreme caution on steep banks when accessing the fishing river

WHEN YOU ARRIVE -You must sign for your own site. Have your equipment with you and be ready to camp when you register. Names of all campers on a site must be listed on the permit at time of registration
CHECK-IN TIME -From 2pm until 9p.m. Campers must register for their campsite by 9:00 p.m. on the first night of their reservation or the campsite will be subject to re-rental and all fees will be forfeited
CHECK-OUT TIME -11:00 a.m. on your departure date
OCCUPANCY -Limited to 6 individuals per campsite and 2 tents or 1 unit of hard wheeled camping equipment and 1 tent. Only 2 vehicles permitted on any campsite. Extra vehicles will be required to park in a designated area (additional fees will apply)
AGE REGULATIONS -Campsites must be registered and occupied by a responsible person 18 years of age or older
LENGTH OF STAY -Your camping permit can be issued for a maximum of 14 nights. From July 1 through Labor Day only 14 cumulative nights will be permitted at any campground.
QUIET HOURS -From 10 p.m. until 7 a.m., and are strictly enforced. Violators of this policy may be evicted
GENERATORS -The use of generators may be limited to no more than 5 hours per day and fall between the hours of 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. daily. If the use of a generator is deemed unreasonably loud by the facility staff then individual use of a generator may be prohibited/limited
FIRES -Must be built in fireplaces provided. Only dead and down wood may be used for fuel. No chainsaws are allowed in campgrounds, and cutting down trees, alive or dead is prohibited.
FIREARMS -Are not allowed in campgrounds except during the Fall and Spring hunting seasons. Firearms must not be discharged within campground boundaries at any time
ACCESSIBLE SITES -At least one member of the camping party staying on the site must be mobility impaired (i.e. in a wheelchair or uses a walker) or the camping party may be turned away at the campground
SWIMMING -Is allowed at campgrounds with supervised bathing areas during designated hours when a lifeguard is on duty. Please note that there may be times when lifeguards are unavailable, and for the safety of our customers these beaches will not be open and swimming will be prohibited. Not all campground locations offer swimming, to inquire please contact the campground directly
PETS -Are allowed with proof of a currently valid rabies vaccination in the form of a current year's tag or a certificate issued by the veterinarian. Campers can walk dogs on a leash no longer than six feet as long as the animal is under control. Dogs cannot be left unattended and are not allowed in facility structures, on the beach or in day use areas

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Location

Wilmington Notch is located in New York

Detail location of campground

Directions

From the Northway (I-87) northbound: Take Exit 30, Route 73 North, to Lake Placid. Follow Route 86 through Lake Placid. The campground will be on the left, eight miles past Lake Placid. From the Northway (I-87) southbound: Take Exit 34, Route 9N South, to Jay. Follow Route 86 south to Wilmington; the campground will be on the right side of the road, four miles west of the village. From Tupper Lake: Take Route 3 East to Saranac Lake. Follow Route 86 through Lake Placid. The campground will be on the left, eight miles past Lake Placid.

Address

4953 NYS ROUTE 86
Wilmington, NY 12977

Coordinates

44.35000049 N
73.8610004 W

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Access

  • Drive-In
    Park next to your site
  • Walk-In
    Park in a lot, walk to your site.

Stay Connected

  • WiFi
    Unknown
  • Verizon
    Good
  • AT&T
    Good
  • T-Mobile
    Unknown

Site Types

  • Tent Sites
  • RV Sites
  • Standard (Tent/RV)

Features

For Campers

  • Picnic Table
  • Firewood Available
  • Reservable
  • Showers
  • Electric Hookups
  • Alcohol
  • Pets
  • Fires

For Vehicles

  • Sanitary Dump
  • Sewer Hookups
  • Water Hookups
  • Pull-Through Sites
  • 30 Amp Hookups
  • 50 Amp Hookups

Drive Time


Reviews

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4.5

out of 5

11 Reviews

Reviewed Sep. 8, 2024

Amazing Campsite!

I didn’t expect too much from a campground but this site was super clean, spacious and very quiet. Even though some of the sites are close to each other, it feels like your a mile apart with the sounds. The bathrooms are impressively clean and even have extra toilet paper if need be. Will definitely stay here again in the future!

Site34
Month of VisitSeptember
  • Review photo of Wilmington Notch by Monica S., September 8, 2024
  • Review photo of Wilmington Notch by Monica S., September 8, 2024
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  • (4) View All
Reviewed Jul. 17, 2022

Great Little Campground

Beautifully wooded with hemlocks right off of 86 (a bit too close). Sites are spaced out, but little privacy. Luckily I had a water bandit, as the water spigot does not have threads for a hose. Very clean facilities. Quick drive to all the stuff to do in Lake Placid.

Site44
Month of VisitJuly
  • Review photo of Wilmington Notch by Nathan S., July 17, 2022
  • Review photo of Wilmington Notch by Nathan S., July 17, 2022
  • Review photo of Wilmington Notch by Nathan S., July 17, 2022
Reviewed Sep. 30, 2021

Good stop over spot

We stayed at Wilmington Notch for a night prior to backpacking. It has a great location (beside Whiteface) and is open to both tent campers and RVs. Campsites are nice but not huge and all in a circle so you are definitely seeing your neighbors. This is a great spot for a car camping/ stop over but I would not consider it a destination. Not much going on besides fire pits and fellow car campers.

Definitely make reservations in advance during the summer!

Site35
Month of VisitSeptember
  • Review photo of Wilmington Notch by Maggie F., September 30, 2021
  • Review photo of Wilmington Notch by Maggie F., September 30, 2021
Reviewed Jul. 30, 2021

Typical KOA

This is a typical KOA with lots of sites and people. Campsites are pretty close, especially near the front and all the activities. There is a huge range of sites from full hook-up campsites to rental cabins and cottages. And, in typical KOA fashion, the park busy with lots of activities. What we liked was the location of this campground. 

Loved how close it was to Lake Placid, Wilmington, and other great Adirondack towns. Especially, loved the proximity to the AuSable River which provided amazing fly fishing. If you like to fish, hike, and paddle this is definitely the place for you. 

The park has lots of mature trees which provide nice shade but doesn’t allow for much grass to grow so sites are gravel and can be dusty. All roads are gravel. While we were there, the area was devoid of rain and the roads were extremely dusty, especially with all the speed demons in the campground. Since the park was so big, people tended to speed around trying to get back to their site. Some of the facilities were old and tired. Especially the bathhouse near us. It was dirty and overused but that could have been since we were there on a busy weekend and the park was full. The tennis courts were old and did not have a net and it looks like they were converted to a basketball court. Near the front of the campground is a game room that is really nice and opens to a community fire pit, playground and the pool area. 

The roads are really tight for big rigs. Between the trees, rocks, and low hanging branches, you have to take it really slow. I recommend unhooking your tow car at check-in so you are free to back up. Don’t make a wrong turn or you will get stuck and down a road you can’t turn around on. Some of the things we liked about this park was that it was well-marked from the main road and easy to find. The lodge and store were really cool and well-stocked. There is a restaurant on-site so you can get a quick bite to eat without leaving the property.

Month of VisitJune
  • Review photo of Wilmington Notch by Nancy W., July 30, 2021
  • Review photo of Wilmington Notch by Nancy W., July 30, 2021
  • Review photo of Wilmington Notch by Nancy W., July 30, 2021
  • (10) View All
Reviewed Jul. 11, 2021

In the heart of the High Peaks

Wilmington Notch Campground is owned and operated by the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation. There are approximately 50 sites available, all on level campground and within access of Both bathrooms and shower facilities. Fire pits and picnic tables available. About a mile down the road from the high falls gorge tourist destination and a quarter mile from the base of whiteface lodge ski resort. There is an accessible trail from the back of the campground to an amazing waterfall on the west branch of the Ausable River and plenty of spots to trout fish/swim. A mile down the road is flume falls trails, which leads to a great swimming hole and various height choice cliff jumping. This is a very clean and quiet campground, one of the best in the high peaks region for primitive camping

Site17
Month of VisitJuly
  • Review photo of Wilmington Notch by Zachary M., July 11, 2021
  • Review photo of Wilmington Notch by Zachary M., July 11, 2021
Reviewed Apr. 10, 2019

Peace and quiet

Nice level sites and plenty of room , good for rv or tents. Only issue is bathrooms and showers need up dating, while usable not in good shape, was told that they will to getting redone soon,when finished it will be a first class campground with hiking fishing and site seeing all around.

  • Review photo of Wilmington Notch by John T., April 10, 2019
Reviewed Sep. 7, 2016

Too open

Close to alot of activities but too open for my tastes. No privacy between sites. The waterfall behind it somewhat makes up for it.

Reviewed Aug. 1, 2016

Wilmington Notch

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. I took my own TP ( you never know with some parks) and I am glad I did. Bathrooms are a bit run down but great value for how much it costs!

  • Review photo of Wilmington Notch by Meag F., August 1, 2016
  • Review photo of Wilmington Notch by Meag F., August 1, 2016
Reviewed Jul. 31, 2016

Clean and Serene in the Adirondacks!

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. Clean and quiet campground. 15 minutes to downtown lake placid. The whiteface mountain gondola ride to the top of the mountain is a must do.

  • Review photo of Wilmington Notch by Megan B., July 31, 2016
  • Review photo of Wilmington Notch by Megan B., July 31, 2016
  • Review photo of Wilmington Notch by Megan B., July 31, 2016
  • (10) View All
Reviewed Jul. 10, 2016

Longtime Annual Visitor to Campground

I have camped at this campground with a large group of friends and family for the past 15 years. Campsites are generally spacious, with different options for shade/sun and ground cover (grass or pine needles). Bathroom conditions vary at the campground depending on who the staff is from year to year, but all your basic amenities are provided (clean water, showers, bathrooms) and the campground itself is usually clean and well-kept. There is one shower building with two stalls for each gender, and showers are free. The campsite is just down the road from Whiteface Mountain, a few fly shops, and many fishing access sites and hiking trails, and is about 15 minutes from Lake Placd. When you're not hanging out around the campsite, there is a steep trail at the back of the campground that leads down to the falls in Wilmington Notch and an easier trail along the Ausable river.

  • Review photo of Wilmington Notch by Rachael W., July 10, 2016

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Does Wilmington Notch have RV hookups?

    According to TheDyrt.com, Wilmington Notch has 30 amp and 50 amp electric hookups, water hookups and sewer hookups.

  • What is the max vehicle length at Wilmington Notch?

    Wilmington Notch allows vehicles up to 35 feet.

  • Are fires allowed at Wilmington Notch?

    Yes, according to campers on TheDyrt.com, fires are allowed at Wilmington Notch, although make sure to check current fire restrictions in the area.

  • Does Wilmington Notch have wifi?

    No, according to campers on TheDyrt.com, Wilmington Notch does not have wifi.

  • Is there cell phone reception at Wilmington Notch?

    According to campers on TheDyrt.com, Verizon signal is good, AT&T is good, and T-Mobile is unknown.