Camping options near Benson, Vermont expand beyond local borders, with most established campgrounds located 20-35 miles away in upstate New York's Adirondack region. Elevations in this cross-border camping zone range from 335 feet at Lake George to approximately 1,500 feet in Vermont's western mountains. Summer temperatures typically reach 75-85°F while dropping to 40-50°F in early autumn when most campgrounds close for the season.
What to do
Swimming and water activities: Jamaica State Park Campground provides direct access to the West River with opportunities for tubing and kayaking during scheduled dam releases. "The river is beautiful and serene. This campground did have a newer playground which my kids loved, as well. We didn't have a site that over looked the river but were able to access it through the 'beach area,'" notes one visitor to Lake George Schroon Valley Resort.
Hiking opportunities: Trails ranging from easy to challenging surround most camping areas near Benson. "We hiked the west river trail (which leads right out of the campground) to Hamilton falls which is a gravel closed road that follows the west river upstream 2 miles to Hamilton falls trail which then leads up hill for another mile to the falls," explains a camper at Jamaica State Park Campground.
Historical exploration: Fort Ticonderoga sits approximately 30 miles from Benson, offering living history demonstrations. According to a visitor at Brookwood RV Resort, "Ft Ticonderoga is a few miles to the north where you can explore history with re-enactors."
What campers like
Spacious sites: Many campsites in the region provide ample room for setup and outdoor activities. A camper at Brookwood RV Resort reported: "Sites are generally level and close together. I was there mid-week and most of the short-term sites were empty. There was limited wi-fi."
Pet-friendly amenities: Several campgrounds offer dedicated areas for dogs. A visitor to Lake George RV Park shared: "Perfect for the dogs with best dog park I ever saw. Pools and hot tubs extremely clean and the grounds looked more like a hotel resort than campground."
Family-oriented activities: Organized events keep younger campers engaged. "There are SO MANY activities in this area. Archery was awesome!" remarks a camper about Lake George Escape Campground. Another visitor adds: "So many activities, dance floor and kids meals comes in frisbee plates. You can mine for gold, chill by the pool or even try your shot at archery!"
What you should know
Seasonal operations: Most campgrounds in the Benson area operate from May through mid-October. "We stayed in May and August 2018. Absolutely beautiful and CLEAN campground," notes a visitor to Lake George RV Park. Jamaica State Park's season runs "May 12 to Columbus Day weekend."
Road noise considerations: Some campgrounds experience highway sound. A camper at Ledgeview Village RV Park mentions: "Only downside was the road noise, our site was adjacent to the road and you could hear the loud noise of the tractor trailers all night. We camp in a pop up, I don't know if you would hear the noise in a trailer."
Varying WiFi reliability: Internet connectivity fluctuates across campgrounds. A Dorset RV Park visitor reported: "WiFi: exists, but 100% unreliable. Not just slow, often was entirely offline or connected without Internet. When it did work, it was actually halfway decent."
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Several campgrounds feature play areas for children. A visitor to Dorset RV Park mentioned: "The location was very good in allowing us to visit family in nearby village and go into nearby Manchester Center. There are some really nice tent sites set away from the RV sites that sit under large trees and have nice space."
Water features for kids: Swimming options vary by location. "Great campground in a fun area! Sites were really wooded, quiet, level, and spread out. Staff were super-helpful. And Ft. Ticonderoga and Lake George are right around the corner," notes a visitor to Brookwood RV Resort.
Animal attractions: Some sites have unique features for children. "They even had roaming chickens with FREE eggs, first come first serve," explains a camper at Dorset RV Park, though another visitor cautions: "While the campground is pet friendly, a warning about free roaming chickens would have been nice."
Tips from RVers
Site selection for larger rigs: Not all campgrounds accommodate big motorhomes equally. A visitor to Alpine Lake RV Resort advised: "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. If your site neighbors are in their spots already when you arrive it will probably be hard to navigate unless you have a 20' rig."
Leveling considerations: Terrain varies across rv sites near Benson, Vermont. "Sites are pretty inconsistent– meaning some are long and wide with good privacy but others are not. With over 400 campsites there are a lot to chose from and hard to know which is best for you unless you have been there before," explains one camper about Lake George Escape.
Utility placement: Hook-up locations may affect comfort at some campgrounds. "Our site was level but some definitely were not. We got twenty or so television channels with the cable hookup. The hookups were all well-placed and we didn't have any issues with the electric and the wifi at our site worked well," reports a visitor to Dorset RV Park.
