Equestrian Camping near Charlotte, VT

Frontier Town Campground occupies a former theme park site in North Hudson, NY, surrounded by old-growth forest in the eastern Adirondacks. Located approximately 70 miles west of Charlotte, Vermont, the campground offers sites positioned to take advantage of morning sunlight patterns. Seasonal operations run from May through mid-October, with weekday visits typically offering quieter camping experiences.

What to do

Trail riding access: Equestrians at Frontier Town Campground can access numerous trail systems throughout the Adirondack region. "We stayed in the equestrian camping area. The trails are well marked and well maintained," notes Chelsea B., who appreciated the connectivity to surrounding wilderness areas.

Swimming opportunities: Visitors to Branbury State Park Campground enjoy lake access with designated swimming areas. "The day use section has a wonderful beach with a swimming area and boat launch. Large trees provide shade on a grassy lawn, and grills are available," reports Lisa S. The park includes equipment rentals for water activities.

Hiking options: Multiple trail networks connect throughout the region's state parks. "There are hiking trails right from the campground, which we always appreciate. You can also go down to the water and rent a kayak or canoe from the rangers," explains Laura M. about New Discovery State Park's recreational setup.

What campers like

Spacious sites: The equestrian loop at Frontier Town features exceptionally large sites. "Site 43 was long enough it could have fit two of the biggest RVs I have ever seen. My 75 foot starling cable did not even reach all the way back out to the road," says Butch K., highlighting the generous dimensions.

Clean facilities: AuSable Chasm Campground maintains high cleanliness standards. "The campground staff was friendly, and worked hard to keep the bathrooms and showers clean," writes Heather M., who stayed at a site with water and electric hookups. Multiple visitors note the well-maintained bathrooms.

Morning sunlight: Site positioning affects sun exposure in the heavily wooded areas. "This is an old-growth forest area so a site on the west side of the road gives best Morning sun - sites 57 and 59 are good examples," explains Charles K. about Frontier Town's natural setting.

What you should know

Seasonal insects: Bug activity varies throughout the season at equestrian campgrounds in the region. "I saw the bugs, some of them clearly mosquitoes and I never saw one get away with biting me. But I ended up with two lower legs and two forearms that constantly itch like mad. I will never go back in June," warns Butch K. about Frontier Town.

Site configurations: The equestrian-focused design can present challenges. "Sites are built wrong so it is hard to get you camper into your site correct. It is definitely catered to the equestrian part of the camping," notes Sheri C., who found the layout prioritized horse accommodations over RV positioning.

Water access: New Discovery State Park Campground has non-standard water connections. "The spigots for the water are not threaded. We tried our water bandit, with messy wet results... Luckily, we found we could unscrew the head of the hose at the dump station and had no problem filling our tank with potable water," shares Laura M.

Tips for camping with families

Playground access: Recreation facilities enhance family camping experiences. "Spacious sites, hiking trails, biking trails, nice beach and grounds. Fishing, kayak, canoe, paddle boat and paddle board rentals. Theres a nature center with all kinds of information and activities. A large playground," lists J L. about Branbury State Park.

Nature exploration: Groton Forest Road Campground offers family-friendly natural features. "The spots were spacious with enough privacy between sites. The lake was gorgeous to swim in and had different rafts and stuff in the water for public use," describes Reid B., who visited with his girlfriend.

Wildlife awareness: Bear safety protocols are important throughout the region. "There are bears around the area though so please be bear smart when camping here," advises Laura M. about New Discovery State Park, where food storage requirements help prevent wildlife encounters.

Tips from RVers

Site selection: For horse owners with RVs, proper site research prevents setup issues. "We stayed in site 33 which is in the equestrian camping area. It's really open with little tree cover which is perfect for those who work remote using Starlink. We had fantastic connection," recommends Chelsea B. about their stay at Frontier Town.

Leveling challenges: Terrain varies significantly throughout campgrounds in the region. "Upon arrival at AuSable Chasm, we were told we had to take a site with water and electric since we had a camper van. These sites were $13 more per night and we really did not need the hookups. We were finally able to convince the staff that we could take a standard tent site, which was more than big enough," explains Lee D., highlighting the importance of communicating your specific vehicle needs.