5 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Luzerne Campground stands as the only facility in New York state specifically accommodating horseback riders with campsites that include horse stalls. Located just over an hour from Rupert, this established campground offers direct access to multiple riding trails while providing specialized accommodations for both riders and their animals. The campground features clean, private shower facilities and boat rentals for when riders want to explore Lake Luzerne after trail rides. Camping options include both tent and RV sites with some located close to the lake. The campground's location allows convenient access to both forested riding areas and nearby attractions like Great Escape theme park. The sites closest to the water provide easy fishing access while still accommodating horse trailers.
The surrounding trail system connects riders to varied terrain suitable for different experience levels. Luzerne's horse-friendly sites typically require advance reservations, particularly during peak summer months from May through September. Water access points for horses exist throughout the property, though riders should confirm current availability when booking. A small country store located directly across from the campground entrance provides essential supplies and last-minute items equestrians might need during their stay. Many trail riders appreciate the deep wooded setting that offers shade and natural surroundings during hot summer months. The property's layout accommodates horse trailers while maintaining the natural forest environment. Trail access points begin directly from the campground, eliminating the need to transport horses after arrival. Winter camping with horses is not available as the facility operates seasonally.
"This campground is close to the highway between Albany and the Adirondacks. There’s a nice big lake and the Hudson RIver. Many campsites are near the lake."
"Great thing about this park is the hiking trails and lake so you don’t even have to leave to the park to enjoy great outdoor recreation."
from $20 - $143 / night
Check Availability"There are campsites that also come with stalls for your horse!"
"We get our site close to the lake so we can walk down and swim and my husband fishes. The showers are so nice and private and clean. Love that we can rent boats too."
from $22 - $40 / night
Check Availability"Decent bathroom situation--I've seen better and I've seen worse in Vermont."
"The park is amazingly clean, well run, located just of RT 4 and very near to Killington, Vermont. It has multiple lean-to sites which are in wooded areas."
"The site was so scenic with a little waterfall and stream nearby. The camp staff was so nice. They kept the the bathrooms and areas so clean."
"Love to lake access, secluded camping, the hiking and remote area. Planning on revisiting next summer, even in august the nights get to a good sleeping temperature a vast majority of the time."
from $125 - $500 / night
Check Availability
LegendPlenty of space between sites. Decent bathroom situation--I've seen better and I've seen worse in Vermont. The (AT&T) cell phone reception was pretty good, but could be slow at times (which could be because of the area or because of the busy fall color season.)
ScoutI've stayed at 10 of the state parks of VT. Gifford Woods takes the cake in friendliness of its staff. The park is amazingly clean, well run, located just of RT 4 and very near to Killington, Vermont. It has multiple lean-to sites which are in wooded areas. Cool stone bathrooms and playing fields for kids but the highlight (for me) is access to the Appalachian Trail. The AT runs directly through this park. While on a 4 state section hike I traveled by foot through this park. The ranger gave me an ice cream, pointed me to the showers and then chatted with me for an hour about my hike so far. He also gave me a ride to the Inn at Long Trail to pick up a resupply box since I was a few days behind schedule and low on food. I'll always remember his kindness. Living just across the state line in NH, I have frequented Gifford Woods on 4 other occasions for day hiking with family. Enjoy! I sure did!
ScoutThe only campground in all of New York that acquires to house back riders. There are campsites that also come with stalls for your horse!
GuideThis campground is the number one rated in Vermont for a reason. The staff were wonderful, the sites are pristine and picturesque, the faculties are decorated with wildflowers. We met a number of AT through hikers, who were very willing to share their adventure stories.
RangerThis campground is close to the highway between Albany and the Adirondacks. There’s a nice big lake and the Hudson RIver. Many campsites are near the lake. The sites are shady and close together, but still feel fairly private. We enjoyed the hiking trails and beach while camping, then went further north for the full ADK experience.
ScoutWhen camping in VT it is usually our goal to hike, rest, cook, and relax at camp. We live in a busy/loud city so we really love a rural spot where we can just unplug and enjoy nature. Gifford Woods has great access to the AT and the Long Trail, nice bathrooms, and kind staff... but campers beware- it is wedged between two major highways. Initially we pulled up to the site "Poplar" after driving 4+ hours and I could have cried, this site faces a large DOT/Parks Dept. parking lot with a huge building and trucks everywhere. Luckily the (very sweet) staff said they understood that this was an issue and that they do get lots of complaints about that site. They moved us to T02 which was dramatically better. Unfortunately, you can still hear trucks/car honking/ambulances from that site and I assume all other sites. I understand now that people camp here just for AT access, but I would probably not go back due to the sheer volume of the neighboring highways and quieter camping options nearby.
RangerAlthough the campground was right off the road, it's still in a forest with big pine trees and mossy boulders. It was easy to access from 87. Given the proximity to the road, there is road noise, so that doesn't allow for that super outdoorsy experience you might desire. At night though it would get very dark and quiet - there weren't a lot of campers there during our stay. The camphost lives in a home onsite and was mostly helpful. Be sure to mention the 5 nights for 4 deal on their website upfront, otherwise she won't reimburse. Upon working with her to extend our stay, she said people were scheduled to come into our spot. We moved and no one arrived, so that was a bit annoying.
To get to the sites, we had to take it a bit slow because there are some low hanging trees and a turn, but made it fine. Our first site, 22, was a back-in, 30 amp, full hook-up. It was a long site with plenty of room for our RV and SUV. We had to back it up to the very end to find the flattest option to level. With the way they have their sites set up, you need a 50 ft hose for water. This site was close to the showerhouse but next to a longterm trailer with crap everywhere and we weren't super thrilled that was our view from our windows in our living area. Our second site, 50, was also a back-in, 30 amp, full hookup. It was very pretty but hard to level. The site slopes up, so the backend was high. We tried about every way to sit our rig in there to level, but we ended up driving our front tires up on some leveling blocks and went up with the jacks as much as we safely could. We didn't get a perfect level, but we decided it was ok since we only had 2 days left. We had to wiggle our SUV in kind of sideways, but it worked.
There were some "residents" there in tents, which was interesting and a couple longterm trailers (with the typical cluttered lots you see at campgrounds that offer longterm stays). The campground is clean and the shower houses were faithfully cleaned everyday around 11a. Showerhouses were dated, but had super hot water for showers.
A few miles further down the road is the town of Lake Luzerne. We visited their small grocery which had the basics and we ate at one of the restaurants which had a view of the water (Upriver Cafe). The campground was in a perfect location to visit Lake George and surrounding area (Six Flags, outlet shops, putt-putt, restaurants etc). If you're wanting to explore even more you're only 1.5 hrs to Lake Placid and the Green Mountain National Forest.
Work was difficult with my husband dependent on AT&T. The Weboost got Verizon working fine, but AT&T was spotty. We had some issues with our RV that we were trying to get fixed locally which extended our stay, otherwise we would have left earlier due to this. The camphost told us that they had invested in some sort of mini Verizon tower for their personal use, so that was what was helping the Verizon signal. The campground offers wifi at the office/pool/rec room area, but when the "residents" come down, it brings it to a snails pace. My husband would go down there in the morning to work and had to go to Starbucks in Lake George at times when all the kids at camp decided to be on their devices at the same time.
Pool is not heated, so not many people were using it. They charge $2 per garbage bag to be put in their dumpster. They sell a few necessities in their office and firewood. They have laundry with 1 working residential washer $1 and 1 residential dryer $.75 and 1 industrial sized dryer $1. We did a couple loads with no issue. They are outside in a patio area.
Bring the bug spray. The mosquitos were as big as birds and tenacious!
LegendThe road to our campsite was paved and in good shape but there were a few tight spots because of the trees that make it tricky for a big rig (Loop A seems to be the best for big-rigs). Great thing about this park is the hiking trails and lake so you don’t even have to leave to the park to enjoy great outdoor recreation. We found it enjoyable just to hang out in the park rather than trying to find things to do in the area. After hiking and paddling, we loved relaxing out at our campsite with a campfire.
Our campsite was spacious but required some maneuvering to avoid scraping trees with our RV. Campsites are spacious, shady, and had good separation between the neighboring sites which we enjoyed. Generators are allowed but not too many people were using them. The few other campers around that used them were mindful of quiet hours. Since it was still a little cool and our windows were closed and we never heard anyone’s generator. The park was not very crowded when we were there, but we can imagine it could get very busy and noisy in the busy summer season. The beach area seems to be a draw for people so the summer camping season is probably packed. The snack bar and gift/supplies shop at the sandy beach area were not open as we were there late in the season. There is also a nice playground for kids to enjoy.
This is dry camping so there are no hook-ups but there are restrooms and shower. Both were clean but the shower fluctuated between lukewarm, hot, and warm during my shower. Oh well, the shower felt good after our active days. There are two pavilions you can rent which are nice if big groups want to gather. Take note that only two pets are allowed per campsite, so plan accordingly if you are a pet owner.
Access is fairly easy, just off I-87, and there are plenty of signs directing you which way to go. Saratoga Springs and Lake George are nearby if you want to explore. We recommend visiting the National Horse Racing Hall of Fame in Saratoga Springs, if you have time. We would definitely stay here again.
GuideThis campsite was amazing. Each site had a fair amount of isolation and trees surrounding it, and the mosquitoes aren't too bad there either. 10 minutes away is the trail head for the Bucklin Trail (one of the most difficult trails for Mt. Killington).
Also, the campsite lies directly on the Appalachian trail, so for a shorter or less-intensive hike, walk about 2.5 miles to the Deer Leap Overlook for some incredible views of the mountain ranges nearby.
Luzerne Campground provides equestrians with specialized facilities approximately 60 miles from Rupert, Vermont. This unique horse-friendly camping destination offers accommodations for both riders and their horses within New York state's Adirondack region. Terrain varies from densely forested areas to lakeside settings with elevation changes suitable for different riding experience levels.
Trail riding access: Multiple riding paths connect directly from Luzerne Campground campsites, allowing horse owners to start rides without trailering after arrival. "There are campsites that also come with stalls for your horse," notes Brittnay B. in her review of Luzerne Campground.
Lake recreation: Swimming and fishing opportunities at Lake Dunmore complement the camping experience at Branbury State Park Campground. "Across the street from the campground was access to the lake with plenty of grassy areas to hang out. And beautiful sunsets at night! A five minute hike- though it is quite a rocky, boulder-y hike- from the sites leads to a small river and swimming hole," reports Nicole E.
Family hiking: Trails surrounding horse campgrounds near Rupert cater to various skill levels with marked routes. "This place has access to some of the best hiking and paddling in the state," mentions M.A.D. P. about the recreational options at Branbury State Park.
Shaded campsites: Wooded camping areas provide natural cooling during summer months at Moreau Lake State Park Campground. "I love the spacious campsites. It's very woodsy between sites, so it seems very private," writes Michi P., highlighting the natural separation between sites.
Clean facilities: Many equestrian-friendly campgrounds maintain well-kept shower buildings and restrooms. "The showers are so nice and private and clean," according to Antoinette W., who has been visiting Luzerne with her family for 15 years.
Local supply access: The convenience of nearby stores supports campers who need last-minute items. "It was nice to have a little country store right across the street from the entrance of the campground. They had anything and everything you might need or had forgotten," Emily B. notes about camping at Luzerne Campground.
Reservation timing: Horse camping sites fill quickly, particularly during summer months. Troy H. advises about Luzerne Campground: "Small state run campground in the SE Adirondacks- plenty to do: tubing and white water rafting (spring) great hikes, horseback riding, canoe/kayaking, zip lines, great local food and breweries in the area."
Wildlife awareness: Bears are present in camping areas, requiring proper food storage. "Just make sure you put your food and trash away- there are black bears in the area!" warns Nicole E. about camping at Branbury State Park.
Weather considerations: Elevation changes can create significant temperature variations. "Even in august the nights get to a good sleeping temperature a vast majority of the time," Stephen T. mentions about his experiences at Branbury State Park.
Age-appropriate activities: Camping areas near horse stables offer additional recreation options for children not riding. "My daughter loves it here. We get our site close to the lake so we can walk down and swim and my husband fishes," shares Antoinette W. about their experiences at Luzerne.
Playground access: Several campgrounds feature dedicated play areas for children. "There's a nature center with all kinds of information and activities. A large playground. Volleyball and horseshoe pits," notes J L. about the family amenities at Branbury State Park Campground.
Spacious sites: Larger camping areas accommodate multiple tents and play space. "I couldn't believe how large the lots were. While they arent super far from one another, they are large enough that they seem further than they are," Catherine M. describes about the camping areas at Branbury State Park.
Site selection: RV campers should consider proximity to equestrian facilities when booking. "Loop A seems to be the best for big-rigs," advises Nancy W. about camping at Moreau Lake State Park Campground, noting: "Our campsite was spacious but required some maneuvering to avoid scraping trees with our RV."
Utility considerations: Hookup availability varies between campgrounds near equestrian areas. "This is dry camping so there are no hook-ups but there is a dump station and a bathroom facility with paid showers," explains Trip Over Life about Branbury State Park's facilities.
Seasonal access: Many horse-friendly campgrounds operate on limited schedules. Robert L. mentions about Moreau Lake: "The park has a large number of hiking trails for every level of outdoorsman and the staff is friendly and helpful. The main issue is the fact that due to it's proximity to I-87 and being conveniently located 20 minutes from both Lake George and Saratoga Springs the park draws large crowds."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Rupert, VT?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Rupert, VT is Moreau Lake State Park Campground with a 4.6-star rating from 18 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Rupert, VT?
TheDyrt.com has all 5 equestrian camping locations near Rupert, VT, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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