Camping With Kids this Summer
Take your kids on an unforgettable adventure to NYS park or other campground destination. Here are some ideas from REI to keep your trip exciting and running smoothly.
Take a look at the New York State Camping Guide and our picks for some places to enjoy summer camping with the kids:
1055 Lake Road, Youngstown, NY 14174
Just north of the mighty Niagara Falls, Four Mile Creek State Park's campsites sit near the shores of Lake Ontario. The park's hiking trails wind along densely wooded bluffs. The park also offers food, a camp store at Four Mile Creek, laundry facilities, a nature trail, picnic tables, a playground, and recreational activities led by park staff. Niagara Falls State Park, and Fort Niagara State Park are close to this campground.
1A Croton Point Ave., Croton-On-Hudson, NY 10520
Croton Point Park is a 508-acre park situated on a peninsula on the east shore of the Hudson River. This park offers year-round events and activities and has facilities for camping, hiking and swimming. There is a playground located within the park, as well as a nature center.
4523 State Route 30, Saranac Lake, NY 12983
Fish Creek Pond Campground offers a natural sand shoreline and water access for most campsites. The campground offers a variety of other recreational opportunities including: Interpreter Activity Program, fishing, hiking, volleyball and basketball areas, and bicycling. Boat and canoe rentals are available outside the campground. Two of the most popular hiking trails nearby are the Otter Hollow Loop and Floodwood Loop. For more information, please visit http://www.fishcreekpond.com/
1527 County Highway 31, Cooperstown, NY 13326
Glimmerglass State Park is located eight miles outside the village of Cooperstown, on Otsego Lake. All sites have a picnic table, grill, and fire ring. Warm showers are available. There is campfire wood for sale in the park.
5. Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park
5204 Youngers Rd., North Java, NY 14113
Located between Buffalo and Rochester, this New York campground features cabin rentals, deluxe trailer rentals, tent sites and RV camping. Enjoy their water park, outdoor laser tag, pedal kart track, kayaks, canoes, fishing, beach, playgrounds and more. There are other locations for this franchise in Mexico (Central New York), North Hudson (Adirondacks), Bath (Finger Lakes), Garrattsville (near Cooperstown), North Java (Western NY), Woodridge (Catskills), and Gardiner (Hudson Valley).
4468 State Route 3, Saranac Lake, NY 12983
This boat access only campground is located on Lower and Middle Saranac Lake. The Lower Saranac Lake Islands provide miles and miles for boater recreation and direct access to four other lakes, through a set of locks which allow your vessel to be raised or lowered to the right water level. Coupled with the ability to camp on selected island sites, being able to fish for your dinner, after hours of water skiing might make you never want to leave.
164 Old Montauk Hwy., Montauk, NY 11954
Hither Hills State Park offers visitors scenic picnic areas and fireplaces, sport fishing, a two-mile sandy ocean beach, a 40-acre freshwater lake, playing fields, a playground and a 190-site campground on the ocean. An organized recreation program in the summer includes family movies, folk and line dancing, children's summer theater, magic shows, and various environmental interpretation programs.
243 Lone Pine Rd., Cranberry Lake, NY 12927
The lake has been stocked with trout in the past and many of the ponds, streams and rivers support excellent trout fishing. The perfectly formed forest canopy in the campground provides excellent shade on hot summer days while the undergrowth provides excellent privacy for campers.
1009 N. Franklin St., Watkins Glen, NY 14891
Within two miles, the glen's stream descends 400 feet past 200-foot cliffs, generating 19 waterfalls along its course. The gorge path winds over and under waterfalls and through the spray of Cavern Cascade. Campers can enjoy the Olympic-size pool, playground, scheduled tours through the gorge, picnic facilities, and fishing areas in Seneca Lake or in Catherine Creek.
10 State Park Rd., Petersburg, NY 12138
Cherry Plain State Park is nestled in the woods of the Taconic Valley. The park's facilities include a beach, boat launch sites and rentals, campsites, a nature trail, picnic tables and pavilions, and showers. Nearby parks include Grafton Lakes State Park, Schodack Island State Park, Peebles Island State Park, Bennington Battlefield State Historic Site, and Crailo State Historic Site.
Don't forget a few simple ways to keep camping enjoyable for everyone; leave no trace, carry in/carry out and stop the spread of invasive species by not transporting firewood.