Free Camping for First Timers (New York, Syracuse: RV park, beach, swimming)
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My question is how crowded are the New York campgrounds? I will be in the finger lakes and adirondak areas. I may camp on lake erie north of Syracuse, any recommendations? I would love a tent spot on the water, is that just dreaming? I assume I'd need a recommendation for that but what about lakefront campgrounds in the adirondaks.
My question is how crowded are the New York campgrounds? I will be in the finger lakes and adirondak areas. I may camp on lake erie north of Syracuse, any recommendations? I would love a tent spot on the water, is that just dreaming? I assume I'd need a recommendation for that but what about lakefront campgrounds in the adirondaks.
My question is how crowded are the New York campgrounds? I will be in the finger lakes and adirondak areas. I may camp on lake erie north of Syracuse, any recommendations? I would love a tent spot on the water, is that just dreaming? I assume I'd need a recommendation for that but what about lakefront campgrounds in the adirondaks.
BTW, great program for the newbies.
So here are my experience with the state campgrounds in NY:
-Adirondacks are more likely to have waterfront sites. They also have my favorite sites.
-Getting a waterfront site, if not reserved way in advance, can be very difficult.
-The state has tons of campgrounds with sites on lakes.
-Getting sites = much easier during the week, as compared to F/S/S.
You can look around on the state site and see which ones have waterfront sites and which ones don't.
Weekends are ALWAYS more crowded, especially the closer you are to major cities. For example, I'm going camping in the Catskills soon and literally EVERY site on Saturday is taken.
I hate to say, nyc peeps are not really into camping. I know some of the campsites are only less than a mile away, but these nyc peeps have no clue or care to veg out camping for the weekend. too bad.
So sunday nights are busy as well? I've been pretty fortunate in the smokies to show up and get a good spot on a sunday night. But now that I think of it, the spots were reserved through sunday, as if the people wanted to enjoy it during the day, then left to go home. So I showed up in the evening and "squatted" on a reserved site, more or less. I'll usually still pay the fee to the state or forest service gets $ twice for the same site.
I don't really expect to get a lakefront site at this late date, unless I stumble across one that was reserved and vacated. I guess just being at a lakefront campground will be nice.
So sunday nights are busy as well? I've been pretty fortunate in the smokies to show up and get a good spot on a sunday night. But now that I think of it, the spots were reserved through sunday, as if the people wanted to enjoy it during the day, then left to go home. So I showed up in the evening and "squatted" on a reserved site, more or less. I'll usually still pay the fee to the state or forest service gets $ twice for the same site.
I don't really expect to get a lakefront site at this late date, unless I stumble across one that was reserved and vacated. I guess just being at a lakefront campground will be nice.
Depends how far you're willing to go. Further out/further away from stuff, getting a lakefront site isn't impossible. I would actually some camps that have lakefront sites and ask if they have any they keep as walk-in sites. I did actually get a lakefront site two weeks in advance just the other day---I am assuming someone canceled---but it's good to check.
Sunday nights, yes, you are more likely to get one. But you're right, some people do reserve to stay the day and leave later on at night---I've seen that too.
If you want to ask me about some specific sites you're interested in, I might be able to give a better answer.
BTW-If you're willing to go in September, I haven't checked the rest of this month, I see plenty of waterfront sites at certain places. If you look on the site and tell me which sites you're possibly interested in, I will let you know in on my secrets.
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