The best star host campgrounds near Schenectady, New York

Looking to go camping near Schenectady, New York? Hipcamp has over 2900 options for you to choose from! Whether you're into snow sports, boating, or wildlife watching, there's a campsite that suits your preference. With an average price per night of $60 and options as low as $13, you'll find something that fits your budget. Check out some of our top campsites with rave reviews: Magic Forest Farm (317 reviews), Timbertrail Farm (257 reviews), and BeaverWood Farm (no children) (251 reviews). Enjoy amenities like trash disposal, campfires, and pet-friendly sites. Start planning your camping adventure today!

99% (2.9K)

Top-rated campgrounds

Looking to go camping near Schenectady, New York? Hipcamp has over 2900 options for you to choose from! Whether you're into snow sports, boating, or wildlife watching, there's a campsite that suits your preference. With an average price per night of $60 and options as low as $13, you'll find something that fits your budget. Check out some of our top campsites with rave reviews: Magic Forest Farm (317 reviews), Timbertrail Farm (257 reviews), and BeaverWood Farm (no children) (251 reviews). Enjoy amenities like trash disposal, campfires, and pet-friendly sites. Start planning your camping adventure today!

99% (2.9K)

Top-rated campgrounds

1. Private campsites miles of trails!

99%

(181)

42mi from Schenectady · 5 sites · Tents, RVs · Adams, MA

Aisling Mountain Farm campgrounds are located in Adams MA, is directly connected to Mount Greylock state park and its miles of trails. We currently have four tent campsites throughout the year with one that will accommodate trailers up to 16' without backing up! Enjoy the view, our cascading waterfall brook, and spend some time with our horses. Please see our FB page at Aisling Mountain Farm for more info. Your campsites are only a few minutes' walk to the Gould trailhead public parking lot and many trails. Also, you have direct access to some amazing single bike paths running all through the state forest. We are located in the Berkshires, with many attractions like, Mass MoCa, Williamstown theater, and many other places of interest.

2. Sowilo Retreat

100%

(13)

29mi from Schenectady · 6 sites · Lodging · Cambridge, NY

Nature Retreat with Modern Tiny Houses & Geodesic Domes Escape to Sowilo Retreat, where luxury meets adventure in the heart of nature. Our cozy tiny houses offer the perfect getaway for families and friends, each accommodating up to four guests with: A private queen-size master bedroom A cozy loft with an additional queen bed A welcoming living space to unwind after a day of exploration Culinary Delights Savor a farm-to-table dining experience with locally sourced ingredients. Enjoy à la carte brunch and dinner in our Eatery or have it delivered straight to your door. Wellness & Adventure Recharge in our on-site studio with yoga, sound bath and workouts, or explore scenic hiking trails right outside your door. Venture further for swimming, biking, canoeing, kayaking, and skiing, or visit the charming towns of Saratoga Springs, Clifton Park, Troy, Bennington, Dorset, and Manchester—all within 30 minutes. Pricing & Extras: The all-inclusive service includes: ✔ Brunch & Dinner ✔ Drinks & Beverages ✔ Spa & Studio Access (Yoga & sound bath classes are available at an additional charge) Escape the ordinary—embrace the extraordinary at Sowilo Retreat. 📲 Follow us @sowilo_retreat for a glimpse into your dream mountain getaway!

3. Cherry Plain Sanctuary Farm

100%

(14)

31mi from Schenectady · 9 sites · Tents, Lodging · Cherry Plain, NY

Only 10 minutes from Cherry Plain State Park, Cherry Plain Sanctuary Farm/ Hearts in Hand Horsemanship LLC is a 150 acre hidden destination for outdoor adventurers, families and solo campers. We are a safe place for women who are traveling alone. We ensure everyone's quiet experience by not publishing our actual address. Please note: We ask for photo ID. Once we receive your photo ID via text we will provide exact directions to our property. Please plan to check in no later than 4:30pm as we are not available for later check ins unless we agree to meet you. It is dark at 5pm so early check in is critical. We host NYS Police along with local police/sheriff deputies here through our organization Hearts in Hand Horsemanship LLC. Don't be surprised if you see a NYS trooper or police unit parked up in the field near the horses. Fires: We allow small fires in specific spots, namely the fire ring at Camping on Blueberry Hill, at Ft Sky and inside the Tipi. Campsite fires are allowed weather permitting, when it's not windy and must be kept small. If it's windy then you can still have a fire in the tipi. No large fires or bonfires. All fires must be completely out unless you are physically with your fire. We supply 5 gallons of water and more is available to drink, wash dishes and put your fire out. Please respect our rules. Fire safety is necessary to keep everything safe here for all of us. Thank you for understanding. Here in the mountains we can experience very cold nights. We supply a small pile of firewood for a small fire at no charge. If you like, you can gather more dead wood (not live trees) in our forests. Winter is coming soon. Please bring lots of clothes and layers. Stay warm! Smoking: We are primarily a non-smoking/vaping farm and appreciate you smoking/vaping in your vehicle not on our premises please. Partying: Nope not us. Our farm is peaceful and quiet and so are our neighbors. Please party elsewhere and come here to relax in the blissful quiet of nature. Quiet music, just playing some Spotify tunes and acoustic musicians are welcome here. There's a great bar restaurant 5 minutes from us, "17 Cherry Plain Sq". Live music, great food and something like 40 beers on tap. Party there then chill out here with us. Breakfast and the best beef this side of the Mississippi can be found at Gardners Cafe and Icecream Shop only 5 miles up 22 South from our place. You can enjoy a big fat omelet with homefries and bacon then grab frozen hamburg and steaks from Gardner's own local beef grown wild and free outside. Cherry Plain Sanctuary Farm is adjacent to miles of public forest. Peace and solace can be found in these quiet mountains. In addition to amazing hiking, backpacking mountain biking, road biking right from your Hipcamp site, with kayaking nearby. We are 10 minutes away from Cherry Plain State Park (which has a gorgeous lake and kid-friendly sandy beach), and even closer to the Taconic Crest Trail. Our location is nestled between the Taconics of New York, the Green Mountains of Vermont, and the Berkshires of Massachusetts. Come share our paradise, bring your outdoor adventurer gear (you will be glad you did) and we will share our favorite local destinations with you. We ask that all hipcampers who are primary guests be 21 years of age or over. Children are welcome but we will not knowingly rent to anyone under 21 years of age. There is a $50 additional charge for garbage left at our farm including cigarette butts (we are a no smoking farm!), broken glass, bottles, cans, plastics, containers, bags and other trash. This is a pack in and pack out working farm not a party spot. Renting from us constitutes your reading of our rules attached to each property, your understanding and your agreement of our policies. Thank you so much for your understanding. We welcome you who seek quiet and the solace found in nature.

4. The Pines Lakeside Canoe & Camping

100%

(29)

43mi from Schenectady · 1 site · Tent · Stony Creek, NY

Enjoy a secluded lakeside campsite with two points of water access. There are no other sites on this 13 acre property, so it's very private. Complimentary canoe and stand up paddle boards for your use. New York State hiking trails just one mile down the road, plus lots of other activities like rail biking and rafting a short drive away. The campsite is just 100 steps down a well-marked trail accessible from the parking spot. Pitch your tent on the elevated platform encircled in pine trees with a view of the lake. Next to the tent area you’ll find a solar shower, picnic table, Cleanwaste toilet in outhouse, fire pit and Adirondack chairs. The site comes equipped ample firewood, fire starters, and many kitchen items including plates, bowls, utensils, cups, frying pan, can opener, wine opener, salt and pepper, cooking tongs, dish wash basin, and dish soap. Please note, that during Mother's Day and Father's Day is black fly season in the Adirondacks. Difficult to predict, but good to be aware of.

5. Timberland Falls

100%

(99)

40mi from Schenectady · 1 site · Tent · East Jewett, NY

Timberland Falls is a historic one of a kind property nestled into the northern catskill mountains. A private 3 Acre Hemlock forest with a stunning waterfall. Set up beautifully for camping, this property offers drive-in drive-out, easy parking with a great campsite and a cozy fire pit. Timberland falls is just minutes away from Colgate Lake where you can enjoy evening sunsets and miles and miles of hiking trails. Enjoy this secluded property with the sound of the Waterfall in this enchanted hemlock forest.

Stories from the community

S

Sydney

October 2025

16 ft car

Weekend Trip to Private campsites miles of trails!

Christian was an excellent host, and we really enjoyed staying on the farm! The horses were beautiful. Only a few mins walk to drinking water and porta potty. We car camped and the camp site was the perfect size for it.

M

Mericos

October 2025

Weekend Trip to Cherry Plain Sanctuary Farm

Very beautiful location, thoughtful hosts, comfortable accommodations. Grateful for the firewood since we came in late autumn!

J

Jes

October 2025

Tent

3 nights at Timberland Falls

What a lovely spot. I hesitate to promote it because I want it all to myself. It was everything you want and nothing you don’t. Complete privacy. Don’t forget to stack your rocks at the top of the waterfall!

A

Adam

October 2025

Tent

Weekend Trip to Private campsites miles of trails!

Great location and useful accommodations for the area. The back door trek to the Greylock trails are a bit of a bushwhack but doable. Christian was very friendly and helpful. Would recommend.

K

Kayla

October 2025

Tent

With pets

Weekend Trip to Private campsites miles of trails!

Awesome time camping on Christian's property! We felt safe camping with small children. Had a blast exploring the forest!

G

Gideon

October 2025

Weekend Trip to Cherry Plain Sanctuary Farm

Jules and Jerome met us at the tipi with their dogs and we immediately knew it would be a wonderful stay. The tipi itself was beautiful, with plenty of firewood for the woodstove, and the surrounding farmland was stunning, along with the goats, horses, and dogs. The outhouse nearby was lovely as well. Beautiful fields and forest trails on their land too. Highly recommend staying there!

C

Charlotte

September 2025

Tent

Weekend Trip to Private campsites miles of trails!

If you're looking for a rustic campsite with a view and plenty of nearby hiking/biking trails Christian's property is the place for you. Christian was very friendly and helpful.

Landen

September 2025

Tent

Weekend Trip to Private campsites miles of trails!

Christian’s Hipcamp was perfect for what we needed! A beautiful site exactly as advertised with an accommodating host. Highly recommended!

D

David

September 2025

Tent

Weekend Trip to Private campsites miles of trails!

Understanding what I was getting when booking was a little confusing because Christian picks your spot based on availability at the time and uses his best judgment based on other campers. This is actually pretty cool of him, especially given, he considers the size of the group, type of vehicle, and safety of the individual possibly, but I would definitely go in without any expectations based on photos. You may not get the same campsite you see in the photos. Either way it was beautiful and Christian is very welcoming. Would book again. The area in general is very beautiful and the trails lead to Mount Greylock. Another cool thing to know if you are new to camping is there are plenty of stores nearby so if you forgot something or something unexpected happens it’s very easy to get to a department store or pick up some groceries.

j

jaclyn

August 2025

Tent

Weekend Trip to Private campsites miles of trails!

Breathtaking property, extremely welcoming hosts, and horses, duh…enough said! Highly recommended, and perfect for all the single lady campers 🥰

R

Ria

August 2025

Tent

3 nights at Private campsites miles of trails!

This was idyllic. I needed a respite and it was better than I hoped. My site was tucked under gorgeous trees. Christian is a wonderful host, leading my car right up to the site. Then he gave me great ideas for hiking. He pointed me toward the property's waterfall by hiking up the stream and then I connected to the Gould Trail and Moser Farm Loop by crossing the stream and finding the dcr trails. Thanks Christian!

A

Amma

August 2025

Tent

2 nights at The Pines Lakeside Canoe & Camping

Nothing but a wonderful experience. The camp site was beautiful with so many thoughtful components and little touches; they even had drinking water. It’s better than a hotel for someone who likes camping. You really only need to bring your tent and food. Site was Equipped with fire wood, wooden platform to set up your tent, and the picnic table area was also covered. The outhouse was very clean. At the lakeside the fire pit area was perfect. Many seats to choose from. You can sit down by the lake or at the fire pit and see the beautiful mountain across the lake or just adore the lake itself. We also used the canoe to paddle around the lake. I swam twice at the beach area. Water was clean and warm. The owners were very kind and all the instructions were thought of. I would give 11/10. Recommend wholeheartedly.

L

Laura

August 2025

Tent

With pets

3 nights at Timberland Falls

Total paradise. The water is clear and refreshing and the cabin adds convenience without taking away from the beautiful scenery. Very private, lots to do and explore on the property and also within a very short drive. It was hard to leave and we can’t wait to return.

J

Joel

August 2025

Tent

With kids

1 night at Private campsites miles of trails!

This is the dream campsite! It was quiet and secluded, and hard to leave. Set in a beautiful forest above a babbling creek with trails leading up into state forest directly out of the campsite. The host Christian and his horses were so welcoming and friendly. Will return to camp again as a base for mountain biking in the region.

e

evan

August 2025

Tent

With pets

Weekend Trip to Timberland Falls

We had a wonderful time visiting Ethan and Karen’s place. The site was clean, well cared for, and the waterfall with its natural pool at the base was absolutely beautiful. We truly enjoyed our visit and would highly recommend!

K

Kirsten

August 2025

Tent

With pets

4 nights at The Pines Lakeside Canoe & Camping

We loved camping here at our little whimsical oasis! The pups had a great time exploring the property and we loved that there were different sections (sleep section, camp fire section, beach section and our palm little trail). We would definitely stay here again if looking to camp in the area.

T

Tom

August 2025

Tent

1 night at Timberland Falls

A brilliant spot if you value privacy, want to refuel your tranquility tank, and love space and room to reconnect with everything natural. Including you!

C

Christopher

August 2025

Tent

6 nights at The Pines Lakeside Canoe & Camping

Exceptional experience! Everything has been thought of to make your stay easy and wonderful! This is an exceptionally private and very serene location. I couldn’t have been more pleased!

J

Jaime

August 2025

Tent

Weekend Trip to Private campsites miles of trails!

My site was very private and the grounds were lovely.

J

Jen

August 2025

Tent