USA / New York
Camper Rental New York Mountains, Lakes and Fall Foliage
Forget the city. New York State has 6 million acres of protected Adirondack wilderness, 11 Finger Lakes with wine trails and the Catskill Mountains 2 hours from Manhattan. Fall foliage season rivals New England. The camping infrastructure is excellent — 120+ state campgrounds, many right on lakes and rivers.
New York Rental Options
| Platform | NY Pricing | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Outdoorsy | $100-$325/night | Best upstate selection |
| RVshare | $85-$275/night | Good value, strong delivery options |
| Cruise America | $130-$250/night | Depots in NJ area (closest to NYC) |
Best Road Trips
Adirondack Park Loop
5-7 days. Lake Placid is the hub — site of the 1980 Winter Olympics and surrounded by High Peaks wilderness. Climb a 46er (the 46 peaks above 4,000 feet) or paddle the Saranac Lake chain. Campgrounds at Fish Creek Pond, Rollins Pond and Cranberry Lake sit on the water. Book New York State campgrounds on reserveamerica.com — popular sites sell out months ahead for July-August. The Adirondacks are empty by late September when the foliage peaks.
Finger Lakes Wine Trail
3-5 days. 11 glacier-carved lakes with 100+ wineries. Seneca and Cayuga Lakes are the two largest with the most tasting rooms. Watkins Glen State Park has a gorge trail through 19 waterfalls. Taughannock Falls (215 feet — taller than Niagara) is a must. State park campgrounds at Watkins Glen and Taughannock Falls sit directly on the lakes. Wine tasting is $5-$15 per winery. The Finger Lakes are underrated and uncrowded compared to Napa.
Catskills Weekend
2-3 days from NYC. 2 hours north of Manhattan. North-South Lake Campground ($22/night) is the highest-elevation state campground in the Catskills with views of the Hudson Valley. Kaaterskill Falls is a 2-tier 260-foot waterfall. Slide Mountain is the highest peak. The Catskills have a local food and craft beverage scene — farm-to-table restaurants and small breweries in towns like Phoenicia and Woodstock.
Letchworth State Park
The "Grand Canyon of the East." A 17-mile gorge with 600-foot cliffs, 3 major waterfalls and excellent camping ($22-$36/night for RV sites with hookups). 3 hours from both NYC and Toronto. Less crowded than Adirondack parks. Hot air balloon rides over the gorge are the signature activity ($275/person). The Genesee River runs through the bottom of the canyon.
New York Camping Tips
- → Fall foliage is the season. Late September through mid-October. The Adirondacks peak first (late September), then the Catskills and Finger Lakes (early-mid October). Campgrounds are less crowded than summer, temps are perfect for hiking (50-65°F) and the colors are spectacular.
- → NY State campgrounds book through ReserveAmerica. 120+ state campgrounds, most well-maintained with electric hookups available. $22-$36/night. Popular lakeside sites sell out 3-4 months ahead for summer. Walk-ins are possible at less popular parks mid-week.
- → Don't pick up your RV in Manhattan. RV rental in New York City is impractical. Bridges have height restrictions. Traffic is insane. Parking is impossible. Pick up in the suburbs (Westchester, Long Island, NJ) or book directly upstate near your destination. Many owners on Outdoorsy and RVshare offer delivery.
- → Black bears in the Adirondacks. Bear canisters are required for backcountry camping in the High Peaks. Campground sites have bear boxes. Don't leave food or coolers outside. Adirondack black bears are habituated to campers and will investigate any food smell.
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