Traveling through upstate NY

One way to work around the 2 night policy is to book and pay for the 2 nights and stay one. They are not going to chase you down the road and make you stay another night. Of course it will cost you double for 1 night.

Fulltimers wrote:
One way to work around the 2 night policy is to book and pay for the 2 nights and stay one. They are not going to chase you down the road and make you stay another night. Of course it will cost you double for 1 night.

Yeah, but $74/night is a bit steep for electric only and then no hookups =)

Especially if it's not a weekend, I suspect you could get a site at most of the New York state parks at that time of year without a reservation. They don't require two night's payment for a single night of reservationless camping. You can check periodically online and see how many sites are reserved as time goes on and gauge somewhat from that how crowded things are going to be.

Another alternative is to choose a park you'd like to spend a day or two at and stay a bit longer. Letchworth is one good example that's in the general vicinity of your first night's desired driving distance...though maybe a bit on the long side.

Fair Haven State Park along lake Ontario,

Address
14985 State Park Road
Fair Haven, NY 13064

Phone: (315) 947-5205
Nice park, stay there many times

If you can live without hookups check you could do a state park, although weekends may be hard to come by. I've only run into multi-night requirements if it's a holiday weekend. As a last resort, there is always Walmart.

We stayed at Lake George RV Resort. I do not know there policy but it was a great CG and will go back. I haven't run into a two night policy yet. We also stayed at Newbourg KOA for an evening. Happy Trails

There are 5 CG that are pretty easy to get to off I-87 (Northway) in the Lake George area which is about an hours drive north of Albany.

1. Lake George RV Park
2. Ledgeview RV Park
3. MooseHillock
4. Lake George Escape (Warrensburg)
5. Another CG in Warrensburg in very close proximity to #4.

Cannot comment on requirements for #'s 1,2,4, 5, but #3 wants 3-4 nite requirement for advance reservations. All 5 will pretty much $100/nite on weekends. Don't know about weekdays. #'s 1,3,4 are kid friendly. #'s 1,2 sites are pretty close to each other and #1 has paved roads, #2 nestled in trees. #3 is our favorite, stone roads/sites but H-U-G-E! #4 I think sites are common width, trees, couple pools (IMO best kid friendly). #5 which name I don't know anything about, but along w/ #4 is a few miles past LG and the crowds. #'s 1,2,3 are same exit which can take several minutes to get thru traffic. #'s 4,5 same exit as well (good hill you have to pull between exits).

There is a CG at NY/MA line,off 90, but someone else will have to elaborate on that one.

There's Hamlin Beach on Lake Ontario about 45 minutes off the 90,(https://parks.ny.gov/parks/20/details.aspx)
Frost Ridge in Leroy,
http://theridgeny.wixsite.com/trny
If you have kids, there's Darien Lake theme park,
https://www.darienlake.com/lodging-campsites
Then there's Beaver Meadow, about 45 south of the thruway, exit 48, Batavia
https://beavermeadowcampground.com/

Here's another idea. Join Harvest Hosts. It's a "club" of people who only need an overnight and farms, breweries and vineyards that will let you stay one night for free. There are 6 locations between Buffalo and Rochester.

We stayed at a very nice vineyard in Cape May NJ for a night. The following night we stayed at a farm. Free of charge - no hookups. Usually ok to run the genny.

Of course, staying at a vineyard for free can be way more expensive than a night at a campground.