Quick quiz: What natural area in the U.S. is larger than the national parks of Yosemite, Yellowstone, Grand Canyon, Glacier Park, and the Great Smokies combined, yet is neither a national nor a state park?
Answer: The Adirondacks!
At a total of 6 million acres, this vast and gorgeous wilderness area offers mountains (most of which you can climb in a day) and plenty of lakes for fishing, swimming, and boating. Adirondack Park may not be a national park, but it’s the largest publicly protected area in the contiguous United States.
Since the park was officially established in 1892, millions of families have camped, “summered,” hiked, fished, skied, hunted, and more—creating memories that last a lifetime.
What’s more, Adirondack Park visitors have done so for free: unlike our national parks and many state parks, there’s no fee to enter and enjoy Adirondack Park.
Enjoy RV Camping in the Adirondacks
The Adirondacks region is so large, it’s almost impossible to explore it all in one visit. Many people come back year after year to a different area of the park or surrounding region in order to see as much of it as possible, while others find their perfect spot and return to it again and again, even over generations.
The region has 46 mountains—although “mountain” may be something of a misnomer, as the highest peak is Mount Marcy at 5,300 feet high. More than 3,000 ponds and lakes are there to enjoy, along with thousands of miles of hiking trails and canoe routes.
The Adirondack Mountains may not be as high as the Rocky Mountains or the Sierra Nevada Mountains, but they are steep and so hiking in the Adirondacks can be strenuous in summer. In winter the mountains and foothills are quite popular with Alpine and snow skiing enthusiasts.
Adirondack Park and the surrounding region offer plenty of RV campsites, including those near lakes, streams, waterfalls, and more. Jellystone Park and KOA have campgrounds in the region for families with very small children.
Top Adirondack Attractions and Destinations
Lake Placid
Lake Placid was home to the 1932 and 1980 Winter Olympic Games and you can visit the Herb Brooks Arena to relive the “Miracle on Ice” and learn more about Lake Placid’s Olympic history.
Lake Placid Must-Do: Tour the Olympic venues still standing and try your luck on the bobsled run (in the summer as well as in winter).
Lake George
Lake George was created as the glaciers that once covered the region retreated, gouging out a great valley. Lake George is deep—as much as 250 feet—and is about 32 miles long. It has 135 islands and, because many of them are state owned, several islands offer sites for overnight camping.
Lake George Must-Do: Spend at least one night camping on one of the 44 islands that allow camping. There aren’t any RV sites there, but island camping is one of the most popular things to do on Lake George in the summer. Make your reservations as far in advance as possible. Reservations can be complicated, but you can easily get started at LakeGeorge.com.
Historic Sites
If you love history—whether it’s geological formation, Native American Culture, the Revolutionary War, the Gilded Age, or historical railroad expansion—you’ll find it in the Adirondacks.
Explore Revolutionary War forts, Iroquois settlements, and mansions of the 1890s and early 1900s. Dive to sunken wrecks at the bottom of the lake, take a ride on an excursion railroad, and more.
Historic Sites Must-Do: Visit the Ausable Chasm, a gorge carved by the Ausable River through Cambrian-Period Sandstone (500 million years old). The chasm is more than a mile long and visitors can take a raft tour of the gorge after hiking the upper chasm. In summer, walk on a trail that offers cable bridges over the river, a cargo-net climb, and trails along the gorge’s edge. This family-friendly hike is recommended for anyone age 8 and older.
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