The Long Island Group of campsites on Lake George are perfect for boaters who love camping, and the views are spectacular. Learn more about the large island and see photos!
About Long Island
Located near Lake George Village at the southern basin of the Lake, the 100-acre Long Island on Lake George has over 80 campsites available for public use. It is the island with the most campsites, which makes it the easiest one to book a reservation on. The private islands book earlier in the year, and larger groups of people can occupy many sites. To make a reservation, please go to Reserve America.
When camping with children under age three, Long Island is perfect because it is close to the nearest hospital - should something serious happen to one of the children. When traveling in a large group, it is the shortest boating trip from the southern basin of the lake. If you have to make multiple trips, this means you can start your fun earlier!
We took a walk around Long Island to check out the various sites, many of which we have camped on. The ReserveAmerica site does give some information, but here is the real scoop on our favorite locations:
Note, all Long Island campsites allow a maximum of six people.
Overview of the Long Island Campsites
Campsite 1 is a small private sunny site on the point. It gets large amounts of sun in the morning and has an eastern view. The tent platform is 12` x 14`. Bathroom is a pit type privy. The dock length is 24` & maximum boat length is 25`. Water depth is 5 1/2`. This will take a sail boat. Offers great views!
Campsite 6 has beautiful views and gets morning sun. There is a nice private hike from 6 to 7. It's a large shady site on a shallow rocky cove. There is a small drop to the water. The tent platform is 16` x 12`. Bathroom is a pit type privy. The dock length is 24` & maximum boat length is 25`. Water depth is 4 1/2`. This will take a sail boat & shares a dock with site 005.
Campsites 19 & 20 are great for families. This is the only part of the island that has some sort of embankment; this is really nice if you have little children and are concerned that they might "wander" into the water.
Campsites 29 & 30 are ideal for a group of young adults who don't want to be bothered by other campers. This is a very shady and rocky site and it's not too level. However, it is very private and a good distance from other sites. You really feel as if you are on a private island here. There are cliffs to the water which make it more dangerous for children, and there is no easy entry into the water for kids.
Campsites 40, 41 & 42 make a great combination of sites for a large group of families with young children. If you like afternoon sun, you will want to be on this side of the island. 41 has no platform but has a great area to enter the water for kids. The three sites are flat and spacious. Although shady, you can enjoy many areas with sunlight. We think this is the best set of three sites together on the island for a group as the sites are all equal. If you can't get one of these sites, 87 across the way is quite nice and sunny in the morning.
Campsite 49 is beautiful. This picture is taken from the lake and you can see straight through the trees to the other side of the lake. This is a great site as it’s flat and grassy and the wind goes straight through the island in this section, making it much less buggy. You can get a site across the way for friends. It also works well with 50.
Campsite 52 is a nice shady and private site on Goose Bay with a small cove. There is evening sun, but this is a mostly shady site. No tent platform. The cove has mucky water so it's not an area where most people would want to swim. Large and flat with lots of room for more than one tent.
Campsite 57 is a large flat site with shallow water. It's a shady site with afternoon sun, great for sunsets – looks to the southwest. No platform and shares a dock with site 56.
Campsites 58 & 59 are nice and ideal for couples tenting together. The sites are very close together, so they are great if you have both booked and know your neighbor. Very sunny in the afternoons but with plenty of spots for shade lovers as well.
Campsite 59 is a nice site with great views to the west. It has a tent platform, which is good if it rains, and is close to our favorite site, 60.
Campsite 60 (The Point) is the best site for a single family. There are a few flat spots for tents as well as a platform. Don't get this if you need other sites as your friends will be jealous. Morning and evening sun, nice and breezy to keep bugs away, and there's a fun swim across the channel to the picnic island. Don't book 60,61 or 62 unless you are an experienced boater, as you need to navigate the shallow waters between Speaker Heck and Long Island and it is very shallow and rocky.
Campsites 61 & 62 (62 shown) are probably the deepest sites with the most locations for tents, but 61 has a platform but 62 doesn't. The sites face across the channel to Speaker Heck - the picnic island. Nice swimming across the channel.
Campsite 63 is the other Point. This is a fabulous site for setting up a hammock and just relaxing. There is both morning sun and afternoon sun, and the breeze runs through to keep the bugs away. A little more varied terrain and not as many entry points for smaller children. If you are traveling with friends, 64 and 65 go nicely with this campsite. Photo shown is of campsite 64 pointing toward 63. Does not have an easy way to get to the west side 6-63 as you have to cross a marshy area; there is a lot of vegetation.
One of our favorite things to do while camping on Long Island is to go to the southern tip (campsites 60-63) where there is a very shallow channel that you can walk across and visit Speaker Heck Island. Speaker Heck is a picnic island where there is a giant eagles' nest. To learn how to find the nest, visit the Speaker Heck web page.
Campsite 66 is a really sunny site which is great when you have the lake right in front of you for cooling off. The views are spectacular. There is a lot of morning sun and a tent platform, which is nice if it rains.
Campsites 67 & 68 are a fabulous set of sites for a very large group. As you can see from the picture, this group has four tents, and we have seen up to seven tents on these two sites. Very sunny. Both sites are very open to each other and have platforms. Lots of flat ground for extra tents and a perfect spot to watch the sunrise
Campsites 69-74 are hilly sites with morning sun. Shown on top is a view of campsite 70 from the platform and below is campsite 73. The views are all open and spectacular. These sites are nice and sunny.
Campsite 75 is the first flat site. Good for families.
Campsite 79 is a sunny site, flat with shade, and you can just see the sites on the other side.
Campsites 80 & 81 go nicely together and have morning sun. They are fairly flat and have great views. You can see the campsites behind 81 that are 46 and 45. If you want morning sun and afternoon sun, and a short walk to your friend’s campsite, this is the best set of four sites.
Campsite 82 offers incredible views of Lake George! Here you can see the wonderful view from site 82. It is in the narrow part of the island so it's breezy and less buggy, fairly flat, and rocky.
Want to learn more about the campsites?
Click here for our full breakdown of Long Island's campsites.
Where do I register when I arrive?
You can either go to the ranger's station on the island which is in a cove before campsite #1 or you can register on land at the DEC's Office at the Norowal Marina on Sagamore Road in Bolton Landing. Phone is 518-644-9125.
Are dogs allowed on the island or in the boats docked at the islands?
NO, absolutely no dogs are allowed on the islands, moored at the docks or docked at the docks.
Which docks have 3 posts for longer boats?
Long Island docks with three posts (for longer boats) - 35, 36, 40, 41, 54, 55, 60, 61,and 62
Which docks are Sailboat Friendly?
1a, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 13, 14, 15, 16, 21, 22, 26, 27, 31, 37, 43, 58, 65, 66, 67, 76, 78, 81, and 87