Our free camping site on Floodwood Road in the Adirondack Mountains

Nat
2 days ago
5 min read

Getting a free drive-up camping spot with a gorgeous view feels like hitting the nature jackpot,

especially in the Adirondacks. Since camping season had just started

and the nights were still pretty cold, we lucked out.

We stayed at site number 8

Floodwood Road

has 16 primitive campsites. The ones we looked at had fire rings, a decent amount of privacy, and access to nearby outhouses. Some sites even have their own outhouse.

Most of the spots have water views while a few are tucked into the woods with more privacy but no view.

Availability

These sites are first come, first serve.

No reservations or permits are required for up to 3 nights. I

f you plan on staying longer than 3 nights, you’ll need a free permit from a NYS Forest Ranger.

We stayed May 15th, 2026. We arrived after 5 PM on a Friday and it looked like there were only around three available spots left. A lot of people were already camping. I’m sure by Memorial Day weekend and throughout the rest of the season it can become pretty difficult to get a site.

I would highly recommend having a few backup options just in case.

Extra Perks

There are several firewood stands along the way at the ends of people’s driveways,

so bring cash if you plan on buying some.

If you forget supplies or need extra firewood, there is also the Floodwood Outpost nearby. They have camping gear and some food options to help get you by. We didn’t go inside, so I can’t personally review the pricing or selection.

There is also a canoe and kayak launch that is very easy to access.

We’ll take photos of it next time we go.

Our Experience

We arrived at the beginning of official camping season on Friday, May 15th. Two weeks earlier we had driven down Floodwood Road scouting out campsites so we would know what to expect. One huge perk of being fairly local.

Even during that earlier trip there were already a few people camping despite the cold weather. We figured if we wanted to experience one of these free sites, we should probably go earlier in the season before getting a spot became too difficult. The downside of first come, first serve camping is that there’s always a little risk involved, but luckily we only live about an hour away. Worst-case scenario, we could have gone back home.

The majority of the sites have water views and there is public access to the canoe and kayak launch, which seemed pretty popular even with people who weren’t camping there.

Floodwood Road runs through a series of Adirondack ponds

surrounded by forest and primitive campsites. Polliwog Pond, Middle Pond, Floodwood Pond, and nearby waters connect through short carries and calm paddling routes that make it easy to explore multiple ponds in one trip.

The area is popular for canoeing, kayaking, fishing, camping, and quiet days on the water. Whether you’re out for a short paddle or spending the day exploring pond to pond, it really does feel like one of those classic Adirondack paddling areas.

We arrived around 8:15 PM Friday night. At first we didn’t think we were going to get a spot because almost everything looked full. Luckily there was one available about midway through the road, but it didn’t seem very private and it looked like someone might have been setting up nearby. We kept driving hoping to find something a little more secluded.

There was another open site farther back that was much more private, but it didn’t have a water view. We decided we’d rather have the view and went back to the first site.

Luckily nobody ever showed up at the neighboring spot, so it ended up feeling more secluded than we originally thought. There were still people camping nearby, but everyone was respectful and pretty quiet. Overall, our experience was great. We had just enough daylight left to set up camp, get a fire going, and relax a little before heading to bed.

The first night was extremely cold.

We had hand warmers to toss into our sleeping bags which definitely helped, but honestly I should have prepared better. One thing to keep in mind is how drastically nighttime temperatures can drop compared to daytime, especially in the Adirondacks. As someone originally from the south, I’m still getting used to that. We managed fine, but an extra blanket would have made things a whole lot more comfortable.

The weather in the Adirondacks can change quickly. We had checked the forecast all week and even again before leaving Friday. Rain wasn’t supposed to move in. By Saturday evening after dinner though, we could feel it coming. We decided to pack up and head home. Right as Dave loaded the last thing into the Jeep, the rain started.

It rained the entire drive home and the wind picked up quite a bit too along with the temperatures dropping. We were so glad we made the decision to leave when we did.

The next day we went back into the mountains to explore another area and there were trees down across power lines in some places. Apparently a pretty significant storm rolled through.

And then came the black flies.

They honestly were not bad at all until Sunday. Then suddenly they were everywhere. Every stop we made had black flies swarming around us. At first you barely notice them and then all of a sudden they surround you like a hundred news reporters chasing a politician after a scandal...

These things are way more annoying in real life than I expected. I had heard locals talk about them in YouTube videos and articles and honestly thought people were being dramatic. They weren’t. These assholes do not give up. We will absolutely be testing sprays next time.

Overall though, our experience camping on Floodwood Road was pretty great,

especially considering it was our first camping trip as a family with our little 8 month old. She seemed to really enjoy it and we also appreciated that the area felt safe. Sometimes free camping areas can really be hit or miss when it comes to that feeling.

There is also little to no cell service out there, at least with Verizon, so definitely keep that in mind. We lost service around 20 minutes before reaching the campground. Download maps ahead of time, have backup plans figured out, and don’t rely too heavily on your phone once you get out there.

Tips From Our Experience

-Have several backup camping options just in case the sites are full.

-Be prepared for black flies and don’t underestimate them.

They usually arrive around mid May and apparently stick around until the end of June.

-Be overprepared for cold nights, weather changes, and heavy winds.

It’s much better to bring too much than end up miserable.

-Bring flashlights. We forgot ours.

-Expect little to no cell service in most areas. With Verizon, we lost service about 20 minutes before arriving.

-There is an outpost nearby for forgotten supplies, but I would check the hours before depending on it. There are also gas stations, a Dollar General, and a small town with restaurants about 20 minutes away if needed.