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Adirondacks · New York

Private campsites & glamping in Wilmington, NY

Wilmington is Whiteface Mountain's town — the Olympic mountain's slopes rise directly above the Ausable River valley, and the Veterans Memorial Highway spirals to the summit for the drivers. It's ten minutes from Lake Placid's restaurants and Olympic sites but priced like a secret, with the flume trails, Santa's Workshop (open since 1949), and the river's swimming holes as the non-ski itinerary.

The KOA on Route 86 sits between Wilmington and Lake Placid with cabins and RV sites under the High Peaks' shadow — the practical base for Whiteface ski days, Olympic-site tours, and summer hiking into the Wilmington Wild Forest. Four and a half hours from Manhattan, and the smart money's alternative to Lake Placid's rates.

1 stays in Wilmington

Questions, answered

Camping in Wilmington: FAQs

How far is Wilmington from New York City?

About 280 miles, roughly 4.5 hours via the Northway. Lake Placid is ten minutes further.

Is Whiteface good for skiing?

It's the East's most serious vertical — 3,430 feet, Olympic pedigree, and the Slides for experts. Beginners should know it's a mountain with opinions.

Can you drive to the Whiteface summit?

Yes — the Veterans Memorial Highway climbs to 4,600 feet (toll road, seasonal), with an elevator through the mountain's core to the summit. The views span to Montreal.

What's Santa's Workshop?

The 1949 Christmas theme park on Route 86 — a genuine piece of Americana, open summers, and exactly as charming as it sounds.

Is Wilmington cheaper than Lake Placid?

Noticeably — lodging, food, and lift-adjacent everything run 20-30% under Placid, ten minutes away.

What's the best non-winter activity?

The Flume trails and the Ausable's swimming holes in summer; the Olympic ski jumps and bobsled complex in Lake Placid year-round.