Meacham Lake Campground
Malone, New York · on Meacham Lake · Meacham Lake Campground
Verified · 4 independent sources
- WATER
- lake
- ACCESS
- Designated swim area
- FEE
- $20/night
- SEASON
- May
About Meacham Lake Campground
Meacham Lake Campground is a New York State DEC-operated campground on the 1,203-acre Meacham Lake in the northern Adirondacks near Duane/Malone, NY. It has an official sand swimming beach with a bathhouse alongside 223 campsites and boat launch access.
The campground sits on the north and west shores of Meacham Lake, a large lake in the northern Adirondack Wild Forest, described by DEC as a scenic area surrounded by northern mountains and extensive tracts of Wild Forest state land.
Swimming at Meacham Lake Campground
Swimming takes place from a designated sand beach on Meacham Lake with a bathhouse nearby; there is no lifeguard, so swimmers use the area at their own risk and must enter only from the marked beach zone. This suits campground visitors and families looking for a lake swim rather than a remote wilderness swimming hole.
How to get to this swimming hole
From I-87 northbound, take Exit 30 to Route 9 north to Route 73 north through Lake Placid/Saranac Lake to Paul Smiths, then Route 30 north approximately 9.5 miles to the campground entrance in Duane, NY (Franklin County).
The walk in
No real hike here. The water is a short walk from where you park. Swim beach is a drive-up/walk-up area within the campground on the lake's north/west shore; no hike is needed to reach the water. Debar Mountain and St. Regis Mountain trails are noted nearby for hikers seeking a summit view, but neither is required for or leads to the swim beach.
Plan your visit
Bringing kids
OK with supervision
Designated sand beach gives gentle, shallow entry suitable for families, but DEC confirms the beach is unsupervised (no lifeguard) and swimming is only permitted within the marked beach zone between sunrise+30min and sunset-30min, so young kids should be watched closely.
Parking
Lot
Two boat-launch parking areas serve the lake: the newer launch has 21 vehicle/trailer spaces (1 accessible), the older (free) launch has 15 car-with-trailer spaces plus 6 vehicle-only spaces (1 accessible). DEC's page does not state a separate day-use parking fee; only the overnight camping fee ($20/night NY resident, +$5 out-of-state) is listed.
Restrooms
Yes
Bathhouse with flush toilets and hot showers on-site; a wheelchair-accessible shower building is near Campsite 127 and an accessible restroom is near the ticket booth.
Hours
Campground/beach season runs May 15 through October 12; swimming itself is prohibited from 30 minutes before sunset until 30 minutes after sunrise. No separate day-use gate hours are published by DEC.
On the water
DEC's official page confirms a boat launch (new and old) and states power boats are allowed on Meacham Lake, with no stated horsepower limit or no-wake/electric-only restriction found in that source.
Rentals nearby
Rowboat, kayak, and standup paddleboard rentals
At the campground's beach/boat-launch area on Meacham Lake, Duane, NY
Meacham Lake Campground: FAQ
Does Meacham Lake Campground charge a fee?
Camping fees are $20/night for NY residents and $25/night for out-of-state visitors; a boat launch fee applies and kayak/paddleboard rentals are available (day-use/beach-only fee not separately specified in source).
Is Meacham Lake Campground kid friendly?
Designated sand beach gives gentle, shallow entry suitable for families, but DEC confirms the beach is unsupervised (no lifeguard) and swimming is only permitted within the marked beach zone between sunrise+30min and sunset-30min, so young kids should be watched closely.
Do I need to hike to reach Meacham Lake Campground?
No significant hike is required. The swimming area is close to parking and access.
Where do I park for Meacham Lake Campground?
Two boat-launch parking areas serve the lake: the newer launch has 21 vehicle/trailer spaces (1 accessible), the older (free) launch has 15 car-with-trailer spaces plus 6 vehicle-only spaces (1 accessible). DEC's page does not state a separate day-use parking fee; only the overnight camping fee ($20/night NY resident, +$5 out-of-state) is listed.
Can I bring a kayak or paddleboard to Meacham Lake Campground?
DEC's official page confirms a boat launch (new and old) and states power boats are allowed on Meacham Lake, with no stated horsepower limit or no-wake/electric-only restriction found in that source.
When is the best time to visit Meacham Lake Campground?
Campground season runs May 15 through October 12; DEC notes early morning and evening as good times to hear loon calls on the lake.
What are the rules at Meacham Lake Campground?
Swimming is unsupervised (no lifeguard) and permitted only from the designated beach area; swimming is prohibited from one-half hour before sunset until one-half hour after sunrise.
What water body is Meacham Lake Campground on?
Meacham Lake Campground is on Meacham Lake, a natural lake verified in USGS hydrography data.
