As teachers with three school-aged children, we've spent a fair share of time being weekend warriors. We never stray too far from home on a short weekend RV trip. So that means we've camped at dozens of campgrounds in New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.

On this bucket list roundup of our favorites, we are sharing mostly private campgrounds. The truth is that New York and Pennsylvania both have tons of wonderful state parks (New Jersey not so much). We will have to share all of those more rustic options in another campground roundup.

Want more great recommendations for campgrounds in New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania? Make sure to check out our Campground of the Week podcast or ask the friendly folks in our private RVFTA Facebook Group!

NEW YORK

Let's start off with the Empire State, which we think is one of the most underrated RV destinations in the country. There are so many amazing regions in this state: Catskills, Adirondacks, Finger Lakes, Niagara Falls, and more. We've camped in all of them over the years, and are continually blown away by the outdoor adventures and natural beauty you can find in this state. Here are four of our favorite campgrounds in New York.

Lake Placid/ Whiteface Mountain KOA

First let's talk about location. The Lake Placid/ Whiteface Mountain KOA sits at the foot of Whiteface Mountains and is just a short drive from the charming and beautiful downtown Lake Placid. You can find world-class fly fishing, hiking, and canoeing or tour the Olympic attractions. The campground offers deeply wooded sites along with upgraded amenities like a game room, lodge, and pool. The customer service experience is some of the best we have ever seen. More details about our favorite things to do in Lake Placid can be found here. 

Lazy River Jellystone

The Lazy River Jellystone in Gardiner is located near the Catskills region of New York State. This is the type of campground where you could hang out for a week and never want to leave. However, you could also use it as a wonderful base camp for enjoying the surrounding region. You'll find Hyde Park, Lake Minnewaska, and New Paltz nearby. The campground has an off-the-hook waterpark and pool area. It also offers mini golf, laser tag, and dining options. You can find out more details about this Jellystone here.

Branches of Niagara

We like to describe Branches of Niagara as a summer camp for the whole family. That atmosphere probably comes from the zip lines that cross the man-made lake, and the occasional presentations from a local naturalist. Most folks think of Niagara Falls as the ultimate tourist trap. But it's an amazing tourist trap that you really must visit. And this is the best place to stay on the America side for sure. You can fish, rent a canoe, and take a hay ride around the property at sunset. Or just float around in the pool. Totally up to you. You can see our complete review of Branches of Niagara here.

Lake George RV Park

The Lake George RV Resort is legendary in the world of campgrounds. It was a camping resort before the rest of the industry caught on to what that really means. It has indoor and outdoor pools, paved roads, a clubhouse with pool tables, and every imaginable recreational opportunity. (Think six Pickleball Courts!). They've even got your dogs covered with a 2-acre "Bark Park" with off-leash area and pavilion. Lake George is an iconic vacation destination in the northeast and this is where to camp when you visit!

New Jersey

Unlike New York, New Jersey isn't quite the world class camping destination. And since we have lived here forever, we are allowed to say that. However, we've managed to find a few gems that we can escape to when our schedules only allow for a quick getaway.

Seashore Campsites vs. Holly Shores