Situated just outside of Albany on the Mohawk River in Eastern New York, Schenectady is the ideal starting point for a fun RV adventure. This small town is home to roughly 67,000 residents and was settled in the 1620s. Before the Dutch settlers set up camp, however, the Mohawk tribe dominated the area. Both the Dutch and Mohawk benefited from fur trading for many decades. By the time the city was incorporated in 1798, it was experiencing booming growth due to European immigrants. While the economy was originally based on agriculture and fur trading, it grew to encompass trade, transportation and manufacturing. Now Schenectady is a major renewable energy hub.
While Schenectady is a small town, it offers several notable points of interest. During your visit to the area, take time to visit the historic Proctors Theatre. Since its construction in 1926, it has hosted vaudeville, TV and movie productions. History is also on full display in the Stockdale Historic District, which is home to numerous well-preserved homes from the town's earliest days. You can learn about local history through the Schenectady County Historical Society, which operates a museum out of an 1895-built home. Union College, the Suits-Bueche Planetarium and the Schenectady Museum are also popular points of interest.
If you want to spend time enjoying the scenic beauty and recreational opportunities that Eastern New York is known for, many nearby areas will impress you. In addition to featuring a playground, a pool and tennis courts, Central Park's Rose Garden is filled with brilliant blooms during the warm season. The Mohawk-Hudson Bike-Hike Trail provides a fantastic opportunity to enjoy the unspoiled beauty of these two famous rivers. At the Indian Kill Nature Preserve in nearby Glenville, you can view wildlife, wildflowers and lovely views across 100 acres. This area is popular for fishing, hiking and other outdoor activities.
Campgrounds Near Schenectady, New York
Fifty minutes southeast of Schenectady, Alps Family Campground offers a wide range of family-friendly amenities in a heavily wooded landscape. There are both pull-through and back-in RV sites available, and the nightly rate is $45. These sites provide water and electricity hookups and are also available for weekly and monthly rentals. During your stay, you can take advantage of on-site hiking trails, a video arcade, weekend hayrides, horseshoe pits, a gift shop, a softball field and numerous other amenities.
Thompson's Lake Campground sits amidst mountains and a forest close to the Helderberg Escarpment in Thacher State Park, about 35 minutes southwest of Schenectady. The 140 sites are also close to a sandy beach on a large lake. The overnight sites are available for $19 per night for New York residents and $24 per night for non-residents. From this campground, you can enjoy all that the state park offers. This includes nature trails, interactive displays, a playground, a boat launch site and more.
Broken Wheel Campground is conveniently located near the borders of New York, Massachusetts and Vermont, an hour and five minutes southeast of Schenectady, making it ideal for sightseeing and adventures. There are 70 campsites, and the rates start at $32 nightly or $192 weekly. At this campground, you can tour an old caboose, shop in a convenience store and enjoy good times in the rec hall. The rec hall features a fireplace, ping pong, billiards, an arcade and a library. Numerous special events are also hosted throughout the year, including community meals, dances, auctions and more.
State Parks Near Schenectady, New York
Located only 35 minutes southwest of Schenectady, Thacher State Park is a gorgeous place to spend a day or two while you are in the area. The park offers spectacular views with six miles of limestone cliffs as well as the Hudson-Mohawk Valley. The Green Mountains and the Adirondack Mountains can be seen in the distance from various vantage points. The Helderberg Escarpment flanks the park and is known for its many fossils. You can also explore the grounds by hiking, biking, cross-country skiing and more along 25 miles of nature trails.
Schodack Island State Park is 40 minutes south of Schenectady on 1,052 acres along the Hudson River's banks. As a state estuary, the park is home to numerous bird species, so it is ideal for bird-watching. Eight miles of nature trails offer river views and are suitable for biking and hiking. As you walk along the trails, you can learn about the area's history through interpretive signs. Horseshoe pits, volleyball courts, a boat launch and picnic tables are also available for you to use.
Moreau Lake State Park spans 6,250 acres in Eastern New York, 50 minutes north of Schenectady. While visitors make full use of the sandy beach and lake for swimming, boating and fishing, a trek up to the pavilion offers views of the lake and wooded grounds. This pavilion also contains a museum, a nature center and concessions. You can also spot the abundant wildlife in the area by hiking and biking along the 20 miles of trails. Moreau Lake State Park is popular for winter recreational activities as well, including ice-fishing, skating, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing.
National Sites Near Schenectady, New York
Forty-five minutes northeast of Schenectady, Saratoga National Historic Park marks the site of an epic battle between American and British forces in the Revolutionary War. This battle was historically significant as the first time that the British military surrendered. In addition to being home to the Saratoga Battlefield, this historic site offers tours of the Philip Schuyler House, which is the preserved home of an American general. To further immerse yourself in the area's rich history, stroll through Victory Woods at the site where the British Army made its last stand. You can visit the park's attractions on foot via the Wilkinson Trail or by car along Tour Road.
Martin Van Buren National Historic Site, 50 minutes south of Schenectady, is the preserved home where President Van Buren lived after leaving the White House. This home, known as Lindenwald, can be explored through a guided tour. During the tour, you can learn about Van Buren's past as a farmer, his political life and his family. You can also take a self-guided tour across the grounds on a 0.75-mile loop. Tours and exploring the grounds are free activities.
Also 50 minutes south of Schenectady, the Thomas Cole National Historic Site is the location of this influential artist's former home. Cole initially gained prominence as an environmentalist and a talented artist, but he is most well known for launching the United States' first art movement. Guided tours are available by appointment and include visits to the old studio, the visitor center, the new studio, the main house and a skywalk. You can admire some of his pieces, learn more about his life, and explore period furnishings and architecture during your visit.
National Forests Near Schenectady, New York
Situated on more than 821,000 acres in Vermont, an hour and 10 minutes northeast of Schenectady, Green Mountain National Forest is a mixed forest that comprises rolling hills and mountains. The forest is home to numerous species, including ruffed grouses, beavers, wild turkeys, black bears, coyotes and more. Three notable trails are located on the grounds: the Robert Frost National Recreation Trail and parts of the Long Trail and the Appalachian Trail. There are also three ski areas. Popular activities here are cycling, horseback riding, cross-country skiing and hiking.
White Mountain National Forest covers almost 751,000 acres in New Hampshire and Maine, four hours and 40 minutes northeast of Schenectady. It is home to the Sandwich Range with many peaks reaching an elevation of more than 4,000 feet. Notably, a 100-mile stretch of the Appalachian Trail passes through the forest. If you choose to hike on some of the forest's 1,200 miles of trails, you could spot porcupines, black bears, bald eagles, lynx, otters, bobcats and more.
Finger Lakes National Forest is located on 16,259 acres in southern New York in a scenic location near Cayuga Lake and Seneca Lake, approximately three hours and 15 minutes southwest of Schenectady. Its 30 miles of nature trails consist of diverse terrain that includes woods, gorges, pastures and ravines. Some of its popular attractions include Thundering Falls, Kent Pond, White Rocks Cliffs, Little Rock Pond and a portion of the Appalachian Trail. Camping, alpine and cross-country skiing, fishing and other activities are available on-site.
