I used to hit sleepy bear with a tent or back of truck for years. Always liked it as the back sites were always empty so we usually would set up like we owned the joint. Brennans is probably a better over all experience though.

Mid October will be tough pressure wise. Just about the whole river gets occupied for the most part. Be sure to be persistent

db, your account is spot on.. those campgrounds along rt-3 are pretty roll in and be all set at that time of year.. Depends on what creature features one desires.. Something I like along the lake once the summer gang has gone.. Selkirk is still a busy fisher place due to on the cheap, clean and easy..
Charlie is also right on with the mid river gig.. they however tend to be a bit more busy from the camping river walkers.. Browns, Stoneys, Mid River, Cannons, Fox hollow , AOL and gosh who knows who may let the fires burn and open up to let the masses in.. They all get busy along the river at prime time, they get quiet though once the first snow falls..
At least they allow camping though and do become quite nice..
 
 

Stayed at Sleepy Hollow one time decades ago.
Way back in and on the bank of  Grindstone.
Nice enough but the temp dropped from mid 50s to high of 11.
Even with layer of cardboard under the tent it was a cold mother of a snowy night.
Never used any of their facilities so I can't comment on them.
 
Couldn't get Lucky to move (not an easy task at that time with the whiskey and beer and all whatnot).
Told him 3 times I was going to Frick n Fracks.
Third time I started up the engine and was pulling out when he comes crawling out with 1 boot on holding the other in his hand hopping and yelling at me.
Good times.
 
PS it went from non stop doubles or triples (good friend Kieth was fishing with us) to the line coating with ice on the backcast and slamming you between the shoulder blades.
Tough day of fishing.

I don't remember any way back in at Bear's, I think we were within throwing distance of Route 3, but that could be the all whatnot.  I always preferred the pine grove at Chedmardo's to any of the other camping spots we tried.  Of course, we never stopped at Stoney's, but I am told that during shark season, a gas mask is good equipment to have there. 
 
L13

I didn't mention Ched's because last time I was there the facilities were lets say primitive.
Best spot by far for a couple of fish heads.
That storm when the pine tree  got hit by lighting and the stream of drag behind trailers started heading for who knows where was one of the awesome nights of my camping career.
I can't believe we stayed in the tent while they rolled for cover.
 
PS pretty sure it was the whatnot.
We were back in by ourselves.
Not saying we needed a map compass and native American guide to find our way out but we weren't camped on the edge of rt 3 by any stretch of the imagination.
 
 

2b, care to elaborate on Chedmardo's? Never heard of it, but rustic is fine with us. We backpack regularly, and have need of nothing other than some space, even in the dead of winter.

It's down past Selkirk and bears towards Mexico .

Basicly across Grindstone from Sleepy Hollow.
The rest room - showers are standard concrete bunkers and there are no state employees to hose  them down twice a day like at Selkirk. Gray not painted white so always a bit dingy looking
 
Last I was there was about 15 years Mostly motor homes fifthwheeler or drag behind rigs so for them I guess they have there own facilities.
 
The pines loop had about 10 tent sites set off a little by itself.

Thanks.

by the way when lightning hits a pine its different than other trees.
The high sap content super cooks and they just explode.
Pine shrapnel for hundreds of feet.
Very cool.