New York State is home to gorgeous natural wonders, stretching from the banks of the majestic Hudson River near New York City to the lovely peaks of the Adirondack and Catskill Mountains in the state's upstate region. Travelers looking to rough it in primitive accommodations have their choice of delightful state park campgrounds, which offer easy access to natural wonders like Letchworth State Park's "Grand Canyon of the East" or the many islands of Saranac Lake. Campground areas closer to the New York City metropolitan region offer the best of both worlds, including organized group sightseeing attractions traveling to the Big Apple's most notable attractions at select times throughout the year.
1. Ausable Point Campground
Ausable Point Campground is located just a short drive from the city of Plattsburgh on gorgeous Garden Island, commonly referred to as "Battleship Island" for its connection to the first sea battle of the American Revolutionary War. The gorgeous island park is home to stunning shoreline areas bordering scenic Lake Champlain, which attract sailors, boaters, windsurfers, and swimmers throughout the year. Anglers can enjoy opportunities to catch northern pike, lake and brown trout, and salmon throughout the year, while hikers can explore the adjacent lands of beautiful Wickham Marsh Wildlife Management Area and Valcor Island Bird Conservation Area. 123 primitive campsites offer modern bathhouses with showers, dump stations, day-use picnic pavilions, and boat launch sites.
3346 Lakeshore Drive, Peru, NY 12972, Phone: 518-561-7080
2. Beaver Pond Campground
Beaver Pond Campground is a lovely campground area within Harriman State Park, located adjacent to the banks of picturesque Lake Welch. The stunning Lower Hudson Valley campground area provides convenient access to multiple nearby swimming beaches and hiking trail networks, making it a great choice for wilderness enthusiasts exploring the natural wonders of the Stony Point region. Tent and trailer sites are offered at the campground, sleeping up to six people per site and accommodating up to 30-foot-long trailers. Each campsite comes equipped with day-use picnic sites with tables, fire rings, and flip-top grills and provides access to nearby full-service restrooms. A protected swimming beach is open to campground guests, offering limited lifeguard service.
700 Kanawauke Rd, Stony Point, NY 10980, Phone: 845-947-2792
3. Caroga Lake State Campground
Caroga Lake State Campground is a gorgeous rustic campground in Gloversville, welcoming tent and RV guests in sites that can accommodate trailers up to 40 feet in length. The charming campground, which takes its name from the former area indigenous village of the same name, was originally developed in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps. Today, it offers 105 campsites for overnight stay, including a number of ADA-accessible sites for visitors with mobility needs. Amenities include modern showers and restrooms, dump stations, a recycling center, and a small-craft boat launch. Visitors can also make use of the campground's diversified exercise course, which features 18 independent exercise stations, or its private lifeguarded swimming beach, which is open between mid-June and Labor Day. Nearby, Ferris Lake and Shaker Mountain Wild Forests provide opportunities for hiking and wildlife watching.
3043 NY-29A, Gloversville, NY 12078, Phone: 518-835-4241
4. Chenango Valley State Park
Chenango Valley State Park is a lovely state park in Broome County, New York, stretching for 1,137 acres adjacent to the gorgeous Chenango River. The park, which is located near the town of Fenton, is home to a plethora of year-round outdoor recreational opportunities, including opportunities for swimming, boating, and fishing at Chenango and Lily Lakes. Mature woodland areas are home to trail systems open to hikers, bikers, and cross-country skiers, showcasing populations of native woodpeckers, herons, kingfishers, and warblers. An 18-hole golf course is open to the public throughout the warmer months, while children's playgrounds and day-use picnic sites are available on a first-come, first-served basis. A 184-site campground accommodates tents and RVs, while 24 rental cabins feature modern amenities.
153 State Park Rd, Chenango Forks, NY 13746, Phone: 607-648-5251
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5. New York Campgrounds: Cranberry Lake Campground
Cranberry Lake Campground is home to one of New York's largest-remaining remote wilderness areas, home to thousands of acres of unbroken forests surrounding the pristine lake of the same name. The lake, which was dammed in 1916 to double its size, is located within Cranberry Lake State Park, which showcases stunning Adirondack Mountains scenery and some of upstate New York's best chances to view colorful fall foliage. Many miles of marked hiking trails traverse the lake and its adjacent 150,000-acre forest preserve, offering connections to explore the Adirondack High Peaks near Lake Placid. Chances for swimming, hiking, and picnicking are offered throughout the year at developed areas, including the park's secluded rustic campsites, which offer sporting courts, dump stations, and ADA-accessible restrooms.
230 Lone Pine Rd, Cranberry Lake, NY 12927, Phone: 315-848-2315
6. Crown Point Campground
Crown Point Campground is located within one of New York's most rich historic regions, which played a seminal role during the American Revolutionary War. Its lands were acquired by the New York State Conservation Department in 1910 and have been a popular outdoor recreational site for more than a century, known for an historic steamboat pier that has become a popular year-round fishing destination. The entirety of Crown Point Reservation has been protected as a National Historic Landmark, including its iconic Crown Point Bridge, connecting the reservation to nearby Vermont, and its picturesque 1912 lighthouse. Remnants of historic fortifications frame the reservation's lovely campground, which is home to 66 tent and RV sites equipped with modern bathhouses, recycling centers, dump stations, and a small communal picnic area.
742 Bridge Rd, Crown Point, NY 12928, Phone: 518-597-3603
7. New York Campgrounds: Delta Lake State Park
Delta Lake State Park is a gorgeous 720-acre New York state park, stretching across a peninsula along the shoreline of Oneida County's beautiful Delta Lake near the town of Western. The park was created in 1962 after the formation of the peninsula following the damming of the Mohawk River as part of the development of the New York State Barge Canal. Today, it serves as an outdoor recreational paradise, home to extended networks of hiking, cycling, cross-country skiing, and snowmobiling trails, along with boat launch facilities and day-use picnic and sporting areas. A 101-site tent, trailer, and RV campground is located adjacent to a private seasonal swimming beach, offering modern amenities like bathhouses and a dump station.
8797 NY-46, Rome, NY 13440, Phone: 315-337-4670
8. Evergreen Trails Campgrounds
Evergreen Trails Campgrounds is known as the "Southern Tier's Hidden Jewel," located on 211 picturesque acres within the heart of Allegany County, New York near the city of Angelica. The gorgeous campground makes for a perfect launching-off point for exploring area outdoor attractions like Letchworth State Park, known as the "Grand Canyon of the East," or perusing the boutique shops and wineries of the Finger Lakes region. Secluded wooded tent and RV sites are located on the banks of the campground's charming creek, offering access to private bathhouses, laundry facilities, and day-use picnic pavilions with barbecue grills. A children's playground is also offered onsite, along with sporting courts, a camp store, and a gorgeous nature trail network. 28 secluded log cabins sleep up to eight overnight guests, decked out with modern amenities like refrigerators and stoves.
8403 Co Rd 15, Angelica, NY 14709, Phone: 585-466-7993
9. New York Campgrounds: Fahnestock State Park Campground
Fahnestock State Park Campground is the beautiful public campground area of Clarence Fahnestock Memorial State Park, which stretches across undisturbed lands in Putnam and Dutchess Counties on the banks of stunning Stillwater and Canopus Lakes. The park is a popular year-round destination for water activities, including boating, swimming, and fishing for bass, perch, pickerel, and brook and rainbow trout. Lovely Fahnestock Winter Park showcases 15 miles of cross-country and snowshoeing trails, along with a private sledding terrain area. A scenic campground is located along the park's natural rock ridges, featuring primitive campsites decked out with day-use picnic sites, fire rings, and barbecue grills. On weekends, the park's nature center offers staff-led hikes and nature activities, along with access to public environmental exhibits.
Clarence Fahnestock State Park, Putnam Valley, NY 10579, Phone: 845-225-7207
10. Fillmore Glen State Park
Fillmore Glen State Park is a lovely 941-acre state park in New York's Finger Lakes Region, located within Cayuga County adjacent to the Village of Moravia. The picturesque state park is located just five miles from the birthplace of United States President Millard Fillmore, featuring a replica of the president's boyhood log cabin and exhibits connected to his life and legacy. Stunning hiking trails offer views of five waterfalls, leading to a swimming pond open to the public throughout the summer months. Year-round outdoor recreational opportunities include chances for cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, fishing, and hunting. A spacious campground offers 60 tent and trailer campsites, along with amenities like showers, picnic pavilions, and dump stations. All overnight guests can make use of the park's various sporting courts, along with a children's playground and private swimming beach. A fully-equipped cottage is also offered for overnight rental, located on the shores of Cayuga Lake at Long Point.
1686 NY-38, Moravia, NY 13118, Phone: 315-497-0130
11. Tent Camping Near Me: Fish Creek Pond Campground
Fish Creek Pond Campground is often considered to be the best public campground within New York's Adirondack Mountains, visited by more than 100,000 campers each season. The charming campground and recreational area is located just 15 minutes east of Tupper Lake, within easy day trip distance of the attractions of Lake Placid. It is home to 355 campsites accommodating all types of tents, trailers, and RVs up to 40 feet in length, including 319 sites located directly on the shores of the creek's waters. Small sandy beachfront areas are accessible from most campground sites, lined with secluded balsam fir, white pine, and maple tree backdrops. Boat launches are offered for use for all overnight guests, along with dump and fill stations, modern bathhouses, and water taps.
4523 NY-30, Saranac Lake, NY 12983, Phone: 518-891-4560
12. Camping Near Me: Hamlin Beach State Park
Hamlin Beach State Park is a charming 1,287-acre state park located on the banks of majestic Lake Ontario, within the picturesque town of Hamlin in upstate New York. The park was first opened to the public as Northwest Beach Park in 1929, set on the former farmstead of area settler Charles Wolf. Civilian Conservation Corps architecture remains today, including preserved historic beachfront and campground structures. 264 beachfront tent and trailer campsites are open to the public throughout the year, which offer use of amenities like modern showers, dump stations, and day-use picnic sites. All overnight guests can explore nature trails like the Yanty Creek Nature Trail, which features interpretive markers explaining the camp's history, or enjoy opportunities for fishing, swimming, and boating on the beach's shoreline.
1 Hamlin Beach State Park, Hamlin, NY 14464, Phone: 585-964-2462
13. Indian Lake Islands
Indian Lake Islands offer some of the best opportunities for recreational boating experiences within New York's gorgeous Adirondack Mountains, located on the shores of beautiful 4,365-acre Indian Lake near the city of Sabael. The islands are a popular destination throughout the year for outdoor recreation, ranging from canoeing, boating, and kayaking to angling for lake and rainbow trout, smallmouth bass, yellow perch, and salmon. Hiking trails lead to beautiful sites like Snowy Mountain and Watch Point, two of the area's top overlook vistas. 55 boat-accessible campsites offer amenities like pit toilets, fireplaces, and day-use picnic sites. Firewood sales are offered onsite for all visitors.
NY-30, Sabael, NY 12864, Phone: 518-648-5300
14. Lake Durant State Campground
Lake Durant State Campground is located along the eastern shores of beautiful 327-acre Lake Durant, offering unparalleled panoramic views of the Central Adirondacks and nearby Blue Mountain. The campground is a popular year-round destination for recreational activities like canoeing, boating, and kayaking, offering rentals and public-access boat launches to explore the lake's waters. Anglers can catch smallmouth bass, tigermuskey, yellow perch, brown bullheads, and sunfish on the park's ADA-accessible fishing pier, while hikers can explore the adjacent 133-mile Northville-Placid Trail and its natural wonders. A 65-site tent and trailer campground offers modern flush toilets, hot showers, a dump station, a camp store, and day-use picnic sites with fireplaces.
3444 State Rd, Blue Mountain Lake, NY 12812, Phone: 518-352-7797
15. Campgrounds Near Me: Letchworth State Park
Letchworth State Park has been voted as New York State's top outdoor attraction by USA Today, stretching across over 14,000 acres in Wyoming and Livingston Counties along 17 miles of the course of the Genesee River. The park, which is located 35 miles southwest of the city of Rochester, was originally established in 1906 following the donation of William Pryor Letchworth's Glen Iris Estate to the state of New York. Today, the park is best known as the home of gorgeous Upper, Middle, and Lower Falls and the spectacular "Grand Canyon of the East," which features 550-foot rock walls and stunning panoramic views. Visitors can enjoy excellent opportunities for outdoor recreation at the park throughout the year, including chances for hiking, biking, whitewater rafting, fishing, hot air ballooning, cross-country skiing, and geocaching. Overnight accommodations range from full-service campsites and rustic rental cabins to the spectacular Glen Iris Inn, which features a public restaurant and hotel rooms and suites.
1 Letchworth State Park, Castile, NY 14427, Phone: 585-493-3600
16. New York Campgrounds: Luzerne State Campground
Luzerne State Campground is located on the banks of lovely Fourth Lake within New York State's Lake George region, near the city of Lake Luzerne. The family-friendly campground is popular with campers of all ages throughout the year, offering 174 tent and trailer hookup sites with modern amenities like bathhouses, dump stations, recycling centers, and day-use picnic sites with charcoal grills and fireplaces. Boat and canoe rentals are offered for exploration of the lake's waters, while a swimming beach is a popular destination for sunbathers throughout the summer months. Anglers can enjoy excellent opportunities for catching bass, trout, yellow perch, northern pike, and pumpkin seed throughout the year. Nearby, hiking trails connect to the summit of Prospect Mountain, which offers 100-mile views on clear days.
892 Lake Ave, Lake Luzerne, NY 12846, Phone: 518-696-2031
17. Campgrounds Near Me: Margaret Lewis Norrie State Park
Margaret Lewis Norrie State Park is a gorgeous 1,000-acre New York state park adjoining beautiful Ruth Livingston Mills Memorial State Park, offering delightful outdoor recreational opportunities throughout the year for visitors of all ages. The park is home to an extensive network of multi-use trails open to hikers, cyclists, cross-country skiers, and snowshoers throughout the year, treating explorers to unparalleled views of the Hudson River waterfront. Campers can choose from 46 tent sites and 10 rental cabins, which can sleep up to six overnight guests. Recreational vehicles are welcome at all sites, although no electrical hookups are offered. Park amenities include a 145-slip marina, a golf course, and a riverfront pavilion with a full-service American-style cafe.
9 Old Post Rd, Staatsburg, NY 12580, Phone: 845-889-4646
18. New York City North - Newburgh KOA Holiday
New York City North / Newburgh KOA Holiday is one of the closest full-service campgrounds servicing the greater New York City metropolitan area, perfect for urban explorers looking to take in the sights of the Big Apple but stay in rustic, secluded accommodations. The campground offers sightseeing tours of New York City's biggest landmarks between May and October, stopping at top destinations like the Statue of Liberty, Rockefeller Center, and Times Square. It is located within the heart of the picturesque Hudson Valley, within easy driving distance of area attractions like West Point, the former home of United States President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Tent and RV hookup campsites feature amenities like bathhouses, laundry rooms, and cable television hookups. Families can enjoy a plethora of onsite activities throughout the year, ranging from a miniature golf course and arcade to a fully-stocked fishing pond, two swimming pools, and an inflatable cinema.
119 Freetown Hwy, Plattekill, NY 12589, Phone: 845-564-2836
19. North-South Lake Campground
North-South Lake Campground is the most popular state campground within the scenic Catskill Forest Preserve, which showcases gorgeous natural wonders and unique historic sites like the remains of the Catskill Mountain House. The campground offers views of five states on clear days, located high atop a beautiful scenic mountain overlook. Seven camping loops offer 219 tent and trailer sites, which feature access to amenities like modern bathhouses, day-use picnic areas, and dump stations. All overnight guests can make use of the preserve's day-use amenities, which include an ADA-accessible fishing pier, a paved boat ramp, and a kayak and canoe rental station. Hiking trails lead to natural wonders like Kaaterskill Falls and picturesque Alligator Rock.
874 N Lake Rd, Haines Falls, NY 12436, Phone: 518-589-5058
20. Campgrounds in New York: Rollins Pond Campground
Rollins Pond Campground is a top campground destination for watersports enthusiasts, located on the banks of the beautiful 442-acre pond of the same name near the city of Saranac Lake. 287 gorgeous natural campsites accommodate tents, trailers, and RVs up to 40 feet in length, featuring access to modern bathhouses and showers, a trailer dump station, and a firewood store. All guests can use the pond's boat launch for motorized and non-motorized watercraft under 25 horsepower or rent canoes and kayaks for exploration of the pond's waters. Adjacent Fish Creek is a popular canoeing destination, while Whey Pond is stocked with trout throughout the year. Sporting courts are offered for guest use, along with swimming beaches staffed with lifeguards at select times throughout the year.
4523 State Route 30, Saranac Lake, NY 12983, Phone: 518-891-3239
21. Campgrounds Near Me: Saranac Lake Islands Public Campground
Saranac Lake Islands Public Campground provides direct access to miles of boater recreation areas around the Lower Saranac Lake Islands, a popular destination for motorized and non-motorized boaters, canoeists, and kayakers throughout the year. The campground is a great choice for travelers looking for secluded accommodations, offering 87 water-access-only campsites on private islands within the lake. Five campsites are equipped with lean-tos, while two campsites feature accessible restrooms. All overnight guests can make use of onsite amenities like outhouses, day-use picnic sites, and a firewood store. Anglers can enjoy great opportunities to catch largemouth and smallmouth bass, yellow perch, northern pike, and pickerel throughout the year on the campground's waters. Extensive hiking trail systems nearby offer adventures for experienced and novice hikers alike.
4468 NY-3, Saranac Lake, NY 12983, Phone: 518-891-2841
22. New York Campgrounds: Stony Brook State Park
Stony Brook State Park is a delightful 568-acre state park in Steuben County, New York, located just south of the city of Dansville along NY State Route 36. The charming state park has been a top summer tourist destination since the implementation of area railroad routes in the late 19th century and has been overseen as a state park since 1928, featuring historic amenities and buildings constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps. Two stream-fed swimming pools are open to the public seasonally, while hunting areas and multi-use nature trails can be used throughout the year. Popular visitor activities include waterfall hiking and tennis. The park's charming campsites offer access to modern restrooms and showers, food concession stands, and day-use picnic sites.
10820 NY-36, Dansville, NY 14437, Phone: 585-335-8111
23. Nest Campgrounds in New York: Woodland Valley Campground
Woodland Valley Campground is tucked into the foothills of majestic Slide Mountain, the Catskills' tallest peak. The delightful campground area was originally developed in the late 19th century and has been operated by the state of New York since 1902, featuring lovely Civilian Conservation Corps-constructed buildings, cabins, and amenities. The campground serves as the trailhead for the gorgeous Slide-Wittenberg and Woodland Valley-Denning Trails, making it a popular launching-off point for hikers looking to explore the natural wonders of nearby Wittenberg, Cornell, and Panther Mountains. 70 tent and trailer sites offer access to flush toilets, hot showers, a dump station and recycling center, and a day-use picnic area with barbecue grills.
1319 Woodland Valley Rd, Phoenicia, NY 12464, Phone: 845-688-7647
What are the Best Camping in New York - 25 Perfect Spots?
The Best Camping in New York - 25 Perfect Spots according to local experts are:
- Ausable Point Campground
- Beaver Pond Campground
- Caroga Lake State Campground
- Chenango Valley State Park
- New York Campgrounds: Cranberry Lake Campground
- Crown Point Campground
- New York Campgrounds: Delta Lake State Park
- Evergreen Trails Campgrounds
- New York Campgrounds: Fahnestock State Park Campground
- Fillmore Glen State Park
- Tent Camping Near Me: Fish Creek Pond Campground
- Camping Near Me: Hamlin Beach State Park
- Indian Lake Islands
- Lake Durant State Campground
- Campgrounds Near Me: Letchworth State Park
- New York Campgrounds: Luzerne State Campground
- Campgrounds Near Me: Margaret Lewis Norrie State Park
- New York City North - Newburgh KOA Holiday
- North-South Lake Campground
- Campgrounds in New York: Rollins Pond Campground
- Campgrounds Near Me: Saranac Lake Islands Public Campground
- New York Campgrounds: Stony Brook State Park
- Nest Campgrounds in New York: Woodland Valley Campground
