Camping is a rewarding outdoor experience and having a great time is guaranteed. New York State is home to some of the most gorgeous campgrounds in the country where one can reconnect with nature - stretching from the beautiful heights of the Adirondack and Catskill Mountains to the banks of the gorgeous Hudson River near New York City in the state's upstate region. Visitors looking for a remote camping experience can head to the magnificent state park campgrounds, some of which have access to spectacular natural wonders. These are some of New York’s most popular campgrounds.
10 Harriman State Park Campground
The Harriman State Park is New York's second-largest state park and a hiking paradise for hikers of all abilities and interests. It includes more than 200 miles of marked and unmarked hiking paths and allows visitors to enjoy the spectacular serenity of 31 lakes, two beaches, and countless streams and beautiful hills. Travelers can also engage in swimming, fishing, boating, and biking if hiking isn't their thing. This park is free to enter unless one’s going to either of the two public beaches, L. Welch or L. Tiorati.
9 Rip Van Winkle Campgrounds
These campgrounds are the perfect choice for travelers seeking family fun. They are located between the Catskill Mountains and the Hudson River. Guests with various camping interests and abilities can find tent sites, cabin rentals, and RV parking at this campsite. With attractions like bocce ball, several playgrounds, a swimming hole and pool, pedal boats, fishing, horseshoes, and more, these campgrounds are definitely some of the best in New York.
- Cost: $40 per night for a basic tent site.
8 Saranac Lake Islands Public Campground
Saranac Lake Islands Public Campground is ideal for a private island stay. It has direct lake access and miles of shoreline for boater recreational activities. Throughout the year, it is a popular location for motorized and non-motorized boaters, canoeists, and kayakers. There are 87 water-access-only campsites on visit, guests can go fishing, canoeing, biking, kayaking, hiking, and participating in other watersports. Overnight, one can make use of outhouses, day-use picnic areas, and a firewood store.
- Camping Fee: $22 is charged per night, while out-of-state residents are surcharged an extra $5 per night.
7 Letchworth State Park Campground
Letchworth State Park is the best for all-year camping and in 2017, USA Today named it the best attraction in New York State. The 'Grand Canyon of the East,' as it is known, lies less than an hour south of Rochester. Kayaking, mountain biking, horseback riding, whitewater rafting, bird watching, hot-air balloon tours, and 66 miles of hiking paths are all available year-round. Popular winter pastimes including snowmobiling and sleigh rides drawn by horses are all available. Whatever style of camping experience one is looking for, there's something here for everyone.
- Cost of Camping: $27-$30 per night with an additional $5 for an out-of-state resident fee.
6 Robert H. Treman State Park Campground
The Robert H. Treman State Park provides the perfect spot to take in the magnificent grandeur of the Finger Lakes region. It is located in Ithaca and has 12 different waterfalls in the park, including Lucifer Falls, which offers hikers a panoramic view of the area, and Lower Falls, which has a natural swimming pool. Enfield Glen is the primary attraction here, a beautiful valley with various hiking paths. For their stay, visitors can choose between tent, RV, and cabin sites.
- Cost of Camping: $18-$28 per night with an additional $5 surcharge for out-of-state residents.
5 Wellesley Island State Park
Wellesley Island State Park is the best location for nature aficionados. It is situated on the St. Lawrence River and has over 400 campsites providing guests with a rustic camping adventure where they can fish, hunt, walk, swim, bike, and boat. The Minna Anthony Common Wildlife Center, which features nature exhibits, live animals, eight miles of hiking trails, educational displays, and a variety of ecosystems, is one of the park's most popular attractions. The center also has a view of Eel Bay, which has four glacial potholes. It has one pavilion which can accommodate 100 people and travelers can use it daily.
- Cost of the pavilion: $100
- Cost of Cabins: $75-$139 per night.
4 Herkimer Diamond Koa Resort
The Herkimer Diamond Koa Resort has a number of distinctive features, but its above-ground surface mines are a must-see. Travelers can look for quartz crystals that originated more than 500 million years ago and the best part is that they retain whatever they find. The West Canada Creek is just next to the campsite and offers fishing, kayaking, and canoeing opportunities. The cost of accommodation gets higher during the peak seasons.
- Lodging Options: Cabins, luxury hotels, tents, and RV parks
- Cost of Reservations: Start at $39.91/$44.90 (weekday/weekend) for tent sites, $79.90/$89.90 for RV sites, and $99.90/$109.90 for cabins.
3 Hither Hills State Park
Situated in Montauk, Long Island, about 122 miles from the city, Hither Hills State Park is ideal for combining a beach vacation with a camping adventure. Horseback riding, sport fishing, boating, biking, hunting, and windsurfing are all available at the ocean-side campground, which also has lovely picnic sites and fireplaces. Hiking the "walking dunes" trail on Napeague Harbor, which moves a couple of feet southeast on a yearly basis owing to high winds, is a must-do activity.
- Fee: $8 is collected from 8 am to 4 pm.
2 Fahnestock State Park Campground
The many activities in Fahnestock State Park will delight outdoor enthusiasts. The park, which features both counties of Putnam and Duchess and is less than two hours from New York City, includes 80 campsites with natural granite ridges that provide quiet alcoves for campers. Many visitors come to see the beautiful lakeside vistas of Canopus Lake, which offer activities such as boating, fishing, and swimming. Fahnestock has one pavilion which can host up to 50 campers.
- Cost of the pavilion: $75.
1 North-South Lake Campground
North-South Lake Campground is the Catskill Forest Preserve's largest campground and has stunning views of the neighboring mountains and lakes. The renowned Escarpment Trail is ideal for a short hike or more arduous paths to sights like Alligator Rock, Newman's Ledge, Boulder Rock, and Artist's Rock. Some of these locations provide views of five distinct states on a clear day. This campground, which has more than 200 tent and trailer camping spots, is also wonderful for fishing, swimming, and picnics.
- Camping fee: $22 per night with an additional $5 surcharge for out-of-state residents.