Free camping in western New York's hill country draws a particular kind of camper to East Otto State Forest, and the 14 or so designated sites tucked into its forested terrain tend to attract those who want space without a reservation system standing between them and a night outdoors. The NYS Department of Environmental Conservation manages the grounds, and the setup is straightforward: drive in, pick a site, and stay up to three days without prior permission.
Sites are spaced far enough apart that neighboring campers are audible but not visible through the trees, a layout that reviewers consistently note. Aidan C. observed arriving on a Friday night at 8 PM to find multiple open spots, which suggests the campground rarely fills to capacity on weekends, though that can shift. What does vary is cleanliness. Trash left by previous visitors has been a recurring complaint, with some sites arriving in noticeably worse shape than others. Campers who walk the loop before settling in tend to find the better-kept options. Each site includes a fire ring, and branches and sticks on the forest floor make fire-starting straightforward without purchasing wood.
Rain changes the experience significantly. Multiple visitors flag that the terrain gets muddy after precipitation, enough to coat boots and slow down trailers. A 16-foot travel trailer has made it through without issue in dry conditions, but wet weather warrants extra caution. Cell service is unreliable despite listed coverage, so downloading maps or directions beforehand is worth doing. GPS coordinates from some apps have routed drivers to a residential road; following signage once past that point leads directly to the campground entrance.
The site sits near Zoar Valley, which gives campers a day-trip option without a long drive. Pets are welcome and run freely through the wooded sites. For those planning a longer route through the region, campsites near East Otto State Forest include options ranging from developed parks to a nearby Allegany Mountain Members Resort to the southeast. East Otto is a no-cost overnight that rewards campers who come prepared and leave nothing behind.
Description
Camping for more than three nights requires a permit from a Forest Ranger.
Camping is allowed at 14 designated tent sites along Kriedeman Forest Road that are available on a first come first serve basis and which are marked with a yellow camp disk (see picture at right). These sites are numbered and have a primitive fire ring. There are no out house facilities. The Kriedeman Forest Road area receives heavy camping activity during the summer months, so camping is allowed only at designated sites to reduce environmental impact to the area. Parking is allowed at the entrance to each site but not beyond that.
On other parts of the property, individuals may set up camp at any location which is at least 150 feet from water bodies, streams, roads or trails. Camping for more than three nights or in a group of ten or more requires a permit from a Forest Ranger.
RV Road Trip Guides
Map & DirectionsEast Otto State Forest is located in New York near Collins Center
Public CampgroundCoordinates
42.43607023 N
78.78357167 W
Connectivity
T-MobileNo Coverage
VerizonLTESome Coverage- AT&TNo CoverageVerified by 2 usersLast on 9/15/26
Connectivity
- T-MobileNo Coverage
- VerizonLTESome Coverage
- AT&TNo CoverageVerified by 2 usersLast on 9/15/26
Access
- Drive-InPark next to your site
- Walk-InPark in a lot, walk to your site.
Site Types
- Tent Sites
- RV Sites
- Standard (Tent/RV)
- Dispersed
- Group
Features
For Campers
- Trash
- Firewood Available
- Phone Service
- Toilets
- Alcohol
- Pets
- Fires
FREE established camping
Enjoy camping on government land. Limited or no services at this camping area.
PERMIT might be REQUIRED
We curate permit requirements across the US for our PRO members. Try PRO to see if East Otto State Forest needs a permit.
Drive Time
- 39 min from Buffalo, NY
- 1 hr 23 min from Erie, PA
- 1 hr 40 min from Rochester, NY
- 2 hrs 18 min from Elmira, NY
