Best Tent Camping near Boonville, NY

This place is great! $10 for a tent site right on the canal and the staff is super friendly

We stayed through this weekend and had a great time and got to see some awesome sunsets. It was a little bit of a walk to get water but we were tent camping so we didn’t really mind. Our site had electric hook ups which we really didn’t need being in a tent but it was nice for charging our phones. Overall had a great time.

Beautiful lakes! The walking/hiking trails are fabulous. They also offer an activity booklet for the kids to fill out during their stay to earn a patch. We camped with our 30 foot trailer on an obvious tent site as it was a bit hard to back in between the trees, but the site was nice and flat and clean. Definitely can’t wait to go back!

Small, family owned campground w/173 sites. Very quiet, rural area. Sites are very large and well maintained. Sites along the creek and lagoon have shade trees; tent sites to FHU’s; creekside beach; swings, patio agility course, many planned activities for kids: hayrides, sandcastle contests, Santa visit in July. Live bands or DJ’s on holiday weekends. Many fishing areas and several boat launch places with water access to large Oneida Lake. Bathrooms and showers are immaculate and well stocked. Staff members and owners are very pleasant and friendly.

I called and booked ahead of time knowing I'd arrive late and leave early, which was absolutely no problem, so I'm very thankful for that. I paid over the phone, was given clear instructions on where to park, and was told to enjoy my stay. This location is great if you're in a van or RV and need a quick place to stay for the night in this area of NY in mid- / late-October (because it seems NY closes its state parks quite early) or if you're here for the rock-hunting. From what I could see late at night (which honestly wasn't much) I wouldn't recommend for tent-camping as the sites were quite close to each other and not much soft ground for sleeping.

This campground offers so much for people of all ages.

• Crafts
• Games
• Activities
• Playground
• Pool
• Bouncy pillow
• Twice Daily wagon rides with Yogi and Boo Boo
• Bike parades
• River access
• Fishing
• Tubing
• Lounging

Our family camps at Yogi on the river at least twice a year. We always attend candy bar bingo, lounge by the river, play games with friends, get the little ones in the bike parades, and hang out with the friendly owners. With the cabins, park model rentals, tent sites, RV sites, everyone can come, no matter what their accommodations are.

Sites are well maintained, the campers are friendly, and the staff is helpful.

This is a great example of what a state park should be. It not only preserves a place of unique biological diversity and geologic interest, it is also well set up and well maintained to maximize low impact outdoor recreation and environmental education. A new state of the art regional environmental education center is being built now that will open in spring, as well as new handicapped access kayaking docks that complement Accessible trails and campsites throughout the park. This is a great destination for families, handicapped campers, and natural history enthusiasts. There are several campgrounds, one is large and open and meant for large RVs, others are drive-in forested tent sites or trailer sites with hookups, and several walkin sites. There is also a colony of rustic camper cabins. The campgrounds have brand new restroom facilities and playgrounds, and the main lake has a new beach house. The lake is a fascinating meromictic lake with clear calcium-rich waters that are not only pristine and beautiful to look at, but also great for swimming and snorkeling as the waters are crystal clear and very deep. There are hiking trails, paved bike trails, a nature preserve for bird watching at Round Lake, a golf course, and great kayaking or canoeing. It is also located right next door to the Erie Canal State Park for those who want to hike or bike the historic Erie Canal. Though you might expect a park like this to be in a remote location, it is actually just a short distance east of the suburbs of the Syracuse metro area, so it is an easy park to get to, plus staying there also provides easy access to stores for supplies, or access to local cultural activities or restaurants for those who want that. One of my favorite state parks in New York!

This is an extremely popular campground, and fills up quickly in the summer, especially on holiday weekends. Many local people I know in Syracuse will even camp here on a weekend, just to get away. Recent renovations to one of the two campgrounds will allow more room and hookups for RVs, in addition to the available tent sites. Cabins are also available, including one handicap accessible cabin. At least one of the campgrounds has a playground and there is another playground by the beach.

From the campgrounds there is access to the two miromictic lakes, one of which has a large beach area that is popular with many locals; the other is a National Natural Landmark and very scenic, but swimming is not allowed there. The trails near the lakes get very crowded but there are a total of 18 miles of trails in the park and many of them are less crowded. Trails from the campgrounds lead to a large tract of old-growth forest, a bird conservation area, and mountain biking trails. The park also has a golf course, frisbee golf course, and boat rentals and fishing access (on Green Lake near the beach)

Rustic camping with all the amenities awaits you at Devil Doc campsites. You will find three tent sites and a small cabin with loft on the property presently. There are plans to expand into another cabin for the bathhouse. A RV trailer is currently being used as the bathrooms as well as a common room for hanging out. Future expansion will see a group site near the upper pond get developed, and a leanto with a glass face. (!) firewood is also available on the premises.  Free to roam around the property, you will inevitably end up hanging around Rich up near his house. The patio is always alive with music, people, and chipmunks who horde peanuts. Basketball is always an option (Rich is a big fan), as well as chilling near the ponds and creeks. The local store is a short 3 mile ride away, if there is anything you forgot, or Rich doesn’t have. Rich could be the most hospitable host we’ve had so far. Music, libations, fire wood and coffee. All were offered and shared. We had a great time there, and will be back. 

The Devil Doc Campsite are just inside the Adirondack Park foothills. With close proximity to Northville and Gloversville, the world is never that far away. Or a good restaurant. The PeckHill state forest is close by for mountain biking. You can park at the trailhead on CR 101, or at Stump City brewing, to ride the trails. Lots of hiking and great fishing are found in the area, along with plenty of water sport opportunities.

My son and I had a great weekend there, and will surely be back. Soon!

When we pulled in, we felt like outsiders. Many people have seasonal sites and some of the activities are geared toward seasonal campers. We were excited to build a boat out of cardboard and duct tape for the Redneck Yacht Club weekend, but we later discovered that this contest was just for seasonal campers. Bummer. We are going back for Halloween weekend in August and plan to have our kids participate. I’m hoping that they will be able to. Anyway, they have a nice pool. It’s just a little small. The playground is old and outdated, but my kids didn’t seem to mind. The arcade was a bummer. Half of the games did not work. My kids are young enough that they didn’t mind. The staff is really nice. They offered a cute little wagon ride through the grounds and were always friendly and greeted you when they saw you. My five year old, husband, and Dad all signed up for laser tag. They had such an awesome time! That certainly is a fabulous amenity. We will come back for that alone because my son had so much fun. It is $10 per person but so worth it. The sites are close together. I’m used to more of a community vibe when I camp, but people seemed to keep to themselves for the most part. There are camper sites with full hookup, some with just water and electric, And a few electric only. There are also tent sites. The boat launch is kind of run down. There isn’t a dock per se, and the metal dock that is there is unstable. If they developed this area a bit, it would be much for inviting for fisherman and recreational boaters. This isn’t my favorite place, but it’s good for my kids. Very family oriented. Sorry about the people in the pics. I didn’t take any of just the grounds.

I have to preface by saying that I signed up to The Dyrt just to leave a review for Devil Doc campgrounds. I could not have had a more lovely experience at Devil Doc - and my GSD Daisy would emphatically agree! As they say, a tired dog is a good dog, and this girl is wiped out! We loved our stay so, so much. 

Rich is the owner and he's an absolute riot. A dude with an obvious zeal for life, his mission for this campground is to share this truly beautiful place he's lucky to call home with other people who are seeking to immerse themselves in nature. He and his buddy, Rick, live on acres and acres of forested property, with my favorite campsites located at a seemingly magical pond surrounded by beautiful pine and birch trees. They are constantly improving the campsites/property and although I thought it was perfect as is, Rich has grand plans for upgrades (i.e. outhouses and additional electric sites)! These guys really do so much to go out of their way to provide an amazing experience, from brewing coffee in the AM to helping you in whatever way they can, so please show respect, mindfulness, and clean up after yourself.

The campsites themselves are huge - this isn't a state park site where you're smushed on top of your neighbor. There are all types of campsites available for various camping styles; not all are adjacent to the pond. Although Daisy and I were the only ones there (Rich kindly accommodated our early booking request), I could envision how perfect it would still be even if the campgrounds had been fully booked out. There's enough space for everyone to feel some semblance of privacy and he also has a couple of completely private sites located a short distance away from the pond. However, the pond is really hard to beat. 

In terms of preparation, bring all your standard camping gear. Purchasing firewood is totally unnecessary because there's plenty of it, literally, everywhere. I'd recommend bringing a hatchet. However, if you're not into that, then Rich and Rick sell firewood, too. You'll see their hard work meticulously lined up when you first drive in :)  There's no running water at the tent sites, but the pond is available and with a carbon water filter, it was delicious. Bringing your own water also works. 

Hiking is also available directly from the campgrounds and connects to nearby trails, leading wherever your heart desires, from treks to the lakes nearby to one that even goes all through the Adirondacks. 

Honestly, we were incredibly spoiled to have this place all to ourselves and with such wonderful hosts who are clearly good people! We got lucky in so many ways - between the early booking being accepted and the weather miraculously being perfect the couple nights we were there. It was exactly the getaway we needed from the stress of NYC and the pandemic. I've been raving about our trip ever since we returned home and will definitely be back at least one more time this summer!

Can't wait to see you guys soon! 

<3 Ellis & Daisy

Great getaway in upstate New York

My buddy and I were looking for a campsite for a quick overnight stay before a bike trip around the Adirondacks, and this spot was a perfect fit. Coming in late after driving all day, we unfortunately didn’t get to meet Rich in person. He did however give us good directions to navigate the narrow driving path in the dark to reach the pond camping area, and even had a large two room tent already set up that we were able to use - a convenient and kind gesture! The old school bus was a fun perk to check out in the morning as well. Most state ran parks in New York close up before the middle of October, and this is a great option for an off season camping spot in the area. Thanks Rich!

There is TONS of beach to explore at this little State Park in New York. I used to visit here as a kid years ago because my grandparents owned a cottage on the lake. Since they sold it, visiting Southwick is the next best thing. Lake Ontario is an amazing lake to be on and the water is pretty warm in the summer time. the waves don't get too big, so it is very safe for kids. Southwick itself has great camping spots right next to the beach. It is a little pricey if you only want to visit for the day, $8, but you can get a tent spot for $18 which is comparable to other state parks. Showers are available, and there are some short trails that are good for running or probably cross country skiing in the winter. There is also a sizable playground near the beach that is great for the kids.

Located in Inlet, New York this is a state park campground which makes it more affordable than the private parks nearby. The campground offers a boat launch for day us, hiking trails, fishing, swimming and canoeing. The park offers showers, bathrooms and a dump station. The sites are surrounded by beautiful trees which allows privacy for all guests. The service is spotty, but it’s stronger in nearby Inlet, NY.

My friend is a local and recommended this campground for the sunsets. The rain made that difficult to confirm, but we loved the place. It’s the standard weird-ass New York thing where you have a site and you can park wherever the hell you want within it (so foreign to me), but you should spend some time with the map. Site 158 is probably the dopest (we were next door in 159), but there are some others near the lake that would be sweet. The further back from the lake, the more of a camping-in-the-deep-woods vibe. Looks like some folks leave a camper here all summer (can’t imagine spending that much, but it’s probably cheaper than a lake house) and many bring boats. I think if you’ve got a SUP, canoe or kayak, you’re gonna dig this campground in specific and the area in general.

Delta Lake State Park sits at the foothills of the Adirondack Park, just outside Rome, New York. Pretty and well-kempt, Delta Lake is a nice option for those looking to stay close to home and within proximity to civilization. You can enjoy the great outdoors, while only being a few miles away from a restaurant or grocery store.

The campground isn‘t the best I’ve experienced, a bit on the crowded side-similar to a woodsy suburb- but this could have been distinctive to Loop A where I stayed. I stayed in site 35 and was intermixed with all the campers and RV’s, so it got a bit noisy. Not that restful, secluded experience I typically go for, but I should have planned further in advance.

However, what the park lacked in terms of its campground, it totally made up for in its beach, swimming and picnic areas! This place was awesome for hosting a birthday party for my niece and relaxing at the beach/ day facilities. They have plenty of picnic tables, charcoal grills, a huge beach and locker rooms. This is really a great place to spend a day with your family!