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Best Campgrounds near Canajoharie, NY

334 Reviews

Canajoharie, New York and surrounding areas feature a mix of established campgrounds and dispersed camping options along the Mohawk River and Erie Canal system. Fort Plain Lock 15 on Empire Trail provides free dispersed camping for tents and RVs, while established campgrounds like Crystal Grove Diamond Mine & Campground, Royal Mountain Campsites, and St. Johnsville Campsite and Marina offer more amenities. The region includes both tent and RV sites, with several locations also providing cabin accommodations for those seeking more comfort.

Camping seasons typically run from May through October, with most campgrounds closed during winter months. "We decided last second to stay at this place and are so glad that we did! They were so friendly and the campground is very well kept," noted one visitor about Royal Mountain Campsites. Water access represents a common feature at many campgrounds, with several sites positioned along the Mohawk River and canal system. Cell service is generally reliable throughout the area, with Verizon reported as having good coverage. Campers should be aware that train tracks run near several waterfront campgrounds, which can create noise disturbances throughout the night, particularly at St. Johnsville Marina and Fort Plain Lock 15.

Many campgrounds in this region feature waterfront locations with fishing opportunities. The Canal Corporation provides designated spots for tent and van camping along the canal with a maximum 48-hour stay limit. RV camping options range from basic sites to full hookups with 50-amp service. A camper described Fort Plain Lock 15 as "a parking lot with a view. The parking area is right on the water. It offers sounds of the highway and freight trains going by." Several campgrounds in the area maintain clean facilities with varying levels of amenities - from primitive sites with just pit toilets to developed campgrounds offering showers, electric hookups, and water. Local attractions include diamond mining at Crystal Grove and the Baseball Hall of Fame in nearby Cooperstown, making the area suitable for both overnight stays and longer vacations.

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Best Camping Sites Near Canajoharie, New York (122)

    1. Glimmerglass State Park Campground

    21 Reviews
    Springfield Center, NY
    17 miles
    Website
    +1 (607) 547-8662

    $18 - $30 / night

    "Only downside is there is not a hiking/walking path down to the lake from the campground. Very nice bathrooms w shower and wash station. Electricity and water available at or near each campsite."

    "Close to Cooperstown and within driving distance from Oneonta. Quiet and spacious campsites"

    2. Fort Plain Lock 15 on Empire Trail

    3 Reviews
    Fort Plain, NY
    4 miles

    "Continue driving past the original coordinates until you reach the dirt parking lot on the right. You’ll see signs that say “No Vehicles Past This Point” — those apply only to the grassy picnic area."

    "It offers sounds of the highway and freight trains going by, my wife and I love it. If you need quiet, keep on moving. There are grills in the grassy area for tent camping, also a potable water tap."

    3. Crystal Grove Diamond Mine & Campground

    5 Reviews
    St. Johnsville, NY
    11 miles
    Website
    +1 (518) 568-2914

    "Along with staying at this peaceful wooded campground, one can “mine” Herkimer Diamond quartz crystals adjacent to the campground via a bridge over the stream. I enjoyed a site next to the stream."

    "A fine campground with it's own Herkimer Diamond Mine walking distance (or you can drive up your vehicle) to the mining area. A fairly small, nicely wooded campground."

    4. DevilDoc Campsites

    14 Reviews
    Caroga Lake, NY
    19 miles
    Website
    +1 (518) 844-1591

    $15 - $25 / night

    "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."

    "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."

    5. St. Johnsville Campsite and Marina

    3 Reviews
    St. Johnsville, NY
    9 miles
    Website
    +1 (518) 568-7406

    "A train track is close by so it can be kind of noisy."

    "Only drawback is steady stream of trains going by around the clock. I didn’t mind by my wife didn’t sleep well."

    6. Royal Mountain Campsites

    3 Reviews
    Caroga Lake, NY
    11 miles
    Website
    +1 (518) 762-1946

    "The ice cream shop at the entrance was a huge bonus. We both ordered a small and it was near enough to consider a full meal! A very pleasant stay!"

    "Plenty to see nearby or just stay in. Truly loved camping here and will go back if the option ever presents itself again."

    7. Cooperstown KOA

    6 Reviews
    Springfield Center, NY
    16 miles
    Website
    +1 (315) 858-0236

    "This park is located approximately 12.5 miles from downtown Cooperstown and is set in the quiet rural countryside of New York. The mature trees make for beautiful scenery in the fall."

    "What a great quiet location to visit.  The staff is great and friendly.  A little off the beaten path but I think this is what makes this place perfect."

    8. E16 Canal Lock

    1 Review
    St. Johnsville, NY
    10 miles
    Website

    "Upon arrival, campers must scan the QR code at the entrance and complete a brief survey. RVs and travel trailers are not permitted. The Verizon signal is good in the area."

    9. Montgomery County St. Johnsville Campsite and Marina City Park

    1 Review
    St. Johnsville, NY
    8 miles
    Website
    +1 (518) 568-7406

    10. Caroga Lake Campground

    6 Reviews
    Caroga Lake, NY
    17 miles
    Website
    +1 (518) 835-4241

    $20 / night

    "This site also is bordered by a small stream so expect mosquitoes and the occasional visit from wildlife (we had raccoons at our site each night, so kept food in the car)."

    "It is also conveniently situated for a variety of nearby hikes."

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Recent Camping Photos near Canajoharie, NY

434 Photos of 122 Canajoharie Campgrounds

Recent Reviews near Canajoharie, NY

334 Reviews of 122 Canajoharie Campgrounds

  • Chelsea B.
    Oct. 6, 2025

    Whip O Will Campsites

    Not for recreational campers

    Full disclosure, we did not stay here. PLEASE, folks that leave reviews on this app, PLEASE say whether it’s a full-timer campsite or a recreational campsite. We arrived after leaving another campsite in the area (that was also 100% full timers) and were disappointed to find that this site was all permanent campers with crap everywhere. One site even had a funeral home sign hanging out front of an entire plywood addition to their camper…like what? Call me picky, but I don’t feel entirely comfortable camping for fun next to folks who live in the campground like this. After driving through the super narrow and rutted out roads to the site they recommend, a man came hauling a** into our site (with a beer in his hand) and was saying “hello hellooooo.” Said he was the owner of the campsite and asked if we were staying, we said we were thinking about it, just checking out the available sites (as the lady up front told us to do). TL;DR- bad vibes. Didn’t stay. Be warned this is a full time campsite with crap everywhere. The lady working the office was super nice though.

  • BThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 18, 2025

    Bear Slide in Lake George Wild Forest

    Night alone in my jeep

    It was rocky getting there but super super remote - zero service. Great space for my jeep and honestly you could fit a LARGE RV. There is a bathroom at the entrance. No fires because it’s super remote. Peaceful and almost untouched.

  • JThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 6, 2025

    Hide-A-Way Campsites

    Quaint and truly hid away

    Well maintained clean campground. Friendly attendants guided us to site and directed in spot. Gravel unlevel pad full hookups.

  • T&J F.
    Aug. 28, 2025

    West Canada Creek Campground

    Nice place, a little pricey

    Pros: clean campground, camp store, ice cream/pizza shack, shuttle to tubing, sites are pretty flat, pool is large and clean, quiet hours are enforced. Cons: $5 per dog "surprise" when we arrived. Even though we camped there 2 nights for 3 years in a row, $15 per person for the tubing shuttle seems steep; a discount or free would be nice for campers, as drop off points are just down the road. Sites are narrow.

  • Jennifer H.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 10, 2025

    Hartwick Highlands Campground

    Closest campground to Dreams Park

    Great campground very well kept and closest to Dreams Park. We drove around to the three closest RV parks to Dreams Park and would definitely stay here with the team and / or on your own. Security gate to enter and exit, pool, store, arcade, wide open where the RV’s are.

  • Jennifer H.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 10, 2025

    Cooperstown Beaver Valley Campground

    Great proximity to Dreams Park

    Cute cabins, lots of great amenities, pools, corn hole, volleyball net, nicely kept baseball fields , store, areas for group picnics. You could have the whole team stay here in the cabins and bring RV’s too. Only 10min or so to dreams park. Wooded area where RV’s are and separate area where the cabins are. Great spot. Festive and well kept.

  • Jennifer H.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 10, 2025

    Cooperstown Family Campground

    Great spot for a week at Dreams Park

    Peaceful, quiet, spread out. We had a big grass baseball field almost all to ourselves. Showers, bathrooms, efficient store, 24 hours laundry, 12 or so arcade machines in a cute barn they’ll open up for you when you want to play. Fire circles great for evening campfires. A pool across the street that seemed well cared for. A couple ponds that have Canadian geese. You feel like you’re in the middle of nowhere. Tons of trees and wide open space. Healthy grass sites to park on with water, electric and sewer hook ups.

  • The L.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 4, 2025

    Powley Road in Ferris Wild Forest

    Site 4

    Site 4 is magical, it is road side, but the view, and access to the river is great. There is a path right from the site. Occasionally you will get the yahoo that speeds by and makes a dust cloud but otherwise it’s great. There is zero Verizon cell service in the whole area. So plan accordingly,

Guide to Canajoharie

Camping near Canajoharie, New York, offers a mix of beautiful scenery and outdoor fun. Whether you're looking for a peaceful retreat or an adventure-filled getaway, there are plenty of campgrounds to choose from.

What to do:

  • Hiking: Explore the trails around North-South Lake Campground. One reviewer mentioned, "This is a hiking park... Kaaterskill Falls is an exception - short, easy trail."
  • Fishing: If you enjoy fishing, Little Pond - DEC is close to the Beaverkill, a renowned fly fishing stream. A camper noted, "Close to the Beaverkill and lots of great fly fishing."
  • Swimming: Spend a day at the beach at Glimmerglass State Park Campground. One visitor said, "You will enjoy the amazing beach and waterfront on Otsego Lake."

What campers like:

  • Privacy: Campers appreciate the spacious sites at Woodland Valley Campground - DEC. A reviewer shared, "Each of the campsites... has a lot of foliage around it, creating privacy."
  • Clean Facilities: Many campers have noted the cleanliness of the restrooms and showers at Moreau Lake State Park Campground. One camper stated, "The restrooms are all new and very clean."
  • Friendly Staff: The welcoming atmosphere at Lake George RV Park is a highlight. A visitor mentioned, "The staff treated us so nicely and the array of resort-level amenities are beautifully maintained."

What you should know:

  • Limited Cell Service: Many campgrounds, like Moffitt Beach Campground, have poor cell reception. One camper noted, "No Verizon service and Starlink was spotty."
  • No Electric Hookups: Campgrounds such as Moose Hillock Camping Resorts do not offer electric hookups. A reviewer pointed out, "This is dry camping so there are no hook-ups."
  • Bear Activity: Campers at North-South Lake Campground should be aware of wildlife. One camper shared, "There are bears that visit the campground."

Tips for camping with families:

  • Choose the Right Campsite: Look for sites that offer space and privacy, like those at Lake George Escape Campground. A camper mentioned, "The sites are a bit too close for our particular liking."
  • Plan Activities: Make sure to have a list of activities, as one family found, "There is a FULL schedule of themed activities for the kiddos."
  • Pack for the Weather: Be prepared for rain, especially at places like North-South Lake Campground. One camper noted, "Thursday & Friday it was Neverending rain & wind."

Tips from RVers:

  • Check Site Size: Ensure your RV fits the site, especially at Old Forge Camping Resort. A reviewer warned, "The roads are very tight making backing into a spot very difficult."
  • Bring Extra Supplies: Some campgrounds, like Woodland Valley Campground - DEC, do not have markets nearby. One camper said, "No firewood for sale."
  • Be Mindful of Noise: Respect quiet hours, as one camper at Moreau Lake State Park Campground mentioned, "The few other campers around that used them were mindful of quiet hours."

Camping near Canajoharie, New York, has something for everyone, from families to solo adventurers. Just remember to plan ahead and enjoy the great outdoors!

Frequently Asked Questions

What amenities are available at Canajoharie camping areas?

Camping areas near Canajoharie offer varying levels of amenities to suit different preferences. Cooperstown KOA provides extensive facilities with sites for tents, RVs, and rental accommodations set among mature trees in beautiful countryside. Located about 12.5 miles from downtown Cooperstown, it makes a convenient base for exploring. Betty and Wilbur Davis State Park offers exceptional camper cabins that provide a glamping experience in a serene setting, with cabins thoughtfully spaced for privacy. For RV campers, nearby campgrounds typically offer water, electric, and sometimes sewer hookups, with many sites providing 30-amp service on gravel pads.

What are the seasonal camping options in Canajoharie?

Seasonal camping options near Canajoharie vary throughout the year. Northampton Beach Campground is a popular choice with lakeside access, but water levels can drop considerably over the summer months, so timing your visit is important. Vernon Downs Casino offers year-round overnight parking on a level gravel lot, making it convenient for RVers regardless of season. For those exploring in late spring through fall, Susquehanna Trail Campground provides a great location off I-88 with proximity to attractions like Cooperstown. Most public campgrounds in the region typically operate from May through October, with peak season being June through August.

Where are the best camping sites near Canajoharie?

The Canajoharie area offers diverse camping experiences within a reasonable drive. Powley Road in Ferris Wild Forest provides magical roadside sites with river access, perfect for nature lovers seeking a more primitive experience. For those preferring amenities, Caroga Lake Campground offers a great balance of natural setting with the convenience of established facilities. The campground features sites bordered by small streams and is removed enough to provide a quiet weekend. Additionally, St. Johnsville Campsite and Marina provides waterfront options, while those seeking a unique experience might enjoy Fort Plain Lock 15 along the Empire Trail for canal-side camping.

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