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Best Tent Camping near Collins Center, NY

512 Reviews

Tent campsites near Collins Center, New York range from established campgrounds to primitive dispersed sites in state forests. Warner Road Dispersed Camping in North Harmony State Forest offers primitive tent camping with no services but provides fire pits for overnight stays. Streamside Eriegrove and Firefly Acres provide more established tent camping options with reservable sites within driving distance of Collins Center.

Most tent camping areas have minimal amenities, with many sites lacking drinking water and modern facilities. North Harmony State Forest sites feature basic fire rings and allow pets but require campers to pack in all water and supplies. Tent campers should note that some sites have conflicting signage about overnight use, with one visitor reporting "posted signs that say Day Use Only" at Warner Road. Sites often have uneven terrain with limited site preparation, and campers should be prepared for potentially messy conditions, as reviews mention litter problems at some dispersed sites.

The tent camping experience varies significantly across locations. Firefly Acres offers more secluded tent sites with hiking and mountain biking trails nearby. Sites in state forests provide darker skies and quieter surroundings compared to established campgrounds. According to one review, Warner Road dispersed camping "served its purpose as a free place to sleep along a longer trip" despite some cleanliness issues. Tent campers seeking more amenities might prefer Dream Lake Campground, which operates seasonally from May through October and offers weekend activities. Most primitive sites remain relatively uncrowded even during peak season, though preparation is essential as one visitor noted that "the previous people who stayed at our site were messy and left litter."

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Best Tent Sites Near Collins Center, New York (10)

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Tent Camping Reviews near Collins Center, NY

512 Reviews of 10 Collins Center Campgrounds

  • Bill G.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 26, 2020

    Willow Bay Recreation Area

    Quiet nights, Easy days

    Willow bay campground is run by the National Forest Service. The reservable lots are wide and numerous for a out of the way sight. The campground services tent sites, RV sites as well as small cabins with electricity. There is a central bathhouse near the oak loop. Closer to the boat ramp sites- most of which are tent ready, there are vault toilets. These sites are less than a mile from the North Country Trail. Other, smaller trails are here as well. The New York State lone is less than five miles away- providing access to Allegheny State Park. The closest town of note is Bradford, which is about 18 miles away. It has all you need to get your necessities. The cabins were small- one twin bed and a set of single bunks. You need to bring your own sheets. There is a small heater imbedded in the wall. It keeps things from getting too cold, as it was when I was there. Fire ring and picnic table provided. Charcoal grill as well. The only problem I had was with the wildlife. A mouse or something kep crawling in the space between the roof and ceiling. There is no cel service here, and you shouldn’t need it either. Places to visit are too numerous to mention, but I will give a shout out to the zippo case museum, absolutely a must.

  • Mary S.
    Sep. 24, 2018

    Quaker Area — Allegany State Park State Park

    This is a great vacation area.....spend a week!

    Did you know this is NY's largest state campground? We stopped here on a rainy night, but what we saw convinced me we need to return. I know this campground is a vacation destination for families in western NY.

    Cain Hollow is in the Quaker Run area which includes Quaker Lake. There is another campground in the Red House Area, and there are also lots of cabins. This is definitely a 4 seasons park - hiking, biking, swimming, fishing, snowmobiling, cross country skiing....

    I was able to take photos of a few sites the next morning. You can see that sites are private and you're definitely in the woods. There are food storage boxes at all campsites because you're in bear country.

  • Jess W.
    Aug. 19, 2018

    Letchworth State Park Campground

    Amazing state park, crappy campground

    The state park is breathtaking. The campground is horrendous. The restrooms were disgusting. The site barely fit our one tent (8man Coleman) even though it was advertised as a two tent site. The camp fire ring had no solid base- it just sat on the grass and fires would not stay lit. The quiet hours were not enforced. Yelling and loud music kept us up until ridiculous hours. I would not rate this as family friendly.

  • Travis S.
    Jun. 30, 2020

    Dewdrop

    Spacious

    Campsite layouts are non traditional with large driveways and often times the tables and fire rings are below the driveway.  With this layout you get more privacy with very few sites having and overlapping with other sites. Pitching a tent was easy on the driveway and fairly level. Some sites had large high sided fire rings which take away from the fireside relaxation of a shorter camp chair. 

    Bathrooms and shower house was below the standards of many of PA State Parks which we regard as the benchmark for campgrounds at reasonable prices. 

    Boating and biking all accessible from the grounds. No need to drive to the trails at Jakes Rocks.

  • Laura M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Dec. 28, 2023

    Evangola State Park Campground

    Great campground

    We stayed here three nights to ride out a heat wave and really liked it. Sites are electric only, with a dump station available at the entrance and one in the campground loop. There are potable water spigots throughout the campground, where you awkwardly pull over to the side of the road and fill your tank. Sites are pretty much wide open, with zero separation between you and your neighbor. Most are out in direct sun but the ones along the edge have some tree cover and shade. 

    There are yurts here as well, and a playground, and a huge disc golf course. You can walk to the beach from the campground (dogs aren’t allowed on the beach). The nature center is right in the campground, by the basketball and tennis courts. 

    Showers were dirty and buggy, but they’re free and you can actually choose your own water temperature. NY State campgrounds require proof of rabies vaccinations for your dogs.

     Good cell reception for Verizon, ATT wasn’t great but the cell booster helped. Trash bins, but no recycling. Beautiful sunset on the lake.

  • Laura M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Dec. 28, 2023

    Evangola State Park Campground

    Great campground

     We stayed here three nights to ride out a heat wave and really liked it. Sites are electric only, with a dump station available at the entrance and one in the campground loop. There are potable water spigots throughout the campground, where you awkwardly pull over to the side of the road and fill your tank. 

    Sites are pretty much wide open, with zero separation between you and your neighbor. Most are out in direct sun but the ones along the edge have some tree cover and shade. 

    There are yurts here as well, and a playground, and a huge disc golf course. You can walk to the beach from the campground (dogs aren’t allowed on the beach). The nature center is right in the campground, by the basketball and tennis courts. Showers were dirty and buggy, but they’re free and you can actually choose your own water temperature. 

    NY State campgrounds require proof of rabies vaccinations for your dogs. Good cell reception for Verizon, ATT wasn’t great but the cell booster helped. Trash bins, but no recycling. Beautiful sunset on the lake.

  • Christine J.
    Jun. 9, 2021

    Red Bridge Recreation Area - Allegheny National Forest

    Campground in Allegheny National Forest

    Nice location near the water. Campground has three sections to it. Once you come in the main enterance, off to your right are nice walk in tent sites. Off to the left are two loops for tent and RV camping. There are two bath houses, one near each loop. They each have three hot water showers, flush toilets and sinks. All sites have a fire ring. Some sites offer more shade than others. (We were at site #31 and it didn't have much shade.) Ice and firewood is avaliable. You are better off getting firewood down the road as you will get more wood for the money. Current price is $10 a bundle. Ice is only $2 a bag. Closest grocery store is in Kane. There are hiking trails nearby. The only thing that I didn't like was that it seemed that many of the sites were quite muddy because all of the grass was worn out. Not much grassy area for tents. Other than that it was great.

  • Ian B.
    Aug. 21, 2023

    Morrison Campground

    Good hike for my young sons

    Been here a few times. Took my oldest so, 7 years old, on his first backpacking trip. It was hard for him but persevered. Camp grounds are well dispersed for privacy. Each with a fire ring and table. Even a vaulted toilet which we discovered on our last trip. It’s kinda hidden, you may have to search for it.

  • Michael M.
    Jun. 23, 2020

    Letchworth State Park Campground

    Beautiful Park

    So Letchworth State Park is beautiful. It's also tremendous, 18 miles long covering the east and west side of the Geneseo River. There is over 100 miles of trails intersecting the park. The campground itself is made up of loops with only electrical hookups , no water or sewer connections , just water spiquets positioned throughout the loop and 1common bathroom in each loop. There is no wifi in any of the camping areas so if you are dependant on it for any reason this is not the place for you. Only at certain points in the park will you get a signal

Guide to Collins Center

Tent camping options around Collins Center, New York include both established campgrounds and primitive sites in nearby state forests. The area sits on the northern edge of the Allegheny Plateau, characterized by rolling hills, mixed hardwood forests, and elevations ranging from 1,400 to 2,300 feet. Winter temperatures regularly drop below freezing, limiting primitive camping season typically to May through October when overnight temperatures become more moderate.

What to do

Trail exploration: Allegany State Park offers extensive hiking opportunities with varying difficulty levels. Campers at Bova Cottages can access nearby trails that have been restored following storm damage. "The trail has been cleared since this storm and is a very enjoyable hike. Kudos to ASP staff for trail maintenance!" notes reviewer Danielle S.

Weekend activities: Seasonal events run at Dream Lake Campground during their May through October operational period. "Lots to do for kids and adults. Weekend activities," reports Nick O., making it suitable for campers seeking organized recreation.

Mountain biking: Trails for mountain biking are accessible near several camping areas. At Firefly Acres, campers can take advantage of "tons of activities nearby including trails for hiking & mountain biking," according to reviewer Jake C.

What campers like

Cabin options: Some campgrounds offer cabins for those wanting a more sheltered experience. At Bova Cottages, "Cabins feel rustic but are new (2014?) and modern. Had everything we needed for a weekend with extended family, almost like a hotel in what they supply," according to Harry H.

Affordable overnights: Free dispersed camping provides budget-friendly options for travelers passing through. One camper at Warner Road Dispersed Camping noted it "served its purpose as a free place to sleep along a longer trip."

Convenience services: Some campgrounds offer food service for campers who don't want to cook. Dream Lake Campground provides "The snack house food is great, if you don't feel like cooking they offer a nice menu almost anyone would love," according to Nick O.

Dark skies: Primitive sites in state forests offer less light pollution than established campgrounds, providing better stargazing opportunities. Warner Road Dispersed Camping was described as "quiet and dark" by a recent visitor.

What you should know

Conflicting regulations: Some dispersed camping areas have unclear overnight policies. At Warner Road Dispersed Camping, one camper observed: "Clearly people are camping here at times but there are posted signs that say Day Use Only."

Wildlife awareness: Bear activity requires proper food storage. One camper at Allegany State Park warned: "Do not leave food out. The bears are very ambitious."

Variable maintenance: Site conditions can vary significantly between visits. Warner Road Dispersed Camping received mixed reviews about cleanliness, with one camper noting: "Kind of a gross site, the previous people who stayed at our site were messy and left litter."

Reservation requirements: Many established campgrounds require advance booking, especially during peak summer months. Streamside Eriegrove and Firefly Acres both indicate reservation requirements for their tent sites.

Tips for camping with families

Child-friendly campgrounds: Some locations specifically cater to families with children. One camper shared their experience at Dream Lake Campground: "I love this campground very family friendly lots of activities been going here 6 years now and never have had a bad time."

Multi-generational options: Compass Campgrounds provides trails suitable for all ages, allowing families to "explore the area and search for local wildlife" according to a review.

Group accommodations: Larger family groups can find suitable spaces at certain campgrounds. "Our family of 6 fit comfortably in one cabin when we were all small," reported Emily S. about Allegany State Park's cabins.

Management interactions: Campground atmosphere can impact family experiences. At Dream Lake, one camper noted that while there are "Nice amenities," they experienced "Nasty owners create a terrible atmosphere. Not relaxing."

Tips from RVers

Hookup availability: RVers should check for appropriate electrical connections. Some campgrounds like Streamside Eriegrove offer tent and RV camping but do not provide electric, water, or sewer hookups.

Size restrictions: Not all campgrounds accommodate larger rigs. While Hidden Valley and Breezy Point indicate they are big-rig friendly, smaller campgrounds like Firefly Acres specifically note they cannot accommodate large RVs.

Seasonal access: Many campgrounds in this region have limited operational seasons due to harsh winters. Hidden Valley Camping Area operates from April 15 to October 15, while Dream Lake runs May 1 through October 25.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Collins Center, NY?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Collins Center, NY is Streamside Eriegrove with a 5-star rating from 1 review.

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