Best Campgrounds near Earlville, NY

The Earlville, New York area contains a variety of camping options throughout the surrounding state forests and managed recreation areas. Dispersed camping is available at Whaupaunaucau State Forest and Bear Wallow Pond in Pharsalia Woods, while more developed facilities can be found at Bowman Lake State Park Campground and Lebanon Reservoir Campground. Charles E. Baker State Forest offers primitive camping with designated sites featuring fire pits and picnic tables. The region includes a mix of accommodation types ranging from tent-only areas to full-service RV campgrounds with hookups, as well as cabin rentals at select locations like Bowman Lake State Park and Lebanon Reservoir.

Camping permits are required at several locations in the area, particularly within DEC Wildlife Management Areas. "Camping in this DEC Wildlife Management Area is limited, and requires a permit. Visit the regional DEC office or call 607-753-3095; allow one week for permit to be processed," notes one visitor about Pharsalia Y Pond. Many state forest locations allow free primitive camping but require campers to follow standard backcountry regulations, staying at least 150 feet from water sources. The camping season generally runs from May through mid-October, with Bowman Lake State Park operating from May 13 to October 9. Winter access is limited, though some areas remain open for cross-country skiing and snowmobiling during colder months.

Campers report high satisfaction with waterfront locations across the region. Lebanon Reservoir Campground receives praise for its scenic boating opportunities and well-maintained facilities. According to one visitor, "The sites themselves are all in the open, with a nice forest behind you. Way easy access, but not a ton of shade or privacy." Primitive sites in state forests offer greater seclusion and lower costs, with Charles E. Baker State Forest described as a "beautiful forest with miles of trails" offering both official camp spots with water access and dispersed sites. Several reviews mention the excellent hiking opportunities on the Finger Lakes Trail, which connects multiple state forests in the area and provides access to primitive lean-to shelters maintained by volunteer hiking clubs.

Best Camping Sites Near Earlville, New York (134)

    1. Charles E. Baker State Forest

    2 Reviews
    Hubbardsville, NY
    7 miles
    Website
    +1 (607) 674-4017

    "Only found one designated campsite, which was available, but there’s a lot of good space for dispersed camping right nearby. Access at the end of a long, but well maintained, dirt road."

    "Beautiful forest with miles of trails. I found this spot passing through on my bike and had no problem pitching a tent in a secluded spot in the woods."

    2. Bowman Lake State Park Campground

    8 Reviews
    Oxford, NY
    17 miles
    Website
    +1 (607) 334-2718

    $17 - $65 / night

    "We had never been to site before so when we booked, we thought we were next to a bathroom. Turns out you had to walk through woods to get there in the mud."

    "There was a potable water spigot a few sites over and a bathroom with showers a short walk away. This is a great spot for tent camping, so if that’s your vibe this place is perfect."

    3. Lebanon Reservoir Campground

    1 Review
    Hamilton, NY
    5 miles
    Website
    +1 (315) 824-2278

    "The sites themselves are all in the open, imagine parallel parking your rig off the side of a road, with a nice forest behind you. That's kind of the deal here."

    4. Butternut Hill RV Campground

    2 Reviews
    Bouckville, NY
    10 miles
    Website

    "There is also a famous Inn and restaurant, the Landmark Inn, which anchors the town, adjacent to a trailhead for a hiking trail along the historic Chenango Canal, an offshoot of the Erie Canal. "

    5. Green Lakes State Park Campground

    42 Reviews
    Kirkville, NY
    31 miles
    Website
    +1 (315) 637-6111

    $20 - $116 / night

    "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"

    "The sites are nice, some are little close to each other but nice for group camping. A short distance (walk or by car) to the beach. The lake is a little chilly sometimes but very refreshing."

    6. Stoney Pond State Forest Camping Area

    2 Reviews
    Morrisville, NY
    13 miles
    Website
    +1 (607) 674-4036

    "There are 15 drive-in campsites widely spaced and set into the woods, and two developed walk-in sites on the west shore."

    7. Whaupaunaucau State Forest

    1 Review
    Sherburne, NY
    10 miles
    Website

    "This is a relatively unknown oasis outside of the county, but this state forest has a network of miles of trails for both hiking and criss country skiing."

    8. Hunts Pond State Forest

    2 Reviews
    New Berlin, NY
    13 miles
    Website
    +1 (607) 674-4017

    "The campground is still being minimally maintained as a group of 8 drive-in campsites on the north side, and 4 other scattered sites on the east and of the pond."

    9. Pharsalia Y Pond

    1 Review
    South Plymouth, NY
    12 miles
    Website
    +1 (607) 753-3095

    "This campsite is a hike in stop on the Finger Lakes Trail, but can also be accessed by a short walk-in from Elmer Jackson Rd, or by paddling in from the parking area in the west side of the pond."

    10. Bear Wallow Pond Dispersed Campsite in Pharsalia Woods

    1 Review
    South Plymouth, NY
    10 miles
    Website

    "The site is adjacent to a small parking area and fishing access on a really beautiful pond, which is unnamed on the map but is an impoundment of Bear Wallow Creek so it can be considered Bear Wallow Pond"

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Recent Reviews near Earlville, NY

356 Reviews of 134 Earlville Campgrounds


  • Abby H.
    Apr. 19, 2026

    Herkimer Diamond Mine KOA

    Disrespect & Discrimination

    Long read, but so worth it! Below is the review that I posted last August after our vacation. Mind you, the vacation for my immediate family has been 10 years in a row and when I was a kid the same! The incident that happened was with our friends and therefore when I wrote the review, it stated what I witnessed! I was hoping that management changed and/ or they fixed the problems so I was willing to give it another try, I mean, this has been apart of my childhood and my children’s so why not! I called today, lady was super nice and helping me look through all the campsites because we come with so many people! I paid and then friends of ours called. After they called, our friends said that my reservation was cancelled. What??? So I called back thinking it was something on my end. I then had to wait for management to call back. Called back, and whoever I spoke with was extremely rude! She basically told me I was never welcome back and that the owners said so! Now mind you through this whole thing, I never talked to the owners. So do the owners only take one side of the story? I’m not even someone that this incident directly happened to! I said, well can I please speak to your manager or the owner. No, i am the manager, you are not welcome back. I told her that everyone in our party will probably cancel as well and her response was“I’m just waiting for 1 person to call me”! I said a few choice words and I hung up. CRYING. WHAT????? Are you discriminating me because of an issue you had with another camper???? I can’t believe what this has amounted to. So instead of dealing with your issues you just don’t allow people back? Instead of having the owner or management actually call and have a respectful, which was not had, conversation with someone you just brush it off! I have come to Herkimer longer than some of these people have worked there! I really don’t have words for how I feel. And to make matters worse I always go over my dad’s anniversary of his death, August 5, because this was his favorite place and now I can’t go and neither can my children. Great job herkimer diamond mines koa! I applaud you on your discrimination, disrespect and the lack of empathy you have for your campers! Especially the ones who have been a constant! I’m assuming Phil and his wife are still management, good luck! And to the campers that wish to go there, I really hope you enjoy yourselves because it truly is an amazing place. Unfortunately, my memories had to stop here! August 2025 This review is extremely hard for me to write, but what I had witnessed for a week of being there is disgusting& just simply not right. My family has been coming to Herkimer KOA for decades. Throughout the years, we have shown many other families this"gem"... or so we thought. This year was a bit different, there are new camp managers... This week I have witnessed human waste being sprayed all over campsites, management that discredits everything you say, management that thinks its okay to have charges on your bill that they cant even explain, ice cream cart that closes right before the last kid orders& leaves in tears, bathrooms that are disgusting! This is NOT THE HERKIMER I REMEMBER AS A KID! If you look on google, the owners of this campground is a family that has owned it for 50 years! That's amazing& kudos to them! But Phil, Phil is going to ruin every ounce of what they have worked so hard for!& being a business owner, you want management there representing YOU! Doing what YOU would do if you were there. Those owners should not be receiving mine& my friends reviews today if management did their job! Unfortunately, again very hard to say, we will not be returning if Phil is there.& I can honestly say, that the 14-20 families we bring every time, that spend thousands of dollars, will not be as well! Thank you Phil for ruining a vacation I personally held so close to my heart.& because you don't care about how you treat people& how you manage, you have lost years& years& years of loyalty.

  • Emily M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Mar. 28, 2026

    Long Pond Campground

    Great dispersed camp sites

    All the roads are gravel, so it might get a little muddy after a big rain but I had no issue with a low clearance car driving around to explore the sites available. About half the sites are spread out in a large patch of spruce trees, I stayed at one of these. You can hear and sometimes see cars on the main road from your site but overall the spruce trees give you a lot more privacy. Had a neighbor blasting their speaker and didn't even hear it until I was walking by on that stretch of road. You might catch a glimpse of someone's fire at night, but it mostly felt like I had the place to myself. The other half are clustered much closer together among some deciduous trees but all the sites are pretty spacious, with a picnic table, fire pit, and easy access to the water. You might get a visit from day-use visitors looking for water access, especially if you pick a site closer to the water access paths, so if you're looking for more seclusion you may want to look elsewhere, but I didn't mind and the people who did stop near my site were respectful and didn't seem to want to disturb me once they saw the site near the water access was occupied. A free permit is needed for camping during the on-season. I stayed off-season and most of the sites were unoccupied, but I could see this being a popular spot during the warmer months. Port-a-potties are also not available off-season – be prepared to find a good cat hole spot or bring a wag bag if you're not self-contained. Seeing some litter around my site was a bit of a bummer (don't be that guy!), but overall the sites looked pretty clean and well-maintained. I did notice some broken glass at my site, so if you have pets (or shoe-averse children) be mindful of their paw pads (and feet). There's plenty of downed wood for making a fire, and I passed a couple homes selling firewood on the side of the road on the way. Service was spotty (AT&T) but if you wandered around enough you could get a couple bars to send a text, or if you really needed to, drive up the road a couple of minutes. I would easily stay here again, but if I came during the main season I'd probably want to plan a mid-week trip and get my permit and claim my site as soon as possible.

  • E
    Mar. 27, 2026

    Tilden Hill Farm

    Beautiful campground

    Beautiful and well- maintained. Very roomy sites. Owner is friendly and responds quickly to calls.

  • Ashlee C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Mar. 18, 2026

    Andersen Hill State Forest

    Great spot!

    Stayed one night. Spot was great! It had rained so we weren't able to have a fire, but there was a spot where others had one previously. A little road noise from Rt 79, but honestly wasn't terrible.

  • Dale H.The Dyrt PRO User
    Feb. 23, 2026

    Fort Plain Lock 15 on Empire Trail

    Not plowed in winter

    Great spot, great location. FYI to anyone who comes in the winter, it's not plowed, so you may need to adjust your plans accordingly.

  • Pete V.The Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 12, 2025

    Fort Plain Lock 15 on Empire Trail

    Nice quiet overnight stay

    This was a quiet overnight stay, just as the other reviewers say, a gravel parking lot that is easy to find a level spot in. This is on the river with a nice view. Lots of trains rolling through across the river but the noise wasn't an issue for me. There was a police officer that drove through the lot and drove around my campervan and continued on his way so I know that it is okay to overnight there.

  • D C.
    Oct. 23, 2025

    Live The Outdoors LLC

    Peaceful & Private Getaway🏞️

    Really enjoyed staying here. It’s super private and peaceful, and we loved that it’s not a crowded campground. The land is open and easy to access, and you can tell the owners are constantly upgrading and improving things. We were even able to fish here, which was a bonus. Would definitely recommend if you appreciate privacy, nature, and a peaceful place with the freedom to relax and do your own thing.

  • Chelsea B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 30, 2025

    Green Lakes State Park Campground

    Good camp sites

    The sites are good, level, and the campsite is pretty but as clean as the bathrooms are, the showers still suck. I’ll never understand why parks use the misting shower heads. Maybe TMI, but sorry ladies, you’ll never get the soap out of your bits. It’s best to use the ADA bathrooms because those shower heads are normal and have wands. I can’t say much about the amenities since we camped in the off season (really bummed not to rent a boat), but the trails around the lake are great! Beautiful water and various difficulties on the trails make it pretty fun to explore. Overall a good stay but took a star away for the showers and the landscapers. They spent at least 5-6 hours the Monday we were here mowing around our campsite, coming within inches of our power and Starlink cords. Really annoyed by that and when we called the park office, they said they’d take care of it but we still endured 4 more hours of multiple mowers going over the same areas multiple times. Honestly think they were messing with us at that point…

  • S
    Sep. 17, 2025

    Oneida Shores County Park

    Nice park for a reasonable price

    Campground is recently paved. Lots of geese, therefore lots of goose poop. Sites are small and close together. Nice wooded setting on the lake.


Guide to Earlville

The Earlville, New York area encompasses several state forests and recreational areas offering varied camping experiences. Charles E. Baker State Forest provides free primitive camping with hike-in and walk-in access points suitable for tent campers seeking solitude. Meanwhile, developed facilities like Lebanon Reservoir Campground and Bowman Lake State Park accommodate both tent and RV campers with electric hookups, showers, and water access. The region includes a mix of established campgrounds with amenities and dispersed sites in places like Whaupaunaucau State Forest and Bear Wallow Pond, where campers can experience more secluded surroundings.

Camping permits and regulations vary across the region's public lands. Many state forest sites require advance permits despite being free, particularly in wildlife management areas. According to one visitor at Pharsalia Y Pond, "Camping in this DEC Wildlife Management Area is limited, and requires a permit. Visit the regional DEC office or call; allow one week for permit to be processed." Road access ranges from well-maintained routes to challenging forest roads marked as "low maintenance." Most campgrounds operate seasonally from May through October, with Bowman Lake State Park and Lebanon Reservoir Campground closing by mid-October. Winter conditions can make access difficult, and some roads may become impassable during spring thaw or after heavy rainfall.

Waterfront camping represents a significant draw throughout the region. Several primitive sites cluster around small ponds and reservoirs, offering fishing and non-motorized boating opportunities. Bear Wallow Pond provides "a clearing for tenting adjacent to a small parking area and fishing access on a really beautiful pond," as one camper described. The area's state forests feature interconnected trail systems, including segments of the Finger Lakes Trail that provide backpacking routes between camping areas. Campers seeking more developed experiences gravitate toward Lebanon Reservoir Campground and Bowman Lake State Park, which feature amenities like hot showers, picnic tables, and boat rentals. Sites throughout the region vary considerably in terms of privacy, with state forest campgrounds typically offering more seclusion than developed parks.

Frequently Asked Questions

What camping is available near Earlville, NY?

According to TheDyrt.com, Earlville, NY offers a wide range of camping options, with 134 campgrounds and RV parks near Earlville, NY and 13 free dispersed camping spots.

Which is the most popular campground near Earlville, NY?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Earlville, NY is Charles E. Baker State Forest with a 4.5-star rating from 2 reviews.

Where can I find free dispersed camping near Earlville, NY?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 13 free dispersed camping spots near Earlville, NY.