Best Tent Camping near Harford, NY

State forests surrounding Harford, New York provide numerous primitive tent camping opportunities along the Finger Lakes Trail system. Long Pond Campground offers dispersed tent sites with pond access and basic amenities, while Ludlow Creek Lean-To Campsite provides a secluded hike-in experience with an Adirondack-style shelter. The Morgan Hill Forest's Onondaga Trailhead campground features both basic tent spots and developed campsites with picnic tables and fire pits. Pharsalia Woods Lean-To Campsite, accessible via a short twenty-minute hike, serves as a popular stop for through-hikers on the Finger Lakes Trail.

Most primitive tent campsites in the region require campers to bring their own water and practice leave-no-trace principles. Sites typically feature level, cleared areas on forest duff with minimal improvements beyond fire rings. Portable toilets are available at some locations like Long Pond, but many backcountry tent sites have no sanitation facilities. The standard stay limit for dispersed camping is 14 days, and some Wildlife Management Area campsites require permits obtained from the regional DEC office in Cortland. Access roads vary from well-maintained to rough, with some requiring high-clearance vehicles or short walks from parking areas to reach tent-only camping spots.

Tent campers at Long Pond report shaded sites with "plenty of downed firewood" and good privacy between camping areas. According to reviews, the campsites at Spruce Pond in Morgan Hill State Forest are "scenic and peaceful" with good fishing opportunities and access to an extensive trail network. One visitor noted that the Pharsalia Woods site is "beautifully maintained" with a perennial spring nearby, though water treatment is necessary. Walk-in tent sites at Morgan Hill Forest offer "mature trees and plenty of distance between neighboring campers," making them ideal for group camping. The region's backcountry tent camping options provide excellent access to hiking, fishing, and wildlife viewing with varying levels of solitude depending on proximity to popular fishing areas.

Best Tent Sites Near Harford, New York (23)

    1. Long Pond Campground

    4 Reviews
    Georgetown, NY
    20 miles

    "Aside from that this was a short drive in and I was able to score a spot right on the pond next to a dock."

    "While this is next to the road, it is also within 40 yards of the only potta potty in the park.

    About 100 yards away was the public fishing dock and another camp site."

    2. Upper Lisle Park

    1 Review
    Killawog, NY
    13 miles
    Website
    +1 (607) 692-4612

    3. Camp Earth Connection

    Be the first to review!
    Harford, NY
    4 miles
    Website

    $45 - $125 / night

    4. Empire Haven Nudist Park

    1 Review
    Moravia, NY
    19 miles
    Website
    +1 (315) 497-0135

    "The campground is as quiet and peaceful as anyone would like, but the community enables campers the freedom to socialize and share meals whenever you want to reach beyond the family who came with you."

    5. Spruce Pond Camping Area - Morgan Hill State Forest

    3 Reviews
    Apulia Station, NY
    28 miles
    Website
    +1 (607) 753-3095

    "Toilet isn’t set up yet but will once the season opens.

    The first few campsites are the best the further down you go the worse the sites get for tent set up. Smaller tents would be best do here."

    "Although dispersed primitive camping is allowed elsewhere throughout the state forest, this is a group of ten established and well maintained primitive campsites right on Spruce Pond with fishing available"

    6. Belden Hill Campgrounds

    6 Reviews
    Chenango Forks, NY
    31 miles
    Website
    +1 (607) 693-1645

    $53 - $65 / night

    "Fantastic animal preserve zoo nearby which is a must visit. Pretty golf course with full bar and food right across the street. Overall one of our favorite stops on our New England trip."

    7. Ludlow Creek Lean-To Campsite

    1 Review
    Oxford, NY
    27 miles
    Website
    +1 (607) 674-4017

    "This is a beautiful primitive hike-in campsite alongside the Ludlow Creek section of the Finger Lakes Trail in Chenango County, New York."

    8. Nature Lover's Paradise

    3 Reviews
    Fabius, NY
    30 miles
    +1 (561) 503-9444

    $79 - $149 / night

    "Nature Lover's Paradise is new to the Dyrt and they have an awesome spot to share with access to a vast network of trails in upstate New York. "

    "The tent site and the 70 acres of hiking trails sound like the perfect getaway for anyone looking to reconnect with nature."

    9. Morgan Hill Forest—Onondaga Trailhead campground

    1 Review
    Truxton, NY
    26 miles
    Website
    +1 (607) 753-3095

    "There are several basic tent spots, which are just cleared grassy areas adjacent to the trailhead parking circle; BUT in addition, there are two lovely developed campsites with parking spot right **next **"

    10. Pharsalia Woods Lean-To Campsite

    1 Review
    South Plymouth, NY
    29 miles

    "Beautifully maintained primitive group campsite with large Adirondack style lean-to, several picnic tables and fire rings, and firewood provided."

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Showing results 1-10 of 23 campgrounds

Tent Camping Reviews near Harford, NY

502 Reviews of 23 Harford Campgrounds



Guide to Harford

Tent camping near Harford, New York, offers a variety of scenic spots for outdoor enthusiasts looking to immerse themselves in nature. With options ranging from rustic sites to more developed areas, there's something for everyone.

Tent campers appreciate these amenities

Some prices for tent camping are free

Local activities for outdoor enthusiasts

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Harford, NY?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Harford, NY is Long Pond Campground with a 3.8-star rating from 4 reviews.

What is the best site to find tent camping near Harford, NY?

TheDyrt.com has all 23 tent camping locations near Harford, NY, with real photos and reviews from campers.