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Tent Camping near Hector, NY

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    Tent campgrounds near Hector, New York range from established sites to more primitive options in nearby state forests. Morgan Hill State Forest offers free dispersed tent camping at the Onondaga Trailhead campground, while Spruce Pond Camping Area provides established tent sites along a peaceful pond. Both locations offer primitive camping experiences within natural settings approximately 45 miles north of Hector.

    Most tent sites in the Hector region have minimal amenities. The Morgan Hill Forest campground features cement pads with picnic tables and fire pits at two developed sites, though these lack water sources and toilets nearby. Spruce Pond Camping Area includes fire grills and developed tent sites with some positioned for direct pond access. A visitor mentioned, "You may camp at this campground for free, but you do need a permit and should review the campground map to select your preferred site." Campers should bring all necessary water and supplies, as most areas lack basic facilities beyond simple fire rings.

    The tent camping experience around Hector offers considerable solitude and natural beauty. The Spruce Pond area provides fishing opportunities directly from some campsites, with access to hiking, cross-country skiing, and mountain biking trails throughout the surrounding forest. Tent sites at Morgan Hill Forest connect directly to the Onondaga Trail branch of the National North Country scenic trail, giving hikers immediate trail access. Areas farther from towns provide deeper seclusion with mature trees creating natural buffers between neighboring campers. One camper noted about Spruce Pond, "The setting is scenic and peaceful, and you can easily paddle or fish on the pond."

    Best Tent Campgrounds near Hector (15)

    Filters    Tent onlyRVDispersedCabinGlampingPetsEquestrian

      1. South Slope Trail Head Dispersed Camp

      4.0(1)5mi from HectorTents

      "There is one campsite near trail. There was more traffic than I expected. Also there is no cell service. No real tires"

      2. Empire Haven Nudist Park

      5.0(1)29mi from HectorRVs, Tents, Cabins, Glamping

      "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."

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      3. Gardner Hill Campground

      5.0(1)31mi from HectorRVs, Tents

      "I happened upon this campground by following the blue tent sign on the highway. No frills but very comfy and nice views. Don’t forget to look for the Peace sign."

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      4. Holiday Hill Campground

      4.3(3)36mi from HectorTents

      "Lots of trails, and Hemlock and Canadice Lake so close by. Mostly known for Reynolds GUlly, and Johnson Hill trails! Tons to do in the area but town isn't too far."

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      5. Lawrence Recreation Area

      4.5(2)39mi from HectorTents

      "Had a great few days here camped in RV next to lake. Amazing driftwood to be had. Good kayaking. Peaceful. Trees. Nice sites if close. I'd go back mid week or off season."

      from $40 - $100 / night

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      6. Spruce Pond Camping Area - Morgan Hill State Forest

      4.3(4)48mi from HectorTents

      "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."

      "Campsite 5 was very overgrown, but site 6 had a nice flat area of pine needles with a path to the road once you see it. However, I couldn't locate the fire ring for site 6."

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      7. The PineApple Farm

      5.0(1)40mi from Hector1 siteTents, Cabins, Glamping

      "We're happy to welcome this new property to our platform. Check them out and come back here to leave some love!"

      Campground full this weekend

      from $109 - $150 / night

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      8. Red's Twilight on the Erie RV Resort

      4.0(3)46mi from Hector153 sitesRVs, Tents, Cabins

      "Live music on Friday Night (weather permitting) and plenty of activities for the family on the weekends. We stayed here during our home renovations and fell in love with the place."

      "Clean bathrooms with activity and entertainment on site and near by."

      Campground full this weekend

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      9. Camp Earth Connection

      Be the first to review30mi from Hector12 sitesTents, Cabins, Glamping

      from $45 - $175 / night

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      10. Morgan Hill Forest—Onondaga Trailhead campground

      4.0(1)48mi from HectorTents

      "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 **"

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    View all 15 campgrounds

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    Recent Tent Camping Photos near Hector, NY

    10 Photos of 15 Hector Campgrounds • uploaded by The Dyrt campers

    Tent Camping Reviews near Hector, NY

    529 Reviews of 15 Hector Campgrounds

    • Nancy W.The Dyrt Pro User
      Oct. 31, 2026

      Robert H. Treman State Park Campground

      Beautiful waterfalls!

      This is a really great state park which has a nice campground, beautiful scenery, interesting attractions nearby, and great hiking trails. The biggest attraction are the 12 waterfalls in the park. Some are easy, short walks, and others are moderate and longer. The Rim and Gorge Trails make a loop which makes for a really good workout with lots of stairs and elevation change. Personally, I think the views from the Gorge Trail are better. Or, you can park in the upper lot and walk down (approximately 1/3 mile) to see Lucifer Falls and walk back. Fall is a great time to visit and enhances the views. 

      All campsites are back-in and have fire pits and picnic tables. Some are in the open(#49-72)with a scattering of trees, while others are tucked in the woods with lots of shade. The open sites are much easier for big rigs to navigate and back into. There is no water or sewer at sites but water spigots are located throughout the campground and the dump station is easy to access on your way out and has a dedicated water fill station away from the dump site. Our site (#52) was open which we appreciated in because the fall weather was cool and we had a clear sky for Dish satelitte. The pad was gravel and level. The patio is grass and there is nice distance between you and your neighbors Some sites are dry camping and other have electric that varies from 30 or 50-amp and the price reflects which you choose. Our site was electric only (50-amp which worked well) and we were close enough to a shared water spigot so we could add water. There are signs that say you can only hookup to the spigots for five minutes and “Y” connectors are not allowed. Swimming is allowed in the pools and river but has certain daily hours and is only open from late-June to Labor Day. Your receipt and park pass allow you access to other NY state parks in the area. Definitely check out Buttermilk Falls State Park which is just a couple of miles away and has nice hiking trails and more beautiful waterfalls. We visited the Cornell Lab of Ornithology (which is free) and has interesting exhibits, short films, and hiking trails.

    • RThe Dyrt Pro User
      Oct. 9, 2026

      Watkins Glen State Park Campground

      Great Car Camping Stay

      Spent a peaceful night car camping in site 151. Beautiful trees, nice shower houses, quiet neighbors. Just a beautiful and very affordable - $32 - stay. We’ll be back whenever we pass this way.

    • MJ W.The Dyrt Pro User
      Sep. 20, 2026

      Taughannock Falls State Park Campground

      Great Place to camp

      This was a great camping trip! We had site 29, nice spot with the North Rim trail right behind our site. Trails are beautiful. Restroom and shower close. You do need to be careful, lots of oaks trees and falling acorns! Easily dings you car hood, watch where you park. Close to down town for a visit to the awesome farmers market in Ithaca.

    • Dana M.The Dyrt Pro User
      Sep. 19, 2026

      Keuka lake state park

      Nice clean family campground

      Sites are large and grassy but that comes at the cost of privacy. It appears this is a great place for camping a week or more in a large RV. Bathrooms are clean. There are 50 sites per loop so they are close together.

    • Dana M.The Dyrt Pro User
      Sep. 17, 2026

      Blueberry Patch Campground — Green Mountain & Finger Lakes National Forests

      Rustic and Quiet

      Nice small campground with only 9 sites. FF self pay station allows QR Code to recreation.gov to reserve online. Once you choose a site, just pay online and keep your cash tipping at the close by wineries!😉 The park is a bit neglected compared to the many other National Forrest we stay in. The potholes in the driving loop and gravel need repair. The Fire pits and pit toilets need attention. Overall, it has been quiet and convenient to the region around. We stayed 4 days so even the negatives were not a deterrent.

    • Judy W.
      Sep. 3, 2026

      Cayuga Lake State Park Campground

      Stay by the lake

      Pros: clean, good location,nice bathrooms,hot showers nice playground.

      Cons: this cabin was on main thoroughfare,so people and traffic, stiff mattresses, very large religious group singing and playing loud music.

    • MThe Dyrt Pro User
      Aug. 30, 2026

      Blueberry Patch Campground — Green Mountain & Finger Lakes National Forests

      Beautiful site but close to folks

      This site was awesome. Still semi private and there were bathrooms which weren’t bad at all! Only draw back is you’re kind of close to other campers meaning you can hear them too. If you’re in for a more social dispersed experience this is it! I just prefer to have no one around for miles!

    • Beck A.
      Aug. 26, 2026

      Country Hills Campground

      Our First Stay

      In short it was perfect! This is a small family pet friendly campground. There is a pond that you can kayak and c&r fishing, just no swimming, there is snapping turtles! There is some handmade items in the office to purchase, also some camping needs, fire starters and firewood (6 dollars a bundle). There is a bath house, though we didn't use it so I can't tell you anything about it. There is also a trail but we didn't get to check it out. The owners can be seen here and there all over the property keeping it looking beautiful! It is clear just by watching them how much care they put into making this a great time to all that come there. On the weekends they offer meals that can be brought right to your site. We were there from Saturday till Wednesday morning and it was very peaceful. This is definitely be a place we will come back to. The only downfall to the place is that it has placed a high bar for other campgrounds to compare!

    Guide to Hector

    Tent campsites near Hector, New York range from waterfront locations to forest hideaways with varying levels of primitive facilities. Situated in the Finger Lakes region at approximately 800 feet elevation, the area experiences distinct seasonal changes with warm summers and cold winters. Most campgrounds operate from May through October, with some closing earlier in fall depending on weather conditions.

    What to do

    Fishing opportunities: At Spruce Pond Camping Area, campers can fish directly from several sites. According to Neil L., "Lots of fisherman frequent the pond," making it a popular spot for anglers seeking a convenient fishing location.

    Hiking network: The tent sites at Camp Earth Connection connect to an extensive trail system. From Morgan Hill State Forest, Janet R. notes you can "easily hike from here to the Labrador Hollow overlook where area hang-gliders launch, you might see some in action or at least get an amazing view of the Labrador Valley!"

    Water activities: Several primitive camping areas provide direct water access. At Red's Twilight on the Erie, Rachel T. mentions "kayak launches and boat marina nearby," providing paddling opportunities for campers bringing their own equipment.

    What campers like

    Privacy between sites: Many tent campsites near Hector provide natural separation. At Morgan Hill Forest, Janet R. describes "peaceful and quiet with mature trees and plenty of distance between neighboring campers," creating a more secluded camping experience.

    Wildlife encounters: The natural setting brings opportunities for wildlife observation. Rose S. from Spruce Pond notes "the animals at the pond are very active and made a lot of noise in the night," which might appeal to nature enthusiasts but requires preparation for light sleepers.

    Accessible options: Some campgrounds offer accessible sites despite primitive conditions. As Janet points out at Spruce Pond, "one is actually handicapped accessible with its own accessible fishing landing and an easy access to the parking lot. There is a brand new outhouse with wide accessible doorway as well."

    What you should know

    Water availability: Most primitive camping areas lack potable water. At Lawrence Recreation Area, campers need to bring all water supplies, as reviews mention no drinking water facilities on site.

    Permits required: Some free camping areas require permits despite no fee. At Spruce Pond, Janet notes "You may camp at this campground for free, but you do need a permit and should review the campground map to select your preferred site."

    Seasonal considerations: Weather impacts campsite conditions significantly. Rose S. mentions "Port-a-potty was available" at Spruce Pond, but Neil L. clarifies "Toilet isn't set up yet but will once the season opens," indicating facilities change seasonally.

    Tips for camping with families

    Speed-restricted campgrounds: For parents concerned about safety, Red's Twilight on the Erie enforces strict speed limits. Rachel T. notes "The speed limit is 5 MPH and they mean it.... Kids on bikes and having a good time in the enormous play area and the pool far enough from the campsites."

    Swimming options: Several campgrounds offer swimming access. Sara H. reports about Cross Lake Park: "Access to water and swimming. Nice playgrounds. We kayaked in the lake it was a lot of fun."

    Noise levels: Some campgrounds provide quieter environments for families with small children. At Empire Haven, Joseph S. states "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."

    Tips from RVers

    Site leveling challenges: Many primitive sites require work to level RVs. At Gardner Hill Campground, Avery R. describes it as "Folksy and Nice... No frills but very comfy and nice views," suggesting basic site conditions.

    Space considerations: Some campgrounds have tight turning radius for larger vehicles. At Red's Twilight, Donna C. cautions "Almost all of the sites are not even close to level. Not a big issue with a fifth wheel but a real hassle with a motorcoach."

    Seasonal site availability: For longer stays, timing matters. Terry F. notes about Holiday Hill, "There seemed to be a lot of regulars and seasonal sites here, which meant that short term full hook up sites were harder to get."

    Frequently Asked Questions

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

    According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Hector, NY is South Slope Trail Head Dispersed Camp with a 4-star rating from 1 review.

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

    TheDyrt.com has all 15 tent camping locations near Hector, NY, with real photos and reviews from campers.

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