Dog-Friendly Camping near Howes Cave, NY

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    Max V. Shaul State Park Campground near Howes Cave accepts pets in all accommodation types including tent sites, RV spaces, cabins, and glamping options. The small 30-site park features modern, clean bathhouses with showers and family bathrooms. Betty Brook Camp and Duck Pond Campsite offer more primitive pet-friendly dispersed camping experiences along streams with fire pits. Pets must be leashed throughout all campgrounds. The bathhouse facilities at Max V. Shaul are particularly well-maintained, with campers noting they are among the cleanest they've encountered. Sites are generously spaced with adjustable campfire cooking racks.

    Several hiking opportunities exist near the pet-friendly campgrounds. Vromans Nose trail provides a moderate hike suitable for dogs on leash, located just a short drive from Max V. Shaul State Park. Thompson's Lake Campground features private foot trails from lakeside sites down to the water, where dogs can cool off on hot days. Burnt Rossman State Forest allows primitive camping with pets right off the road with enough room for 2-3 camping setups. Hide-A-Way Campsites maintains a quiet atmosphere with gravel pads and full hookups for RVers traveling with pets. During summer months, early morning walks are recommended to avoid midday heat on exposed trails.

    Best Dog-Friendly Campgrounds near Howes Cave (108)

      1. Max V. Shaul State Park Campground

      4.8(8)10mi from Howes Cave31 sitesRVs, Tents, Cabins, Glamping

      "Friendly staff, lots of dogs, all on leash!"

      "Watched a video on YouTube that was a walk through of each site. So peaceful. Lots of good hiking. Sinks for dishes, clean bathrooms and showers."

      from $17 - $50 / night

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      2. Hide-A-Way Campsites

      4.5(2)3mi from Howes CaveRVs, Tents

      from $22 - $32 / night

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      3. Thompson's Lake Campground — Thacher State Park

      4.6(7)17mi from Howes Cave133 sitesRVs, Tents

      "Some of the lakeside sites have private foot trails down to the water which was very nice."

      "Hiking was near by and also the beach and if you wanted to drive to where the falls are and the overlook it wasn't too far! We had an amazing time!"

      from $17 / night

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      4. Glimmerglass State Park Campground

      4.7(21)25mi from Howes Cave47 sitesRVs, Tents, Cabins, Glamping

      "Best of all, you can bring your pets!"

      "It is pet friendly. We stayed with our 3 small children. Enjoyed bike riding through the park. water was beautiful. Lots of waterfront access."

      from $14 - $26 / night

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      5. Betty Brook Camp

      4.5(2)13mi from Howes CaveRVs, Tents

      "I live near this campground. I'm about a mile away and I pass it every day. It is rather remote, but it is right along West kill road."

      6. Duck Pond Campsite

      4.5(2)13mi from Howes CaveTents

      "After driving unpaved dirt road for a while, we arrived a surprisingly well maintained beautiful campsites. The pond is small so the mosquitos were not too bad."

      "Intermittent cell service which was frightening while driving on these rough roads"

      7. Nickerson Park Campground

      3.5(8)19mi from Howes CaveRVs, Tents, Glamping

      "We had reservations about being side by side with other RVs but the site we were in was so big and being in a valley with huge trees all around a large open grassy area in the middle made everything feel"

      "Our site was on top of the creek, close to the path down to the water and close to a hiking trail. During our visit we drove around the nearby towns and didn't find much to see or do with our time."

      8. Burnt Rossman State Forest - Westkill Camp

      5.0(2)15mi from Howes CaveRVs, Tents

      "Entrance is soft"

      "Was a great location for winter camping. Site easily accessible from road. Beautiful, peaceful, great time!"

      9. Frosty Acres Campground

      3.7(3)16mi from Howes CaveRVs, Tents, Cabins, Glamping

      "Pet friendly. Kid friendly. Huge club house and store that was closed for the big. Arcade, grill, pool table and small store. Lp gas. Wifi is so so. Backed up to state forest land. Enjoy!!!"

      10. Country Roads Campground

      5.0(3)18mi from Howes CaveRVs, Tents, Cabins, Glamping

      "There are water spigots near all the tent sites and they are nice and spread out. They have special events in a pavilion near the RVs including bingo"

      from $34 - $55 / night

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    Dog-Friendly Camping Reviews near Howes Cave, NY

    453 Reviews of 108 Howes Cave Campgrounds


    • Nancy W.The Dyrt PRO User
      May. 24, 2020

      Cooperstown KOA

      Nice Park

      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. There is a mix of sites varying from tent, RV, rental trailers, and camping cabins/cottages/lodges bringing the total number of sites to 120. Back-in and pull-thru sites are available. Site types include full hookup, water and electric, and no hookup with prices varying depending upon site. You can choose between 30/20 or 50 amp electric service. Interior roads are gravel and some site pads are gravel while others are grass. 

      The park is nicely terraced and all the sites are level. Patios were a grassy/dirt area with a picnic table and fire pit. Our site (#41) was a pull-thru but there was no way we could drive our 45’ motorhome forward out of the site because of a large tree and narrow roads. So we ended up having to back out. The free wifi worked well as did our Verizon 4G phone and hotspot. We picked up a dozen or so television channels with our antenna. The park does have a fair amount of trees that would interfere with roof-mounted satellite dishes so you would have to pick your site carefully. But, there are some 30 amp and no hook-up sites that are clear. This is a typical KOA with lots of amenities including a swimming pool(which was closed for the season when we were there), a playground, volleyball court, basketball court, jump house, pavilion, recreation room, bicycle rental, and horseshoes. Showers, restrooms and laundry are also present and clean. There is a propane filling station. While there is no fenced-in dog park there is a pet walking area. The surrounding area is pretty rural and the closest town (Richfield Springs– which is very small) is five miles away and where you will find restaurants, gas station, grocery store, and more. A few miles from the park is a creamery that has a café. 

      Approximately five miles away is Glimmerglass State Park which was great for hiking and kayaking Otsego Lake. There is a also a historic house at the park that you can tour and the country’s oldest covered bridge. Cooperstown is a little over twelve miles away from the park but well worth a trip. Not only is Cooperstown home to the National Baseball Hall of Fame but it is a charming downtown well worth exploring. Other nearby attractions include The Farmers Museum, Fenimore Art Museum, Hero’s of Baseball Wax Museum, Glimmerglass Opera, and Cooperstown Brewing Company.

    • Kirstin T.
      Sep. 14, 2017

      Catskill/Kenneth L Wilson Campground

      Lots of fun

      The campsite was great. Big and going after Labor Day means there was tons of space. Well priced. We did have neighbors that had a trailer and used their generator early in the morning and late at night. Beside that it was fantastic. We had planned on driving to hiking but there was so much to do around the camp site we just walked around and did the hiking near by. The dog park is wonderful. Our dog loved it.

    • Sue C.
      Jul. 17, 2021

      Cooperstown K O A Campgrounds

      Great place

      This is our 2nd time here and may come back again. Great variety of things to do and they have a pool and Great kids area. Also have a dog park

    • D
      Oct. 4, 2021

      Catskill/Kenneth L Wilson Campground

      Big Widely Spaced Sites

      Lots of room in many sites for my 24 ft RV and 30 ft trailer. Big meadow in middle with new full playground set.

      Dry camping but water available and a sewer dump. Gotta haul your own trash.

      Two ponds to play in and a fenced dog park.

      Some nice hiking in the park.

    • T
      Sep. 19, 2022

      Catskill/Kenneth L Wilson Campground

      Nice stay and very friendly staff

      Such a clean and well maintained campground. Staff were so nice and friendly. Only one shower area that was a bit of a trek from our site, a bike would have been nice to get around. We had to move our tent as we had set it back too far and was not on the site pad and park ranger Brian who was very lovely came and asked us to move it and we had a nice chat. Lovely big dog park. There are some nice little walks and small hikes on the ground with a lake that you can rent kayaks or canoes. Close to Woodstock which is a cute town. Our site was a little exposed but the sites either side of us were closed for restoration thankfully. There are some more secluded and set back sites too though.

    • Cynthia K.
      Aug. 29, 2024

      North-South Lake Campground

      New York

      We were on a 5 state East Coast camping trip. Our first campground was in New York Aug 8th. Unfortunately, Debbie was socking New York hard. North South Lake Campground in the Catskills was our camping home. Thursday & Friday it was Neverending rain & wind. Saturday was the nice day.

      North South Lake has no electricity. The sites are almost all beautiful, tucked in under shady trees. Not a good way to try out our solar panel! Some are by a stream. A few are by the lake. This is a tent campers paradise. New York tent campers are hard core camping during Tropical Storm Debbie!

       There are 7 loops. We were in loop 2. Site 85. There are some sites with an incline down to the site. That might give some rvs trouble. It did for us & I had to be driven out of the campground to call 911. Thank you Mary!! It all ended well & we got a different site.

       There are bears that visit the campground & one came one of the nights & visited our camping neighbor's site. They showed us a picture- it was a large black bear. 

      Generators are allowed for 5 hours & they tell you when you can use them. 

      The bathrooms/showers are state park clean- which means not very.

       There is NO cell service & just forget about WiFi. You are unplugged.

      This is a hiking park & for this middle aged overweight flatlander they are pretty strenuous. Kaaterskill Falls is an exception - short, easy trail, but the parking fills up quickly. Then they close it! You'll have to take a shuttle to get in.

      The trail to the Mountain House Site is also pretty easy, with more of an incline.

      There's 2 nice lakes with beaches. 

      The Catskills are very scenic& we enjoyed our time there!

    • Kristen B.
      Sep. 13, 2016

      Catskill/Kenneth L Wilson Campground

      Nestled in The Catskills

      This campground is nestled in the Catskills, New York, with easy access to New Jersey and Connecticut. With large campsites and most surrounded by trees, you will find just the right mix of privacy and community depending upon what you are looking for. Although the showers aren't top notch, they do have them and a great recycling center for all of your garbage. If hiking is what you enjoy, they have nearly 4 miles of trails within the campground and surrounding areas that circle two nearby ponds and their day use area. If you are looking for something offsite, don't miss the Giant Ledge hike, a 30 min drive and about a 3 mile out and back hike to Giant Ledge for amazing views overlooking the entire area. Head out to watch the sunrise one morning with awesome views looking east. When you need a break from cooking, don't miss the nearby Phoenicia Diner for some great breakfast and coffee! All of the Park Rangers are very helpful and will provide recommendations and maps, just ask!

    • Tara L.
      May. 21, 2018

      North-South Lake Campground

      NYS camping.

      North South lake is one of the larger public camp grounds in New York. The sites are well spaced out. Great for families. The lake is huge.

      Avoid holidays to avoid the crowds.

    • Rachel Y.
      Aug. 4, 2018

      Cooperstown KOA

      Perfect little get away

      This was the first KOA I ever stayed at and I was very impressed. The bathrooms were very nice and so were the showers, which were separate from the bathrooms. The pool, along the dog park, bounce house and swing set were well taken care of. The camp site was on grass and staff made it a point to check on us and invite us to the community bonfire they were doing that night. They also had WiFi and laundry at this campground. I would stay at this campground again.


    Guide to Howes Cave

    Dispersed camping options near Howes Cave, New York provide affordable alternatives to established campgrounds. The area features several primitive campsites along streams and in forested areas at elevations between 1,200-1,400 feet. Winter camping is possible at some locations, though access roads may become difficult during wet conditions.

    What to do

    Hiking at Minekill State Park: Located just 5 minutes from Nickerson Park Campground, this state park offers waterfall views and moderate trails. "There are also a lot of places in the area to visit. Minekill state park is only a 5 minute drive," notes jennifer P.

    Swimming at Thompson's Lake: The lake offers a refreshing break during summer months with a designated beach area. According to Clayton H., "Some of the lakeside sites have private foot trails down to the water which was very nice." The campground maintains "a great beach with swimming, kayak and boat rentals," adds Sabrina H.

    Winter activities: For cold-weather camping enthusiasts, Burnt Rossman State Forest provides year-round access. "Was a great location for winter camping. Site easily accessible from road," reports felix R. Nearby Frosty Acres offers winter activities where you can "Snowshoe, cross country ski. Winter campfires."

    What campers like

    Secluded stream-side camping: Betty Brook Camp offers primitive camping directly alongside a flowing stream. "Love to camp here all year long have been coming to the area for a couple of decades now. Remote. Sometimes you never see anyone. Sometimes you see some people. You camp on the stream," shares Robert B.

    Spacious sites at established campgrounds: Many campgrounds in the area provide generous spacing between sites. Tom S. mentions that Max V. Shaul has "Lots of space between sites," while Tom R. notes that Country Roads Campground offers "Spacious sites. Super friendly and helpful staff."

    Clean facilities: Campers consistently mention well-maintained bathrooms at several campgrounds. At Thompson's Lake, Dana O. states, "All public areas including the bathrooms are very clean." Similarly, Taylor H. found that Nickerson Park has "a hiking trail. During our visit we drove around the nearby towns."

    What you should know

    Water quality varies: Some campgrounds have reported water issues. At Nickerson Park, Peter S. advises to "BRING YOUR OWN WATER!!!" noting "It smelled like raw sewage, loaded with sediment and very discolored. Little to no pressure and a couple times no water at all."

    Road conditions to dispersed sites: Access to primitive camping areas can be challenging. The L. reports about Duck Pond Campsite: "The road in on old cemetery rd was pretty rough, so we decided to go out the other way, which was way worse." Yae U. adds, "Just be careful driving in the sometimes rough conditions."

    Limited services at primitive sites: Dispersed camping areas offer minimal amenities. Peter from Betty Brook Camp mentions, "There's a stream alongside it, a fire pit, and a town about 8 mi away. It's a small town, with just a gas station store."

    Tips for camping with families

    Playground access: Several campgrounds offer play areas for children. Margaret L. mentions that Max V. Shaul has "a playground, a pavilion, they do fireside jams." At Thompson's Lake, Dana O. appreciates that "this campground has always been my go to. Now that I have kids, I appreciate the playground area near the beach more."

    Water activities for kids: Glimmerglass State Park offers excellent swimming options. "The beach was gorgeous the campsite was a great size and secluded," says Tanya W. Another camper notes "the beach area here is huge! great for families, the parking lots is huge."

    Weekend activities: Some campgrounds schedule special events for families. Paummi S. mentions Nickerson Park has "weekend activities. Super family and dog friendly campground." Rachel B. adds that Frosty Acres hosts "Themed weekends and an annual car show."

    Tips from RVers

    Full hookup options: Several pet friendly camping options near Howes Cave provide complete RV services. At Hide-A-Way Campsites, Jackie M. found "Gravel unlevel pad full hookups" and notes that "Friendly attendants guided us to site and directed in spot."

    Quiet atmosphere for RV camping: Many RVers appreciate the tranquil setting at area campgrounds. Lee H. comments that Hide-A-Way Campsites is "a small campground but very quiet and nice. The people that run it are very nice and accommodating."

    RV sites with nature access: Several campgrounds combine RV amenities with natural settings. William R. notes that Country Roads has "Mainly an RV ground, but they have about 10-15 great tent sites back beyond the RV area. There are water spigots near all the tent sites."

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Howes Cave, NY?

    According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Howes Cave, NY is Max V. Shaul State Park Campground with a 4.8-star rating from 8 reviews.

    What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Howes Cave, NY?

    TheDyrt.com has all 108 dog-friendly camping locations near Howes Cave, NY, with real photos and reviews from campers.