Best Tent Camping near Kirkwood, NY

Recent Tent Reviews near Kirkwood, New York

288 Reviews of 28 Kirkwood Campgrounds

• L

  Louis R.

  Guide

  

  Apr. 30, 2021

  Keen Lake Resort Campground

  great!!

  tent camping experience was great untill it down poured, but was worth it, rented row boats and hung out on the lake

• 

  Katye M.

  Scout

  

  Aug. 6, 2019

  Pine Cradle Lake Family Campground

  Family Friendly Camping

  I chose this campground because the photos of the pool/splash pad looked fun. It turns out the tent site we had was the most wooded and cozy site we have camped in all year. So much room for tents/hammocks. Trees galore. The tent sites were right behind the athletic field where they did activities the weekend we were there (bounce house). The restrooms were fantastic too, the buildings held two complete rooms with a toilet sink and shower in each. It’s the only shower camping this year my 4yr old wasn’t afraid of because we had the whole room to ourselves.

• L

  Lance L.

  Scout

  

  Jun. 22, 2022

  Lackawanna State Park Campground

  Peaceful tent camping

  Our family of four enjoyed the quiet of the tent camping area for two nights. There was plenty to keep our nature/loving kiddos engaged. Our only complaint was the lack of active enforcement of quiet hours — otherwise there would be no complaints.

• G

  Gerald L.

  Traveler

  

  Jul. 27, 2019

  Bowman Lake State Park Campground

  Great facilities

  We went up for a weekend trip. Tent camping. Site was sufficiently private and tucked away, but water/bathrooms/showers were close enough. Very clean facilities! Really enjoyed the kayaking and beach area. The trails were not all that great and provided only minor enjoyment.

• k

  katheryn H.

  Traveler

  

  Jul. 11, 2021

  Cozy Creek Family Campground

  Decent spot

  I ended up arriving 25 minutes late. I drove through 45 minutes of heavy thunderstorms. When I pulled up, the counter girls ride was being passive aggressive obviously mad that I was holding her up. I tried my best to be in and out quickly. The counter girl was fantastic and sweet. I had a primitive site, waterfront. It was a great spot, but there was no obvious spot to park. Also, the routes through the campground were riddled with potholes, and the route through the tent sites was a giant puddle. The bathrooms were great and the place felt comfortable and secure. But not all the tent sites had a picnic table. Otherwise it was a very relaxing site by the water.

• J

  Justin S.

  Guide

  

  Sep. 30, 2016

  Buttermilk Falls State Park Campground

  Buttermilk Falls

  Picturesque Finger Lakes state park with a day’s worth of hiking trails on site. The campground is wooded and lovely but the tent sites don’t have views of the falls or anything, couldn’t hear water at night. Deer outside the tent, wildflowers through summer, great leaves in fall.

• 

  David G.

  Traveler

  

  May. 28, 2019

  Lackawanna State Park Campground

  Real Quiet in Early Spring

  Campground has cabins and yurts, pull in sites for RV’s and strictly walk in tent sites. There is a beautiful lake and a very large pool. We went in early spring midweek, it was very quiet and exactly the get away we wanted.

• 

  louis P.

  Scout

  

  Apr. 9, 2024

  Cozy Creek Family Campground

  Rustic creek family campground

  This is a fantastic campground! The tent sites are right on the creek. The grounds, the little store/coffee shop and the facilities were pristine. The owner and all the employees were as friendly as they were accommodating. I can't say enough good things. I'll definitely be back.

• H

  Harry H.

  Ranger

  

  Oct. 1, 2017

  Buttermilk Falls State Park Campground

  Lovely falls close to Ithaca

  Been here in all the seasons, each is beautiful. Campgrounds are wooded. Pretty basic facilities, nice though. None of the tent sites have exceptional views but you’re a short walk from the creek/gorges. Reserve ahead of time in summer. Lots of woods, wildlife here and in the many other state parks close by to keep all ages occupied.

• 

  Jodi B.

  Traveler

  

  Aug. 5, 2024

  Keen Lake Resort Campground

  Best camp ground ever

  Keen lake is the most cleanest friendliest family environment campsite you will ever find. Beautiful lake great fishing. Activities all day long for the children. Great general store that has everything in it that is open from sun up to sundown. The nachos and ice cream are the best. Super friendly staff. It's big they have tent sites right along the lake the lake is huge there's so much I could say but I would run out of room. I started coming here when I was four and I am now 46 years old and it is just the best place ever. It will always have a special place in our heart. Look forward every year to coming here no matter what age my kids are they all have a blast. From tent sites to RVs to cottages to glamping you name it they have it highly recommend it. Recently went camping to somewhere a little bit closer to home and it's nothing compared to here. It's like comparing Macy's to Walmart. You will never regret coming here. So pack your family up and have a great time.

• T

  Tammy Rae S.

  Guide

  

  Sep. 8, 2021

  Riverside RV Campground

  Good enough stop over.

  This place is right on the river and the freeway! So it’s kind of loud the people are super friendly and had fresh vegetables and home baked goods available. There’s always snacks. All the sites are full hook up I’m pretty sure . They used to have tent sites but no longer. The river is very pretty and I didn’t spend enough time to explore. It’s close to convenient stores.

• 

  Carlyne F.

  Legend

  

  Feb. 13, 2021

  Chenango Valley State Park Campground

  Chenango Valley State Park, NY

  Camping at Chenango Valley State Park is always a great time. The park is very family friendly. It has numerous hiking and biking trails, two lakes (Lily and Kettle) and a 18-hole golf course for guests to enjoy. The grounds and bathrooms are very well maintained and the sites are level for those RV or tent camping. We enjoy the sites because they’re spacious and woodsy. They make you feel secluded, but are also a short drive from a brewery and the city of binghamton.

• a

  alyssa F.

  Traveler

  

  Jun. 18, 2018

  Hickories Park Campground

  excellent

  i pulled in at about 6pm mid week, the ranger station was closed

  drove around & found tent site 79 open, it's next to the river.

  I was able to pull directly into the camp site,

  the campground is well maintained, the porta potty in the tent area was very clean, i felt very safe

  the only draw back to this campground is the close proximity of the noisy highway but great for a one night stay or longer if you're accustom to the noise

• 

  Deborah W.

  Traveler

  

  Oct. 2, 2021

  Unadilla KOA

  Affordable KOA

  A bit off the beaten path for a KOA, but nearly sold out in early October nonetheless. Sites range from typical large rig to dispersed tents next to a creek. The tent sites with electric like the one we took used 240v 50A plugs, so we had to borrow a converter plug form the office for our 120v equipment. Only one bath house and it’s a bit dated. Very pet friendly including a dog play pen. Pool looked nice and was still open in early October.

• 

  Paully B.

  Guide

  

  Oct. 16, 2017

  Chenango Valley State Park Campground

  Great State park & only getting better

  I have camped CVSP several times in all sorts of capabilities, tent camping, pop-up and hard sided campers. Whether you are looking for a campsite in a forest setting or one with a large open field you can find it. There's is a perfect lake for kayaking for beginner or seasoned, as well as great hiking and mountain biking trails. Keep your eye peeled for the resident bald eagle and think about brining your clubs for a round of golf. The bathhouses are maybe the only negative to our whole experience but with the upgrade coming right now to the swimming area which oncludes better water circulation and a splashpad we will alwaus enjoy our trip here.

• 

  Brian O.

  Guide

  

  Jul. 8, 2016

  Bowman Lake State Park Campground

  Beautiful Area Camper's Heaven

  Tent camping in the beautiful winding camp ground many shady trees brings you back to nature. We brought our bikes and explored the many hiking and riding trails on the premises. We loved the swimming beach soaking up the sun and cool refreshing water. As fisherman we loved that the rangers told us that the lake was regularly stocked with trout and other game fish. For the boaters there is an ample ramp to launch as well as boat rentals on the marina. Conveniences are provided with many bathrooms and shower facilities throughout the camp ground. For those not to into tenting there are cabins available to keep you safe. We camped in July, but were told that the park is opened for winter activities such as xcountry skiing and snow mobiling. A fun trip for the whole family

• 

  Ashley F.

  Legend

  

  Jan. 11, 2023

  Oh! Pear Orchards

  Camp next to the creek!

  Ashley here with The Dyrt! We're excited to have this property on our platform. This listing has peaceful tent sites located against the creek. After reading a few of their reviews on another platform, it seems they also have some of the best firepits around. Within a half-hour of the campsites are the Merli-Sarnoski Park and the Lackawanna and Salt Srings State Parks--which offer hiking, fishing and other outdoor activities. Endless Brewing and EMR Event(Paintball) Park are also located nearby. In addition to selling Asian pears, Oh! Pear offers a look at a close to zero energy and negative carbon footprint. Check them out and leave them some love here!

• 

  Guy M.

  Guide

  

  Jul. 7, 2021

  Lackawanna State Park Campground

  Very Nice, Neat & Well Done

  We were Motorcycle camping and came in on a Holiday weekend without a reservation. But we were given a terrific tent site. The park was very neat and well manicured. Bathrooms were fairly nice, but no TP mid day. The sites were a little close to each other and where we were in the park was a mixed use area. So we had an RV next to us with the Genny running all day. The people were nice and fed us so I didn’t complain. The Lake looked nice though we didn’t use it. The roads all around were great for motorcycles and Scranton was very close for all your needs. This place gets thumbs up but only 4 stars because I’m hard to please.

• 

  Amy R.

  Guide

  

  Jul. 16, 2019

  Pine Cradle Lake Family Campground

  RV/tent campground in a beautiful setting

  This is a gated campground that we stayed at 6/30/19-7/04/19. We are NOT an RV. We own a Napier tent that hooks to our truck so that we can sleep up in the bed. However, due to it being a holiday week, the tent sites were completely booked and they only have 4(which also have water& electric). The tent sites are located in the back of the campground behind the sports field within the trees. I unfortunately didn’t get a chance to see them but they have them pictured on their website. They let us book an RV site and it was rough setting up on a gravel RV site but we understood that we were not within a normal tent element and placed an extra tarp under the tent. The campground is located at the top of some beautiful and scenic driving through farmland in Pennsylvania and you will be 30 minutes from anything like shopping or small town amenities(we drove to Walmart after setting up to get our perishables since we drive up from Virginia). Our site had water and electric, was a drive through spot for a typical RV with a section to the side of the drive through for the fire pit and picnic table. We were located right next to the shower/bathrooms/playground and had some tree coverage and shade. A lot of the RVs in the campground are permanent sites and our neighbors never showed so we had a quiet buffer but it was not a noisy campground. It appeared that they cleaned the bathrooms twice daily and we were impressed with the cleanliness of the bathroom/showers. There were 4 in the building so we never had to wait. The staff were friendly and helpful. They had a store right next to the pool area that offered common items and RV'er might need with a small grocery area as well which included bundles of wood($6 honor system after hours) and Ice($1.78 per bag). We were allowed to run an account which we paid at the end of our stay. Our campsite was required to be paid at check in. The campground is 18 acres with gravel roads, a sports field, fishing, horse shoes, bocce ball, multiple playgrounds, a rec center with some games, claw machines etc. a splash pad and salt water pool. You will be doing a lot of walking or bring your bicycles like we did. They offer scheduled activities for holidays etc and various weekend activities. You can rent non electric boats and they offer catch& release fishing without a PA license in the lake. My son caught 2 sunfish :) They have guidelines for visitors and quiet hours(my cousin came to visit us in the evenings as she lived close by). We enjoyed camping here even if we were on an RV site. We booked site 211 which had the little bit of tree coverage and was located right next to the showers/bathrooms/playground with a quick walk to the lake for fishing. Most of the other available sites in the road ahead of us had no tree coverage but closer to the lake had more trees and shade. OR, just get an actual tent site :) but they are all the way at the back of the campground, furthest from the lake so I actually preferred our site.

• 

  April L.

  Ranger

  

  May. 15, 2020

  Cozy Creek Family Campground

  Quiet and peaceful

  We were here during the Covod 19 shut downs so nothing was open. Our dogs were able to swim in the beautiful creek and there was only 1 other recreational camper that pulled in for our mid week trip. The pull through sites worked well for us, however next time we'd ask for one with a concrete patio. A pretty drive into the Scranton area. Many pretty tent sites right on the creek.

  The drawbacks- The seasonals that seem to be there year round are all pipeline workers. So their diesel trucks start up around 6am. Also, the road in (Vacation lane) is dirt, rough and narrow. There is presently no gate as well so the public can just drive in. We didn't love that, especially when two different people drove in and stopped at our site to ask us questions.

• 

  Cheryl W.

  Guide

  

  Jul. 8, 2018

  Pine Cradle Lake Family Campground

  Great campground in PA northern tier

  The owners do a fantastic job keeping the campground shipshape. Restrooms/showers are immaculate any time of day. Heated swimming pool and the splash pad for kiddies is spotless as well. Nice, pull-through on gravel pad withfull-hookups that can take large rigs. Lake is lovely for fishing/kayaks/canoes. Seasonal campers are tidy. Only a few tent sites with water & electricity tucked into woods. Larger pull-through sites don't get a lot of shade, but there are back-in sites for shorter campers in wooded sites and shaded lake front, as well. Campground store sells ice-cream & nachos and supplies. Campground is pretty quiet during the week, but fills up on weekends with guests using own (or renting) golf carts. Activities on weekends. The campground sits atop one of NEPA's "rolling hills" in quiet, rural farming area. Cell service is spotty. Local winery/cafe just down the road for tastings and lunch. Row boat, paddle boat rentals.

• J

  Justin H.

  Traveler

  

  Jun. 22, 2020

  Roscoe Campsites

  Great for first timers, but not worth a second visit

  While looking for a campsite that would play host to our daughter's first camping trip, we stumbled upon this place and managed to snag a reservation last minute. We are tent campers...can't speak to the accommodations for RV/5th-Wheelers or the rentable cabins. 

  The Good:

  - The farm, playground, beach, and shallow river make it a great, easy entry point for new and younger campers.

  - Restrooms were very clean every time we needed them, and they were easy to access from the tent sites.

  - It appeared there were additional activities we could have partaken in - kayaks, paddle boards, canoes available for rent onsite - though with how shallow the river was, I would have been pretty nervous to take a tumble out of a kayak or paddle board. Maybe the river is higher at different times of the year and these activities are less dangerous? We saw some people tubing on the river as well, though I think you have to go offsite for those rentals.

  - GREAT fishing river, though the riverfront the camp sits on isn't the best in terms of depth or activity. A short drive down the road in either direction will put you in much better locations for angling.

  - The downtown area is adorable, well-stocked in terms of stores/restaurants, and only 3 minutes down the road. Plus there is a brewery AND a distillery:) 

  The Bad:

  - The"tent sites" (that's what they call them, but they look just like all of the other RV sites with a giant cement pad and utility hookups) are VERY close together, and there is nothing separating them. If you're looking for quiet seclusion, don't even remotely consider this spot as an option.

  - As I mentioned before, the tent sites are not actually built for tents. The ground is worn over and very rocky. If you visit, bring incredibly thick sleeping pads or air mattresses if you want to sleep semi-comfortably.

  - The cleanliness of the bathrooms doesn't carry over to the campsites. Ours was littered with garbage, broken glass and fish hooks. SO DANGEROUS! Definitely don't walk around barefoot.

  - While they boast about the convenience of the General Store, when we visited (and keep in mind, this is still in the time of COVID) it looked like a bomb had gone off inside. It had virtually nothing of value to offer, and it was closed more often than not. The day we arrived it was closed by 3:30, and the day we left (at noon) it still hadn't opened. The grocery store in town is very close, affordable, MUCH better run, and is open until 10 pm. Give them your business instead.

  - While snagging a campsite next to the river is nice in terms of ambiance, it also means that you get to act as the gatekeeper for every other camper trying to get to the beach area. We had strangers strolling straight through the middle of our site throughout the day to get to the beach...not very safe, especially when you have children, and incredibly annoying.

  - There isn't any kind of smoking policy (I know, nitpicking here since we're outside, but with the sites so close together, it would have been nice), so we got hit with waves of cigarette smoke from the campers that were 5 sites down from us every time the wind shifted. YUCK!

  - While you can't see it, you can hear the traffic on the main highway very clearly. Every time a semi used its air brakes on the long hill, it echoed through the camp. Also, be sure to ask about the status of the construction before you visit...we were lucky enough to get to hear the constant thumping of steel poles being driven into the ground across the river from about 9 am to 7 pm every day.

• 

  Amber A.

  Ranger

  

  Aug. 1, 2016

  Buttermilk Falls State Park Campground

  One of many “gorges” parks near Ithaca

  Short drive out of Ithaca proper near one of the Finger Lakes. Medium to easy trails (the ones near the gorges are steep but with nice rock steps). If you can only go to one park in the Finger Lakes I’d pick this one. Wading in some spots in summer. Tenting sites are shady and semi-private but I don’t think any of them have direct views of the gorges. Nice wildlife too.

• 

  Janet R.

  Legend

  

  Jun. 19, 2024

  Lackawanna State Park Campground

  Something for everyone!

  This is an amazing state park that has something for everyone. There is an environmental education center with programs, there is fishing and boating, and an amazing network if hiking and horse riding trails. There are several campgrounds, with tremendous variety for every camping style. There are standard car camping tent sites, RV sites, and yurts and camper cabins. For those who like more rustic options, there are hike-in sites that are beautiful and not far from the parking area. The campsites are nestled in a deep shady mature forest, and peaceful and quiet due to the wooded aspect and spacing of sites (at least for me, in September in a hike-in site not far from the regular campground). It is nice to have such a fine camping and outdoor recreation opportunity within an easy drive of the city of Clarks Summit, so probably a great weekend getaway for local folks, but a wonderful stopover for anyone on a road trip through northern PA as it is not far off Interstate 81. I was there only one day, but would like to be back to explore the trails!

• 

  Oleńka S.

  Guide

  

  Jul. 16, 2023

  Bowman Lake State Park Campground

  Woodsy, pet friendly, and private

  We booked this as our first real camping trip with our new trailer, can’t recommend that for everyone lol, but we had a lovely time.

  We had a back in site with a fire pit, picnic table, and no hook ups. It was gravel and not super level, but we made it work. 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. We had a lot of tree cover so we didn’t even need our air conditioning on during an 85 degree day. There are a lot of mosquitoes, but with some bug spray and a couple thermacell mosquito repellents, we were comfortable the whole time. I loved cooking over the fire, the pit had a cinder block wall around it to set a grate on and block the wind. We had a lot of privacy because the campgrounds next to us were empty, but even if there were people nearby there was about 20-30 ft between our site and the next.

  The lake is small but calm and great for kayaking. There is a little “beach” there for swimming, but know that it’s a soft lake bottom further out.

  We really liked it here and booked another visit in August.

• M

  Mark

  Scout

  

  Jan. 16, 2022

  Oneida Campground & Lodge

  Love all serve all gay clothing optional campground

  I been to Oneida campground many weekends with groups of friends as well as by myself as a day visitor. It is a great place to unwind and enjoy yourself…as yourself. This place makes everyone feel welcome including gay, straight, bi-sexual, transsexual or however to choose to be and despite what you might think, the atmosphere makes the clothing optional part comfortable whether you choose to be natural or clothed. 

  Oneida is CAMP-ground, not the Ritz but offers rustic camping options as well as lodge (resort) accommodations. There are several group options to stay in either tent sites or cabin/lodge sites that are equipped with their own kitchen and shower facilities. Private remote sites are also available if you prefer to be off on your own in nature. 

  Everyone is invited to participate in the theme weekends and they are a lot of fun. The parties are amazing…and they’re free! There’s something for everyone to check out during the season and the best part is not having to worry about going home cause your already there. 

  The staff is low key and blend in while working behind the scenes to make your stay a safe and great time. When we first got their we had trouble finding our spot and they came out and gave us an escort to our site. Then we locked our keys the the car and they were right there to get us back in. Now it was dark and they even offered to help us set our tent up. Of course we forgot to bring some of the cooking items and they hooked us up with charcoal, lighters and lighter fluid at the camp store and they even brought us some of their own cooing utensils to borrow. 

  Despite our rough start, we had an amazing time, made many friends and felt very comfortable and welcome and I can’t wait for this season to start to go back again!

• 

  Janet R.

  Legend

  

  Dec. 2, 2017

  Pharsalia Y Pond

  Pharsalia Y Pond primitive campsite

  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. The pond is deep and clear and stocked with brook trout, and the campsite on the east side of the pond is in an idyllic setting with good camping, fishing (canoe or kayak only), and day hikes on the Finger Lakes Trail. You can also walk or drive along various state forest riads to several other pinds in the Wildlife Management area for good birdwatching. From the south end if the pond is a cascade into a gorge which is the beginnings if Canasawacta Creek, which eventually flows to Norwich and the Chenango River.

  This is a primitive canpsite, no shelter or latrine but there are several fire rings and good tent sites as well as a gentle water access right on the shore. This would be a nice family friendly weekend destination, as well a a great stop fir through hikers. Previous campers have left the site in great shape.

  Camping in this DEC Wildlife Management Area campsite is limited, and requires a permit. Visit the regional DEC office at 1285 Fisher Ave., Cortland NY or call 607-753-3095, or email at Info.R7@dec.ny.gov ; allow one week for permit to be processed.

  More info about the WMA can be found here: http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/63889.html or http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/70693.html

  An interactive map for hiking in the area can be found here: https://fltconference.org/trails/P/TrailConditionMaps/Interactive/Seg_Cat.html?Vifw#"

  For more info and local area map, see page 15 and map E04 in the Finger Lakes Trail East passport guide:

  http://www.fltconference.org/trail/files/3814/0154/4940/Passport_East_View.pdf