Campgrounds near Laurens, NY range from state-operated parks to privately-owned sites, with options spanning tent camping, RV sites with full hookups, rustic cabin rentals, and glamping experiences within a 10-15 mile radius. Multiple campgrounds in the area feature full amenities including electric hookups, water, and sewer connections, with most operating seasonally from May through October. The region contains a mix of state-operated and privately-owned developed campgrounds within a 10-15 mile radius of Laurens, offering varying levels of privacy and natural settings.
The primary camping season runs from mid-May through early October, with most developed campgrounds near Laurens closing for winter. Many sites require advance reservations, particularly during summer weekends and holidays when baseball tournaments drive regional tourism. "The park is very well maintained. The lake is gorgeous. We almost had the place to ourselves," noted one camper who visited in early fall. Cell coverage varies significantly throughout the region, with limited service in most areas except for sites "on top of the hill." Road access to campgrounds is generally good, though some visitors mention rough interior roads at certain facilities.
Campground options near Laurens cater to different camping preferences, with varying site layouts and amenity levels. Some sites feature spacious camper cabins with fireplaces, full kitchens, and screened porches, while also offering more traditional tent and RV sites. Several reviews highlight hiking trails, fishing opportunities, and swimming areas as key attractions. Campers seeking more secluded experiences can find wooded sites at locations like Deer Haven Campground, which provides a walking trail through forests and fields. A reviewer mentioned: "We had a great time and saw deer on our site a few mornings!" Mixed-use campgrounds in the area frequently include swimming pools, playgrounds, and sports facilities, making them suitable for family camping trips.
$17 - $156 / night
"Two entrances, one to the kitchen and the other to the porch. Outside was a fire ring. An easy hike to a nearby lake was very pretty."
"Great place to stay, Close to Cooperstown. Nice lake for the kids to go swimming and fishing. If you like to hike they have some great trails. Nice size sites, the only down fall is they fill up fast."
$14 - $26 / night
"Only downside is there is not a hiking/walking path down to the lake from the campground. Very nice bathrooms w shower and wash station. Electricity and water available at or near each campsite."
"Close to Cooperstown and within driving distance from Oneonta. Quiet and spacious campsites"
"playing at the Field of Dreams and close enough to serve as your campground as you travel to visit the Baseball Hall of Fame, Herkimer Diamond Mines, area micro brewery's and even a ride to the Finger Lakes"
"On top of hill right outside of town. Stayed during the week and was able to get a more secluded, wooded site. (Most of them are pretty open) It was quiet at night."
$55 - $65 / night
"Great location off I88 exit 13 Oneonta Next to Cooperstown All Star Village
Close to Cooperstown and The Baseball Hall of Fame
Nearby shopping and many attractions
30amp gravel backin rv campsites"
"Park is surrounded by water so be warned lots of bugs to be expected."
"We drove around to the three closest RV parks to Dreams Park and would definitely stay here with the team and / or on your own."
"This was a great campground and I am sure they do even more when social distancing is not required."
"The tone of the place is set when you drive in (although we drove past it). Everyone, staff and campers are friendly respectful even the kids!"
"There were goats by the office, and ducks in the small lake by our site. In the evening a big flock of geese flew in, and were very noisy until they settled down."
GuideI likes this spot and i really like that you need a reservation as well just to secure your spot! The spots are big and great walks as well if you have dogs. Easy access to the pond too. 20 minutes to waterfall state park & there is a maple shop not too far as well for treats etc.
ScoutOwners are amazing, family oriented, campground has tons for kids to do and is close to Roscoe. Our family goes every year
ScoutLong 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.
TravelerAll 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.
GuideBeautiful and well- maintained. Very roomy sites. Owner is friendly and responds quickly to calls.
TravelerGreat spot, great location. FYI to anyone who comes in the winter, it's not plowed, so you may need to adjust your plans accordingly.
GuideThis 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.
GuideCool spot next to a pond. There are a few others that aren’t next to a pond, and therefore not as cool… but still pretty cool bc it’s free and you can walk up a little to a pond.
ScoutReally 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.
Camping options near Laurens, New York range from basic tent sites to full-service RV hookups across several state parks and private campgrounds. Located in central New York at approximately 1,300 feet elevation, the region experiences warm summers with highs in the 80s and cool, snowy winters. Most campgrounds operate seasonally from mid-May through early October, with limited winter options available.
Hiking trails: Gilbert Lake State Park features multiple hiking paths for various skill levels. "I've been camping at Gilbert Lake for 35 or so years... There's miles of hiking trails including one around the lake," notes a regular visitor.
Fishing opportunities: Several campgrounds offer access to stocked lakes and ponds. At Crazy Acres Campground at Beaver Spring Lake, you'll find "a big lake to fish in and a pool to relax by," according to one camper.
Baseball-themed attractions: The region's proximity to Cooperstown makes it popular with baseball fans. Cooperstown Family Campground provides "a big grass baseball field almost all to ourselves" and is "about 10 minutes from the National Baseball Hall of Fame!"
Spacious cabins: Many visitors appreciate the roomy accommodations at Gilbert Lake State Park. "Spacious cabin was clean and comfortable. Two bedrooms, one with bunk beds and another with a full. There were dressers in each room," reports one camper about their stay.
Wildlife viewing: The natural setting allows for animal sightings. At Deer Haven Campground and Cabins, campers enjoy close encounters with nature: "We had a great time and saw deer on our site a few mornings!"
Swimming options: Multiple campgrounds feature swimming facilities. "A nice beach with lifeguards for swimming," is available at Gilbert Lake State Park, while Crazy Acres offers both lake swimming and "a pool to relax by."
Cell service limitations: Coverage varies significantly throughout the area. One reviewer notes about Gilbert Lake: "Cell signal is not great in most places except the sites 'on top of the hill'."
Site accessibility: Some campgrounds have terrain challenges. At Susquehanna Trail Campground, "It's September and there were only a few people here so it was really peaceful. However the train tracks are super close and it shook the whole camper when a train went by."
Reservation requirements: For popular camping periods, advance booking is essential. At Hartwick Highlands, their wooded section is noted as "Quiet over in the 100 acre woods section so nice for a couples camping trip!"
Kid-friendly amenities: Look for campgrounds with dedicated children's activities. "Great for families, the parking lots is huge, there's easy hiking on the grounds, and it's close to cooperstown," says a visitor about Glimmerglass State Park.
Baseball camp options: Several campgrounds cater to youth baseball tournaments. Beaver Valley Campground "is family owned and operated, originally a baseball camp, it still has that baseball draw for those families whose youngsters are playing at the Field of Dreams."
Entertainment facilities: Many campsites provide recreational equipment. Cooperstown Family Campground offers "a cute barn they'll open up for you when you want to play" with "12 or so arcade machines."
Hookup availability: Sites with full connections are limited at some campgrounds. At Crazy Acres, one traveler reported: "My site had 30 amp electric (also 2 extension cord outlets in the box) and water."
Site dimensions: Be aware of space constraints when selecting a campsite near Laurens. Some reviewers warn about Cooperstown Family Campground: "The pedestals where we were were in the bushes directly behind the campers, and unfortunately for me my hookups are towards the front of my camper so I had to pull in sideways to reach the pedestal."
Level parking: Many campsites offer well-maintained RV pads. Hartwick Highlands Campground features "wide open where the RV's are" and "Healthy grass sites to park on with water, electric and sewer hook ups."
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Laurens, NY?
According to TheDyrt.com, Laurens, NY offers a wide range of camping options, with 152 campgrounds and RV parks near Laurens, NY and 20 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Laurens, NY?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Laurens, NY is Gilbert Lake State Park Campground with a 4.4-star rating from 9 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Laurens, NY?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 20 free dispersed camping spots near Laurens, NY.
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