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Best Tent Camping near Mayfield, NY

477 Reviews

Tent campsites in the Mayfield area of New York's Adirondack region range from established sites to more remote dispersed options. Murphy Lake Leanto offers a secluded backcountry tent camping experience, with access requiring a two-hour hike or bike ride on technical terrain marked by blue trail blazers. Cod Pond Dispersed Pull-Off provides primitive tent camping sites accessible via dirt roads, while Ushers Road State Forest allows dispersed camping at least 150 feet from trails.

Most primitive tent campgrounds near Mayfield lack basic amenities, requiring campers to pack in all necessities. Murphy Lake Leanto features a fire pit and space for multiple tents, but no drinking water or toilets. Cod Pond sites include established fire rings and are accessible by small SUVs, though turning around may be difficult at some locations. One camper noted, "The site has its own private road. A car is not recommended. There is a firepit at the site and plenty of space for multiple tents." Access roads can be rough and poorly maintained, with intermittent or no cell service in most areas.

Tent campers seeking backcountry experiences will find the Mayfield region offers significant privacy despite occasional proximity to roads. Sites near water features like Cedar River Entrance Camping provide picnic tables, fire rings, and vault toilets, with locations suitable for launching kayaks or canoes. A recent review described the area as having "beautiful surroundings" with "several outhouses, a picnic table, and a fire ring close by." Cod Pond campsites offer riverside settings, providing pleasant ambient sounds at night. Forested sites typically provide ample tree cover for shade and hammock setup, though ground surfaces may be uneven for tent placement. Most primitive tent campgrounds experience minimal visitor traffic, especially on weekdays, offering genuine solitude for wilderness camping.

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Best Tent Sites Near Mayfield, New York (21)

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Recent Tent Camping Photos near Mayfield, NY

36 Photos of 21 Mayfield Campgrounds

Tent Camping Reviews near Mayfield, NY

477 Reviews of 21 Mayfield Campgrounds

  • Rachel P.
    Sep. 8, 2018

    North Lake Resevoir

    North Lake Reservoir

    Not that they would do this place any justice, but I sincerely wish I had pictures. Unfortunately my last visit here was before smart phones were so commonplace. North Lake Reservoir is one of the Adirondack Park’s best kept secrets. Extremely primitive, you must get off Rte 28, heading toward the old Buffalo Head restaurant and passed there, keep going another 30-40 minutes along a dirt/gravel road until you reach N Lake Rd.

    The DEC-run facility offers about 25 primitive sites along North Lake. There is a campers log where you can sign in at the entrance and the sites are dispersed along a long dirt road. A few are drive-in, while many you must park and walk-in. These sites are primitive-no tables, no facilities or running water. Best of all, no generators or electrical hookups for those of us in it to truly be in nature.

    I don’t recall the site number, but we had about a 1/2-3/4 mile hike along a narrow path to the site. It was completely worth it- the site was large and right on the water, completely surrounded by trees and shade. The only sounds came from the occasional boat across the lake and loon calls in the morning.

    Coming here has absolutely been one of my favorite experiences. If you’re adventurous and up for the challenge and seclusion, I highly recommend checking out North Lake Reservoir!

  • Matthew D.
    Oct. 10, 2018

    Cedar River Entrance Camping

    Cedar River Campground

    Stayed at site number 5, I think. It was by the water in the woods just a little bit. Picnic table, fire ring and several outhouses nearby. Beautiful surroundings. There is a small landing to launch kayaks or canoes. A dam with some additional sites on the other side. Town is about 20-30 minutes away. Several trails nearby. Would recommend.  

    Also would recommend traveling further in if you are looking for more sites.

  • Meghan B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 10, 2023

    Ace of Diamonds Mine & Campground

    Nice enough spot when traveling through

    I called and booked ahead of time knowing I'd arrive late and leave early, which was absolutely no problem, so I'm very thankful for that. I paid over the phone, was given clear instructions on where to park, and was told to enjoy my stay. This location is great if you're in a van or RV and need a quick place to stay for the night in this area of NY in mid- / late-October (because it seems NY closes its state parks quite early) or if you're here for the rock-hunting. From what I could see late at night (which honestly wasn't much) I wouldn't recommend for tent-camping as the sites were quite close to each other and not much soft ground for sleeping.

  • Kaylee C.
    Oct. 6, 2021

    Moose River Plains

    Amazing in the Fall!

    Stayed at site 51. It's elevated, clear, has a newer outhouse with toilet seat. The old outhouse was left to the side and we used it to store our firewood (to keep dry). We hammered a nail on the inside of the outhouse to hang the shower bladder. It got cold at night, around 30-40. It was fine though in just warm clothes, sleeping bags and an extra blanket. There a path to the river straight across the lane from the site, for water or swimming. We always use the limekiln entrance which is a bit rocky. I have a Chevy spark though and as long as we go super slow, it's passable. The other entrance (which is super long) does have a smoother pass though. While on this trip, we hiked the lost ponds trail, just down a ways from our site. It's worth the time and effort, full of amazing views! Of you have a lightweight or inflatable kayak, take it because the pond is quite large and there's lots to explore. Just a note if you've never been, be sure to stop at an entrance to sign in - the rangers aren't always around but you're so far in that if anything were to ever happen, you'd want them to have your information. This is a pretty remote area to camp and explore.

  • 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.

  • Janet R.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 11, 2024

    Glimmerglass State Park Campground

    It glimmers like glass! The lake and more

    Both the Glimmerglass State Park and the Glimmerglass Festival Opera House list their location as Cooperstown, but in actuality the Park is 8 miles outside of Cooperstown on the northeast side of Otsego Lake, with the Opera House nearby on the northwest corner of the lake nearby. If you are going to visit one, you should also visit the other! In fact the park is an ideal spot to stay if you are wanting to take in any of the Glimmerglass music or theater productions which have quite a professional lineup in the summer season. If staying at the park you will also enjoy the amazing beach and waterfront on Otsego Lake, and great kayaking on the lake as well as the stream flowing into it. You can also hike, ot take a day trip into Cooperstown, especially for museums and all things baseball.

    The camping opportunities give you three options: the main campground by the park office, which is wooded and shady and has electric hookups as needed, and is close to the beach, but you will have a lot of neighbors. If you want a quiet tenting experience, choose the Beaver Pond primitive tenting campground! This offers a small number of large, well spaced and private tent only sites set back in the woods by a beautiful pond and by the Beaver Hiking trail. Very peaceful with more solitude than the main campground, but a longer walk to the beach. The third and newest option, the Travis Field campsites, reminds me of an overflow parking area at an outdoor festival, unfortunately just a bunch of basic tent campsites plunked in an open grassy field located in between the beach and the Beaver Pond sites. I am guessing the park has greater demand for campsites than the original campground offers, so they put these spots up in an open field, and maybe folks would rather have these sites than nothing if they want a week at the lake, but they would not be a first choice unless perhaps you have a group that wants to gather together and take a block of these sites. I didnt check out the cabins, but there are some, which might be especially good if you want to come in the winter as the park is open year round

  • R
    Sep. 1, 2020

    Lewey Lake Campground

    Beautiful, great location

    We stayed here for 2 nights at sight 122. Although not a waterfront site, it was beautiful. Slightly muddy during a downpour but the puddles cleared quickly. No complaints, campers were all respectful of quiet hours.

  • loyed N.
    Aug. 26, 2024

    Cedar River Entrance Camping

    There are many outhouses

    There are many outhouses, a picnic table, and a fire ring close by. beautiful surroundings of geometry dash lite.

  • Joseph C.
    Aug. 5, 2020

    Schodack Island State Park Campground

    Very pleasant, easy going and many rabbits

    Stayed 3 nights with 2 buddies.  We had 2 tents set up on the ground (2 man and 6 man capacity tents) and a third specialty tent in the bed my buddy's pick-up truck.  Plenty of room for a pop-up canopy over the picnic table and my car with its own attached awning.  We had a third car parked just off the roadway and we were never asked to move it to the parking area since there is usually a 2 car limit (my friend is lazy like that).

    Weather was warm, so we were mostly trying our best to stay cool.  Unfortunately, I did not take full advantage of the park's amenities.  I did some light biking, walking around and mostly relaxing at the campsite.  The electricity and running water work 100%, the campsite was cleared and clean.  The picnic table was very new and stable.  Ice and firewood were delivered at our request at a decent price.  best of all, this campsite had the cleanest bathrooms and shower facilities of any place I have ever been.  Only one of my friends had trouble with his shower as the water stopped running and he could not completely rinse off.  There must have been some momentary problem with the plumbing.  I know it was fixed quickly and everything was running once again.

    Not a lot of tents, mostly RV's.  All my neighbors were quiet and in bed around 9p.  Unfortunately, my group of three like to stay up late so I hope our talking didn't interfere with our neighbor's ability to sleep.  No one complained, so I am assuming we kept it down low enough. Pet friendly, though we didn't bring ours.

    I recommend this place for families, though the age group observed there were mostly late 30's, 40's and 50's.  Not too many kids.  Many "exotic" birds (for a Brooklyn boy, anything that is not a pigeon or sparrow is exotic).  We had frequent visits from Gray Catbirds, and I saw a glimpse of a Bald Eagle through the treeline.  Didn't spot any turtles, though I hear they are there if you go looking.

    I plan to return to this campsite, and likely very soon. I had a great time and it was nice not having a park ranger sniffing around every 2-3 hours like I have experienced in other parks and campsites.

Guide to Mayfield

Tent camping near Mayfield, New York offers primitive sites across forested state lands and along waterways in the southern Adirondack region. At elevations ranging from 800-1,200 feet, campers find a mix of hardwood forests and conifer stands surrounding numerous lakes and streams. Summer temperatures typically range from 50-85°F with cooler nights, while spring and fall camping requires preparation for overnight temperatures that can drop below freezing.

What to do

Boat access camping: Lake George Islands camping provides a unique experience requiring watercraft. "We had a great spot on Long Island! Beautiful view, chill atmosphere, easy boat parking on the slip," notes one Long Island Group camper. Sites require advance planning as they're only accessible by boat.

Biking technical trails: Murphy Lake area offers challenging terrain for mountain bikers. A camper describes the access route: "The Murphy Bennett Trails is a technical challenge to hike, or bike in on. And be prepared to go over downfalls. The area is maintained, but wind happens in the old growth forest." Pack tools for minor bike repairs as services are distant.

Canal exploration: Follow the historic canal system where designated tent sites are available for water travelers. "The Canal Corporation provides designated spots for tent and van camping along the canal. Stays are limited to a maximum of 48 hours. Upon arrival, campers must scan the QR code at the entrance and complete a brief survey," reports a visitor to E16 Canal Lock.

What campers like

River sounds: Campsites near flowing water provide natural ambient noise. At Cod Pond Dispersed Pull-Off, a camper described: "There was a fire ring and access to the river down a semi-steep bank. Beautiful to listen to at night." Many primitive sites feature similar water access requiring short scrambles down embankments.

Trail-adjacent camping: State forest land permits dispersed camping with specific setback requirements. "Given that camping is permitted anywhere in the woods as long as it's at least 150 feet off the trail, the surrounding area offers an abundance of potential camping spots," notes a visitor to Ushers Road State Forest.

Island solitude: Lake camping on islands provides separation from typical campground crowds. One Lake George camper states: "Worth a trip from just about anywhere. Absolutely beautiful and you can't beat camping on an island." Sites require watercraft transport and typically include designated tent platforms with limited flat ground beyond them.

What you should know

Navigation challenges: Forest roads often lack signage and cell service is unreliable. Regarding Cedar River Entrance Camping, a camper advised: "Town is about 20-30 minutes away. Several trails nearby. Would recommend. Also would recommend traveling further in if you are looking for more sites." Bring physical maps and download offline navigation before arrival.

Site limitations: Many dispersed sites have tight access and limited turning space. One camper at Cod Pond noted: "Site was big enough to pull our mid-size SUV down and unfold rooftop-tent, but we did have to back out in the morning; not enough room to turn around." Arrive during daylight hours to properly assess site conditions.

Wildlife encounters: Raccoons actively target food stores at established campgrounds. A Lake George Islands camper warned: "We were literally bombarded with a group of raccoons each night. It was bad." Use animal-proof containers or vehicle storage for all food items, even during brief absences from camp.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Mayfield, NY is Murphy Lake Leanto with a 4-star rating from 1 review.

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

TheDyrt.com has all 21 tent camping locations near Mayfield, NY, with real photos and reviews from campers.

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