Chautauqua Lake KOA houses some of the most spacious glamping accommodations in the region, featuring cabins with lake views and premium amenities. Located in Dewittville near the shores of Chautauqua Lake, this glamping destination offers year-round options for visitors seeking comfort beyond traditional camping. The property includes electricity, hot showers, and full bathroom facilities, with some premium sites featuring concrete patios and outdoor furniture. Evangola State Park Campground adds variety to the local glamping scene with yurts overlooking Lake Erie, providing a unique blend of rustic and luxury accommodations. Both locations maintain high cleanliness standards and offer WiFi connectivity for guests who need to stay connected while enjoying nature. "The sites are HUGE, plenty of space for our setup. Nice large parks, mini-golf, and jump pad. Night sky was perfect for viewing stars!" noted one visitor about Chautauqua Lake KOA.
Lakeside activities dominate the glamping experience, with Chautauqua Lake providing opportunities for fishing, boating, and swimming during summer months. Camp Chautauqua Camping Resort enhances the glamping offerings with a well-maintained swimming pool, petting zoo for families, and organized activities like hayrides. Hiking trails wind through the nearby wooded areas, offering opportunities to observe local wildlife in their natural habitat. The Southern Tier brewery sits nearby for adult visitors seeking local craft beverages, while two different casinos within 40 minutes provide entertainment options. According to a camper, "Beautiful views of the lake and sitting areas to sit on the lake or pathways to stroll along the lake. There are nice trails through the woods and camping spots with nice views of sunsets and the water." Winter visitors can enjoy the scenic beauty of snow-covered landscapes while staying warm in heated accommodations at select locations that remain open during colder months.
$35 - $300 / night
"Staff was nice and friendly. Facility included several extras including a new pool. Bathrooms were clean and well stocked and showers were nice. Overall, I would highly recommend camping here,"
"Not too far from the Interstate & there was no highway noise at the campground. "
$30 - $65 / night
"We were in a tent on a electric/water site. Sites were a little small but we made it work with three families on three sites."
"Three bath houses available. Depending on where you’re at - it’s a very fast run if u need it quickly. Staff was very accommodating to our requests and needs. Professional."
$17 - $112 / night
"We stayed here three nights to ride out a heat wave and really liked it. Sites are electric only, with a dump station available at the entrance and one in the campground loop."
"We stayed here three nights to ride out a heat wave and really liked it. Sites are electric only, with a dump station available at the entrance and one in the campground loop."
"great New York state park. stayed here for 2 nights and I will be back. the park is so big I only got to do some of the hiking. very nice."
"There's also two beaches, over a dozen hiking trails, a restaurant, camp stores, a dump station, and more."
"The bathrooms were clean and cleaned frequently while we were there. We saw the ranger or park staff drive through once or twice a day and they always waved and were friendly."
"The Red House Administration building is a great central location to meet up with other camping families. Staff is super friendly & helpful."
"It was fairly full when I went, the staff was very friendly and helpful. There was a band playing in the middle of the campground at dusk which made for a great experience. Great campground overall!"
"Very friendly staff."
$20 - $90 / night
"Fishing boating, hiking family fun all around. Weather appropriate heated/ cooled indoor real bathrooms and shower rooms."
"HIGHLIGHTS: Paved loops great for bikes
Lake with small clean beach
Canoe/kayak rentals (closed 2022 season)
Several nice playgrounds
Clean, modern bathrooms
Several kayak/canoe launch areas"
$12 - $75 / night
"Arrived to a nearly empty campground. Only a few people on a weekday. No firewood on site, so bring it with ya. Really good, cold water from the well!
Little bit of Verizon coverage."
"Last time we went it was a honor system - put $ in envelope at box near entrance . Ranger might come by to check people and payment - and he/ she may not."
$20 - $100 / night
"Pitching a tent was easy on the driveway and fairly level. Some sites had large high sided fire rings which take away from the fireside relaxation of a shorter camp chair. "
"The site was spacious and was not close to other campers giving a feeling of secludedness and alone time in nature! Could easily walk to a nearby trail and down to the lake front!"
GuideThe facilities in the campground are very good (relatively new bath house with nice clean showers). The campsites are a good size although most have no natural shade or privacy. My only real complaint is that this seemed like a "party park" with music playing and people being loud after quiet hours. In addition, the beach area had a lot of trash laying around.
LegendCampground Review: Red Oak is located in the Alleghany River area of Wahyrren County PA, near the Kinzua Dam. It's a private campground with all kinds of amenities: a pool, gameroom, store, brick oven pizza shop, cermanics hut, activity center and large playground. They host activities like "yard sale weekend" and "mini-carnivals". A large portion of the campground serves as a seasonal campground for campers and other recreational vehicles, and has an adorable little side trail of newer "tiny home" style cabins available for rent. These areas are beautiful, quiet and treed, with large sites including ample space for campfire parties and hammocks. The owners live on site and are very gracious hosts and shop keepers!
The "tent" and daily camper camping area centers primarily around a very large open space, which houses a field, a little kids play area (many huge sized Legos for fort building mini-golf, horseshoes and an inflatable jump pad). This was amazing for my kids and they enjoyed every minute of their camp experience, however, for the adults, we found it a bit busy. Quiet hours are not really enforced, and bands of wild and (let's face it) thrilled, kids played until all hours of the dark night, illuminated at the playground by a bright street light. They are very dog friendly. Campers themselves were fairly quiet and non disruptive, but make no mistake, this is an activity campground focusing on kids and activities. The pool is sunny and well kept, with an added bonus of a lifeguard on duty. Bathrooms were very clean and newer, and the lack of showers didn't seem to be a problem, as most of the campers here use their own RV stalls, and so we never found a wait, which was nice.
Area: this area is unique. It's near a small industrial town on the banks of the Alleghany River, where you can find basic dining and stores for convenience, and is only about 25 mins from the Kinzua Dam Recreational Area which is lush and green and beautiful. Aside from the dam, which is one of the largest in the country, the accompanying reservoir is beautiful. Boating, fishing and relaxing are abundant on this beautiful quiet lake in the mountains. There's a small public beach, park area, and boat docks. The recreational area and surrounding forest include several trailheads for exploring, and mountain hikes at the top of which you can overlook the dam and reservoir. One hidden gem is a small parking area and trailhead just past the dam on the reservoir side, called Bent Run Waterfalls. A short hike in reveals a set of fairy-garden like waterfalls stepping down the side of a mountain that overlooks the reservoir. It's beautiful, and we even let the dog and kids play in their little pools of fresh water. This area is often uncrowded and a gem of the area.
Product Review:
As a Dyrt Ranger, I get the opportunity to review items from time to time. This trip we tried out the Belmont Blanket! First off, let me say that it was unseasonably cold and windy in the evenings for August, so this blanket ended up being a welcome addition to our trip. Deceptively thin and easily packable, this LARGE blanket unrolls to a really usable size of 5'x6' - and has a unique construction. It's outside layer is a soft brushed waterPROOF shell, which seriously works. It blocked out the wind and sprinkling rain of one of our campfire nights. I'll never use a poncho again. The interior of it is a VERY soft brushed fleece, which is shiny and actuallly feels more like a ultra-soft pelt. Its construction is wildly durable, and hand made (by someone who actually signed a little note inside the box!). Being so big, it was able to completely wrap around me, including a hood, and was shareable between myself and 2 kids seated next to me in chairs. Then I brought it home and popped it in the washer! Like new! This blanket is well worth the cost, but I likely wouldn't have known that had I not gotten the opportunity to try it out throughout Dyrt. I even used it over my bed while camping to keep the damp out and the warmth in, and it worked perfectly without unnecessary weight. This is an item that we have since gotten far more use out of than just camping. It's been to the beach, park, and even back yard and we just roll it up and keep it out at this point. I'd highly recommend the investment in this top of the line "adventure blanket". It's also kind of beautiful, with its bold colors and leather hook-loop and strap. Overall - we're huge fans of this über-functional blanket!
GuideWe enjoyed the hiking trails and the beach with a new modern beach house. There were lots of nature programs put on by the park. The campsites were a little too closely spaced, and no one enforced quiet hours. We could hear people laughing and carrying on all night long.
Guidegreat New York state park. stayed here for 2 nights and I will be back. the park is so big I only got to do some of the hiking. very nice.
GuideWe come here every summer. This park is massive with two distinct zones in the park and over a dozen individual campground loops. There's also two beaches, over a dozen hiking trails, a restaurant, camp stores, a dump station, and more. Note that on the Quaker side of the park, there is very limited cell service, and that many of the cabins do not have running water inside.
TravelerUnfortunately, my site did not.
However, my site wasn't crowded and the electricity was reliable. This campground has three loops. One has 30 amp power, one has 50 amp power (with a 30 amp outlet on the same pedestal) and the third loop is for tent camping. There are several places to get water in the camp, so be sure to fill up your tanks before you park. There is a dump station. None of the sites are full hook up.
Each site has a picnic table and a grill.
There are two bath houses. The newer one - between loops one and three - also has laundry facilities.
Your payment for your campsite entitles you to admission to the beach, which is a hike or a drive away.
TravelerArrived to a nearly empty campground. Only a few people on a weekday.
No firewood on site, so bring it with ya. Really good, cold water from the well!
Little bit of Verizon coverage.
Bad news - Gypsy moths are everywhere!!!!
LegendWe stayed here three nights to ride out a heat wave and really liked it. Sites are electric only, with a dump station available at the entrance and one in the campground loop. There are potable water spigots throughout the campground, where you awkwardly pull over to the side of the road and fill your tank. Sites are pretty much wide open, with zero separation between you and your neighbor. Most are out in direct sun but the ones along the edge have some tree cover and shade.
There are yurts here as well, and a playground, and a huge disc golf course. You can walk to the beach from the campground (dogs aren’t allowed on the beach). The nature center is right in the campground, by the basketball and tennis courts.
Showers were dirty and buggy, but they’re free and you can actually choose your own water temperature. NY State campgrounds require proof of rabies vaccinations for your dogs.
Good cell reception for Verizon, ATT wasn’t great but the cell booster helped. Trash bins, but no recycling. Beautiful sunset on the lake.
LegendWe stayed here three nights to ride out a heat wave and really liked it. Sites are electric only, with a dump station available at the entrance and one in the campground loop. There are potable water spigots throughout the campground, where you awkwardly pull over to the side of the road and fill your tank.
Sites are pretty much wide open, with zero separation between you and your neighbor. Most are out in direct sun but the ones along the edge have some tree cover and shade.
There are yurts here as well, and a playground, and a huge disc golf course. You can walk to the beach from the campground (dogs aren’t allowed on the beach). The nature center is right in the campground, by the basketball and tennis courts. Showers were dirty and buggy, but they’re free and you can actually choose your own water temperature.
NY State campgrounds require proof of rabies vaccinations for your dogs. Good cell reception for Verizon, ATT wasn’t great but the cell booster helped. Trash bins, but no recycling. Beautiful sunset on the lake.
Cabin accommodations around Chautauqua Lake offer a blend of rustic retreats and modern comforts. The region sits at approximately 1,300 feet above sea level, creating moderate temperatures that typically range from 70-85°F during summer camping season. Winter glamping close to Portland, New York becomes challenging as temperatures routinely drop below freezing from December through February.
Hiking trails at Red House Area: The Allegany State Park network provides extensive trail options for all skill levels. "Great place to explore. Many trails, boating, swimming, camping... just a great place to go," notes Brian P. about Red House Area — Allegany State Park State Park.
Fishing opportunities: Anglers can access multiple fishing spots within a short drive of most campgrounds. "We did not have a boat but having a boat launch on the beautiful lake could be handy," reports Denise D. about her stay at Dewdrop.
Stargazing conditions: Clear nights offer exceptional celestial viewing from most campsites. John P. commented about his stay at Chautauqua Lake KOA: "Night sky was perfect for viewing stars!"
Wildlife observation: Early mornings provide the best opportunity to spot local wildlife. "There is nice trails through the woods and nice camping spots with nice views of sunsets and the water," mentions Adam R. about his experience at Evangola State Park Campground.
Spacious sites: Many campgrounds offer generous site dimensions. "The sites are HUGE, plenty of space for our 30' TT, truck, and screen house," according to John P. about his time at Chautauqua Lake KOA.
Clean facilities: Campground bathrooms and shower facilities receive consistent praise. "The bathroom was great. It was a single room with toilet and shower - and it was incredibly clean," reports Cassandra C. about her stay at Chautauqua Lake KOA.
Swimming options: Multiple campgrounds feature swimming areas during summer months. William H. notes that Camp Chautauqua Camping Resort offers "full hook-up and a swimming pool with beautiful views of the lake."
Secluded camping experience: Several campgrounds offer private sites surrounded by trees. "The sites are beautiful, but there are little to no amenities. The only water was from a hand pump at the far end of the loop, near the pit toilets," explains Thomas M. about Tracy Ridge.
Limited cell service: Many campgrounds have minimal connectivity. "Only slight cell service for AT&T," reports Erin about Tracy Ridge, while Sarah K. notes about Dewdrop: "There is no cell service so you really get to be away from all the hustle for a weekend."
Wildlife encounters: Be prepared for potential wildlife interactions. Katie from Dewdrop shares: "A mom and two cubs ran directly through our camp while having breakfast one morning. Only 10 foot away when the mom stopped to size up our threat level."
Seasonal limitations: Many facilities close during winter months. According to their season listings, Evangola State Park operates "April 29 to October 9" while Tracy Ridge runs "May 16 to December 15."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular glamping campsite near Portland, NY?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular glamping campground near Portland, NY is Chautauqua Lake KOA with a 5-star rating from 8 reviews.
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