Best Campgrounds near South Plymouth, NY

State forests dominate the camping landscape around South Plymouth, New York, where primitive and dispersed camping options are abundant. Pharsalia Woods State Forest offers several free dispersed camping areas including Round Pond and Bear Wallow Pond, while Bowman Lake State Park Campground provides more developed sites with electric hookups, showers, and toilets. The region includes both established campgrounds with amenities and primitive sites that require hikers to pack in all necessities, creating a range of experiences from RV camping with hookups to remote tent camping in secluded forest settings.

Mixed-use campgrounds are common throughout the area, with most state forests permitting camping at least 150 feet from water sources and trails. Road access varies significantly between developed and dispersed sites, with some requiring high-clearance vehicles while others are easily accessible by passenger car. Weather conditions are best from May through October, with Bowman Lake State Park officially operating from May 13 to October 9. Many of the primitive camping areas in state forests remain open year-round but become difficult to access during winter months. Hunting seasons in fall can affect camping availability in some areas. Most dispersed camping in state forests allows stays up to 14 days without permits. A camper noted: "Long Pond is located in a state forest west of Smithfield Flats and Greene NY, and many locals come to Long Pond for fishing."

Camping areas near water receive consistently positive reviews, with fishing opportunities being a major draw. The region's numerous ponds and small lakes support both shore fishing and small watercraft, with Round Pond, Long Pond, and Hunts Pond being popular destinations. Several visitors mentioned unique natural features that enhance the camping experience, including old-growth forests and scenic trails. One reviewer described Round Pond as "a unique wilderness location for primitive camping, but only 15 minutes from the village of Norwich." Primitive campsites often include basic fire rings but lack amenities, while developed campgrounds provide picnic tables, fire pits, and sometimes electrical hookups. Campers seeking solitude should consider the more remote dispersed sites in Pharsalia Woods, where several tent sites can be accessed via hiking trails, providing greater privacy than the established campgrounds.

Best Camping Sites Near South Plymouth, New York (136)

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Recent Reviews near South Plymouth, NY

344 Reviews of 136 South Plymouth Campgrounds


  • Abby H.
    Apr. 19, 2026

    Herkimer Diamond Mine KOA

    Disrespect & Discrimination

    Long 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.

  • Emily M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Mar. 28, 2026

    Long Pond Campground

    Great dispersed camp sites

    All 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.

  • E
    Mar. 27, 2026

    Tilden Hill Farm

    Beautiful campground

    Beautiful and well- maintained. Very roomy sites. Owner is friendly and responds quickly to calls.

  • Ashlee C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Mar. 18, 2026

    Andersen Hill State Forest

    Great spot!

    Stayed one night. Spot was great! It had rained so we weren't able to have a fire, but there was a spot where others had one previously. A little road noise from Rt 79, but honestly wasn't terrible.

  • Rachel C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 30, 2025

    Hickories Park Campground

    Great location

    Beautiful park - some road noise from 17c. Sites are spacious

  • D C.
    Oct. 23, 2025

    Live The Outdoors LLC

    Peaceful & Private Getaway🏞️

    Really 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.

  • JThe Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 16, 2025

    Pine Crest Campground

    Great place

    Nice private campground. Host was very generous. Used Coin operated laundry facilities. Full hookups for a reasonable price. Would return again.

  • Chelsea B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 30, 2025

    Green Lakes State Park Campground

    Good camp sites

    The sites are good, level, and the campsite is pretty but as clean as the bathrooms are, the showers still suck. I’ll never understand why parks use the misting shower heads. Maybe TMI, but sorry ladies, you’ll never get the soap out of your bits. It’s best to use the ADA bathrooms because those shower heads are normal and have wands. I can’t say much about the amenities since we camped in the off season (really bummed not to rent a boat), but the trails around the lake are great! Beautiful water and various difficulties on the trails make it pretty fun to explore. Overall a good stay but took a star away for the showers and the landscapers. They spent at least 5-6 hours the Monday we were here mowing around our campsite, coming within inches of our power and Starlink cords. Really annoyed by that and when we called the park office, they said they’d take care of it but we still endured 4 more hours of multiple mowers going over the same areas multiple times. Honestly think they were messing with us at that point…

  • c
    Sep. 25, 2025

    Salt Springs State Park Campground

    Worked for me

    I stayed in late September in one of the drive in spots. There were no other campers bc of the season- and it’s mid week. I love this park and it’s close to my house so I just wanted to crash there and wake up early to hike. It was quiet all night. The bathrooms are very far from tne sites and it was visible where some people had relieved themselves in the bushes. There is no potable water anywhere so bring some. I enjoyed it but during the on season or busy times tnere is zero privacy between sites other than sites 13 and 14. Def wouldn’t stay here during summer for that reason.


Guide to South Plymouth

The South Plymouth, New York camping region sits within the central New York plateau, characterized by rolling hills, mixed hardwood forests, and numerous small ponds and streams at elevations between 1,200-1,800 feet. State forests dominate the landscape, featuring both designated primitive sites and dispersed camping opportunities with varying accessibility. Winter temperatures regularly drop below freezing from November through April, making late spring through early fall the primary camping season.

What to do

Fishing opportunities: The numerous ponds throughout the Pharsalia Woods State Forest offer excellent fishing. At Bear Wallow Pond Dispersed Campsite, you'll find "a small parking area and fishing access on a really beautiful pond" where "you can kayak or fish on the pond" according to campers.

Hiking network: Trails connect many camping areas to larger networks. The Pharsalia Woods Lean-To Campsite offers access to the Finger Lakes Trail with "a short twenty minute hike from trailhead, great for short local camping trips or through hikers on the Finger Lakes Trail."

Swimming beaches: Some developed campgrounds maintain swimming areas with lifeguards. At Bowman Lake State Park Campground, visitors enjoy "the swimming beach soaking up the sun and cool refreshing water" and note that "the lake is beautiful and has a good small boat access."

Mountain biking: The region's state forest roads provide mountain biking terrain. At Bear Wallow Pond, campers can "go mountain biking on the network of state forest roads that are all part of the Pharsalia Woods Game Refuge."

What campers like

Privacy between sites: Many camping spots near South Plymouth offer good separation between campsites. At Bowman Lake State Park Campground, campers appreciate that "the campground is a maze of campsites through densely wooded forests so it's pretty private and shady even though it's full no matter what season."

Secluded forest settings: State forest campsites provide true forest immersion. One reviewer described Whaupaunaucau State Forest as "a relatively unknown oasis outside of the county" with "lovely hilly vistas, pondside glens, and lots of clearings near clear streams deep in this old stately forest."

Clean facilities: The developed campgrounds maintain good amenities. A Bowman Lake visitor mentioned "Very clean facilities! Really enjoyed the kayaking and beach area," while another noted "very hot water even after waiting which was good."

Wildlife viewing: The region supports diverse bird and animal populations. Whaupaunaucau State Forest is described as "a fantastic place to go if you enjoy botanizing or birding, lots of unusual species to see."

What you should know

Permit requirements: Some sites require advance permits. For Jackson Pond Tent Sites, "Camping in this DEC Wildlife Management Area is limited, and requires a permit. Visit the regional DEC office at 1285 Fisher Ave., Cortland NY or call 607-753-3095... allow one week for permit to be processed."

Road conditions: Access roads vary significantly in quality. At Pharsalia Woods State Forest Dispersed, one camper warns "the road itself is in pretty rough shape, and is marked with a sign that says it is a low maintenance road."

Limited facilities: Most dispersed sites have minimal or no amenities. Round Pond Pharsalia Woods Dispersed is described as "primitive camping... allowed anywhere in the vicinity as long as you are 150 feet from the waters edge and away from the parking lot."

Ticks present: Be prepared for insects in warmer months. A reviewer at Whaupaunaucau State Forest warns visitors to "just beware of ticks, they are invading the region."

Tips for camping with families

Kayaking access: Several ponds offer non-motorized boating opportunities. At Hunts Pond State Forest, "the pond is beautiful and has a good small boat access, and there is a nice hiking trail to a beautiful waterfall downstream on Buttermilk Creek Falls."

Short hiking options: Trails suited for younger hikers can be found throughout the area. Round Pond features "a beautiful and accessible raised boardwalk to a unique overlook that has a beautiful vista over the bog and is an amazing place for birdwatching especially during spring migration."

Camping shelter options: Some sites include lean-to shelters for easier family camping. The Ludlow Creek Lean-To Campsite has "a large relatively new Adirondack-style lean-to in great condition, perched on a heavily wooded overlook above Ludlow Creek."

Swimming opportunities: Several sites offer swimming options for kids. At Bowman Lake, there is "a little 'beach' there for swimming, but know that it's a soft lake bottom further out."

Tips from RVers

Site leveling challenges: Many campsites require work to level. At Bowman Lake State Park Campground, an RVer reported "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."

Generator considerations: Some campgrounds have restrictions or camper expectations regarding generator use. At Bowman Lake, "No hookups but that means people have generators, though the campsites are big and you won't necessarily hear your neighbor running theirs."

Tree coverage benefits: The forested nature of sites provides natural cooling. One camper at Bowman Lake noted "We had a lot of tree cover so we didn't even need our air conditioning on during an 85 degree day."

Water availability: Know where to access water at primitive sites. At Bowman Lake, "There was a potable water spigot a few sites over and a bathroom with showers a short walk away."

Frequently Asked Questions

What camping is available near South Plymouth, NY?

According to TheDyrt.com, South Plymouth, NY offers a wide range of camping options, with 136 campgrounds and RV parks near South Plymouth, NY and 13 free dispersed camping spots.

Which is the most popular campground near South Plymouth, NY?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near South Plymouth, NY is Bowman Lake State Park Campground with a 3.9-star rating from 8 reviews.

Where can I find free dispersed camping near South Plymouth, NY?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 13 free dispersed camping spots near South Plymouth, NY.