The Dyrt – find campgrounds for tents, RVs, cabins, glamping and more.
Open in App

Best Dog-Friendly Camping near South Plymouth, NY

339 Reviews

Bowman Lake State Park Campground allows pets in all accommodation types including tent sites, RV spots, and cabins. The campsites feature spacious, wooded settings with gravel pads that may require leveling, and each includes a fire pit surrounded by cinder blocks for cooking. Pharsalia Woods State Forest offers several pet-friendly dispersed camping options with Round Pond, Bear Wallow Pond, and Jackson Pond providing peaceful settings for primitive camping with dogs. Most sites in Pharsalia Woods require a short hike in, though some areas like Bear Wallow Pond can be accessed via a small parking area with a clearing for tenting. The surrounding forests maintain a network of trails ideal for hiking with pets. Campsites throughout the area are typically spaced 20-30 feet apart, offering reasonable privacy despite being in somewhat open settings.

Primitive campsite options near Long Pond and Whaupaunaucau State Forest provide additional pet-friendly alternatives with varying access types. Hunts Pond State Forest features eight drive-in campsites on the north side of the pond and four scattered sites on the east end, though visitors should note the former restroom facilities and water taps have been removed. The Finger Lakes Trail passes through several state forests in the area, providing access to pet-friendly lean-to shelters at Ludlow Creek and Pharsalia Woods. These shelters are maintained by volunteers from the local Bullthistle Hikers Club and serve as excellent destinations for hikers with dogs. Most primitive sites require campers to filter water from nearby streams or ponds, and all enforce pack-in, pack-out garbage policies. Winter visitors should be aware that Bowman Lake State Park remains open for cross-country skiing and snowmobiling with pets.

Map showing campgrounds near South Plymouth, New YorkExplore the Map

Best Dog-Friendly Sites Near South Plymouth, New York (96)

Show More
Showing results 1-10 of 96 campgrounds

2025 Detourist Giveaway

Presented byToyota Trucks

Review Campgrounds. Win Prizes.

Enter to Win

South Plymouth Contest

Enter to Win

Recent Dog-Friendly Camping Photos near South Plymouth, NY

84 Photos of 96 South Plymouth Campgrounds

Dog-Friendly Camping Reviews near South Plymouth, NY

339 Reviews of 96 South Plymouth Campgrounds

  • 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.

  • Amber A.
    Jul. 31, 2016

    Hickories Park Campground

    Quaint NY/PA border town

    The park itself is pretty small but it’s in a really cute area with a lot of outdoor recreational activities. Lovely but simple views all around and rolling green hills in the distance. Campground is well-kept and relatively modern but not particularly memorable. Nice little stopover on a road trip. Lots of day use activity. Dog park is kind of annoying with all the barking and owners shouting futile commands, try to camp away from it. Ditto for train noise, stay by the river. It does what it does well, so five stars!

  • Sue C.
    Jul. 17, 2021

    Cooperstown K O A Campgrounds

    Great place

    This is our 2nd time here and may come back again. Great variety of things to do and they have a pool and Great kids area. Also have a dog park

  • Jake C.The Dyrt ADMIN User
    Jul. 14, 2023

    Nature Lover's Paradise

    Tent Camping for Hikers & Runners

    Jake from the Dyrt here!  Nature Lover's Paradise is new to the Dyrt and they have an awesome spot to share with access to a vast network of trails in upstate New York.  Check them out and make sure to share some pics of your adventure!

  • Paully B.
    Oct. 26, 2017

    Hickories Park Campground

    Serenity next to the river

    It is a very nice open area to camp in. It is a first come first serve campground. The dog park is a great addition to the park. There is always something going on. Also allows for an easy place right off Route I-86 to rest while driving across MY. Some of the best river access there is to paddle through a great small town.

  • Rachel P.
    Jul. 13, 2018

    Delta Lake State Park Campground

    Delta Lake State Park

    Delta Lake State Park sits at the foothills of the Adirondack Park, just outside Rome, New York. Pretty and well-kempt, Delta Lake is a nice option for those looking to stay close to home and within proximity to civilization. You can enjoy the great outdoors, while only being a few miles away from a restaurant or grocery store.

    The campground isn‘t the best I’ve experienced, a bit on the crowded side-similar to a woodsy suburb- but this could have been distinctive to Loop A where I stayed. I stayed in site 35 and was intermixed with all the campers and RV’s, so it got a bit noisy. Not that restful, secluded experience I typically go for, but I should have planned further in advance.

    However, what the park lacked in terms of its campground, it totally made up for in its beach, swimming and picnic areas! This place was awesome for hosting a birthday party for my niece and relaxing at the beach/ day facilities. They have plenty of picnic tables, charcoal grills, a huge beach and locker rooms. This is really a great place to spend a day with your family!

  • Deborah W.
    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.

  • Secc P.
    Jul. 24, 2020

    Bowman Lake State Park Campground

    A dump

    New York State pretty much has abandoned this park. Trees fallen down across the sites. Might be ok for a tent but that’s all.

  • Rachel Y.
    Aug. 4, 2018

    Cooperstown KOA

    Perfect little get away

    This was the first KOA I ever stayed at and I was very impressed. The bathrooms were very nice and so were the showers, which were separate from the bathrooms. The pool, along the dog park, bounce house and swing set were well taken care of. The camp site was on grass and staff made it a point to check on us and invite us to the community bonfire they were doing that night. They also had WiFi and laundry at this campground. I would stay at this campground again.

Guide to South Plymouth

Dispersed camping options near South Plymouth, New York accommodate pets at multiple locations throughout the surrounding state forests. The region's mixed hardwood forests sit at elevations between 1,200-1,800 feet with moderate summer temperatures averaging 70-80°F during peak camping season. Winter temperatures often drop below freezing, with significant snowfall making some dispersed sites inaccessible from November through April.

What to do

Fishing at multiple ponds: Pharsalia Woods State Forest contains several fishing spots including Jackson Pond and Y Pond where brook trout are stocked. "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," notes a reviewer of Jackson Pond Tent Sites.

Birdwatching at Round Pond: The unique bog ecosystem provides excellent wildlife viewing opportunities. "One amazing aspect at this site is 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," according to a review of Round Pond Pharsalia Woods Dispersed.

Hiking to waterfalls: Several creeks in the area feature scenic cascades. "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," mentions a camper at Hunts Pond State Forest.

What campers like

Private, wooded sites: Most campers appreciate the secluded nature of camping in this region. "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 we visited," notes a review of Bowman Lake State Park Campground.

Accessible primitive camping: Several locations offer easy access to dispersed sites. "This is a primitive undeveloped campsite, there is a clearing for tenting but no potable water or amenities of any kind. The site is adjacent to a small parking area and fishing access on a really beautiful pond," explains a camper at Bear Wallow Pond Dispersed Campsite.

Volunteer-maintained shelters: The Finger Lakes Trail features well-kept lean-tos. "This is a beautiful primitive hike-in campsite alongside the Ludlow Creek section of the Finger Lakes Trail in Chenango County, New York. It is located in a beautiful, unspoiled and seldom visited region of state forest, providing a wilderness type experience fairly close to several nearby villages," reports a hiker at Ludlow Creek Lean-To Campsite.

What you should know

Permits required at some sites: Certain camping areas need advance planning. "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, or email at Info.R7@dec.ny.gov; allow one week for permit to be processed," advises a reviewer of Pharsalia Y Pond.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near South Plymouth, NY?

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

What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near South Plymouth, NY?

TheDyrt.com has all 96 dog-friendly camping locations near South Plymouth, NY, with real photos and reviews from campers.

Keep Exploring