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Best Tent Camping near South Wales, NY

546 Reviews

Several tent campgrounds operate within short driving distance of South Wales, New York, offering varied experiences for tent campers seeking outdoor recreation. Dream Lake Campground provides dedicated tent sites with amenities including drinking water, picnic tables, and fire rings. Streamside Eriegrove offers a more primitive tent camping experience with walk-in sites beside water features but fewer amenities.

Most tent sites in the South Wales region feature level ground with mixed terrain of grass, dirt, or gravel surfaces. Dream Lake Campground maintains developed tent sites with access to showers and toilets, while more primitive options like Streamside Eriegrove provide basic facilities with vault toilets only. Fire regulations vary by location, with most campgrounds permitting campfires in designated rings when fire danger is low. Campers should verify current restrictions, especially during summer dry periods. Several campgrounds remain open from May through October, with Dream Lake's season running specifically from May 1 to October 25.

Tent campers generally experience quieter surroundings than at RV-focused facilities, particularly at walk-in sites that create natural separation from neighboring campers. The region offers access to hiking trails, fishing opportunities, and wildlife viewing. Reviews indicate a range of experiences at local campgrounds. According to one visitor at Streamside Eriegrove, the location will "become your go-to campsite," highlighting its appeal for tent campers seeking simplicity. Dream Lake receives mixed reviews regarding management style, with some visitors noting strict rule enforcement. Water access points at certain sites provide additional recreational opportunities for tent campers seeking extended outdoor experiences near South Wales.

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Best Tent Sites Near South Wales, New York (10)

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Recent Tent Camping Photos near South Wales, NY

2 Photos of 10 South Wales Campgrounds

Tent Camping Reviews near South Wales, NY

546 Reviews of 10 South Wales Campgrounds

  • Mary S.
    Sep. 24, 2018

    Quaker Area — Allegany State Park State Park

    This is a great vacation area.....spend a week!

    Did you know this is NY's largest state campground? We stopped here on a rainy night, but what we saw convinced me we need to return. I know this campground is a vacation destination for families in western NY.

    Cain Hollow is in the Quaker Run area which includes Quaker Lake. There is another campground in the Red House Area, and there are also lots of cabins. This is definitely a 4 seasons park - hiking, biking, swimming, fishing, snowmobiling, cross country skiing....

    I was able to take photos of a few sites the next morning. You can see that sites are private and you're definitely in the woods. There are food storage boxes at all campsites because you're in bear country.

  • Jess W.
    Aug. 19, 2018

    Letchworth State Park Campground

    Amazing state park, crappy campground

    The state park is breathtaking. The campground is horrendous. The restrooms were disgusting. The site barely fit our one tent (8man Coleman) even though it was advertised as a two tent site. The camp fire ring had no solid base- it just sat on the grass and fires would not stay lit. The quiet hours were not enforced. Yelling and loud music kept us up until ridiculous hours. I would not rate this as family friendly.

  • Laura M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Dec. 28, 2023

    Evangola State Park Campground

    Great campground

    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. 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.

  • Laura M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Dec. 28, 2023

    Evangola State Park Campground

    Great campground

     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. 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.

  • Randall K.
    Aug. 25, 2023

    Genesee Country Campground

    Great spot - esp for tents!

    What a great place this was!

    Everyone was very nice and bathrooms were so clean! To top it off the sites for tents are amazing - so private and pretty. In fact it’s so private we were able to set up our own portable toilet and have complete privacy.

    Nice little store too! Overall this place was great and we’d stay here again in a heartbeat. Very easy place to spend the night.

    Also they have golfing here and tent areas back up to the 9th hole (but still separated so you don’t feel like you are right on top of it) so you can easily knock around there and do a little golfing too!

  • Danielle S.
    Oct. 11, 2020

    Four Mile Creek State Park Campground

    Field Camping

    It's not all bad! It took a while to find our site in the dark as site markers are small. The sites are decent size, the bathrooms are clean but spiders will hang out. Showers are hot. Sites are available with electric and there is an RV dump station if you have one. There are a lot of RVs at this campground, a large playground, and a field with soccer goals (no net). Niagara Falls is 15 or so miles away, and Buffalo NY is a short drive. The bathroom building has an outdoor sink with heated water, and this is also where the trash bins are.  Firewood is available in front of many nearby homes (a couple of miles, max,and $4-5 a bundle). The fire pits are either low or leaning, so we found a camp stove to be essential. It can get quite windy, we saw a tent buckle and our stakes were pulled up from the wind. It can get loud at night and it doesn't seem as if quiet hours are enforced. I'd stay again but only if a more private campground was unavailable.

  • Michael B.
    Sep. 3, 2020

    Stony Brook State Park Campground

    Beautiful park. Too bad we missed the pool.

    Had a great time at Stony Brook State Park this week! The campground side doesn't open until around 11 we were told, and we reached at 8am, so we started at the North (day-use) side, parked there, hiked, ate, and eventually drove back to the other side, checked in, and set up camp. 😁 It was a very nice time. Due to the COVID-19 regulations, masks need to be worn in the bathhouse (except when brushing teeth or showering). Was a good, quiet, fun time, with a few other families nearby. The only negatives: *According to their website, the natural pool would be open the day we went. It was not. ☹️ *No alcohol permitted in the whole campgrounds. Fine for us, but annoying for many. From the trash in the bathhouse, looks like some were anyways. *No "camp store" - so if you forgot an essential item, you've got to go out from the park. Positive part: town is only 8 minutes away via car. Also, we got GREAT and easy burning from the people selling wood for $5/bundle just outside the campground entrance.

    All in all, a GREAT time! We all enjoyed it!

  • Leah L.
    Aug. 2, 2020

    Golden Hill State Park Campground

    Quiet Campground Over Lake Ontario

    We camped at Golden Hill over the weekend of July 24-26, 2020. Due to COVID, advance reservations are required to book a spot at any NY state campground. We had site 47 in loop C, which was across the road from the lake view sites. I recommend sites 40-45 for lake-front views. Loops A and B were more crowded and more suitable to RV trailers and rigs (we were camping in a pop-up camper). Site 47 was large and had a few trees. The campfire ring was right against the pad, which made it difficult to position our pop-up so that it was away from the fire ring. 

    Things to consider: There are 2 bathrooms in the campground, one near the A-B loops and one near the entrance. It was quite a hike in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom from our site. Some sites in the A-B loops are right next to each other, and we preferred the space for the sites in the C loop. 

    Wonderful things: The views are spectacular, particularly at sunset. The campground was quiet at night. The Niagara Wine trail is close to this campground, and Niagara Falls is about a 50 minute drive away. We hiked Devil's Hole and Whirlpool State Parks on this camping trip. The showers in the bathrooms were phenomenal - very clean with hot water and a private dressing area next to the shower. Showers were ADA compliant and had shower seats.

  • Michael M.
    Jun. 23, 2020

    Letchworth State Park Campground

    Beautiful Park

    So Letchworth State Park is beautiful. It's also tremendous, 18 miles long covering the east and west side of the Geneseo River. There is over 100 miles of trails intersecting the park. The campground itself is made up of loops with only electrical hookups , no water or sewer connections , just water spiquets positioned throughout the loop and 1common bathroom in each loop. There is no wifi in any of the camping areas so if you are dependant on it for any reason this is not the place for you. Only at certain points in the park will you get a signal

Guide to South Wales

Tent campsites near South Wales, New York range from primitive sites with minimal amenities to full-service campgrounds with cabin options. The region experiences average summer temperatures between 75-85°F during peak camping season, with evening temperatures dropping to 50-65°F. Autumn brings vibrant foliage by mid-October, creating distinct seasonal camping experiences as many campgrounds transition to winter closure.

What to do

Hiking through thunder rocks: At Bova Cottages — Allegany State Park, trails offer unique geological formations. "Do not miss the thunder rocks, they're really, really enjoyable," notes Emily S., highlighting one of the park's distinctive natural features.

Mountain biking on local trails: Firefly Acres provides access to numerous trails suitable for various skill levels. Jake C. mentions it's "a great spot to setup camp with tons of activities nearby including trails for hiking & mountain biking."

Seasonal outdoor activities: Winter camping options exist for those prepared for cold weather. Allegany State Park offers year-round cabins that serve as bases for seasonal recreation. According to Harry H., "Cabins feel rustic but are new (2014?) and modern... Allegany State Park is nearby for hiking, snowshoeing, XC skiing, leaf peeping, etc."

What campers like

Quiet riverside camping: Riverside Park Campground offers peaceful waterfront sites. Jesse K. describes it as "Private. Quiet. River. Cathy was great. Totally laid back, super helpful. The grounds were well kept. We had a full hookup site. Exceeded expectations."

Family-oriented atmosphere: Weekend programming at Dream Lake Campground appeals to multigenerational groups. Robyn M. shares, "I love this campground very family friendly lots of activities been going here 6 years now and never have had a bad time."

Cabin convenience: For campers seeking more amenities than traditional tent sites, several locations offer cabin options. Nick O. notes about Dream Lake Campground: "Nice friendly environment, clean facilities. Lots to do for kids and adults. Weekend activities. The snack house food is great, if you don't feel like cooking they offer a nice menu almost anyone would love."

What you should know

Weather impacts: Seasonal storms can affect trail conditions. Danielle S. reports about Allegany State Park: "After the last bad winter storm we had (2/2018) trees fell all over the park, including on my favorite hiking trails... it's going to be a while to make these trails relaxing and enjoyable again."

Wildlife awareness: Bear activity requires proper food storage at several campgrounds. Kate W. cautions: "Do not leave food out. The bears are very ambitious."

Rule enforcement varies: Management styles differ significantly between campgrounds. Some enforce regulations strictly while others maintain a more relaxed approach. Always verify current policies before arrival, especially regarding alcohol, pets, and quiet hours.

Tips for camping with families

Cabin options for mixed comfort levels: Cabins provide transitional camping experiences for families with young children or elderly members. "Our family of 6 fit comfortably in one cabin when we were all small. There's beaches, guided nature trails, biking, hiking. Basically, Allegany has it all," explains Emily S.

Food service alternatives: Dream Lake Campground offers prepared food options when cooking becomes challenging. Nick O. mentions, "The snack house food is great, if you don't feel like cooking they offer a nice menu almost anyone would love."

Water access considerations: Several campgrounds feature water activities suitable for different age groups. Sites with beach access typically offer gentler water entry points than riverfront locations, making them more appropriate for younger children.

Tips from RVers

Hookup availability: Full-service sites with water, electric, and sewer connections are limited in the immediate South Wales area. Jesse K. noted at Riverside Park Campground: "We had a full hookup site. Exceeded expectations."

Seasonal access limitations: Most campgrounds in the region operate seasonally, with Breezy Point Campground specifically open from May 1 to October 15. Year-round options are limited, with Allegany State Park cabins being one notable exception.

Site leveling requirements: Many tent campsites near South Wales, New York require minimal site preparation, while RV sites often need leveling equipment. Terrain varies from riverside locations to more wooded settings with potentially uneven ground.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near South Wales, NY?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near South Wales, NY is Dream Lake Campground with a 3.7-star rating from 3 reviews.

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

TheDyrt.com has all 10 tent camping locations near South Wales, NY, with real photos and reviews from campers.

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