Dog-Friendly Camping near Sprakers, NY

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    Fort Plain Lock 15 on Empire Trail allows tent and RV camping at its drive-in sites, with free primitive camping in a parking lot area directly on the Mohawk River. The designated area offers pit toilets, a dumpster, and potable water available from a tap on the building side as you enter. Crystal Grove Diamond Mine & Campground and St. Johnsville Campsite and Marina both welcome pets at their established campsites with fire rings and picnic tables. Royal Mountain Campsites provides large sites with 50-amp electrical hookups for RVs, and the campground maintains clean bathhouses despite being fairly full during peak season. Campers regularly note the parking area at Fort Plain Lock 15 is large but rocky and uneven, making it better suited for self-contained vehicles or tent camping in the grassy picnic area.

    Camping with pets along the New York canal system provides unique opportunities for wildlife viewing and fishing, with many sites positioned directly on waterways. The Canal Corporation designates specific spots for tent and van camping with stays limited to a maximum of 48 hours. Campers must scan QR codes at entrances and complete brief surveys upon arrival. Most locations offer good Verizon cell service coverage. Noise from nearby highways and freight trains is common at waterfront locations like St. Johnsville Marina, where trains pass throughout the night. Summer visitors can coordinate stays with concert series events at some waterfront campgrounds. Sites bordering creeks typically attract more mosquitoes and occasional wildlife visitors, so securing food in vehicles is recommended, especially at Caroga Lake Campground where raccoons frequently visit campsites.

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    Best Dog-Friendly Campgrounds near Sprakers (94)

      1. Fort Plain Lock 15 on Empire Trail

      4.8(5)6mi from SprakersRVs, Tents

      "Continue driving past the original coordinates until you reach the dirt parking lot on the right. You’ll see signs that say “No Vehicles Past This Point” — those apply only to the grassy picnic area."

      "It offers sounds of the highway and freight trains going by, my wife and I love it. If you need quiet, keep on moving. There are grills in the grassy area for tent camping, also a potable water tap."

      2. Glimmerglass State Park Campground

      4.7(21)19mi from Sprakers47 sitesRVs, Tents, Cabins, Glamping

      "Best of all, you can bring your pets!"

      "It is pet friendly. We stayed with our 3 small children. Enjoyed bike riding through the park. water was beautiful. Lots of waterfront access."

      from $14 - $26 / night

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      3. DevilDoc Campsites

      4.9(14)18mi from Sprakers2 sitesRVs, Tents, Cabins, Glamping

      "My buddy and I were looking for a campsite for a quick overnight stay before a bike trip around the Adirondacks, and this spot was a perfect fit."

      "He lives on a sprawling 25-acre property near the town of Gloversville at the foothills of the Adirondack Mountains."

      from $15 - $25 / night

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      4. Crystal Grove Diamond Mine & Campground

      4.8(5)13mi from SprakersRVs, Tents, Cabins

      "Along with staying at this peaceful wooded campground, one can “mine” Herkimer Diamond quartz crystals adjacent to the campground via a bridge over the stream. I enjoyed a site next to the stream."

      "A fine campground with it's own Herkimer Diamond Mine walking distance (or you can drive up your vehicle) to the mining area. A fairly small, nicely wooded campground."

      5. Royal Mountain Campsites

      5.0(3)11mi from SprakersRVs, Tents, Cabins

      "The ice cream shop at the entrance was a huge bonus. We both ordered a small and it was near enough to consider a full meal! A very pleasant stay!"

      "Plenty to see nearby or just stay in. Truly loved camping here and will go back if the option ever presents itself again."

      6. St. Johnsville Campsite and Marina

      4.7(3)11mi from SprakersRVs, Tents

      "A train track is close by so it can be kind of noisy."

      "Only drawback is steady stream of trains going by around the clock. I didn’t mind by my wife didn’t sleep well."

      7. Caroga Lake Campground

      4.0(6)16mi from Sprakers101 sitesRVs, Tents, Cabins, Glamping

      "The campsite connects to the beach area and there is boat rental, but no pets allowed in the beach area. For us, a drawback was a lack of any hikes connecting to the campsite."

      "This site also is bordered by a small stream so expect mosquitoes and the occasional visit from wildlife (we had raccoons at our site each night, so kept food in the car)."

      from $20 / night

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      8. Montgomery County St. Johnsville Campsite and Marina City Park

      4.0(1)10mi from SprakersRVs

      9. E16 Canal Lock

      5.0(1)12mi from SprakersTents

      "Upon arrival, campers must scan the QR code at the entrance and complete a brief survey. RVs and travel trailers are not permitted. The Verizon signal is good in the area."

      10. Hide-A-Way Campsites

      4.5(2)14mi from SprakersRVs, Tents

      from $22 - $32 / night

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    Dog-Friendly Camping Reviews near Sprakers, NY

    344 Reviews of 94 Sprakers 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.

    • 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

    • 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.

    • B
      Oct. 18, 2018

      Luzerne Campground

      Defenitly in the woods!

      The only campground in all of New York that acquires to house back riders. There are campsites that also come with stalls for your horse!

    • Philip D.
      Oct. 24, 2021

      DevilDoc Campsites

      Awesome Primitive Spot on Private Land

      My buddy and I were looking for a campsite for a quick overnight stay before a bike trip around the Adirondacks, and this spot was a perfect fit. Coming in late after driving all day, we unfortunately didn’t get to meet Rich in person. He did however give us good directions to navigate the narrow driving path in the dark to reach the pond camping area, and even had a large two room tent already set up that we were able to use - a convenient and kind gesture! The old school bus was a fun perk to check out in the morning as well. Most state ran parks in New York close up before the middle of October, and this is a great option for an off season camping spot in the area. Thanks Rich!

    • B
      May. 2, 2022

      Adventure Bound Camping Resort at Deer Run

      Easy and well taken care of

      This was my very first trip in an rv so I was a little nervous but overall everything went very smoothly. All of the sites are pull through so no worries about backing in. They are pretty close together but we went so early in the season we didn’t have anyone on either side of us - in fact I think we were the only people there that weren’t seasonal. We didn’t have a ton of interactions with the other campers beyond a smile and nod but no one was outright unfriendly. At the office/store the employees were very nice and helpful. The public bathrooms were very clean but the toilets didn’t flush very well in the 2 different bathrooms we went to. The pools looked nice but they weren’t open yet because it was still cold. There was a nice little dog park fenced in area for my dog to run around in. The kids/teens were typical kids/teens and did get a little rowdy/noisy but it wasn’t anything excessive and quiet hours seemed to be well respected. Overall I’d stay again.

    • r
      Jul. 31, 2018

      Herkimer Diamond Mine KOA

      great place to camp

      Clean ...clean bathrooms ...large sites lots of fun activities for the kids fishing and tubing on the creek...well stocked store reasonable prices...pool is clean well maintained...pet friendly...enclosed play area for pets...nice playground for the kids....a really nice place to camp

    • Carrie J.
      Sep. 30, 2016

      Glimmerglass State Park Campground

      Beach camping!

      Awesome beach camping experience. It's a beautiful campground and the campsites are pretty secluded. Best of all, you can bring your pets!

    • n
      Jul. 10, 2018

      Moreau Lake State Park Campground

      Great park!

      Nicely treed sites and cabins with a pretty lake. Hiking, biking, swimming, boat/canoe/paddleboard rentals. No hookups but does have dump station. Pets allowed. We really like it here


    Guide to Sprakers

    Campgrounds near Sprakers, New York offer easy access to the Mohawk Valley's recreational opportunities. The area sits at approximately 400 feet elevation with a moderate northeastern climate featuring warm summers and cold winters. Fall camping is particularly popular, with temperatures averaging 45-65°F in September and October when foliage transforms the landscape but campgrounds remain less crowded than summer months.

    What to do

    Herkimer diamond mining: Crystal Grove Diamond Mine & Campground provides a unique experience where campers can mine their own Herkimer quartz crystals. "Along with staying at this peaceful wooded campground, one can 'mine' Herkimer Diamond quartz crystals adjacent to the campground via a bridge over the stream," notes Denise D., who enjoyed a streamside site.

    Hiking nearby trails: The area surrounding DevilDoc Campsites offers excellent trail access. "Hiking is also available directly from the campgrounds and connects to nearby trails, leading wherever your heart desires, from treks to the lakes nearby to one that even goes all through the Adirondacks," says Ellis L.

    Water recreation: The waterways near Sprakers provide fishing and swimming opportunities. At Glimmerglass State Park Campground, "The lake is pristine and wonderful to swim in. Nice beach. Also a place for showers and a bathroom and small place for food and extras things you might need for camping," according to Patti M.

    What campers like

    Spacious campsites: Many campgrounds in the area offer larger-than-average sites. At Royal Mountain Campsites, Brittany V. reports, "Site was HUGE! Website stated sites were 30Amp so very happy to have found 50Amp upon arrival! We paid for wood and the owner drove it to our site and gave us half a tree for $10!"

    Night sky viewing: The rural location means less light pollution for stargazing. "We have also had some great star viewing here!" mentions Leah B. about Glimmerglass State Park Campground.

    Wildlife observation: Campers frequently report wildlife sightings. Ellis L. at DevilDoc Campsites shares, "Daisy and I were the only ones there...I could envision how perfect it would still be even if the campgrounds had been fully booked out. There's enough space for everyone to feel some semblance of privacy."

    What you should know

    Weather considerations: The region experiences seasonal temperature variations. Mornings can be cool even in summer, with temperature drops at night. Pack accordingly with layers.

    Reservation requirements: Most established campgrounds require reservations, especially during peak season. Some permit-free camping locations like Fort Plain Lock 15 on Empire Trail operate differently. "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," explains Mona M.

    Camping surfaces: Terrain varies significantly between sites. Pete V. notes about Fort Plain Lock 15, "This was a quiet overnight stay, just as the other reviewers say, a gravel parking lot that is easy to find a level spot in. This is on the river with a nice view."

    Insect preparation: Mosquitoes are common in wooded and waterfront areas. Danielle S. warns about Caroga Lake Campground, "This site also is bordered by a small stream so expect mosquitoes and the occasional visit from wildlife."

    Tips for camping with families

    Beach access for children: Families appreciate the swimming areas at several locations. Brian H. says of Glimmerglass, "Great for families, the parking lots is huge, there's easy hiking on the grounds, and it's close to cooperstown- visit the baseball hall of fame!"

    Kid-friendly campgrounds: Some campgrounds specifically cater to families with children. "Great camp ground for kids with bikes :) nice sized sites. Can get a bit buggy so bring spray," advises Kerry H. about Crystal Grove Diamond Mine & Campground.

    Entertainment options: Summer concert series at some locations provide family entertainment. Juanita E. recommends, "Beautiful riverside spot with Monday night summer concerts" at St. Johnsville Campsite and Marina.

    Tips from RVers

    RV site selection: When choosing an RV site, consider levelness and access. Jackie M. describes Hide-A-Way Campsites as having a "Gravel unlevel pad full hookups."

    Hookup availability: Research what hookups are available at each campground. Heather E. notes about Glimmerglass State Park Campground, "Electricity and water available at or near each campsite."

    Pet friendly camping near Sprakers, New York: For those traveling with animals, several options welcome pets. "Awesome beach camping experience. It's a beautiful campground and the campsites are pretty secluded. Best of all, you can bring your pets!" says Carrie J. about Glimmerglass State Park Campground.

    Frequently Asked Questions

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

    According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Sprakers, NY is Fort Plain Lock 15 on Empire Trail with a 4.8-star rating from 5 reviews.

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

    TheDyrt.com has all 94 dog-friendly camping locations near Sprakers, NY, with real photos and reviews from campers.