Best Campgrounds near Steamburg, NY

Campgrounds in the Steamburg, New York area range from developed facilities to rustic sites across Allegany State Park and nearby public lands. The region includes both Quaker Area and Red House Area campgrounds in Allegany State Park, New York's largest state park, along with options like Kinzua Lake Campgrounds directly in Steamburg. Accommodation types span tent sites, RV hookups with electric and water connections, cabin rentals, and glamping options. Most established campgrounds provide amenities such as picnic tables, fire rings, and access to drinking water, while several offer shower facilities and sanitary dump stations.

Seasonal availability varies significantly across the region, with many campgrounds operating from May through October, though some like Red House Area remain open year-round. "We go here in the fall or late summer, it's a big park with lots of hiking and history to explore," noted one visitor about Allegany State Park. Travelers should prepare for black bears in the area, as multiple campgrounds provide bear-proof storage boxes at campsites. Cell phone coverage can be limited or non-existent, particularly in the Quaker Area of Allegany State Park. Weather conditions change dramatically between seasons, with potential for snow in higher elevations during spring and fall months, while summer brings warmer temperatures ideal for swimming and water activities.

The natural setting provides numerous recreational opportunities, with hiking trails of varying difficulty levels throughout Allegany State Park. Waterfront camping receives particular attention from visitors, with options for fishing, kayaking, and swimming at Quaker Lake and Red House Lake. Several campers mentioned the privacy of wooded sites as a key attraction. According to one review, "The sites are roomier [in Cain Hollow/Quaker Area]. This trip we stayed at site 73 with our 27' camper. On the backside of the campsite is a small embankment and just on the other side of it is a creek, which the kids enjoyed playing in." Wildlife viewing opportunities include black bears, making proper food storage essential. While most campgrounds receive positive reviews for cleanliness and maintenance, some visitors noted issues with noise enforcement during quiet hours at busier campgrounds.

Best Camping Sites Near Steamburg, New York (117)

    1. Quaker Area — Allegany State Park State Park

    27 Reviews
    Steamburg, NY
    6 miles
    Website
    +1 (716) 354-2182

    "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 office/store is not located in the loop we parked in but it was an easy in and out with our 45’ motorhome and tow car."

    2. Red House Area — Allegany State Park State Park

    13 Reviews
    Salamanca, NY
    8 miles
    Website
    +1 (716) 354-9121

    "Cabins are pretty large and have some great surounding areas, like creeks right next to the cabins. Great place for family camping with tons of different activites offered around the park."

    "We've been coming to this campground since I was a kid, and love the fact that you can have the amenities of home away from home."

    3. Willow Bay Recreation Area

    10 Reviews
    Steamburg, PA
    8 miles
    Website
    +1 (814) 368-4158

    $20 - $100 / night

    "There is a central bathhouse near the oak loop. Closer to the boat ramp sites- most of which are tent ready, there are vault toilets. These sites are less than a mile from the North Country Trail."

    "Gorgeous setting on the edge of the Kinzua Reservoir. The sites are spacious and cabins are also available to rent. Staff are friendly and helpful."

    4. Tracy Ridge

    7 Reviews
    Steamburg, PA
    11 miles
    Website
    +1 (814) 368-4158

    $12 - $75 / night

    "This isn’t next to the Allegheny River but you can hike to it from here. Nice simple site to enjoy nature."

    "It was a nice campground, affordable, Access to hiking trails, I was confused by the water pumps honestly. Only slight cell service for at&t"

    5. Red Oak Campground

    7 Reviews
    Steamburg, PA
    11 miles
    Website
    +1 (814) 757-8507

    "It had a nicely level spot on a gravel drive for my 21 ft travel trailer. Part of the pull in is a bit uphill, but at the top it's perfect for the smaller trailer like mine plus my Ford Explorer. "

    6. Bova Cottages — Allegany State Park

    4 Reviews
    Salamanca, NY
    9 miles
    Website
    +1 (716) 354-9121

    $229 / night

    "Allegany State Park is nearby for hiking, snowshoeing, XC skiing, leaf peeping,etc."

    "After the last bad winter storm we had (2/2018) trees fell all over the park, including on my favorite hiking trails."

    7. Red Bridge Recreation Area - Allegheny National Forest

    21 Reviews
    Ludlow, PA
    23 miles
    Website
    +1 (814) 368-4158

    $20 - $130 / night

    "For the most part, there isn’t a bad site (although we didn’t see any of the walk up sites, and I recommend not booking a site immediately next to the bathrooms since the ones without showers are more"

    "There are paths leading down to the reservoir throughout the campground. The pit toilets and shower houses are well-located and very clean. There is firewood available for purchase on-site. "

    8. POPE HAVEN

    2 Reviews
    Steamburg, NY
    8 miles
    Website
    +1 (716) 358-4900

    $50 - $60 / night

    "The layout is great for walking and there are so many beautiful sites from the seasonal campers. Dogs are welcome so we brought our two. We will definitely come back."

    9. Kinzua Lake Campgrounds

    1 Review
    Steamburg, NY
    1 mile
    +1 (716) 354-2335

    "Be near aware and make certain you’ve put all your food away because black bears can be an issue!"

    10. Dewdrop

    9 Reviews
    Ludlow, PA
    19 miles
    Website
    +1 (814) 368-4158

    $20 - $100 / night

    "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!"

    "Some sites had large high sided fire rings which take away from the fireside relaxation of a shorter camp chair. "

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Recent Reviews near Steamburg, NY

401 Reviews of 117 Steamburg Campgrounds


  • Christopher  T.
    Aug. 30, 2025

    Evangola State Park Campground

    What a shame

    This used to be real nice but NY has let all it's park go to pot with lack of funding and no updates

  • Greg D.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 27, 2025

    Westfield-Lake Erie KOA

    Overnighter

    We only stayed for an overnighter on a long trip west. The restrooms and showers are some of the best we’ve seen during our trip. Very well maintained facilities and grounds and the staff are friendly and helpful. We were able to change our site for one that was more level without a problem. The only thing that might bother some people is the road noise. However we were able to sleep well despite it. There is also a dog “park”/fenced area.

  • DThe Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 13, 2025

    Red Bridge Recreation Area - Allegheny National Forest

    Not bad for 20 bucks

    Not bad at all for 20 bucks , spots with electricity cost more. Came on a week night without a reservation and was almost unable to get a spot , host was nice though! Quiet area

  • DThe Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 13, 2025

    Forestry Road Dispersed Campsite

    Don’t recommend

    Apple Maps brings you way far away, follow the pin and it will bring you. Way too grown in as of August . Didn’t end up staying here. May be a good spot in the fall once the grass dies. Secluded spot though

  • SThe Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 11, 2025

    Lake Erie State Park Campground

    Great overnight stop

    Stayed one night on a long drive.  Beautiful views of lake.  Amazing grassy fields right by campsites.  Full park but still quiet with good spacing between outer ring spots.

  • Donna A.
    Aug. 5, 2025

    Lake Erie State Park Campground

    Great Campground

    Just returned from staying over the weekend at this campgound with my dog and had a great time. We stayed in a non-electric site in my campervan and it was perfect. There is comfortable space between each campsite in most cases plus lots of trees for shade. Although the campground was full, it was quiet since I like to retire early. We saw lots of wildlife (black squirrels, rabbits and birds). The restroom and showers were nice, they were clean and only a short walk from my campsite. My dog was excited to get lots of walks during the time we were there. The beach was not close to our campsite but I drove there before checking out and walked the dog again. It was a rocky walk along the sand but a beautiful area with a playground. There were, however, many large dead fish along the water line. I can't wait to return to Lake Erie State Park because I enjoyed it so much!

  • S
    Aug. 2, 2025

    Beaver Meadow Family Campground

    Ridiculous pool rule

    The campgrounds are nice. The staff, friendly. Brought our RV so I didn’t see the bathrooms. We had a site that was “lake view” which was funny because it’s a pond. It was stocked so fishing was fun. They have a nice heated pool. My only real issue is the ridiculous two adult pool rule if you are with kids. We spent all day at the rodeo. We came back ready to swim after being in the sun all day. Of course my toddler fell asleep so I stayed with him at the campsite and my husband took our other two kids to the pool. They were able to swim for 15 mins before the other people who were at the pool took off. So it was just my husband and kids left. The lady working in the office came out and told them they had to get out because“there has to be two adults and one has to stay on deck”. Like, what?!? Seriously? That’s the stupidest rule I’ve ever heard. So he gets my very disappointed kids out of the pool and they are just hanging out pool side hoping for basically a stranger to come swim so they can swim. They waited nearly an hour before they got defeated and came back to the camper. Stupid rule. I’ve never seen any campground ever have that rule. If you are that worried about a solo parent taking care of their kids, hire a life guard. Or make that pool rule known prior to booking. My kids had life jackets on and my husband is CPR certified. Literally will never come here again because of this rule. Lame lame LAME.

  • Bret J.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 26, 2025

    Cherry Creek Campground and Recreation

    Needs some work but definitely worth checking out

    The campground is quiet and spacious. The facilities are in need of updates but are definitely in working order

  • LThe Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 24, 2025

    Lake Erie State Park Campground

    Well maintained with beautiful views

    This campsite is very well maintained, with breathing room between sites. It was very quiet for most of my time. Neighbors got talked to for their music being on beyond 10pm (not by me).

    There are three women’s toilet stalls and three women’s shower stalls across the path from site A04. Same amount for men. I appreciated they were individual stalls. Bathrooms and showers are just okay but clean and stocked.

    Short walk from campsite to the lake. Try to see sunset!

    Tip: you can book a solo night day of online. Otherwise it’s two night minimum. There were plenty of spots available when I stayed on a Wednesday night.


Guide to Steamburg

Camping sites near Steamburg, New York include both year-round and seasonal options within the Allegheny National Forest and surrounding public lands. The Allegany region sits at elevations ranging from 1,300 to 2,500 feet, creating distinct microclimates where overnight temperatures can drop significantly even in summer months. Many campgrounds provide bear-proof storage boxes as black bears frequent the area, particularly during summer and early fall.

What to do

Hiking trails for all levels: Red House Area features extensive trail networks. "This park is a fun place to hike and explore. Check out Thunder rocks and climb boulders the size of a house," notes Jeremy H. Most trails are well-marked with moderate difficulty ratings.

Kayaking and canoeing: The Kinzua Dam Recreation Area provides multiple access points for water activities. "We had a nice walk down to the lake itself and we were able to launch our kayaks right from the site," shares Amanda S. from Dewdrop Recreation Area.

Wildlife observation: Early mornings and evenings offer prime viewing opportunities. "We saw my FIRST bear here, will never forget this place," reports one visitor to Red Oak Campground. Bears are common, particularly in areas near food storage and picnic areas.

Stargazing: Clear nights showcase stellar views away from light pollution. A Dewdrop Recreation Area visitor notes, "A night sky that you can see the Milky Way and more stars then I remember." Most remote campsites in Allegheny National Forest provide optimal viewing conditions.

What campers like

Privacy and space: Willow Bay Recreation Area receives high marks for site design. "The sites are wide and numerous for a out of the way sight," mentions Bill G. Most sites include fire rings, picnic tables, and adequate spacing from neighbors.

Cabin accommodations: Quaker Area offers well-maintained cabin options. "The cabins are awesome all year round. The park has a lot to do in the summer but a group can still have a blast in the winter," according to Alex B. Cabins typically include wood-burning stoves and basic furnishings.

Waterfront access: Multiple campgrounds offer water proximity. "Our site was right along the water. We have sites 76,77,78. Some sites were better than others," reports Emma at Willow Bay Recreation Area. Waterfront sites often book months in advance, particularly during summer weekends.

Clean facilities: Bathroom and shower maintenance receives consistent praise. "Bathrooms were very clean and didn't smell, the showers were hot," notes a camper at Red Bridge Recreation Area. Shower facilities generally operate from May through October at most developed campgrounds.

What you should know

Bear safety requirements: Black bears frequent all camping areas. "Bears are very much a real phenomenon in this campground! The only negative part about the experience is there was no site to wash dishes," shares Katie from Dewdrop Recreation Area. Many sites require food storage in vehicles or provided bear boxes.

Limited connectivity: Cell service varies significantly. "There is no cell service so you really get to be away from all the hustle for a weekend," says Sarah K. about Dewdrop Recreation Area. Most campgrounds offer emergency phone access at ranger stations or camp host sites.

Firewood regulations: Local restrictions apply. "The park service asks you not to transport fire wood. We understand why, my problem is when you get to the park the small bundles way over priced 35$ lasted for a night," reports Bobby C. from Quaker Area.

Frequently Asked Questions

What camping is available near Steamburg, NY?

According to TheDyrt.com, Steamburg, NY offers a wide range of camping options, with 117 campgrounds and RV parks near Steamburg, NY and 10 free dispersed camping spots.

Which is the most popular campground near Steamburg, NY?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Steamburg, NY is Quaker Area — Allegany State Park State Park with a 4.6-star rating from 27 reviews.

Where can I find free dispersed camping near Steamburg, NY?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 10 free dispersed camping spots near Steamburg, NY.