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

Best Tent Camping near Steamburg, NY

388 Reviews

State forests and public lands surrounding Steamburg, New York provide diverse tent camping opportunities ranging from established campgrounds to primitive backcountry sites. Allegany State Park offers tent campsites with amenities like drinking water, picnic tables, and showers, making it suitable for campers seeking comfort while still enjoying the outdoors. For those preferring more seclusion, Warner Road Dispersed Camping in North Harmony State Forest and Forestry Road Dispersed Campsite in nearby Pennsylvania provide primitive tent-only camping experiences. Streamside Eriegrove features walk-in tent sites accessible via short hiking trails, while Firefly Acres offers a small number of reservable tent campsites with fire rings.

Tent camping conditions vary significantly across these locations. Established campgrounds like those in Allegany State Park provide graded tent pads, nearby water sources, and maintained facilities. In contrast, dispersed camping areas typically feature uneven natural surfaces with minimal site preparation. Campers should bring all necessary water and supplies when visiting primitive tent sites, as most lack basic services. Weather considerations are important, with frequent rainfall reported at several locations. One camper noted the need to keep footwear accessible during wet conditions. Black bears are present in the region, particularly around Forestry Road Dispersed Campsite, requiring proper food storage and waste management.

The tent camping experience in this region offers notable solitude and natural beauty. According to reviews, Forestry Road Dispersed Campsite features "big open spots with established fire rings" and remains "quiet except for the distant rumble of a train passing the town down in the valley." Loleta Road Dispersed Campsite provides tent campers with sites that are "close enough to the road to feel safe but far enough away to have privacy." Many primitive tent camping areas connect to hiking trails, including a 2-mile route to Hector Falls with its 20-foot cliffs and rock formations. Tent campers should be prepared for variable conditions, including potential litter at some sites and seasonal challenges like winter ice on access roads.

Map showing campgrounds near Steamburg, New YorkExplore the Map

Best Tent Sites Near Steamburg, New York (15)

Show More
Showing results 1-10 of 15 campgrounds

2025 Detourist Giveaway

Presented byToyota Trucks

Review Campgrounds. Win Prizes.

Enter to Win

Steamburg Contest

Enter to Win

Recent Tent Camping Photos near Steamburg, NY

5 Photos of 15 Steamburg Campgrounds

Tent Camping Reviews near Steamburg, NY

388 Reviews of 15 Steamburg Campgrounds

  • Jennifer K.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 14, 2022

    Hearts Content Recreation Area

    Great quiet little campground

    Very nice quiet small wooded campground. No hookups, about 3-4 fresh water spigots, 1 dump station and dumpster. Water pressure was very low and took a while to fill tank. 26 various sized sites, some large with plenty of space for our 22 foot tow behind and truck + some for extra vehicles. Other smaller sites for tents or vans. Self serve ice $2 wood $10. Vault toilets. Fire rings and picnic table at each site. AT&T spotty 0-1 bars. Host camper. Quiet time 10pm-6am. 1 Xlarge site for groups.

  • Bill G.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 18, 2020

    Hearts Content Recreation Area

    Simple and serene

    Hearts Content is best described as a way station. The sites are nestled within a grove of immense pines. Some are large enough for large RV’s . There are no showers. Bathrooms are vault toilets. Two of the sites include Adirondack type shelters. A picnic table and fire ring are within each site. I used this site as a staging area to explore Allegheny National Forest for a week. Used a camp shower. The closest town is Warren, PA. Firewood is available at the camp host site. Across the road is an hiking area with picnic tables and the like.

  • Bill G.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 26, 2020

    Willow Bay Recreation Area

    Quiet nights, Easy days

    Willow bay campground is run by the National Forest Service. The reservable lots are wide and numerous for a out of the way sight. The campground services tent sites, RV sites as well as small cabins with electricity. 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. Other, smaller trails are here as well. The New York State lone is less than five miles away- providing access to Allegheny State Park. The closest town of note is Bradford, which is about 18 miles away. It has all you need to get your necessities. The cabins were small- one twin bed and a set of single bunks. You need to bring your own sheets. There is a small heater imbedded in the wall. It keeps things from getting too cold, as it was when I was there. Fire ring and picnic table provided. Charcoal grill as well. The only problem I had was with the wildlife. A mouse or something kep crawling in the space between the roof and ceiling. There is no cel service here, and you shouldn’t need it either. Places to visit are too numerous to mention, but I will give a shout out to the zippo case museum, absolutely a must.

  • 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.

  • Danielle S.
    Apr. 16, 2019

    Minister Creek Campground

    Small, rustic, gorgeous

    We stayed here July 2018 and found a quiet campsite by the creek. It had been quite rainy and some of the sites were wet and muddy, but for $12, I couldn't complain. While there is an outhouse, it is simply a couple of toilets (bring a lantern or wear a headlamp). Arrive early to get a prime spot, and take advantage of the hiking trails (a bug net for your head will help in the summer as the gnats and deer flies are distracting). Looking forward to staying again.

  • Bill G.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 10, 2018

    Hearts Content Recreation Area

    Minimal offering for maximum relaxing

    This campground is within Allegheny National Forest near the town of Warren and Tidouette. The sites are few but spacious. Good for car camping, though I’m sure a smaller RVcould get by. Each site has a fire ring. Two sites have Adirondack type shelters. The night sky is promising but light pollution from Warren inhibits a truly awesome night sky. There is a vault toilet. No showers. No water either. Bring what you need! The closest town is about 30 minutes away. Lots of critter life. My dogs loved it here. We spent all days exploring the nearby trails and creeks. Price was cheap. No frills but a quiet respite for sure.

  • D
    Oct. 21, 2021

    Kelly Pines Campground

    Off the grid, lots to explore!

    This equestrian campground also has 2 non-equestrian sites, one which is reservable. There is no potable water but there is a river and a non-potable pump. There is a permanent toilet usually stocked with TP. Carry out all garbage. No electrical hookups.

    Traditional camp sites have space for multiple tents and 2 cars. Each has a picnic table and a fire pit with moveable cooking surface. We’ve never had an issue with bears or other wildlife where food and trash are concerned but we store in the cars at night to be safe. The area is usually damp so don’t count in being able to find much dry wood - we stop before driving in for wood.

    Trails galore! Mushrooms everywhere! Quiet and no cellular to distract.

  • Travis S.
    Jun. 30, 2020

    Dewdrop

    Spacious

    Campsite layouts are non traditional with large driveways and often times the tables and fire rings are below the driveway.  With this layout you get more privacy with very few sites having and overlapping with other sites. Pitching a tent was easy on the driveway and fairly level. Some sites had large high sided fire rings which take away from the fireside relaxation of a shorter camp chair. 

    Bathrooms and shower house was below the standards of many of PA State Parks which we regard as the benchmark for campgrounds at reasonable prices. 

    Boating and biking all accessible from the grounds. No need to drive to the trails at Jakes Rocks.

  • D
    Aug. 21, 2023

    Minister Creek Campground

    Beautiful, peaceful

    Established campground on north side has six sites with picnic tables and fire rings and costs $12/night. You can park and camp for free across the street but I’m not sure you’d want to sleep in your car/camper in the parking lot. There are a number of sites on the side of the road within 2-3 miles in either direction if you want to sleep in your van etc. I parked on the free side and set up a tent about 100 yards in. Lots of beautiful sites on the creek. I walked to the paid side for water and vault toilet. Arrived on a Friday in August and had no trouble grabbing a prime site.

    Absolutely no cell signal. Drive about 7-10 miles in either direction to pick up a signal. Or hike to the Outlook for a very faint signal. Warren, PA is a really nice little town about 30 minutes drive and I went there for a meal and a brewery visit

Guide to Steamburg

Tent campsites near Steamburg, New York offer a range of primitive to semi-developed sites throughout the Allegheny region. The area sits within the Allegheny Plateau at elevations ranging from 1,300 to 2,000 feet, creating varied terrain for campers across state forests in both New York and Pennsylvania. Seasonal conditions change dramatically, with spring bringing muddy access roads that can challenge vehicles without adequate clearance.

What to do

Hiking to waterfalls: North of Steamburg, a 2-mile trail leads to Hector Falls, where campers encounter impressive rock formations. "The falls are really cool to look at, and has some cool rock formations. Be careful the cliffs are about a 20 ft straight drop," notes a Forestry Road Dispersed Campsite reviewer.

Mountain biking: Several state forests feature maintained trails suitable for off-road cycling. "Firefly Acres is a great spot to setup camp with tons of activities nearby including trails for hiking & mountain biking," according to a Firefly Acres visitor.

Winter recreation: When temperatures drop, many areas remain accessible for cold-weather activities. A camper at Bova Cottages shares: "Open all year. Allegany State Park is nearby for hiking, snowshoeing, XC skiing, leaf peeping, etc."

What campers like

Seclusion without isolation: Campers appreciate sites that balance privacy with accessibility. "This one was close enough to the road to feel safe but far enough away to have privacy," notes a visitor to Loleta Road Dispersed Campsite.

Established fire rings: Many primitive sites come with basic amenities. One camper describes Warner Road Dispersed Camping: "The site was fine, fire pit, primitive spot so no services. We arrived late at night so couldn't see so well but stopped in a clearing on the road."

Wildlife viewing: Summer evenings bring natural light shows. A reviewer at Private Island mentions: "When it was dark (pitch black) you could see all the fireflies. To be honest that was like a show in itself and made it also worth every penny of how beautiful it was."

What you should know

Seasonal access challenges: Winter camping requires extra preparation. "It was freezing, quite literally, with nights in the low teens. The melting and refreezing had made the roads and surrounding trails a little slippery so I would be cautious if traveling alone," warns a Forestry Road Dispersed Campsite camper.

Wildlife safety: Bears frequent several camping areas. A camper at Bova Cottages advises: "Do not leave food out. The bears are very ambitious."

Cellular connectivity: Service varies significantly. One camper reports: "I managed to get an average of 3-4 bars of 5g every day" while noting that "there is spotty cell service through the forest, usually you can walk around for a couple minutes and find some."

Site maintenance: Some areas suffer from litter problems. A visitor to Warner Road notes: "Kind of a gross site, the previous people who stayed at our site were messy and left litter, but it served its purpose as a free place to sleep along a longer trip."

Tips for camping with families

Cabin alternatives: Families with young children might prefer more structured accommodations. "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," recalls an Allegany State Park visitor.

Thunder Rocks exploration: This unique geological formation entertains children of all ages. "Do not miss the thunder rocks, they're really, really enjoyable," recommends a longtime visitor to Allegany.

Tick prevention: Prepare for insect encounters, especially with children. A camper warns: "Bring tick/bug spray. Found several on my boys and me."

Tips from RVers

Finding level spots: Several forest roads accommodate larger vehicles. "I have a 25 foot travel trailer. I found numerous spots on SF-160," notes a Warner Road visitor who stayed multiple weeks.

Weather preparation: The region receives significant rainfall year-round. An RVer advises: "It rains a lot so keep your slip-ons near the door."

Supply runs: Stock up before setting up camp. "Howe's ace hardware is about 10 miles away with a dollar general across the street," shares an experienced camper describing local resupply options.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Steamburg, NY?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Steamburg, NY is Bova Cottages — Allegany State Park with a 5-star rating from 4 reviews.

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

TheDyrt.com has all 15 tent camping locations near Steamburg, NY, with real photos and reviews from campers.

Keep Exploring