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Best Tent Camping near Wales Center, NY

497 Reviews

State parks and public lands surrounding Wales Center, New York offer several tent camping options within a short drive. Dream Lake Campground in Warsaw provides dedicated tent campsites from May 1 to October 25, with amenities including drinking water, fire rings, and picnic tables. Streamside Eriegrove offers more primitive tent camping with walk-in sites that provide a more secluded backcountry experience. Allegany State Park, located about 45 miles southwest of Wales Center, features extensive tent camping areas with trail access and natural surroundings. Firefly Acres, though limited with only three tent sites, provides both drive-in and walk-in tent camping options.

Most tent campgrounds in the region feature level dirt or gravel pads with varying degrees of privacy between sites. Dream Lake offers more developed facilities with showers, toilets, and drinking water available for tent campers. In contrast, Streamside Eriegrove provides a more primitive tent camping experience with vault toilets but no drinking water or shower facilities. Campers should plan accordingly and bring sufficient water supplies when visiting more remote sites. Fire regulations vary by location and season, with most campgrounds permitting campfires in designated rings when no fire bans are in effect. Sites typically include picnic tables, and many allow pets with proper restraint.

According to reviews, Firefly Acres provides tent campers with excellent access to hiking and mountain biking trails. One camper noted that the area offers numerous recreational activities directly from the campsite. At Holiday Hill Campground (also known as Tamarack Campground), tent sites provide convenient access to Reynolds Gully and Johnson Hill trails, with Hemlock and Canadice Lakes nearby. Visitors to Allegany State Park should be aware of wildlife considerations, as one camper reported that "bears are very ambitious" and food storage precautions are essential. For tent campers seeking more solitude, choosing sites away from main camping areas can provide a quieter backcountry tent camping experience, particularly during busy summer weekends when family activities may create more noise at developed campgrounds.

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Best Tent Sites Near Wales Center, New York (8)

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Recent Tent Camping Photos near Wales Center, NY

2 Photos of 8 Wales Center Campgrounds

Tent Camping Reviews near Wales Center, NY

497 Reviews of 8 Wales Center Campgrounds

  • 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

  • Erin H.
    Sep. 14, 2020

    HTR Niagara Campground

    Covid update on one of my favorites

    Once again, the Branches of Niagara comes through stunningly. Even in the midst of the lockdowns and augmented restrictions, TBON went above and beyond to be sure we had the safest and most enjoyable time we could during our stay.

    Bathrooms, as usual, were pristine, with regular visits from the staff to disinfect and make sure campers were satisfied. This is a campground of several lakeside cabins and mostly RVs, so they were also seldom in use, making them even more accommodating for us during this time of distancing. They notified us in advance that they were still open and what was functional under the strict and ever changing NY requirements. Note: as of Summer 2020, masks were required to enter the store and check in areas, but not required elsewhere. Kids activities were augmented to allow for distancing and remain completely outdoors.

    We got site 10, which was excellent both for proximity to everything, hookups, privacy, space and views. This particular site had ample, mowed and cleared room behind the spacious site as well where you can set up your hammocks and relax in the wooded shade. Directly in front of the site is a clearing which allows a view to the pool and pond-side of the campground. It was quiet and clean.

    Stef is always friendly, and the camp store rents a number of items to add to the fun - paddle boats, kayaks, 4 seater bike surreys, peddle carts, and other fun things. Zip lines were both still open. Activities were updated to reflect safety during C-19.

    Beautiful, peaceful, spacious campground with so many hidden gems. The lake is pretty and the campground’s access from the Grand Island side of Buffalo to Niagara Falls is very convenient, yet away from the loud commotion and traffic. We highly recommend!

Guide to Wales Center

Tent campsites near Wales Center, New York provide opportunities for seasonal camping with varied terrain and wildlife. The region experiences distinct weather patterns with cold winters and moderate summers, requiring proper preparation for overnight stays. Most campgrounds in the area close by late October and reopen in spring, with peak season running from Memorial Day through Labor Day.

What to do

Trail exploration: Bova Cottages at Allegany State Park offers numerous cleared trails for hiking. According to one visitor, "The trail has been cleared since this storm and is a very enjoyable hike. Kudos to ASP staff for trail maintenance!"

Lake activities: Holiday Hill Campground provides convenient access to nearby waterways. A camper notes, "Lots of trails, and Hemlock and Canadice Lake so close by. Mostly known for Reynolds Gully, and Johnson Hill trails!"

Winter camping: For cold weather enthusiasts, tent camping options remain available during colder months at select locations. The Jonestead specializes in cold weather camping in the Finger Lakes region, with drinking water, fire rings, and vault toilets accessible to winter campers.

What campers like

Clean facilities: Dream Lake Campground receives positive reviews for its maintenance standards. One visitor mentioned, "Nice friendly environment, clean facilities. Lots to do for kids and adults. Weekend activities."

Food options: Some campsites offer convenient dining alternatives for when cooking at camp feels too demanding. A camper at Dream Lake noted, "The snack house food is great, if you don't feel like cooking they offer a nice menu almost anyone would love."

Consistent connectivity: For those needing to stay connected while camping, cell service varies by location. At Holiday Hill, one camper reported, "Verizon reception is consistent at 3 bars," making it suitable for those who need to maintain communication access.

What you should know

Wildlife precautions: Food storage protocols are necessary at certain campgrounds. Though specific guidelines vary by location, proper storage containers are recommended.

Seasonal considerations: Most tent camping areas have limited seasons, with many closing by mid-October. Streamside Eriegrove provides primitive camping with one visitor simply stating it "Will become your go to campsite!"

Reservation requirements: Booking processes vary by campground. A Holiday Hill camper noted, "Online booking was seamless," making advance planning straightforward during busy periods.

Tips for camping with families

Activity planning: Bova Cottages — Allegany State Park offers numerous family-friendly options. One repeat visitor shared, "It's really an amazing place for a family trip since there are cabins! Our family of 6 fit comfortably in one cabin when we were all small. There's beaches, guided nature trails, biking, hiking."

Site selection strategy: Consider campsite location carefully when traveling with children. A Holiday Hill camper advised, "There is a lot to do for kids & teens, but that makes it loud with kids running through your site. So if that bothers you, plan ahead to get a site away from the main area."

Long-term value: Some campgrounds build loyalty through consistent experiences. A Dream Lake visitor mentioned, "I love this campground very family friendly lots of activities been going here 6 years now and never have had a bad time."

Tips from RVers

Site accessibility: Vehicle access varies significantly between campgrounds. At Firefly Acres, tent camping options include both drive-in and walk-in sites, with a reviewer noting it's "a great spot to setup camp with tons of activities nearby."

Seasonal site availability: Regular campers often secure the most desirable spots. A Holiday Hill camper observed, "There seemed to be a lot of regulars and seasonal sites here, which meant that short term full hook up sites were harder to get."

Space considerations: Site dimensions and layout impact the camping experience. A Holiday Hill review mentioned, "We had to maneuver a lot to back our 25' trailer into a tight spot, but sites are clean and spacious side to side," highlighting the need for careful vehicle positioning.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

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

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

TheDyrt.com has all 8 tent camping locations near Wales Center, NY, with real photos and reviews from campers.

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