Dog-Friendly Camping near Waterville, NY

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    Green Lakes State Park Campground offers cabins and pet-friendly sites where dogs must be leashed at all times. Several campgrounds near Waterville accept pets with varying amenities and rules. The Villages RV Park at Turning Stone provides spacious sites with full hookups in a clean, well-maintained environment where dogs receive small treats upon check-in. Lake Chalet Motel and Campground features pet-friendly tent sites, RV spots, and cabins with fire rings at each location. Charles E. Baker State Forest allows free primitive camping with pets in a beautiful wooded setting with miles of trails ideal for dog walking. Stoney Pond State Forest Camping Area provides 15 drive-in campsites and two walk-in sites where pets can enjoy the shoreline and hiking paths.

    Trails throughout these campgrounds offer excellent opportunities for dog exercise, with Charles E. Baker State Forest particularly noted for its miles of pet-friendly hiking routes. The pond at Stoney Pond provides a natural water feature dogs can enjoy while supervised. Herkimer Diamond Mine KOA welcomes pets in their cabins and camping areas, offering spacious sites for pets to relax. Lebanon Reservoir Campground provides pet-friendly lakeside camping with boat rentals available, making it easy to enjoy water activities with dogs who like swimming. Most campgrounds require pets to be leashed at all times, properly supervised, and owners must clean up after their animals. Visitors report the most friendly owners at Lake Chalet are attentive to campers' needs, creating a welcoming environment for both people and their pets.

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    Best Dog-Friendly Campgrounds near Waterville (91)

      1. The Villages RV Park at Turning Stone

      4.9(10)17mi from WatervilleRVs

      "Neighbors keep to themselves and kind of stare le us down when we pulled in and during dog walks…maybe just an outlier experience? Staff very kind."

      "For activities, there are some great hikes around the campground, as well as excellent playgrounds, fishing, an awesome pool, and of course, free shuttle rides to the Turning Stone Casino right up the"

      from $65 - $75 / night

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      2. Lake Chalet Motel and Campground

      4.3(3)7mi from WatervilleRVs, Tents, Cabins

      "The first time that myself and friends spent the weekend at Lake Chalet Ron cut up our firewood for us and was very attentive to anything around the campground."

      3. Green Lakes State Park Campground

      4.6(42)31mi from Waterville140 sitesRVs, Tents, Cabins, Glamping

      "The lake is a fascinating meromictic lake with clear calcium-rich waters that are not only pristine and beautiful to look at, but also great for swimming and snorkeling as the waters are crystal clear"

      "Great place for trails, fishing, swimming & plain camping. There are electric & non-electric sites as well as a Cabin Colony. Pet friendly"

      from $20 - $116 / night

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      4. Charles E. Baker State Forest

      4.5(2)12mi from WatervilleTents

      "Only found one designated campsite, which was available, but there’s a lot of good space for dispersed camping right nearby. Access at the end of a long, but well maintained, dirt road."

      "Beautiful forest with miles of trails. I found this spot passing through on my bike and had no problem pitching a tent in a secluded spot in the woods."

      5. Herkimer Diamond Mine KOA

      4.3(18)25mi from WatervilleRVs, Tents, Cabins, Glamping

      "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"

      "I have a full review on my blog openboxreviews Cons: low water pressure at our site

      Firewood is expensive and you don't get much

      Sites are close together and little to no privacy

      Pros:

      Pet friendly"

      6. Delta Lake State Park Campground

      4.2(15)25mi from Waterville101 sitesRVs, Tents, Glamping

      "There’s a few steps down to a gravel beach and an expansive view of the delta lake. There were bathrooms in the middle of our loop which was great and easy to walk to and it was very clean."

      "A very nice, tidy campground located on a peninsula jutting into Delta Lake in Central NY."

      from $24 - $32 / night

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      7. Glimmerglass State Park Campground

      4.7(21)28mi from Waterville47 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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      8. Stoney Pond State Forest Camping Area

      4.7(3)17mi from Waterville17 sitesRVs, Tents

      "The spots are big and great walks as well if you have dogs. Easy access to the pond too. 20 minutes to waterfall state park & there is a maple shop not too far as well for treats etc."

      "There are 15 drive-in campsites widely spaced and set into the woods, and two developed walk-in sites on the west shore."

      9. Tilden Hill Farm

      5.0(1)15mi from WatervilleRVs, Tents, Cabins

      from $30 / night

      10. Lebanon Reservoir Campground

      4.0(1)14mi from WatervilleRVs, Tents, Cabins

      "The sites themselves are all in the open, imagine parallel parking your rig off the side of a road, with a nice forest behind you. That's kind of the deal here."

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    Dog-Friendly Camping Reviews near Waterville, NY

    325 Reviews of 91 Waterville 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

    • Jake C.The Dyrt ADMIN User
      Jul. 14, 2023

      Nature Lover's Paradise

      Tent Camping for Hikers & Runners

      Jake from the Dyrt here!  Nature Lover's Paradise is new to the Dyrt and they have an awesome spot to share with access to a vast network of trails in upstate New York.  Check them out and make sure to share some pics of your adventure!

    • Rachel P.
      Jul. 13, 2018

      Delta Lake State Park Campground

      Delta Lake State Park

      Delta Lake State Park sits at the foothills of the Adirondack Park, just outside Rome, New York. Pretty and well-kempt, Delta Lake is a nice option for those looking to stay close to home and within proximity to civilization. You can enjoy the great outdoors, while only being a few miles away from a restaurant or grocery store.

      The campground isn‘t the best I’ve experienced, a bit on the crowded side-similar to a woodsy suburb- but this could have been distinctive to Loop A where I stayed. I stayed in site 35 and was intermixed with all the campers and RV’s, so it got a bit noisy. Not that restful, secluded experience I typically go for, but I should have planned further in advance.

      However, what the park lacked in terms of its campground, it totally made up for in its beach, swimming and picnic areas! This place was awesome for hosting a birthday party for my niece and relaxing at the beach/ day facilities. They have plenty of picnic tables, charcoal grills, a huge beach and locker rooms. This is really a great place to spend a day with your family!

    • Deborah W.
      Oct. 2, 2021

      Unadilla KOA

      Affordable KOA

      A bit off the beaten path for a KOA, but nearly sold out in early October nonetheless. Sites range from typical large rig to dispersed tents next to a creek. The tent sites with electric like the one we took used 240v 50A plugs, so we had to borrow a converter plug form the office for our 120v equipment. Only one bath house and it’s a bit dated. Very pet friendly including a dog play pen. Pool looked nice and was still open in early October.

    • 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.

    • Secc P.
      Jul. 24, 2020

      Bowman Lake State Park Campground

      A dump

      New York State pretty much has abandoned this park. Trees fallen down across the sites. Might be ok for a tent but that’s all.

    • 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!

    • Janet R.The Dyrt PRO User
      Nov. 6, 2017

      Ludlow Creek Lean-To Campsite

      Ludlow Creek Lean-to

      This is a beautiful primitive hike-in campsite alongside the Ludlow Creek section of the Finger Lakes Trail in Chenango County, New York. It is located in a beautiful, unspoiled and seldom visited region of state forest, providing a wilderness type experience fairly close to several nearby villages, and only a half hour drive from the town of Norwich and less than an hour from the city of Binghamton.. The campsite is perfect for groups or individuals willing to hike in a short distance to this secluded spot. There is a large relatively new Adirondack-style lean-to in great condition, perched on an heavily wooded overlook above Ludlow Creek. The hike in from the trailhead to the north is relatively short, and recommended for easy overnight access. The hike is longer coming in from the south. The campsite is maintained by local volunteer members of the Bull Thistle Hiking Club, http://www.bullthistlehiking.org/p/about-us.html, which is a member chapter of the Finger Lakes Trail Conference http://www.fingerlakestrail.org/ If camping here, be sure to pack in water and plan to pack out garbage and leave no trace. Detailed maps of this trail section can be found in the Finger Lakes Trail East Passport Guide, see map E07, p. 21 at http://www.fltconference.org/trail/files/3814/0154/4940/Passport_East_View.pdf, or visit the interactive trail map at https://fltconference.org/trails/P/TrailConditionMaps/Interactive/Seg_Cat.html?Vifw#"


    Guide to Waterville

    The Waterville, New York area sits within the picturesque central New York region, with elevations ranging from 1,100 to 1,400 feet above sea level. Most campgrounds operate seasonally from May through October, with peak visitation during July and August when temperatures average in the mid-70s. Winter snowfall often exceeds 100 inches annually, making most camping facilities seasonal rather than year-round operations.

    What to do

    Hiking trails exploration: Charles E. Baker State Forest provides miles of woodland trails suitable for all skill levels. "Beautiful forest with miles of trails. I found this spot passing through on my bike and had no problem pitching a tent in a secluded spot in the woods," notes Matt A., who appreciates the primitive camping options available.

    Mining adventures: Just 35 miles from Waterville, Herkimer Diamond Mine KOA offers a unique experience for geology enthusiasts. "The mines are so much fun. The whole park is well maintained. Lots of room to walk our dogs," shares Kelly F. The mines allow visitors to search for double-terminated quartz crystals known as Herkimer Diamonds.

    Water recreation: Delta Lake State Park Campground features extensive shoreline access and boat launches. "Having the kayaks were great, there's so much to explore, and town is right down the road," mentions Sierra K., who stayed at a lakeside site. The park offers both motorized and non-motorized boating options, with rental equipment available seasonally.

    What campers like

    Spacious, well-designed sites: The Villages RV Park at Turning Stone receives consistent praise for its layout. "Spacious FHU sites. Pull thru and back ins," writes Boomer B. Another camper adds, "Very well thought out. All sites are full hookups (i think) and paved. Definitely geared towards the RV or trailer crowd."

    Tubing opportunities: Many campers highlight river tubing as a standout activity. "Tubing was the big hit with the kids. Sites were large. Very clean," shares Michelle M. about her experience at Herkimer Diamond Mine KOA. The West Canada River provides gentle currents suitable for family floating.

    Clean facilities: Glimmerglass State Park Campground maintains high standards for bathrooms and common areas. "The beat grooms and showers are well kept. The beach, trail to historic house, boating, fishing, and Cooperstown nearby keep everyone in the group entertained," notes Leah B. The park's proximity to Cooperstown adds cultural exploration options.

    What you should know

    Seasonal considerations: Most campgrounds in the area operate from May through October. "Memorial day weekend the weather is beautiful spring weather. All full hook up sites from full sun to full shade. Been coming here for 25+ years," explains Carl G. about The Villages RV Park at Turning Stone.

    Train noise: Some campgrounds have nearby railroad tracks. "The only real negatives would be the proximity to some railroad tracks, which can be somewhat active and very audible in some spots (you'll want to stay towards the south/front of the park if this kind of thing bothers you)," advises Michael O. about The Villages.

    Frequently Asked Questions

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

    According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Waterville, NY is The Villages RV Park at Turning Stone with a 4.9-star rating from 10 reviews.

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

    TheDyrt.com has all 91 dog-friendly camping locations near Waterville, NY, with real photos and reviews from campers.