Hiking, fishing, and paddling give campers plenty of reasons to base themselves at Red House Area, one of two main camping zones within Allegany State Park, a large state park in the hills of southwestern New York near Salamanca. Red House Lake sits at the heart of the area, with kayak rentals, a beach, and fishing access drawing families and paddlers alike. One reviewer notes the park also has "a solid general store" and courts for tennis and basketball, rounding out the on-site activity options. Anglers report catching fish from the lake, and crayfish are a draw for younger campers along the shoreline.
The terrain here is hillier than satellite images suggest. One camper on the Cain Hollow loop found their site at the top of a rise with open sightlines across the surrounding hills, a layout that also meant no cell service on T-Mobile. That lack of connectivity is worth planning around. Sites on the loops are tree-lined, which provides shade and some visual separation between neighbors, though tent sites can feel close together when the campground fills up. Nick O. sums up the general condition: "Tent and RV sites are nice, clean."
Restrooms are cleaned regularly, with park staff making at least one or two passes through the loops each day. Full hookups are available for RVs up to 40 feet, including electric, water, and sewer connections, along with a dump station. Campfires are permitted, and the Red House Administration building serves as a central gathering point for families spread across different loops.
Timing matters at Red House. A May visit in 2018 found Red House Lake drawn down to roughly a third of its normal water level for maintenance, with swimming closed and paddling impractical. Reservations are accepted and recommended, especially for summer weekends. The park runs daily nature programs, and Bova Cottages — Allegany State Park sits about a mile and a half northeast for campers who want a cabin-style alternative within the same park system.
Campers who have made Red House a multi-year or even multi-generational tradition tend to return for the combination of full amenities and access to trails, including Thunder Rocks, where boulders the size of houses can be scrambled over. Families looking to explore the region more broadly can find campgrounds around Salamanca listed on The Dyrt. If Red House fits your itinerary, booking early gives you the best shot at a site with room to spread out.
RV Road Trip Guides
Map & DirectionsRed House Area is located in New York near Salamanca
Directions
From I-86/Rt.17 (Southern Tier Expressway): To get to the Red House Area, use Exits 19 & 20; to get to the Quaker Area, take Exit 18. From Rt. 219: Follow 219 to I-86/Rt.17 west; or from Bradford, PA, take Interstate Parkway to the Quaker Area entrance
Address
2373 Asp
Salamanca, NY 14779
Coordinates
42.09206886 N
78.74730928 W
Connectivity
T-MobileNo Coverage- VerizonNo Coverage
- AT&TNo Coverage
Connectivity
- T-MobileNo Coverage
- VerizonNo Coverage
- AT&TNo Coverage
Access
- Drive-InPark next to your site
- Walk-InPark in a lot, walk to your site.
- Hike-InBackcountry sites.
Site Types
- Tent Sites
- RV Sites
- Standard (Tent/RV)
- Group
- Cabins
- Tent Cabin
- Equestrian
Features
For Campers
- Market
- ADA Access
- Trash
- Picnic Table
- Firewood Available
- Phone Service
- Reservable
- Showers
- Drinking Water
- Electric Hookups
- Toilets
- Alcohol
- Pets
- Fires
For Vehicles
- Sanitary Dump
- Sewer Hookups
- Water Hookups
- Pull-Through Sites
- Big Rig Friendly
Drive Time
- 1 hr 9 min from Erie, PA
- 1 hr 15 min from Buffalo, NY
- 1 hr 59 min from Elmira, NY
- 2 hrs 14 min from Rochester, NY
