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Bowman Lake State Park Campground

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New York State Park Campgrounds: Same-day reservations are allowed until 3PM on day of arrival; this applies to campsites only. Reservations can be made online or through the ReserveAmerica Call Center: 1-800-456-2267. Walk-ins are not permitted.

Bowman Lake State Park Campground, near Oxford, New York, is a charming spot for those looking to immerse themselves in nature. With a mix of tent sites, RV accommodations, and even cabins, it caters to a variety of camping styles, making it a great choice for families and friends alike.

The campground is known for its tree-covered sites that provide a good amount of privacy, allowing you to enjoy your surroundings without feeling cramped. Visitors have highlighted the clean facilities, including bathrooms and showers, which are conveniently located near the campsites. As one camper noted, “The site was very spacious and the campground nice and quiet, clean and well kept.”

Outdoor activities abound here, with a small lake perfect for kayaking and a sandy area for swimming. The trails around the lake offer a chance to stretch your legs, though some campers have mentioned they could be improved. If you’re into fishing, the lake is stocked with trout, making it a nice spot to cast a line.

While the campground has its quirks, like a central bathroom that can get busy, the overall vibe is friendly and welcoming. Whether you’re roasting marshmallows by the fire or exploring the nearby trails, Bowman Lake State Park Campground offers a delightful escape into the great outdoors.

Description

NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation

Bowman Lake State Park

Bowman Lake State Park is a 967-acre remote retreat known as "a camper's paradise". Scenic park roads wind through evergreen and hardwood forests to 150 campsites and 8 cabins. There is a sandy lakefront for swimmers and sunbathers with several picnic areas nearby. The lake is regularly stocked with trout, and birdwatchers can spot as many as 103 species of birds. There are over 13 miles of scenic trails for hiking as well as marked snowmobile and cross-country trails for winter enjoyment.

ATTENTION PET OWNERS: - Current proof of rabies inoculation is required at check-in (metal tags will not be accepted).

  • At any time during your stay, pet owners may be required to provide proof of rabies inoculation upon request. Be sure to have this information available to present to park staff.
  • Where pets are permitted, there is a maximum limit of 2 pets per site.
  • Pets must be on a leash no longer than 6ft and under control at all times.
  • Do not leave pets unattended and always clean up after them.
  • Pet owners/permit holders are liable for any damage, personal injury, or nuisance caused by the pet.
  • Pets are not permitted in beach areas or bathrooms.

SWIMMING: Each year, the park makes every effort to provide safe swimming opportunities by testing the water regularly and maintaining an adequate number of trained lifeguards. If park staff feels that the safety of beach patrons is compromised due to inadequate lifeguard coverage or water quality issues, swimming will be prohibited until a time that those issues are resolved. There will be NO REFUNDS issued on camping stays if the beach is closed for swimming. We apologize for this inconvenience as it may occur with little advance notice.

PRE-REGISTRATION: Have an existing reservation? Don't forget to PRE-REGISTER!! Two days prior to arrival you can sign into Reserve America and pre-register. IT SAVES TIME.

LENGTH OF STAY: A camping party and their equipment may occupy a site for a maximum of 14 continuous nights. After which, the camping party and equipment must leave the site and facility for 48 hours before registering again for another site.

Please Note: To ensure fairness for all NY customers, any reservation with departure dates outside the 9-month Maximum Window cannot be changed or cancelled until 18 days after the reservation was made.

OPRHP General Camping Rules, Information, and Cancellation Policy

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Location

Bowman Lake State Park Campground is located in New York

Detail location of campground

Directions

The park is located off Route 220, 8 miles west of Oxford. 607-334-2718

Address

745 BLIVEN SHERMAN ROAD
Oxford, NY 13830

Coordinates

42.52200031 N
75.68000097 W

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Access

  • Drive-In
    Park next to your site
  • Walk-In
    Park in a lot, walk to your site.
  • Boat-In
    Sites accessible by watercraft.

Stay Connected

  • WiFi
    Good
  • Verizon
    Good
  • AT&T
    Unknown
  • T-Mobile
    Good

Site Types

  • Tent Sites
  • RV Sites
  • Cabins
  • Tent Cabin

Features

For Campers

  • Market
  • Picnic Table
  • Reservable
  • Showers
  • Electric Hookups
  • Toilets
  • Alcohol
  • Pets
  • Fires

For Vehicles

  • Sanitary Dump
  • Sewer Hookups
  • Water Hookups
  • Pull-Through Sites
  • 30 Amp Hookups
  • 50 Amp Hookups
  • Big Rig Friendly

Drive Time


Reviews

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1 Star

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38%
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13%

4.0

out of 5

8 Reviews

Reviewed Jul. 16, 2023

Woodsy, pet friendly, and private

We booked this as our first real camping trip with our new trailer, can’t recommend that for everyone lol, but we had a lovely time.

We had a back in site with a fire pit, picnic table, and no hook ups. It was gravel and not super level, but we made it work. There was a potable water spigot a few sites over and a bathroom with showers a short walk away.

This is a great spot for tent camping, so if that’s your vibe this place is perfect. We had a lot of tree cover so we didn’t even need our air conditioning on during an 85 degree day. There are a lot of mosquitoes, but with some bug spray and a couple thermacell mosquito repellents, we were comfortable the whole time. I loved cooking over the fire, the pit had a cinder block wall around it to set a grate on and block the wind. We had a lot of privacy because the campgrounds next to us were empty, but even if there were people nearby there was about 20-30 ft between our site and the next.

The lake is small but calm and great for kayaking. There is a little “beach” there for swimming, but know that it’s a soft lake bottom further out.

We really liked it here and booked another visit in August.

Site33
Month of VisitJune
  • Review photo of Bowman Lake State Park Campground by Oleńka S., July 16, 2023
  • Review photo of Bowman Lake State Park Campground by Oleńka S., July 16, 2023
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  • (4) View All
Reviewed Jul. 24, 2020

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.

Reviewed Jul. 27, 2019

Great facilities

We went up for a weekend trip. Tent camping. Site was sufficiently private and tucked away, but water/bathrooms/showers were close enough. Very clean facilities! Really enjoyed the kayaking and beach area. The trails were not all that great and provided only minor enjoyment.

  • Review photo of Bowman Lake State Park Campground by Gerald L., July 27, 2019
  • Review photo of Bowman Lake State Park Campground by Gerald L., July 27, 2019
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Reviewed May. 31, 2019

Good weekend

Pick this park has it was going to be my sons first trip camping. It’s a smaller park with a small hiking trail around the lake there is swimming at the lake with lifeguards, only down side was it had just one central bathroom for the whole campground having to wait for shower stalls was a little issue but very hot water even after waiting which was good and depending where your camp site is it’s a bit of a walk to it..

  • Review photo of Bowman Lake State Park Campground by Pedro R., May 31, 2019
  • Review photo of Bowman Lake State Park Campground by Pedro R., May 31, 2019
  • Review photo of Bowman Lake State Park Campground by Pedro R., May 31, 2019
  • (10) View All
Reviewed Sep. 29, 2018

Bowman lake

This campsite was beautiful. It was very secluded and in the woods, right next to the lake as well. I enjoyed how spread out this campground is compared to most and the location is beautiful.

  • Review photo of Bowman Lake State Park Campground by Katarina  M., September 29, 2018
  • Review photo of Bowman Lake State Park Campground by Katarina  M., September 29, 2018
  • Review photo of Bowman Lake State Park Campground by Katarina  M., September 29, 2018
Reviewed Jun. 11, 2018

Other than getting rained out of my site it was great

We had never been to site before so when we booked, we thought we were next to a bathroom. Turns out you had to walk through woods to get there in the mud. Our entire campsite was flooded so we just set up our tent on my brothers site with them. Ended up being wonderful and the lake was beautiful. Bathrooms were regular campsite bathrooms. Never very clean. Especially because it was wet out.

Month of VisitJuly
Reviewed Aug. 31, 2016

Bowman Lake

Campground is a maze of campsites through densely wooded forests so it’s pretty private and shady even though it’s full no matter what season we visited. No hookups but that means people have generators, though the campsites are big and you won’t necessarily hear your neighbor running theirs. It’s pretty bustling and everyone spends their time at or along the lake. Nice place though the kids were missing a playground.

Reviewed Jul. 8, 2016

Beautiful Area Camper's Heaven

Tent camping in the beautiful winding camp ground many shady trees brings you back to nature. We brought our bikes and explored the many hiking and riding trails on the premises. We loved the swimming beach soaking up the sun and cool refreshing water. As fisherman we loved that the rangers told us that the lake was regularly stocked with trout and other game fish. For the boaters there is an ample ramp to launch as well as boat rentals on the marina. Conveniences are provided with many bathrooms and shower facilities throughout the camp ground. For those not to into tenting there are cabins available to keep you safe. We camped in July, but were told that the park is opened for winter activities such as xcountry skiing and snow mobiling. A fun trip for the whole family

  • Review photo of Bowman Lake State Park Campground by Brian O., July 8, 2016
  • Review photo of Bowman Lake State Park Campground by Brian O., July 8, 2016
  • Review photo of Bowman Lake State Park Campground by Brian O., July 8, 2016

Frequently Asked Questions

  • How much does it cost to camp at Bowman Lake State Park Campground?

    Camping at Bowman Lake State Park Campground can cost between $17.00 and $65.00 depending on the site.

  • Does Bowman Lake State Park Campground have RV hookups?

    According to TheDyrt.com, Bowman Lake State Park Campground has 30 amp and 50 amp electric hookups, water hookups and sewer hookups.

  • What is the max vehicle length at Bowman Lake State Park Campground?

    Bowman Lake State Park Campground allows vehicles up to 40 feet.

  • Are fires allowed at Bowman Lake State Park Campground?

    Yes, according to campers on TheDyrt.com, fires are allowed at Bowman Lake State Park Campground, although make sure to check current fire restrictions in the area.

  • Is there cell phone reception at Bowman Lake State Park Campground?

    According to campers on TheDyrt.com, Verizon signal is good, AT&T is unknown, and T-Mobile is good.