Caroga Lake, near Johnstown, New York, is a straightforward campground that offers a cozy escape for those looking to unwind in nature. With spacious sites that can accommodate multiple tents, it’s a great place for families or friends to set up camp and enjoy the outdoors.

The campground features clean facilities, including hot showers and well-maintained restrooms, which visitors appreciate after a long day of activities. Many campers have enjoyed the fire pits and picnic tables at each site, making it easy to gather around the fire and share stories under the stars. One visitor noted, “The campsites were spacious for two tents,” which is a plus for those traveling with pets, as they are allowed here.

For outdoor enthusiasts, Caroga Lake is conveniently located near various hiking trails, perfect for exploring the beautiful surroundings. The beach area offers a great view, and while pets aren’t allowed there, it’s a nice spot to relax or rent a boat. Just keep in mind that the campground can get a bit lively during holiday weekends, so if you’re after peace and quiet, plan your visit accordingly. 

With its clean facilities and friendly atmosphere, Caroga Lake is a welcoming place for a weekend getaway or a longer stay. Whether you’re looking to hike, relax by the water, or simply enjoy some time around the campfire, this campground has what you need for a memorable outdoor experience.

Caroga Lake

Caroga Lake is an ideal place for camping adventures of all kinds. There are tons of hikes and other fun activities to partake in. Experience some of the most stunning views that New York camping has to offer. Find the best campgrounds near Caroga Lake, plus reviews and photos from other campers like you.

The Best Camping Near Caroga Lake, New York

This campground was incredibly noisy.  A number of the sites had been closed for the camping season. The beach area offered a great view, but again, so noisy. If you have children, and you're not looking for quiet time, this could be the campground for you!

It's a really nice, clean camp located not too far from where I live.

We spent a relatively quiet long weekend here on loop F 97, which is a bit removed from the main campground. It was a bit noisy on Saturday night but nothing disturbing.  This site also is bordered by a small stream so expect mosquitoes and the occasional visit from wildlife (we had raccoons at our site each night, so kept food in the car). Each site has a fire pit and a picnic table.

There is a store just outside the entrance that sells ice, wood, groceries.  There are quite a few roadside firewood sellers that are reasonably priced.  The fire pit does not have a narrow grilling grate so bringing something to ensure your food won't fall through the widely spaced bars is helpful.  

As I said, our site was out of the main population, but it was a bit of a hike to the restroom which is something to keep in mind if you've really got to get to a bathroom first thing in the morning.  

There is a Walmart about 10 miles away in Gloverville, so keep this in mind if you are planning on picking up essentials when you arrive.  

There are no sites with electric.

Overall, nice.

Site F -90- there is a slope on the site with limited privacy. I suggest avoiding this site but there are quite a few other sites that looked nice and a stream flowing through. 

Good for a weekend getaway 

We were there 4th of July weekend, and the park was fully booked. Very friendly rangers, electricity in bathrooms, hot showers, and a nice dishwashing and recycling center.

The campsite connects to the beach area and there is boat rental, but no pets allowed in the beach area.

For us, a drawback was a lack of any hikes connecting to the campsite.

Good facility, lacks much to do

I stayed here over a holiday weekend and found that the campground was simple but has everything I needed. The campsites were spacious for two tents, a 4 and 2 person and there was space to have a run for two dogs. 

The bathrooms and showers were typical of other campgrounds and not overly large however they were cleaned regularly and the water was hot which was great for the end of a long day. 

It is also conveniently situated for a variety of nearby hikes.

Photos of Caroga Lake

Real photos from real campers