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Best Tent Camping in New York

3,406 Reviews

New York's public lands provide diverse tent camping options across varied ecosystems, from mountain summits to lakeshore settings. Established tent campgrounds include Saranac Lake Islands in the Adirondack Preserve, which requires boat access for tent camping, and the Samuel F. Pryor III Shawangunk Gateway Campground near Gardiner, which features walk-in tent sites with picnic tables and fire rings. Alder Lake offers free tent camping opportunities in a more remote forest setting, while areas like The Peekamoose Valley provide primitive tent sites accessible by foot rather than vehicle.

Most tent sites in New York's public lands have minimally developed surfaces, typically consisting of compressed soil or forest floor with some gravel areas at more established locations. Many backcountry tent campgrounds require hikers to pack in all supplies including drinking water, while sites like Wilderness Campground at Heart Lake provide potable water and toilets. Seasonal accessibility varies significantly, with some remote tent areas completely inaccessible during winter months. State forests generally provide more primitive tent camping experiences with basic amenities such as fire rings and occasional vault toilets, while state parks often include additional facilities for tent campers such as trash collection and showers.

Shaded tent sites are abundant throughout New York's forested areas, providing natural protection from summer heat. Tent campers seeking solitude will find the most secluded experiences at walk-in sites that require short hikes from parking areas, effectively filtering out casual visitors. Trail networks surrounding many tent camping areas connect directly to longer hiking routes, making these locations ideal for extended backpacking trips. Higher elevation tent sites often provide cooler temperatures even during summer months but may experience more extreme weather conditions. Based on reviews from The Dyrt, "If you like dispersed camping, this place is good. There are absolutely no amenities whatsoever and barely even a signal here, but it's quiet and off the beaten path."

Best Tent Campgrounds in New York (159)

    1. Saranac Lake Islands Adirondack Preserve Campground

    15 Reviews
    Saranac Lake, NY
    Website
    +1 (518) 891-2841

    $22 - $40 / night

    "You'll need a boat or canoe (rentals available in Saranac Lake). Sites have tables, fire rings, and outhouses. You'll need a tent, bag, pad, cooking equipment, etc."

    "All campsites have picnic tables, firepits/grills, and privies. Saranac Lake Marina has great rental boats. I even think the dogs look forward to these camping trips."

    2. Ward Pound Ridge Reservation

    10 Reviews
    Cross River, NY
    Website
    +1 (914) 864-7317

    $45 - $55 / night

    "Close to the city and civilization, yet large enough to have nice trails and creeks to feel away from it all. The camping sites are very different so it’s useful to go in person and select the area."

    "There’s elevation gain, creeks, and open fields for stargazing. You have the options of a lean to here."

    3. Wilderness Campground at Heart Lake

    9 Reviews
    Lake Placid, NY
    Website
    +1 (518) 523-3441

    $25 - $55 / night

    "There’s no explaining the views around here. The mountains are beautiful, Lake Placid is beautiful, and this campsite is amazing."

    "Rode in on a motorcycle late at night expecting to not be able to get in, but you can take a parking pass and drop an envelope with your fee at the entrance booth. $15 for a full day $8 after 1PM."

    4. Croton Point Park

    10 Reviews
    Croton-on-Hudson, NY
    Website
    +1 (914) 862-5290

    $30 - $60 / night

    "Tent sites are very private with some dirt roads to exit out but thats what make it unique experience! Bathrooms with shower is near by and has plenty porta potties all around."

    "Peaceful and gorgeous campsite, with plenty of space between sites. Great view of the Hudson, and playground within sight of our camper."

    5. Samuel F. Pryor III Shawangunk Gateway Campground

    9 Reviews
    Accord, NY
    Website
    +1 (303) 951-4571

    "I definitely recommend trying to get the walk-in (meaning you can't drive to them) sites (8-15) because they're just a little bit more set back and kind of wonderfully wooded all around. 8 & 9 seemed"

    "This is a very nice modern campground with great access to amazing hiking and climbing in the area! About half the sites are walk-in and half the sites are drive-up."

    6. Alder lake

    8 Reviews
    Margaretville, NY
    Website
    +1 (845) 256-3076

    "We arrived here early afternoon, which ended up being perfect timing as we could set up everything and catch sunset by the fire."

    "There are several beautiful, secluded hike-in sites along the lake which I would love to return to someday. The hike around the lake is a lovely, easy walk."

    7. The Stephen & Betsy Corman AMC Harriman Outdoor Center — Harriman State Park

    6 Reviews
    Pomona, NY
    Website
    +1 (617) 523-0636

    "Campfires are restricted to certain areas and you have to share.  They do have bear boxes available as this is bear country.  Very well run campground and cabins. Great Lake to swim."

    "I camped on one of the platforms, which was very nice and did not feel crowded even with other people on neighboring platforms. One highlight was having meals cooked by the stellar chef."

    8. Giant Ledge Primitive Camp

    6 Reviews
    Big Indian, NY

    "Get tracking poles if you don't already have some. Very helpful here. This was one of my favorite weekend backpacking trips."

    "However the descriptions of this place in reviews here and elsewhere provided very little info and once I got out to the trail realized how different it was to what I expected."

    9. Watch Hill Fire Island Campground — Fire Island National Seashore

    7 Reviews
    Bayport, NY
    +1 (631) 597-6074

    "You can get a permit to backcountry camp instead of reserving a designated campground spot. Just walk down to the beach after check-in and walk east until you see a pole with a tent symbol on it."

    "Only about 20 min drive and 30 min ferry trip for us we got to watch hill. Awesome place close to home easy check in and very friendly ppl."

    10. The Peekamoose Valley

    7 Reviews
    Claryville, NY
    Website
    +1 (845) 256-3076

    "Quiet, next to a lightly trafficked road. There was a port a potty. Campsites in middle field are just clearings with fire pits and nothing else. Soft ground for staking a tent. Very few bugs."

    "This was a good campground for a base point for hiking around the peekamoose area. I stayed in the middle field campground site #6 (which is the worst spot on that field)."

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Recent Tent Camping Photos in New York

154 Photos of 159 New York Campgrounds • uploaded by The Dyrt campers

Tent Camping Reviews in New York

3406 Reviews of 159 New York Campgrounds

  • Nancy W.The Dyrt Pro User
    Oct. 31, 2026

    Robert H. Treman State Park Campground

    Beautiful waterfalls!

    This is a really great state park which has a nice campground, beautiful scenery, interesting attractions nearby, and great hiking trails. The biggest attraction are the 12 waterfalls in the park. Some are easy, short walks, and others are moderate and longer. The Rim and Gorge Trails make a loop which makes for a really good workout with lots of stairs and elevation change. Personally, I think the views from the Gorge Trail are better. Or, you can park in the upper lot and walk down (approximately 1/3 mile) to see Lucifer Falls and walk back. Fall is a great time to visit and enhances the views. 

    All campsites are back-in and have fire pits and picnic tables. Some are in the open(#49-72)with a scattering of trees, while others are tucked in the woods with lots of shade. The open sites are much easier for big rigs to navigate and back into. There is no water or sewer at sites but water spigots are located throughout the campground and the dump station is easy to access on your way out and has a dedicated water fill station away from the dump site. Our site (#52) was open which we appreciated in because the fall weather was cool and we had a clear sky for Dish satelitte. The pad was gravel and level. The patio is grass and there is nice distance between you and your neighbors Some sites are dry camping and other have electric that varies from 30 or 50-amp and the price reflects which you choose. Our site was electric only (50-amp which worked well) and we were close enough to a shared water spigot so we could add water. There are signs that say you can only hookup to the spigots for five minutes and “Y” connectors are not allowed. Swimming is allowed in the pools and river but has certain daily hours and is only open from late-June to Labor Day. Your receipt and park pass allow you access to other NY state parks in the area. Definitely check out Buttermilk Falls State Park which is just a couple of miles away and has nice hiking trails and more beautiful waterfalls. We visited the Cornell Lab of Ornithology (which is free) and has interesting exhibits, short films, and hiking trails.

  • WThe Dyrt Pro User
    Oct. 28, 2026

    Schodack Island State Park Campground

    Camp is pretty close together but most spots have a thick tree line between them which is nice. You still get a bit of road noise off the bridge and surrounding areas but it’s not to bad and the views at the boat launch on the Hudson are gorgeous

  • Jayden R.
    Oct. 27, 2026

    Ausable Pines RV Park & Campground

    Adirondack Trip

    First trip with our new RV and we were a little nervous about getting everything set up. Having full hookups made it way less complicated than we expected. Once we were settled, we just enjoyed the area and took a few day trips. Would definatly come back for another Adirondack trip.

  • Erin L.
    Oct. 25, 2026

    HTR Niagara Campground

    Beautiful, well cared for campground! Bathhouses are very clean, laundry facilities at each bathhouse, heated pools in the summer, 2 zip lines, laser tag, mini golf, boats, pedal bikes, playground, basketball, Gaga ball, catch and release fishing pond, and 2 dog parks. Close to Niagara Falls.

  • Hayden W.
    Oct. 23, 2026

    Ausable Pines RV Park & Campground

    Little Disc Golf

    We came up for a quick Adirondack getaway and ended up spending most of our time outside. A little disc golf, some time by the pool, dinner at the site and plenty of walks with the dog. Pretty much everything we wanted out of the trip.

  • G
    Oct. 22, 2026

    Ausable Pines RV Park & Campground

    Easy To Get To

    One of the best parts for us was not having to pack up the RV every time we wanted to go somewhere. We stayed put and explored the Adirondacks from here. Lake Champlain, Ausable Chasm and a bunch of other spots were all easy to get to.

  • Larry B.The Dyrt Pro User
    Oct. 21, 2026

    Weaver Acres

    Great setting. We were there by ourselves, so very quiet place to view the sky. The hookups were 50A only, no 30A connection, so we just used a conversion to 20A.

  • W
    Oct. 17, 2026

    Ausable Pines RV Park & Campground

    Campground For Dinner

    Having the river and Adirondacks nearby made for a really nice change of scenery. We spent our days exploring and came back to the campground for dinner and a fire.

  • fThe Dyrt Pro User
    Oct. 15, 2026

    Alder lake

    October leaves starting to fall makes for a very quiet, peaceful midweek evening in one of the two dispersed car camping sites. Exactly what I was hoping for - private and empty and lovely. Easy to find - two dispersed car sites are to the left at the fork in the road before the trailhead.

Guide to New York

Tent camping in New York offers a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in nature, with a variety of campgrounds that cater to outdoor enthusiasts seeking adventure and tranquility.

Tent campers appreciate these amenities

  • Saranac Lake Islands Adirondack Preserve provides primitive camping on private islands, allowing for a truly secluded experience with picnic tables and firewood available.
  • Fish Creek Pond - DEC features well-maintained sites with drinking water, toilets, and showers, making it a comfortable choice for families.
  • Croton Point Park offers electric hookups and clean facilities, perfect for those who want a blend of nature and convenience.

Local activities for outdoor enthusiasts

  • At Alder Lake, campers can enjoy hiking and fishing in a serene environment, with beautiful scenery surrounding the area.
  • Forked Lake Campground is ideal for canoeing and kayaking, providing access to stunning lakefront views and wildlife.
  • Lake George Islands Long Island Group offers opportunities for boating and fishing, making it a great spot for water sports enthusiasts.

Tent campers should check out unique features

Keep Exploring

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