Camping in New York
New York has 7 public campgrounds on record, 5 reservable and 1 first-come. Most (4 of 7) are run by the U.S. Forest Service. Each row below says who runs it, how to get a site, and what it costs.
- 7
- Total
- 5
- Reservable
- 1
- First-come
- Sites
- Not on record
- Season
- Memorial Day to November
- Fee
- Single Site: $15 per night
- Sites
- 9
- Season
- Not on record
- Fee
- Single Site: $15 per night
- Sites
- 7
- Season
- Not on record
- Fee
- Not on record
- Sites
- 53
- Season
- Not on record
- Fee
- Not on record
- Sites
- Not on record
- Season
- Not on record
- Fee
- Free
- Sites
- 1
- Season
- Not on record
- Fee
- Overnight Use:
Watch Hill Campground - Sites
- Not on record
- Season
- Not on record
- Fee
- Not on record
No campgrounds match these filters.
How booking works in New York
There is no single system: each campground books through its managing agency. 5 campgrounds book through Recreation.gov. 1 campground take no reservations at all, first-come, first-served.
For a park's own hours, entrance fee, and boundary, see New York state parks on publiclandsdb.com.
Narrower lists
By agency
1 first-come campground need no reservation; 0 stay open year-round ; and 0 sit on a named lake . By agency: 4 National Forest campgrounds , and 3 National Park Service campgrounds .
Common questions
How do I reserve a campground in New York?
It depends on who runs it. Of the 7 public campgrounds on record here, 5 book through Recreation.gov and 1 is first-come, first-served with no reservations.
Where can I camp for free in New York?
1 public campground in New York charges no fee: Finger Lakes Trail Shelter. Free camping away from campgrounds (dispersed camping) is a land-management rule, not a campground; see the managing agency.
Is boondocking legal in New York?
On BLM land, dispersed camping (boondocking) is generally allowed under the agency's rules. BLM limits dispersed camping to 14 days within any 28-day period (stay limits vary by field office), asks campers to stay at least 200 feet from lakes and streams, and says most areas need no permit or reservation (blm.gov, read 2026-09-26).
What are the best campgrounds in New York?
This site doesn't rate campgrounds. The most fully documented here are Camp Gateway- Brooklyn Ny (14 sourced facts), Backbone Horse Camp (13 sourced facts), and Camp Gateway - Staten Island (13 sourced facts); the table lets you sort every campground by agency, booking, season, and fee.