Last Updated on October 10, 2022 by Lori
Camping in New York has to be one of our favorite places to camp! Whether you are looking for campgrounds with beautiful views of the mountains, alongside rivers, lakes, in the woods, or you want to camp in open fields looking up at the stars, New York State campgrounds have it all!
We have camped in many upstate New York campgrounds in the Adirondack Mountains, the Catskill Mountain area, and western New York. Each has something different to offer, and we loved camping at them all!
If you have always wanted to plan a camping trip to New York State, here are our top picks for the Best RV Campgrounds in New York!
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Best Camping In New York
Where are the Best RV Campgrounds in New York? They are all over New York State! There are many beautiful state parks and private campgrounds to choose from!
It’s all in what you are looking for in a campground.
Here are our top picks of some of our favorite New York campgrounds that I know you will love too!
- Old Forge Camping Resort, Old Forge, NY
- North Pole Resorts, Wilmington, NY
- Houghton-Letchworth KOA, Houghton, NY
- Sleepy Hollow Campground, Phoenicia, NY
- Rip Van Winkle Campground, Saugerties, NY
- Skyway Camping Resort, Greenfield Park, NY
- Nickerson Park Campground, Gilboa, NY
- Adirondack Camping Village, Lake George, NY
RV Camping In New York
Camping in New York State is beautiful any time of year, but you should be aware that most campgrounds are closed between October – May.
There are some year-round campgrounds, however, that cater to winter sports lovers!
One of our favorites is Old Forge Camping Resort in the Adirondack Region of New York.
1. Old Forge Camping Resort – Old Forge, NY
Old Forge Camping Resort has over 400 sites set on 130 acres with a private lake.
Lake Serene is perfect for swimming, paddle boats, and canoes. You can even take your pet for a walk around the lake on the nature trail!
We found our RV site – #721 – to be large and spacious. As you can see in the photo above, the site was mostly dirt so we were happy that we had our RV mat! But – that was about the only thing we wished was a little different about our site!
This large campground has many planned activities for kids plus there is a convenient path from the campground to the nearby waterpark!
Cute camping cabins offered another way to camp at Old Forge.
We liked the location of the campground because it was near downtown Old Forge and close to hiking and kayaking.
Old Forge Camping Resort – Old Forge, NY
3347 State Route 28, Old Forge, NY 13420/315-369-6011
Open Year-Round
Location: Adirondack Region – New York
- Year-Round Camping
- Dogs welcome
- Kids activities
- Swimming pond
- Paddle boats
- Canoes
- Nature trail around Lake Serene private lake
- Full Hook-up; /W/E only; lakefront full hookup
- RV sites, tent sites, cabin camping
Read our Full Review of Old Forge Camping Resort!
Camping In Upstate New York
If you love the mountains and are looking for camping in upstate New York, you will LOVE the High Peaks Region of the Adirondacks!
There are so many things to do in this area of the Adirondacks that we recommend at least 3-4 days to experience everything.
Pro-Tip – Here’s a 4-Day itinerary of the Best Things To See In The Adirondacks
2. North Pole Resorts – Wilmington, NY
North Pole Resorts not only has two campgrounds to choose from but there are camping cabins, cottages, a motel and it is in the perfect location for many popular activities!
We camped in the 100-Acre campground section for four days which was just the right amount of time to experience everything there was to see in the area.
Places you don’t want to miss are Santa’s Workshop, hiking up Whiteface Mountain, High Falls Gorge, Lake Placid, and Ausable Chasm.
The 100-Acre Woods Section of the campground is across the street from the resort and is known as “Big Rig Friendly” because of its large sites.
We enjoyed our private wooded full hook-up RV site and taking our golden retriever for walks throughout the campground.
Wilmington/North Pole KOA Holiday (formerly North Pole Resorts – Wilmington, NY
5644 NYS Route 86/Wilmington, NY 12997/518-946-7733
Open May 18 to October 31
Location: High Peaks Region Adirondacks
- Big Rig Friendly
- Full Hook-up sites, w/e sites, some lakefront sites
- Dogs Welcome (small fee)
- Kids activities
- Two swimming pools
- Mini-golf
- RV sites, tent sites, cabin camping, lodge, log home
Read our Full Review of Why We Loved Camping At North Pole Resorts
RV Camping In Western New York State
One of our favorite New York camping trips was to the western region of New York State and Letchworth State Park.
Known as the “Grand Canyon of the East”, Letchworth State Park has three amazing waterfalls you need to see to believe!
Read more about our trip to Letchworth State Park!
The park also has RV sites and camping cabins to camp inside the park; however, the summer we visited, all camping facilities were closed.
That’s when we found a great campground just a few minutes down the road – Houghton Letchworth KOA.
3. Houghton/Letchworth KOA, Houghton, NY
We loved the large, full hook-up RV sites and the privacy each site had.
There is an indoor and outdoor swimming pool, several playgrounds for the kids, and a catch and release pond.
The campground is the perfect location for visiting Letchworth State Park.
It’s just a few miles down the road, so you can spend the day at the park, go back to the campground for dinner and drive back to see the fireworks at the park!
Looking for cabin camping? Houghton/Letchworth KOA has several types of cabins perfect for families!
Houghton-Letchworth KOA, Houghton, NY
7632 Centerville Rd/Houghton, NY 14744/585-567-4211
Open April 29 to October 16
Location: Western New York Region
- Full Hook-ups
- RV Camping, Cabin Camping
- Dogs Welcome – Dog Agility Park
- Kids activities
- Indoor/outdoor pool
- Game Room/Arcade
- Catch & release pond
- WiFi
- Cable
Read our Full Review of Houghton/Letchworth KOA
Camping in the Catskill Region of New York
The very first campground we experienced in New York was Sleepy Hollow Campgrounds in Phoenicia.
We were in awe of this beautiful campground surrounded by views of the Catskill Mountains.
4. Sleepy Hollow Campground, Phoenicia, NY
Most of the RV sites are parallel to the Esopus River where you can fish, tube or just sit by the campfire listening to the rushing sounds of the river – all night long!
Sites are W/E only – no full hook-up. There are a few RV sites throughout the campground that have greywater.
Sleepy Hollow Campground remains one of our very favorite campgrounds in New York.
If you’re looking for a nice quiet campground in the heart of the Catskills, then Sleepy Hollow Campground should be on your list!
Sleepy Hollow Campground, Phoenicia, NY
Location: Catskills Region, NY
- RV sites, Tent Sites
- 20/30/50 amp
- W/E only (no full hookup)
- Some grey water sites available
- Fishing
- Tubing
- Swimming
- Horseshoes
- Hiking nearby
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5. Rip Van Winkle Campgrounds, Saugerties, NY
If you love camping in the woods, Rip Van Winkle Campgrounds is the perfect RV campground.
The campground has lots of family activities that will keep the kids occupied all day long!
We found the large wooded RV sites at Rip Van Winkle Campgrounds to be private and peaceful.
Kids love swimming in the old fashion swimming hole, watching movies in the evening on the large outdoor movie screen, large swimming pool and the soft served ice cream!
We loved biking through the trails of the campground and taking our golden retriever for nature walks.
Rip Van Winkle Campgrounds, Saugerties, NY
149 Blue Mountain Rd/Saugerties, NY 12477/845-246-8334
Open April 1 to October 17
Location: Catskills Region, NY
- RV Sites, Tent Sites, Camping Cabins
- Private Wooded RV Sites
- 30/50 amp sites
- Full Hookup
- Dogs Welcome
- Free WiFi
- Cable TV
- Game Room/Arcade
- Swimming Pool
- Old Fashioned
- Swimming Hole
- R/C Tracks
- Playgrounds
- Pedal Boats
Read our Full Review of Rip Van Winkle Campgrounds
6. Skyway Camping Resort, Greenfield Park, NY
Skyway Camping Resort has to be one of the cleanest campgrounds we have ever camped in!
The campground has received a 10/10 Rating from Good Sam for quite a few years now, and the honor is well-deserved!
There are tons of activities for both kids and adults with a swimming pool, hot tub, and a lake for paddle boats.
We found the RV sites to be spacious, level, and mostly gravel.
We also enjoyed the placement of the fire rings so that you aren’t staring at your camping neighbor all night long!
The campground is close to many popular hiking areas, so you will want to book early!
Skyway Camping Resort, Greenfield Park, NY
99 Mountaindale Rd/Greenfield Park, NY 12435/845-647-5747
Open April 30 to October 10
Location: Catskill Mountain Region, NY
- RV sites, tent sites
- 30/50 amp
- Dogs Welcome (Dog run)
- Toddler Romper Room
- Fitness Workout Room
- Giant Sun Deck
- Scenic Pond
- Cable TV
- FREE Wi-Fi
- Solar Heated Olympic Swimming Pool
- Hot Tub / Spa
- Game Room / Video Arcade
- Fishing
- Paddle Boats, Kayaks & Rowboats
- Handball
- Planned Activities
Read our Full Review of Skyway Camping Resort
7. Nickerson Park Campground, Gilboa, NY
A little further north and west in the Catskills, in Gilboa, NY, you will find a fun campground for the entire family – Nickerson Park Campground.
This campground is over 100 acres with large, spacious RV sites.
There are tons of hiking trails in this area – with one leading from the campground to Minekill State Park.
If you love caves and caverns, Howe Caverns has been a family favorite for years and is not far from the campground.
It makes the perfect day trip for the entire family.
We loved the large RV sites and full hookup. We camped in the open field and had amazing views of the stars.
We also enjoyed the live music playing at the pavilion while sitting at our campsite.
Kids loved the inground pool, the huge waterslide, and playing in the Schoharie River.
Whether you love camping in a field or in the woods, Nickerson Park Campground is a great campground to consider!
Nickerson Park Campground, Gilboa, NY
378 Stryker Rd/Gilboa, NY 12076/607-588-7327
Open March to November
Location: Catskill Mountains, NY
- RV Sites, tent sites
- Rustic (no hookups), W/E sites, Full Hookup
- Cable
- Dogs Welcome
- Hiking Trails
- Fishing
- Swimming Pool
- Water slide
- Wagon Rides
- Campground Activities
- Huge Playgrounds
Read our Full Review of Nickerson Park Campground.
Camping Near Lake George, NY
One of the top vacation spots in New York is the Lake George region. The area is also known as one of the best places to camp in New York!
If you’re looking for a large campground with many planned kid’s activities, some of the popular campgrounds you might consider are Lake George Escape or Moose Hillock Camping Resorts.
However, I want to tell you about one of the Best Kept Secrets of another top-rated campground –
Lake George Camping Village (formerly Adirondack Camping Village), Lake George, NY
Lake George Camping Village (formerly Adirondack Camping Village) is only two (2) miles from downtown Lake George!
The campground has wooded sites with some larger than others so be sure to ask when making your reservation.
Many of the RV Sites are located “up the hill” from the campground office so be prepared to drive your RV or travel trailer up a hill.
Our back-in RV site was located on the side of the hill and we found it to be a little tricky to maneuver when backing in.
Another thing to note is that the sites are mostly sand.
I happened to read a review prior to our arrival so we were prepared. Other than the sand we would definitely camp here again if in the area.
Adirondack Camping Village has RV sites, tent sites, and camping cabins.
There are two pools, a game room, and a playground.
Natural Stone Bridge & Caves is a must-see in the area and not a far drive from the campground!
Since Adirondack Camping Village is only two miles from downtown Lake George it’s just a quick trip into Lake George!
Lake George Camping Village (formerly Adirondack Camping Village), Lake George, NY
Open May 2 to October 16
Location: Lake George Region
- RV sites, tent sites, camping cabins
- Full Hookup
- Dogs Welcome
- Two Heated swimming pools
- Playground
- Outdoor movies
- Hayrides
- Nature Trails
- Game Room
Read our Full Review of Adirondack Camping Village
If you love camping but have never camped in New York, you will LOVE this list of the Best RV Campgrounds In New York State.
Be sure to read our Full Reviews of each campground!
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2 comments
NY also has some beautiful State Parks as well, we tend to prefer them and we do not usually want or need all the hookups. Dry camping is our favorite since that is usually where the most relaxed and serene parks are.
Hi Carol! Yes, NY State Park campgrounds are beautiful and very popular! If you love to dry camp you will definitely find NY state parks some of the most beautiful camping you can find. Thanks for writing in!