Reservations Open For Camping At 2021 New York State Fair
People approach the front gate at the New York State Fair in 2019.Michael Greenlar | syracuse.com
Geddes, N.Y. Camping reservations are now available for the 2021 New York State Fair.
The fairs Empire RV Park has 303 spaces available, according to the fair. The site is located next to the Midway and has water, sewer and electric service.
The cost is $830 plus a fee of $7.25 and the reservation covers 23 days from Sunday, Aug. 15, to Monday, Sept. 6. This years fair runs Aug. 20 to Sept. 6. Its the first time the event has spanned 18 days.
Camping reservations include two admission wristbands good for all 18 days of the fair and parking for one vehicle. A permit for a second vehicle can be purchased separately.
If youre interested, you can make reservations online at Reserve America. Full details on the camping site are also available online.
Reservations wont be accepted after Aug. 6.
For shorter stays, the fair offers daily camping in the Pink parking lot across from the fairgrounds. Reservations open July 15.
Daily sites dont include electric, water or sewer service and they dont come with admission to the fair. The cost is $25.68 a night for a camper and a vehicle.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced in June that this years fair will open at 100% capacity outdoors. Buildings will still have capacity limits.
The state is asking unvaccinated people to wear masks at the fair. Vaccinated people wont have to wear them.
Skip The Campground Go Dispersed Camping
Dispersed camping means sleeping for free on public land managed by the Bureau of Land Management or the U.S. Forest Service. The B.L.M. has online maps and guidelines for how and where to camp on public lands. Its not for everyone, and its not available everywhere. Be sure to read up on local land-use restrictions regarding camping and be familiar with leave no trace principles and area campfire regulations.
Campendium and Freecampsites.net list established sites where you can post up in the woods, with no fee and no reservations.
If you want to find a place to camp and a way to get away from the crowds, there are millions of acres of B.L.M. and U.S. Forest Service land with legal camping and minimal services, said Michael Lanza, creator of the trip-planning website TheBigOutside and a former field editor for Backpacker magazine. You wont get a picnic table, but youll still get a beautiful spot, and its free.
Bear in mind that toilets, picnic tables, fire pits, running water, trash services amenities usually available at a campground arent on offer in the middle of nowhere.
How To Reserve A Campsite Even At The Last Minute
Who says you cant get areservation for the great outdoors this weekend?
- Read in app
Pretend its a Monday in midsummer. You live in or near a big city, a few hours from mountains or forests, and you want to go camping this coming weekend a few days away. Before the pandemic, that may have been possible. But these days the outdoors and camping are having their biggest boom since humans lived in caves, and finding a last-minute campsite is about as hard as spotting wild glowing mushrooms.
With the onset of Covid, it seems as though everyone went out and bought an R.V., said Greg Query, owner of a Kampgrounds of America campground in Estes Park, Colo., on the outskirts of Rocky Mountain National Park.
Public and private campgrounds were already seeing nationwide campsite shortages before Covid-19 because of a growing interest in outdoor activities. A 2019 North American Camping Report, from KOA, found that 7.2 million households in the United States started camping in the previous five years, bringing the total number to78.8 million, a new high.
Many of those campers headed straight to national parks: A study from the research organization Resources for the Future in 2018 found that national park campsite reservations routinely are snatched up six months in advance, and places like Zion and Yosemite National Parks are frequently at 100 percent capacity.
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Evangola State Park Campground
Evangola State Park is one of the New York state parks along Lake Erie, and it has a campground for tent camping and RV camping!
The closest youll get for camping with views of Lake Erie will be if youre tent camping.
Tent campsite #75 will get you in your own little corner on a bluff along Lake Erie.
Even if you cant see Lake Erie from your campsite, you will be near Lake Erie!
And there is a swimming beach at Evangola State Park.
Theres a trail from the tent camping area along Lake Erie to get to the swimming beach.
In addition to campsites, Evangola State Park is another one of the New York state parks with cabins.
The Evangola State Park camping fee ranges from around $15-27 a night.
The cost of a Evangola State Park cabin is around $60 per day and $420 per week.
The cost of a Evangola State Park yurt is around $90 per day.
See more about planning a trip to this Western New York campground: Things to do in near Lake Erie
And thats a little bit about planning a Western New York camping trip!
New York State Park Campsites
New York state may be home to the largest urban area in the United States, but you can still get your nature on right here in the Empire State. From New York State park campsites and cabins to cottages, yurts and more, there’s something for everyone when you’re camping in New York state parks. Better yet, by booking directly through Tentrr, you don’t have to deal with those kludgy reservation windows that forces you to book months and months in advance.
Instead of loading up the car for some kind of extended road trip, you can experience the best that Mother Nature has to offer right here in New York at a state park campsite. Because it’s so close to home, you don’t even have to wait so that you can plan one of those weeks-long, massive trips — you don’t even have to wait until the weekend, which also comes with the added benefit of being cheaper than those more competitive weekend dates.
Highlights:
- All set up and ready-to-camp
- Access to on-site State Park facilities
- Sites have parking nearby
- Most locations are pet friendly
The site was fully set up and had everything we needed. The tent/site was great and made things a lot easier for us non-campers.
Recommended Reading: List Of Florida State Parks With Camping
Reasons To Stay At A Koa Campground In New York
Why choose KOA when youre looking to make the most of camping in New York? Each location includes a staff thats focused on customer service and ensuring that you have everything needed to have a great time. Each location also features clean bathrooms with hot water, playgrounds for the kids, laundry facilities and other amenities.
When youre looking to relax, explore and have some fun, find the best campgrounds in New York at KOA. Not only will you enjoy camping at a KOA campground, but youll also find yourself close to great local site-seeing opportunities and popular attractions. Dont settle for anything less than the best when camping in New York Choose KOA campgrounds.
Hither Hills State Park
164 Old Montauk Highway, Montauk, NY 11954
For an unforgettable Atlantic Ocean beach camping experience, head to the very tip of Long Island. That name will make sense as you drive over 100 miles east from Manhattan, a trip that can take anywhere from 2.5 to 5 hours depending on traffic. The journey is worth the effort once you arrive at the park on a narrow peninsula, surrounded by sand dunes and woodlands, calm bay waters, and pristine ocean shoreline. You could spend your entire stay traversing the park and the last few miles of the island to Montauk Lighthouse.
Hither Hills campground is located right on the beach, with more than 150 grassy sites that can accommodate RVs. All sites are dry camping, and about a dozen can fit RVs up to 40 feet. Bathrooms, showers, a dump station, and a convenience store are available. Theres plenty to keep campers active herebiking, hiking, swimming, kayaking, and surfing, plus recreation and interpretive programs. Savor the sunsets and starry skies, and understand why families have been returning year after year to this beloved New York state park.
New York state park campgrounds that accommodate RV camping
Allegany State Park Quaker Area
Allegany State Park Red House Area
Bear Mountain State Park
Beaver Pond Campgrounds Harriman State Park
Betty and Wilbur Davis State Park
Bowman Lake State Park
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Letchworth State Park Campground
Letchworth State Park is a New York state park with waterfalls and a campground!
In addition to campsites, Letchworth State Park is one of the New York state parks with cabins.
The Letchworth State Park camping fee ranges from around $27-30 a night.
The cost of a Letchworth State Park cabin ranges from around $33-142 per day to around $132-568 per week.
You make Letchworth State Park camping reservations through the official New York State Parks camping reservations website.
See more about planning a trip to this Western New York campground: Things to do in Letchworth State Park
New York State Parks Announce Camping Loyalty Program
WATERTOWN, New York – Its an opportunity to earn more out of your camping stay.
On Friday, the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation and the Department of Environmental Conservation announced New York States first-ever Camper Loyalty/Reward Program for overnight stays at state campgrounds.
Visitors will earn points for every dollar spent on overnight accommodations and can redeem those points for future stays.
Points are awarded upon departure, so campers can earn points on already-booked reservations and any new reservations as soon as they enroll in the program. Details about the new Loyalty program and steps to enroll are available at newyorkstateparks.reserveamerica.com.
We know there are many outdoor destinations and lodging options available across New York, and this new Loyalty/Reward program is a way of saying thanks to those visitors who enjoy our state campgrounds and return with their families and friends time and time again, said State Parks Commissioner Erik Kulleseid, If an overnight stay among gorgeous parkland sounds like the perfect getaway, I encourage visitors to enroll in the program and book those vacations to start earning points!
There are currently 120 campgrounds operated by New York State Parks and the Department of Environmental Conservation including 15,000 campsites for tents and RVs, and more than 800 cabins, cottages, yurts, and a lighthouse. Several of those sights are in the Thousand Islands area.
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Camping Things To Know
The Office of Parks, Recreation & Historic Preservation operates camping areas in New York’s state parks. Through the New York State Camping Reservation System, you may reserve sites which will guarantee accommodations at any state camping area. Online reservations can be made at newyorkstateparks.reserveamerica.com and phone reservations can be made by calling 1-800-456-2267 . Services, programs, and facilities vary among campgrounds. Contact the park for current schedules.
Start packing! Use our camping checklist to help you prepare for your trip.
General Rules and Information
Same-Day Reservations and Walk-Ins: Same-day reservations will be allowed until 3pm on day of arrival this applies to campsites only. Reservations can be made online or through the Reserve America call center . Walk-ins will not be permitted during this time. When walk-ins are permitted, you may register upon arrival for 1, or up to 14 nights, provided sites are available and a registration fee of $1.25 will be charged.
Check-In: 3PM . Site must be registered and occupied by 9pm on the first night of the reservation or it will be subject to re-rental and fees may be forfeited.
Check-Out: Campers must vacate their site no later than 11AM on the day of departure.
Site Assignment: Sites are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Length of Stay:
Campsite Occupancy: Limited to 6 persons per site .
Camping Equipment:
Pets: If the site permits pets, please respect the pet policy:
Four Mile Creek State Park Campground
Niagara Falls is among the most popular places to visit in the entire state of New York.
And the place to go to see Niagara Falls on the American side is Niagara Falls State Park.
Niagara Falls State Park is one of the best state parks in Western New York.
But, there is no Niagara Falls State Park campground so you will have to look elsewhere to go camping near Niagara Falls!
And so, the next best thing might be to go camping near Lake Ontario!
The Lake Ontario campground thats closest to Niagara Falls is the Four Mile Creek State Park campground.
While there are no campsites that are directly along Lake Ontario, there are campsites that come with views of Lake Ontario.
In addition to campsites, Four Mile Creek State Park is also one of the New York state parks with yurts.
There is no swimming at Four Mile Creek State Park.
The Four Mile Creek State Park camping fee ranges from around $18-34 a night, depending on whether you go for a campsite with or without electricity.
The cost of a Four Mile Creek State Park yurt is around $90 per day.
See more about camping at this Western New York campground: Lake Ontario camping near Niagara Falls
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Ways To Camp In New York State
Make sure you get the camping experience that everyone will enjoy. KOA campgrounds offer a variety of campground lodging options, including:
- Tent Sites: Tent camping is going back to the basics, pitching your own tent and maximizing your time spent out in nature. If you want to enjoy more traditional, rustic camping then tent camping is the way to go.
- Camping Cabins: Choose Camping Cabins when you want to leave the tent at home and enjoy the convenience of electricity, beds and a roof over your head. Many Camping Cabins also come with fire pits or grills and other great features.
- Deluxe Cabins: Deluxe Cabins provide the same convenient features that you will find in the Camping Cabins, but with the added convenience of your own bathroom. Some Deluxe Cabins also feature TVs, kitchenettes and more.
- RV Sites: When you need RV campgrounds in New York, youll find the best options at KOA. We offer RV Sites that include full-hookups, waste disposal, clean bathrooms, easy access and much more. If you choose a KOA Patio Site you will get other great amenities, such as comfortable seating areas and a fire pit or grill.
- Glamping Tents & more: Looking for a unique way to camp? Many KOA campgrounds offer unique lodging, such as Glamping Tents, yurts, Airstream trailers and more. Check with specific campgrounds to learn more about the unique lodging options offered!
Don`t Move Firewood Regulations In Effect
Firewood Regulation:
- * It is illegal to bring untreated* firewood into New York State.
- * It is illegal to transport untreated firewood more than 50 miles from its source or origin.
- * When transporting firewood, you must carry proof of source , origin or treatment . Failure to do so may result in you being ticketed and subject to a fine.
- * Please be aware of state and federal quarantines that further restrict the movement of firewood: Emerald ash borer quarantines, Asian longhorned beetle quarantines.
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Happy Camping In Western New York
Watch the videos to see Western New York in action!
Find more amazing things to do in Western New York: Watch my Western New York videos on youtube
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Camping And Glamping In New York
Immerse yourself in the peace and tranquility of nature with a camping trip in New York State, where great options abound, from crisp, star-flecked nights in the Adirondacks to the Catskills, where youre never far from amazing family activities like canoeing, hiking, and fishing.
Whether you’re looking to park an RV, rent a cabin, or pitch a tent under the stars, New York State is the perfect spot for your next camping getaway. You’ll find a range of private campgroundsmany can be booked through CampNewYork.comas well as public campgrounds operated by New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation , and the Department of Environmental Conservation . Interested in glamping? Search for a site below or visit the blog post The Best Glamping Experiences in New York State. Additionally, New York State has partnered with Tentrr to offer 45 new, fully outfitted sites at four State Parks in the Hudson Valley.
New reservations for all available State Parks sitesincluding tents, trailers, RVs, cabins, yurts, and cottagescan be made by calling toll free 1-800-456-CAMP or . Online reservations are encouraged.
Social distancing measures will be in place at all campgrounds, and other restrictions may be in place. For more information, please visit the State Parks website and the Department of Environmental Conservation website.
Also Check: Last Minute Camping Reservations California
Don’t Move Firewood Regulations In Effect
Help PROTECT OUR PARKS and follow Firewood Regulation:
- It is illegal to bring untreated firewood* into New York State.
- It is illegal to transport untreated firewood more than 50 miles from its source or origin.
- When transporting firewood, you must carry one of the following: 1) proof of source , 2) proof of origin , or 3) proof of or treatment . Failure to do so may result in you being ticketed and subject to a fine.
- Please be aware of state and federal quarantines that further restrict the movement of firewood:Spotted lanternfly quarantine
NOTE: It is always best to use heat treated firewood or obtain local firewood at or near your destination. For more information on the availability of firewood please contact the park/campground directly.
For more information about firewood regulations visit or call toll free 1-866-640-0652. The interactive Firewood Source Map shows a 50-mile distance from which untreated firewood may be moved to NYS Parks and campgrounds. Additional firewood source maps are available at each campground’s website.
*To be considered treated, firewood must be heat-treated to a minimum core temperature of 71 degrees Celsius for 75 minutes, and must have a label that says “New York Approved Heat-Treated Firewood/Pest Free” along with the producer’s name and legal address. Firewood that meets these standards and is labeled as such can be moved into NY and around the state without restriction.