Outdoors · Camping
Camping in New York
Lake George islands, High Peaks lean-tos, and quiet state park loops all make New York camping easier with a little planning.
New York has camping with showers, beaches, and boat launches in the Adirondack and Catskill Parks, plus hundreds more campsites at State Parks around the state. If you want more quiet, you can pitch a tent for free deep in the woods on state land.
There are really two camping worlds here. The first is developed campgrounds, where you book a numbered site ahead of time and drive right up. The second is primitive (backcountry) camping, where you hike in, follow a few simple rules, and stay for free. Pick the one that fits your trip.
We point you to the official New York pages for things that change every year, like fees, exact open dates, and any rule updates. Always check those before you go. The folks who run these lands keep them current, and a quick look saves you trouble at the gate or on the trail.
Good first stops
Lake George Islands (Adirondacks)
Camping on your own little island is hard to beat. Most sites come with a dock, a fireplace, a picnic table, and a privy. It feels remote but is run by DEC, so help is nearby.
Fish Creek Pond Campground (Adirondacks)
One of New York's busiest and best-loved campgrounds, with easy canoe and kayak access to a chain of ponds. A good first stop if you're new to Adirondack camping.
North-South Lake Campground (Catskills)
You camp right where the Hudson River School painters worked. Short walks lead to Kaaterskill High Peak views and the site of the old Catskill Mountain House.
Before you go
A few checks make the day easier.
- Developed sites: reserve via ReserveAmerica, up to 9 months ahead
- Primitive sites: free, first-come, no reservation
- 150-foot rule applies whenever you're not on a marked 'Camp Here' site
- Permit needed for stays over 3 nights or groups of 10+
- State Park max stay: 14 nights in a row, then a 48-hour break
Where to go
Lake George Islands (Adirondacks)
Camping on your own little island is hard to beat. Most sites come with a dock, a fireplace, a picnic table, and a privy. It feels remote but is run by DEC, so help is nearby.
Getting there: Boat-access sites spread across 44 islands in Lake George, Warren County. They are split into three groups: Glen Island, Long Island, and Narrow Island. Plan on your own boat (or a rental) to reach your site. Each group has its own season and reservation link through ReserveAmerica; book early because these go fast.
Plan the visit →Fish Creek Pond Campground (Adirondacks)
One of New York's busiest and best-loved campgrounds, with easy canoe and kayak access to a chain of ponds. A good first stop if you're new to Adirondack camping.
Getting there: Near Saranac Lake in the northern Adirondacks. It's a large, popular drive-in campground on the water, great for paddling and family trips. Reserve through ReserveAmerica.
Plan the visit →North-South Lake Campground (Catskills)
You camp right where the Hudson River School painters worked. Short walks lead to Kaaterskill High Peak views and the site of the old Catskill Mountain House.
Getting there: Near Haines Falls in Greene County, the largest state campground in the Catskills. Drive-in sites, two lakes, a beach, and trails to famous overlooks. Reserve through ReserveAmerica.
Plan the visit →Saranac Lake Islands (Adirondacks)
Quiet, water-access sites for paddlers who want solitude without a long backcountry hike. A classic Adirondack canoe-camping trip.
Getting there: Boat-access campsites on Lower Saranac Lake and the surrounding waters, near the village of Saranac Lake. Bring or rent a canoe, kayak, or small motorboat. Reserve through ReserveAmerica.
Plan the visit →High Peaks Wilderness backcountry (Adirondacks)
This is true New York backcountry, home to the state's tallest mountains. DEC says overnight users in the Eastern High Peaks must use a bear-resistant canister between April 1 and November 30.
Getting there: Hike-in primitive camping and lean-tos in the High Peaks, reached from trailheads like the Adirondak Loj near Lake Placid. No reservation; sites are first-come. Check DEC's High Peaks page and the backcountry conditions before you go.
Plan the visit →Letchworth State Park (Finger Lakes region)
Three big waterfalls in a deep gorge, plus easy trails and overlooks. A great choice if you want a State Park rather than the Adirondacks or Catskills.
Getting there: Near Castile in western New York, often called the 'Grand Canyon of the East.' A large State Park campground with cabins, drive-in sites, and waterfall views. Reserve through ReserveAmerica.
Plan the visit →Primitive 'Camp Here' tent sites (statewide Forest Preserve)
The most flexible and budget-friendly way to camp in New York. Marked sites sit on harder, flatter ground that holds up better to use, so you tread lighter on the land.
Getting there: Scattered on DEC Forest Preserve and State Forest lands across the Adirondacks, Catskills, and beyond. Look for yellow-and-black 'Camp Here' disks. Free and first-come, first-served, no reservation. Follow the state-land rules for distance, fires, and permits.
Plan the visit →How to reserve a site or camp for free
New York camping comes in two flavors. Developed campgrounds need a reservation; backcountry primitive camping does not.
For DEC campgrounds in the Adirondacks and Catskills, and for New York State Parks, you reserve through ReserveAmerica, online or by calling 1-800-456-CAMP (2267). Do not call the campground directly to book. You can reserve up to 9 months in advance, and you can often grab a same-day site up to 3 p.m. on arrival day. Cabins, cottages, and yurts must be booked at least a day ahead.
For free primitive camping, no booking is needed. On DEC Forest Preserve and State Forest land, designated tent sites are marked with yellow-and-black 'Camp Here' disks and are first-come, first-served. If you're not at a marked site, your tent must be at least 150 feet from any road, trail, spring, stream, pond, or other water. Stays longer than 3 nights in one spot, or groups of 10 or more, need a permit from the local Forest Ranger.
- •Developed sites: reserve via ReserveAmerica, up to 9 months ahead
- •Primitive sites: free, first-come, no reservation
- •150-foot rule applies whenever you're not on a marked 'Camp Here' site
- •Permit needed for stays over 3 nights or groups of 10+
Official source — DEC Camping Reservations →
Picking the right season
Most developed campgrounds open in spring and close in fall, with the busiest stretch in summer. Peak summer dates and minimum-stay rules change, so check the current schedule before you book. At State Parks the longest you can stay is 14 nights in a row, then you must leave for 48 hours before returning to the same park.
Summer brings warm lakes and long days. It also brings crowds and bugs, so book early. Fall is quieter, and the Adirondack and Catskill leaves can be beautiful. Cold months and high-elevation trips need extra care. In the Adirondacks, camping above 4,000 feet is allowed only in an emergency. In the Catskills, camping above 3,500 feet is allowed only in an emergency or from December 21 to March 21.
Always check the official open dates and any seasonal closures for your campground, since they can shift year to year.
- •State Park max stay: 14 nights in a row, then a 48-hour break
- •Summer is busiest; book early. Fall is quieter with great color
- •Adirondacks: no camping above 4,000 ft (except emergencies)
- •Catskills: no camping above 3,500 ft (with limited winter exception)
Official source — NY State Parks: Things to Know →
Bears, fires, and Leave No Trace
Think about bears before you pack food. In the Eastern High Peaks Wilderness, overnight campers must use a bear-resistant canister from April 1 through November 30. Put food, garbage, and toiletries in the canister. Even where canisters are not required, never keep food in your tent.
DEC fire guidance says to use existing fire pits or fireplaces, skip fires where a 'No Fires' disk is posted, burn dead and down wood, and avoid cutting standing trees. Put the fire out with water until the ashes are cold.
Pack out all trash. Keep soap and washing at least 150 feet from water. Bury human waste 6 to 8 inches deep and at least 150 feet from water and campsites. Check the weather and backcountry conditions before any woods trip.
- •DEC: bear canister required in the Eastern High Peaks, April 1 to Nov 30
- •DEC fire practice: existing pits, dead and down wood, douse cold
- •Keep soap and washing 150+ feet from water
- •Check current weather and backcountry conditions before you go
Official source — DEC Bear-Resistant Canisters →
Quick reference
For developed campgrounds at DEC sites and State Parks, yes
Reserve through ReserveAmerica online or at 1-800-456-CAMP, up to 9 months ahead. For free primitive (backcountry) camping on DEC state land, no reservation is needed; marked sites are first-come, first-served.
Camping on DEC Forest Preserve and State Forest land is free and needs no reservation
Yes. You just have to follow the state-land rules, like the 150-foot distance rule and getting a permit for stays over 3 nights or groups of 10 or more.
DEC's general camping rule says that, if you're not at a marked 'Camp Here' site, your tent should be at least 150 feet from any road, trail, spring, stream, pond, or other water
It protects shorelines and trails. Designated sites are the exception because they're already set up for camping.
DEC says overnight campers in the Eastern High Peaks Wilderness must use a bear-resistant canister from April 1 through November 30
It is smart to use one elsewhere in bear country too. Avoid storing food in your tent.
Up to 9 months ahead through ReserveAmerica for both DEC campgrounds and State Parks
Popular spots like the Lake George Islands fill quickly, so book as early as you can.
At State Parks the maximum is 14 nights in a row, then you must leave for 48 hours before returning to the same park
In the backcountry, staying more than 3 nights in one place requires a Forest Ranger permit. Check current rules for your specific site.
Usually yes, but only in existing fire pits or fireplaces
Never build one where a 'No Fires' disk is posted. Use only dead and down wood. Do not cut standing trees, and put the fire out with water until the ashes are cold.
DEC runs campgrounds inside the Adirondack and Catskill Parks, including island and boat-access sites
State Parks (OPRHP) run campgrounds at parks all across New York, like Letchworth. Both book through ReserveAmerica.
DEC offers boat-access-only island camping on Lake George, Saranac Lake, and Indian Lake in the Adirondacks
Yes. You need your own boat or a rental to reach the site, and you reserve through ReserveAmerica.
Official sources
Use the agency page when dates, fees, closures, permits, or safety rules matter. Reviewed June 2026.
- DEC Camping (main page) DEC overview of camping in New York's Adirondack and Catskill Parks.
- DEC Camping Reservations How to reserve DEC campgrounds through ReserveAmerica (1-800-456-CAMP).
- DEC Campgrounds and Day Use Areas List of DEC campgrounds across the Adirondacks and Catskills.
- DEC State Land Camping Rules The 150-foot rule, permits, fire rules, elevation limits, and bear canister requirement.
- DEC Primitive Camping Free first-come primitive tent sites and 'Camp Here' markers on state land.
- DEC Lake George Islands Campgrounds Boat-access island camping in three groups across 44 islands.
- DEC High Peaks Wilderness Complex Backcountry camping and the Eastern High Peaks bear canister rule.
- DEC Bear-Resistant Canisters Details on the bear canister requirement and approved canisters.
- NY State Parks Camping & Lodging State Park campgrounds, cabins, and cottages statewide (OPRHP).
- NY State Parks: Things to Know Reservation window, 14-night max stay, check-in times, peak season.
- NY State Parks: Fees & Policies Current State Park camping fees and policies (check for the latest).
- National Weather Service (NOAA) Check current forecasts and warnings before any camping trip.
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