8 Best RV Campgrounds In New York State That You Will Love (2024)

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!

8 Best RV Campgrounds In New York State That You Will Love (1)

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!

This post contains affiliate links which means if you click on a link and make a purchase, I will earn a commission at no additional cost to you. Please see ourDisclosure Policyfor more information.

8 Best RV Campgrounds In New York State That You Will Love (2)

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!

  1. Old Forge Camping Resort, Old Forge, NY
  2. North Pole Resorts, Wilmington, NY
  3. Houghton-Letchworth KOA, Houghton, NY
  4. Sleepy Hollow Campground, Phoenicia, NY
  5. Rip Van Winkle Campground, Saugerties, NY
  6. Skyway Camping Resort, Greenfield Park, NY
  7. Nickerson Park Campground, Gilboa, NY
  8. 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

8 Best RV Campgrounds In New York State That You Will Love (3)

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!

8 Best RV Campgrounds In New York State That You Will Love (4)

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.

8 Best RV Campgrounds In New York State That You Will Love (5)

We liked the location of the campground because it was near downtown Old Forge and close to hiking and kayaking.

8 Best RV Campgrounds In New York State That You Will Love (6)

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

8 Best RV Campgrounds In New York State That You Will Love (7)

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.

8 Best RV Campgrounds In New York State That You Will Love (8)

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.

8 Best RV Campgrounds In New York State That You Will Love (9)

We enjoyed our private wooded full hook-up RV site and taking our golden retriever for walks throughout the campground.

8 Best RV Campgrounds In New York State That You Will Love (10)

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!

8 Best RV Campgrounds In New York State That You Will Love (11)

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

8 Best RV Campgrounds In New York State That You Will Love (12)

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.

8 Best RV Campgrounds In New York State That You Will Love (13)

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!

8 Best RV Campgrounds In New York State That You Will Love (14)

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

8 Best RV Campgrounds In New York State That You Will Love (15)

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!

8 Best RV Campgrounds In New York State That You Will Love (16)

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.

8 Best RV Campgrounds In New York State That You Will Love (17)

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

Keep all your campground reservations Organized!

Download your FREE Campground Reservation Log

8 Best RV Campgrounds In New York State That You Will Love (18)

Make your Campground Confirmations easy to find!

FREE Download Below!

5. Rip Van Winkle Campgrounds, Saugerties, NY

8 Best RV Campgrounds In New York State That You Will Love (19)

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.

8 Best RV Campgrounds In New York State That You Will Love (20)

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

8 Best RV Campgrounds In New York State That You Will Love (21)

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.

8 Best RV Campgrounds In New York State That You Will Love (22)

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!

8 Best RV Campgrounds In New York State That You Will Love (23)

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
  • FREEWi-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.

8 Best RV Campgrounds In New York State That You Will Love (24)

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.

8 Best RV Campgrounds In New York State That You Will Love (25)

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.

8 Best RV Campgrounds In New York State That You Will Love (26)

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.

8 Best RV Campgrounds In New York State That You Will Love (27)

Whether you love camping in a field or in the woods, Nickerson Park Campground is a great campground to consider!

8 Best RV Campgrounds In New York State That You Will Love (28)

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 areLake George EscapeorMoose Hillock Camping Resorts.

However, I want to tell you about one of the Best Kept Secrets of another top-rated campground –

Adirondack Camping Village.

Lake George Camping Village (formerly Adirondack Camping Village), Lake George, NY

8 Best RV Campgrounds In New York State That You Will Love (29)

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.

8 Best RV Campgrounds In New York State That You Will Love (30)

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.

8 Best RV Campgrounds In New York State That You Will Love (31)

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.

8 Best RV Campgrounds In New York State That You Will Love (32)

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!

8 Best RV Campgrounds In New York State That You Will Love (33)

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!

Keep Your Camping Reservations Organized!

Download Your FREE

RV Campground Reservation Log!

8 Best RV Campgrounds In New York State That You Will Love (34)

Download Your Camping Log Below!

Pin This For Later!

8 Best RV Campgrounds In New York State That You Will Love (35)
8 Best RV Campgrounds In New York State That You Will Love (36)
8 Best RV Campgrounds In New York State That You Will Love (2024)

FAQs

Can you live in an RV year round in NY? ›

In these instances, you can live in an RV on your own land if you obtain the necessary permits and pass building and safety inspections. If your RV is a permanent residence, there are certain building and safety codes you will be required to follow to remain in compliance with the city and county.

What is the best place to live in an RV? ›

The best states for full-time RV living are Florida, Texas, California, Arizona, and Oregon. Each of these states offers something unique and appealing to RVers, whether it's warm weather, scenic beauty, or plenty of entertainment options.

Do New York state parks have RV hookups? ›

Tents, trailers and motorhomes can easily be accommodated. Most sites have a picnic table, fire pit or ring and nearby restrooms and many include amenities such as electric, water and sewer hook-up, and platforms. View a list of state parks with campgrounds or make your reservations today!

Is New York RV friendly? ›

New York City law doesn't allow RVs to park in city spaces for more than 24 hours. While this law seems relaxed, we don't recommend it.

Can you live in an RV full-time in New York State? ›

New York: In New York, living in an RV is allowed on private property as long as the individual has obtained permission from the local government.

Is it legal to live in an RV in NY State? ›

Even though New York State allows RV living, there are many limits in place. We are considered a less-friendly RV location to live along with California, and Wyoming. Even though you can technically reside in your recreational vehicle in these three states, their stringent laws can put extra stress on you as the owner.

Is it cheaper to live in an RV or buy a house? ›

Living in an RV can be cheaper than traditional home ownership because RVs require less space and utility usage, resulting in lower costs for heating, cooling, and maintenance. Additionally, RV living encourages a simpler and more minimalist lifestyle that can lead to fewer expenses related to possessions.

Is it financially smart to live in an RV? ›

As long as travel fees are kept in check, and RV purchase and maintenance costs are considered, Living “small” in an RV can be significantly cheaper than a monthly mortgage plus the cost of “keeping up with the Joneses” in 2,000 square feet.

Is it cheaper to live in an RV or an apartment? ›

Is RV living cheaper than renting a small apartment? Not anymore. RV life has become quite expensive. After C19 hit, many people could not afford their rent, so they bought an RV and moved into an RV park.

Do seniors get discounts at New York State parks? ›

New York State Golden Park Program

If you are a New York State resident 62 or older, on Monday - Friday (except holidays), you can obtain free vehicle access to most* state parks, boat launch sites and arboretums and fee reduction to state historic sites and state-operated golf courses.

Can you Boondock in New York State? ›

Many forests within the state allow for boondocking. They just a few rules to guide travelers while camping, including: Travelers must make a camp not less than 150 ft away from many hiking trails and roads nearby. Build a camp at least 150 ft away from any water bodies.

How much does it cost to camp in a New York State Park? ›

AMENITY FEES Each campsite begins with a base rate of $15.00 per night. Sites that offer amenities will be charged additionally as showing below.
AMENITYPER NIGHT FEE
Full Hook-up (water, sewer, 50 amp electric)$15.00
Non-NYS resident patrons$5.00
BASIC FEES
85 more rows

Do you need insurance on a camper in New York State? ›

The state of New York requires that all drivers of motor vehicles, including Class A, B, and C motorhomes, carry minimum liability insurance.

Do RVs need to be inspected in NY? ›

These inspections are an important part of registering your RV. They help the State of New York understand current RVers and also helps to ensure that safe vehicles are being used on the road.

Is it realistic to live in an RV? ›

Unless you're retired or saved to travel for some time, you'll need an income to live full-time in an RV. Some RVers work online, while others find short-term jobs and work in one location before moving on to the next.

Can you live in an RV as a permanent residence? ›

State and Federal Laws Governing Campers as Residences in California. The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) explains that an RV is used for recreational purposes. It is not intended for permanent occupancy or as a primary residence.

Is it possible to live permanently in an RV? ›

Living in your RV full-time — either a motorhome or a travel trailer — as your permanent residence is easier than ever. But it does take planning, research, and an adventurous spirit.

Is there an RV you can live in year-round? ›

If you change locations frequently, the best RV for full-time living might be a motorhome – it's typically more convenient than a trailer, which usually takes longer to pack up.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Pres. Lawanda Wiegand

Last Updated:

Views: 5976

Rating: 4 / 5 (71 voted)

Reviews: 94% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Pres. Lawanda Wiegand

Birthday: 1993-01-10

Address: Suite 391 6963 Ullrich Shore, Bellefort, WI 01350-7893

Phone: +6806610432415

Job: Dynamic Manufacturing Assistant

Hobby: amateur radio, Taekwondo, Wood carving, Parkour, Skateboarding, Running, Rafting

Introduction: My name is Pres. Lawanda Wiegand, I am a inquisitive, helpful, glamorous, cheerful, open, clever, innocent person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.