Free Camping in New York

200 sites across 6 federal and state land agencies. 0 sites have full agency-grounded write-ups; the rest are in the indexing queue.

National Park Service sites

31 sites. National Park Service camping rules →

  • African Burial Ground National Monument
    Developed· Indexing
  • Castle Clinton National Monument
    Developed· Indexing
  • Castle Clinton NM
    Developed· Indexing
  • Eleanor Roosevelt National Historic Site
    Developed· Indexing
  • Eleanor Roosevelt National Historic Site Tours
    Developed· Indexing
  • Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor
    Developed· Indexing
  • Federal Hall National Memorial
    Developed· Indexing
  • Fire Island Lighthouse
    Developed· Indexing
  • Fire Island National Seashore
    Developed· Indexing
  • Fort Stanwix National Monument
    Developed· Indexing
  • Fort Wadsworth Visitor Center
    Developed· Indexing
  • Gateway National Recreation Area
    Developed· Indexing
  • Gateway NRA-Fishing Access Permit
    Developed· Indexing
  • Gateway NRA-Jamaica Bay Unit Archery Permit
    Developed· Indexing
  • Gateway NRA-Staten Isl Boat Launch Parking
    Developed· Indexing
  • General Grant National Memorial
    Developed· Indexing
  • Goldenrod Campground
    Developed· Indexing
  • Governors Island National Monument
    Developed· Indexing
  • Hamilton Grange National Memorial
    Developed· Indexing
  • Harriet Tubman National Historical Park
    Developed· Indexing
  • Henry A. Wallace Visitor Center
    Developed· Indexing
  • Historic Fort Gregg Barracks
    Developed· Indexing
  • Home Of Franklin D Roosevelt National Historic Site
    Developed· Indexing
  • Home of Franklin D. Roosevelt National Historic Site Tours
    Developed· Indexing
7 more National Park Service sites in New York.

PRIVATE sites

139 sites. PRIVATE camping rules →

  • #3
    Developed· Indexing
  • A Cabins
    Developed· Indexing
  • Abner Brook Campsite
    Developed· Indexing
  • Alger Island Campground
    Developed· Indexing
  • Algonquin Lean-to site
    Developed· Indexing
  • Ascalona Campground
    Developed· Indexing
  • Asgo Tent site
    Developed· Indexing
  • Ausable Chasm Campground
    Developed· Indexing
  • Ausable Point Campground
    Developed· Indexing
  • B Cabins
    Developed· Indexing
  • Backbone Horse Camp
    Developed· Indexing
  • Baden Powell Tent site
    Developed· Indexing
  • Bear Spring Mountain - Launt Pond
    Developed· Indexing
  • Bear Spring Mountain - Spruce Grove
    Developed· Indexing
  • Beaverkill Campground
    Developed· Indexing
  • Big Guys Campground
    Developed· Indexing
  • Billet Camp, FSR
    Developed· Indexing
  • Branches of Niagara Campground & Resort
    Developed· Indexing
  • Breezy Point Campground
    Developed· Indexing
  • Brennan Beach Campground
    Developed· Indexing
  • Brown Tract Pond Campground
    Developed· Indexing
  • Buck Pond Campground
    Developed· Indexing
  • C Cabins
    Developed· Indexing
  • Cain Hollow
    Developed· Indexing
115 more PRIVATE sites in New York.

State Parks sites

18 sites. State Parks camping rules →

  • Allegany State Park
    Developed· Indexing
  • Allegany State Park (Parallel-Bova-Cain Hollow Cottages)
    Developed· Indexing
  • Beaver Island State Park
    Developed· Indexing
  • Beaver Pond State Park
    Developed· Indexing
  • Belmont Lake State Park
    Developed· Indexing
  • Bethpage State Park
    Developed· Indexing
  • Betty And Wilbur Davis State Park
    Developed· Indexing
  • Bowman Lake State Park
    Developed· Indexing
  • Buck Pond Campground
    Developed· Indexing
  • Buffalo Harbor State Park
    Developed· Indexing
  • Burnham Point State Park
    Developed· Indexing
  • Buttermilk Falls State Park
    Developed· Indexing
  • Canoe Point State Park
    Developed· Indexing
  • Cedar Island State Park
    Developed· Indexing
  • Cedar Point State Park
    Developed· Indexing
  • Chenango Valley State Park
    Developed· Indexing
  • Cherry Plain State Park
    Developed· Indexing
  • Chittenango Falls State Park
    Developed· Indexing

US Army Corps of Engineers sites

3 sites. US Army Corps of Engineers camping rules →

  • Almond Lake
    Developed· Indexing
  • East Sidney Lake
    Developed· Indexing
  • Mount Morris Dam and Recreation Area
    Developed· Indexing

US Forest Service sites

3 sites. US Forest Service camping rules →

  • Blueberry Patch Campground
    Developed· Indexing
  • Finger Lakes National Forest
    Developed· Indexing
  • Finger Lakes National Forest
    Developed· Indexing

US Fish and Wildlife Service sites

6 sites. US Fish and Wildlife Service camping rules →

  • Amagansett National Wildlife Refuge
    Developed· Indexing
  • Congressman Lester Wolff Oyster Bay National Wildlife Refuge
    Developed· Indexing
  • Conscience Point National Wildlife Refuge
    Developed· Indexing
  • Elizabeth Alexandra Morton National Wildlife Refuge
    Developed· Indexing
  • Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge
    Developed· Indexing
  • Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge
    Developed· Indexing

Common questions about camping in New York

How long can you camp on public land in New York?
The federal limit on BLM and USFS land in New York is 14 days within any 28-day period at one camp area, then a 25-mile move. Source: 43 CFR §8365.1-2 for BLM and 36 CFR §261.10 for USFS. NPS sites in New York have separate per-park limits, usually set by the park superintendent's compendium. Always check the local field office before relying on the rule for any specific site.
Are there fire restrictions in New York right now?
Fire restrictions in New York change weekly during fire season. Check the BLM New York state office page and the USFS New York forest pages for the current Stage I, II, or III restrictions before lighting any fire. Stage I usually means no open fires outside developed grates. Stage II usually means no fires anywhere on the unit, including stoves outside developed sites. Carry a backup stove and a check-in plan.
What's the difference between dispersed and developed camping in New York?
Dispersed camping in New York means primitive, no fee, no facilities. You pull off a public-land road and camp where established disturbance already exists. Developed camping means a designated campground with a host, vault toilet, fire ring, picnic table, and usually a nightly fee through Recreation.gov. USFS national forests in New York allow dispersed camping along MVUM-marked roads. Per 36 CFR §261.13 and the Travel Management Rule.
Can you run a generator at public-land campsites in New York?
Generators are generally allowed at developed campgrounds in New York with quiet hours, usually 8pm to 8am. The exact window varies by site and is posted at each campground or in the host's contract. On dispersed land, the federal noise rules and Leave No Trace ethics apply: do not run a generator within 200 feet of water or after dark. Some NPS units in New York prohibit generators entirely; check the park's compendium first.
Are dogs allowed at public-land campsites in New York?
Dogs are generally allowed on BLM and USFS public-land sites in New York when leashed, with the same Leave No Trace ethics that apply to humans: pack out waste, keep your dog on a 6-foot leash or under voice control, do not let them chase wildlife. NPS units in New York are stricter; dogs are typically barred from trails and backcountry, allowed only in developed campgrounds and on paved roads. Always check the specific unit's rules before driving in. State park rules vary too.
Can you camp on public lands in New York in winter?
Winter access in New York depends on the unit. Many BLM dispersed sites and USFS forest roads stay open year-round when conditions allow but become snowed-in or gated above certain elevations. Developed campgrounds usually close from mid-October to mid-April. NPS units in New York often shift to limited winter operations with reduced services. Check the agency office or Recreation.gov for current road status and gate closure dates. Carry chains and emergency supplies in shoulder season.
Where can you dump RV waste on public lands in New York?
Most dispersed and primitive sites in New York do not have dump stations. You need to plan a stop at a developed campground (USFS, BOR, USACE, or NPS) with a dump station, or a paid commercial dump at a Pilot/Flying J or KOA on your route. Recreation.gov lists which federal campgrounds have dump stations. Never dump on dispersed land; it is a federal violation under 36 CFR §261.11 and 43 CFR §8365.1-1. Sites that have a dump station show it in the Boondock site page.
What's cell coverage like at public-land campsites in New York?
Coverage in New York varies sharply by carrier and site elevation. Carriers' coverage maps are aspirational; the FCC National Broadband Map is more honest but still self-reported. For remote New York sites you should expect no signal on Verizon and T-Mobile at most BLM dispersed land and on dry-side USFS roads. AT&T tends to drop in canyons. The Boondock site page shows coverage data when we have it; absent that, assume no signal and tell someone your plan before you go.

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