Best New York State Parks

Only some New York State parks offer overnight camping as many of the parks are designed only to support day travellers interested in swimming or hiking. For those looking to take overnight camping trips in New York state parks, it's important to know which have campgrounds available and which offer the best accommodations.

Believe it or not New York State parks offer more than just traditional camping facilities and the occasional site with cabins. The state parks of New York also have facilities with fully equipped vacation rentals as well as conference centers, and even sites you can book for large group camps.

For traditional outdoor camping, try the Allegany State Park, which offers beautiful views on 65,000 acres and was voted a top camping spot in 2007. Lakes for swimming are also available as are extensive bike paths.

For those that prefer camping in cabins (your experience is still rustic but you get a roof over your head) try the Cayuga Lake State Park, which was named one of the top 100 campsites in the nation in 2007. Cabins are located along a lake beach and fishing is also allowed.

For camping in a vacation rental, which provides the atmosphere of a state park but indoor plumbing and cooking, Letchworth might be your best bet for a New York State park. Over 100 years old, Letchworth was also one of the top 100 campgrounds in the nation (New York State is blessed with a disproportionate number of these). Moreau Lake State Park and Oquaga are also well-rated for these types of facilities. This may be the camping approach that makes the most sense of you if you are travelling with young children. Letchworth and Monroe also have facilities for group camps.