Overnight reservations at campgrounds operated by the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (State Parks) and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) climbed to record highs this year.
Over the last decade, as improvements were being made statewide under the NY Parks 2020 capital program, total overnight stays at State Parks campgrounds have risen nearly 45 percent.
Through Columbus Day, campsites, cabins, cottages, and yurts at State Parks campgrounds were occupied for 787,103 nights, surpassing the previous 2019 record of 684,820 nights by 15 percent. DEC campgrounds were occupied for 394,401 nights, surpassing the previous 2016 record of 354,521 nights by more than 10 percent.
State Parks operates 68 State Parks campgrounds, featuring 8,179 campsites, 825 cabins, 18 yurts, and 136 full-service cottages with amenities like power, kitchen, bath, beds, living room, and outdoor living space.
DEC operates 52 campgrounds and five day-use areas in the Adirondack and Catskill forest preserves that provide a wide variety of experiences, including island camping, tent and trailer camping, boat launching facilities, hiking trails, beaches and day use areas with picnic tables and grills.
The camping season runs through the summer, with some facilities remaining open during fall foliage and hunting season. Under the Adventure NY and other initiatives, DEC continues to make improvements at DEC camping facilities, including several for the 2021 season to provide new showers and comfort stations, power and water systems, and equestrian-specific improvements at the Frontier Town campground.
In 2021, New York State rolled out a new Loyalty/Reward program for campers where they earn points for every dollar spent on overnight accommodations at all state-owned and -operated campgrounds for both State Parks and the Department of Environmental Conservation. More than 55,800 people have enrolled so far. Campers can start earning points on new reservations as soon as they are enrolled. For more information about the program and to register, click here.
Nights Booked at State Parks Campgrounds By Year:
2011- 541,771
2012- 578,428
2013- 583,016
2014- 594,441
2015- 623,991
2016- 650,857
2017- 648,420
2018- 663,953
2019- 684,820
2020- 597,188*
2021- 787,103**
Nights Booked at DEC Campgrounds by Year:
2011 – 311,227
2012 – 333,334
2013 – 323,711
2014 – 326,363
2015 – 346,524
2016 – 354,521
2017 – 347,893
2018 – 349,630
2019 – 352,234
2020 – 284,275*
2021 – 394,401
*Parks campgrounds closed in April, May and beginning of June due to COVID restrictions
** Through October 27th with pending reservations made through December
Reservations for State Park campgrounds are available through ReserveAmerica, which provides online and phone reservations for campsites throughout New York. Reservations are accepted for campsites and cabins, from one day to nine months in advance of the planned arrival date. Visit the website or call toll free 1-800-456-CAMP.
The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation oversees more than 250 parks, historic sites, recreational trails, golf courses, boat launches and more, which were visited by a record 78 million in 2020. For more information on any of these recreation areas, call 518-474-0456 or visit www.parks.ny.gov.
To improve public safety and encourage visitors to State-owned lands to practice responsible recreation, this spring DEC launched the ‘Love Our New York Lands’ campaign. The campaign is responsive to the steady increase in the number of visitors to state lands, both during the COVID-19 pandemic and in the decade prior, as more and more New Yorkers and visitors from other states and countries discovered the natural beauty of New York State lands. For details and more information, visit the Love Our New York Lands webpage.
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