The best camping in Allegany State Park, NY

About an hour south of Buffalo, Allegany State Park has been a popular getaway for generations, offering hundreds of campsites and cabins, some year-round. The park is divided into two main areas, each with its own camping areas and swimming lakes: the Red House Area in the northern part of the park and the Quaker Area in the south. Allegany also features an interesting array of geological formations, including a group of ancient bedrock formations known as Thunder Rocks and a cluster of grottoes called Bear Caves, one of the park’s most popular hiking destinations. 

• Best for history buffs: The Red House Area is close to top park attractions, including Red House Lake, the Administration Building with its gift shop and natural history museum, a fire tower, and the Stone Tower, an observation tower dating back to 1933.
• Best for boating: The Quaker Area Campground (aka Cain Hollow) features easy access to Quaker Lake and Science Lake, with two fishing piers, a sandy beach, and a boat launch, plus plenty of hiking trails.

1. You can reserve your campsite through New York State Parks online reservation system or over the phone.
2. Camping is by reservation only. Walk-in camping is not allowed.
3. Book ahead, especially if you want to visit on a weekend or in summer. Reservations are available from nine months in advance and close at 3pm on the day of your visit.
4. If you can’t find a campsite in Allegany State Park during your preferred dates, you may be able to find an alternative campsite by doing an expanded map search on the New York State Parks’ reservation website.

Allegany is a popular getaway for nature lovers year-round. Summer draws those interested in hiking, biking, canoeing, and simply enjoying a camping experience out in nature, while winters are popular for snowshoeing, snowmobiling, ice fishing, and cross-country skiing, particularly in the Art Roscoe Ski Touring Area. The campsites at Allegany are usually open from late May until the last weekend in October. The cottages and some cabins are open year-round.

• The nearest place to stock up on supplies and groceries is Salamanca, a 15-minute drive away, though you may find more selection in Bradford, Pennsylvania, about a 30-minute drive from the Quaker entrance.
• To prevent the spread of emerald ash borer beetle infestations, campers cannot bring firewood into the park. Kiln-dried firewood is available for campfires. 
• The campsites and most other facilities are ADA accessible. The seven full-service Fancher Cottages are also accessible, but the Pitt Cottage in the Red House Area is not.