Erie Canal Camping – Where to find the best locations

After an enjoyable day of biking, hiking or paddling along the Erie Canalway in the Mohawk Valley you may find yourself a few miles from a hotel or bed and breakfast. Setting up a small tent and camping nearby could be a great option.

Erie Canal Camping

To make planning your journey a little bit easier the NYS Canal Corporation and Parks and Trails New York have put together resources to help make your time camping along the canal fun and enjoyable.

NYS Canal Corporation has expanded the number of locks available for camping for 2024!

Camping at locks is primitive, so be sure to plan ahead and come prepared if you’re staying overnight. The NYS Canal Corporation website has an interactive map showing the services and amenities available at many stops along the way.

To see every campsite (public and private) available along the NYS Canal System, go to nycanalmap.com. From the drop-down menu, select “SHOW ALL” at the top. Then under the heading  “FILTER BY FEATURE” select “CAMPING”

The New York State Canal Corporation offers 17 Cycler-Hiker-Boater Campsites along the Canalway Trail and waterways. These campsites are designed to make touring along the Canal System easier for trail users, boaters and paddlers during the navigation season (May-October). The Canal Corporation offers camping designated as “primitive,” with limited on-site amenities. Porta johns are provided at the designated campsites but visitors should be prepared with their own potable water, first aid kits, along with camping and cooking supplies.

The sites include an area for 4 tents/10 people. Stays are limited to 48 hours and are available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Please provide advance notice by contacting the sites at the phone numbers prior to arrival.

Upon arrival, see the Lock Operator, then take a 1-minute online survey. If the Lock Operator is unavailable, use the posted QR Code to access the survey.

Visit the NYS Canal Corporation website for locations and guidelines.

Parks and Trails New York

From primitive biker-hiker-boater campsites right on the trail, to some of New York’s most striking state parks, you’ll find plenty of places to camp along the Erie Canalway Trail.

Parks and Trails New York provides many resources for planning your journey along the canal. Information on their site includes additional service and amenities at municipal parks and arenas, state parks, private camping locations and others

More Trip Planning Resources

• Check out the interactive trip-planning resources at empiretrail.ny.gov.
• Looking for something a little comfier for your overnight stays? Check out our list of places to stayalong the trail.
• Read our blog: Planning an Adventure on the Erie Canalway Trail
• Order the Cycling the Erie Canal guidebook. This physical book has 38 easy-to-read, full-color maps as well as the availability of lodging, bike shops, parking and other services, and a comprehensive listing of attractions, historic sites, visitor centers, parks to help you plan your trip.

Happy camping!

Source: Erie Canal Corporation and Parks and Trails New York;