There are limited locations along the Empire State Trail route where overnight camping is available:
- As depicted on the trail segment maps, in some areas state and private campgrounds are located within 5 miles of the Empire State Trail route. Trail users will need to detour off the trail route on public roads to access most campgrounds. Advance reservations are recommended as many campgrounds fill to capacity on weekends from Memorial Day to Labor Day.
- The New York State Canal Corporation has designated Primitive Camping areas at many of its locks along the Erie Canal and Champlain Canal, including the Waterford Canal Visitor Center (Lock E-2), Fort Plain (Lock E-15), Utica (Lock E-20), New London (Lock E-21), and Schuylerville (Lock C-30), along with many other locks with prior permission from Lock Keepers. Detailed information about primitive camping locations is available on the Canal Corporation website: http://www.canals.ny.gov/trails/camping.html.
- Trail users should be aware that no public or private campgrounds are available along significant stretches of the Empire State Trail, particularly in the Hudson Valley section from New York City to Albany.
