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 offers trail users 17 campsites along the Erie and Champlain Canal Trail segments during navigation season from May through October. These "primitive" sites offer porta-johns but trail users should be prepared with potable water, first aid kits, camping, and cooking supplies. Detailed information about these 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.
