USDA Forest Service · New York
Potomac Group Campground
USDA Forest Service · New York, United States
- Sites
- 1
- Hookups
- 1 no hookups
- Season
- Year-round
- Group sites
- Yes
- Drinking water
- No
- Restrooms
- Yes
- Elevation
- 1,870 ft
- Dark sky
- Bortle class 2
- Cell coverage
- AT&T weak · Verizon weak · T-Mobile none (carriers' 4G LTE filings to the FCC, 2025-12; not measured here)
- Access road
- POTOMAC CAMPGROUND ROAD (NFSR H09B) · crushed aggregate or gravel · suitable for passenger cars
- Lake
- Green Mountain & Finger Lakes National Forests
- Nearest town
- HECTOR
- Address
- POTOMAC ROAD, HECTOR, NY, 14841
- Phone
- 607-546-4470
- Activities
- Camping, Cross Country Skiing, Fishing, Hiking, Hunting, Swimming, Wildlife Viewing
1 numbered sites are mapped one by one - open the site map to pick yours.
About
Overview
Potomac Group Campground and Day Use Area provides a primitive camping experience for groups of 8-40 people. It is an excellent site for family events and youth group activities. The facility is situated in a scenic area of New York, which makes for an exciting place to explore. A variety of recreational activities are available. Parking for the campground is located approximately 500 feet from the campground itself and all gear must be carried in and out. Recycling cans are available on site but trash must be packed out.
Recreation
A variety of trails exist in the area, including the Potomac Trail, which extends about 5 miles round-trip. It is a moderately difficult trail that travels through a variety of forest types and follows the edges of quite a few ponds in the area. It is a nice loop on which to learn cross-country skiing and is also a popular game bird hunting area. The Potomac Trail connects with the Interloken Trail and the campground. Fishing is allowed in the ponds, pertaining to state fishing regulations.
Facilities
Many primitive, group, tent-only campsites, and a group picnic shelter are available for reservation and equipped with at least 4 tables. A campfire circle and grills are also provided and vault toilets are located nearby. The shelter can accommodate up to 40 people and an adjacent parking lot can hold up to 10 vehicles. There is no electricity at the shelter.
Drinking water is not available at the campground or picnic shelter, nor is trash collection.
Natural Features
The lush, green campground is located in Finger Lakes National Forest, between Cayuga and Seneca Lakes in southwestern New York. It is New York's only National Forest. The Forest has over 30 miles of interconnecting trails that traverse gorges, ravines, pastures, and woodlands.
Fees
The fee is based on the number of people. A group of 8-20 people will be charged $20.00 per night/daily. A group of 21-40 people will be charged $40.00 per night/daily.
Weather, month by month
| Month | Typical high | Typical low | Coldest night | Hottest day | Years with a night below 32°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 27° | 13° | -9° | 50° | 11 of 11 |
| February | 31° | 17° | -13° | 59° | 11 of 11 |
| March | 39° | 25° | 7° | 67° | 11 of 11 |
| April | 56° | 33° | 20° | 78° | 10 of 11 |
| May | 64° | 46° | 30° | 83° | 3 of 11 |
| June | 70° | 53° | 41° | 85° | 0 of 11 |
| July | 78° | 62° | 52° | 90° | 0 of 11 |
| August | 75° | 61° | 54° | 87° | 0 of 11 |
| September | 70° | 55° | 44° | 83° | 0 of 11 |
| October | 55° | 40° | 30° | 76° | 1 of 10 |
| November | 40° | 30° | 12° | 61° | 10 of 10 |
| December | 32° | 24° | 9° | 57° | 10 of 10 |
Mid-month figures from 2016–2026 of daily weather at this spot (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, CC BY 4.0), in °F. Typical is the median; coldest and hottest are the extremes seen.
Nearby campgrounds
- Blueberry Patch Campground · USDA Forest Service · 1 mi
- Blueberry Patch Campground · USDA Forest Service · 1 mi · 1 sites
- Backbone Horse Campground · USDA Forest Service · 1 mi · 1 sites
- Finger Lakes Trail Shelter · USDA Forest Service · 4 mi
- Smith Memorial Park Campground · City, County & Regional Parks · 5 mi
All public campgrounds in New York · Every state and province · Facts read from the operator 2026-02-25. Confirm fees, rules and current status with the operator before you go.