The 20 Best State Parks in New York
These are the 20 highest-rated state parks we list in New York, ranked by what visitors actually say about them.
Watkins Glen State Park in Watkins Glen leads, with 4.8 stars from 23,858 reviews; Gantry Plaza State Park in New York follows at 4.8. The list spans 5 cities, including Watkins Glen, New York, Rockland County and Haverstraw.
Between them they carry 52,316 Google reviews and average 4.6 stars. We weigh a rating by how many people left it, so a place with a handful of five-star reviews does not leapfrog one that thousands have rated nearly as well.
1.Watkins Glen State Park
4.8 · 23,858 reviews · Watkins Glen
The top pick in Watkins Glen, holding 4.8 stars across 23,858 reviews. Dogs welcome, good for kids and parking on site.
2.Gantry Plaza State Park
4.8 · 10,261 reviews · New York
4.8 stars from 10,261 reviews in New York, one of the most reviewed on this list. Dogs welcome, good for kids and parking on site.
3.Parque 80
4.8 · 196 reviews · New York
Rated 4.8 from 196 reviews in New York. Dogs welcome and good for kids.
4.Little Island's Glockenspiel
4.9 · 54 reviews · New York
Rated 4.9 from 54 reviews in New York. Good for kids.
5.Lake Sebago Boat Launch (By PERMIT Only)
4.7 · 435 reviews · Rockland County
Rated 4.7 from 435 reviews in Rockland County. Dogs welcome, good for kids and parking on site. Open around the clock.
6.Liberty State Park Reserve Pavilions
4.8 · 56 reviews · New York
Rated 4.8 from 56 reviews in New York. Dogs welcome, restrooms and parking on site.
7.Denny Farrell Riverbank State Park
4.6 · 4,549 reviews · New York
4.6 stars from 4,549 reviews in New York, one of the most reviewed on this list. Dogs welcome, good for kids and parking on site.
8.Marsha P. Johnson State Park
4.6 · 3,706 reviews · New York
4.6 stars from 3,706 reviews in New York, one of the most reviewed on this list. Dogs welcome and good for kids.
9.Valley Stream State Park
4.6 · 2,746 reviews · New York
4.6 stars from 2,746 reviews in New York, one of the most reviewed on this list. Dogs welcome, good for kids and parking on site.
10.Shirley Chisholm State Park
4.6 · 1,563 reviews · New York
4.6 stars from 1,563 reviews in New York, one of the most reviewed on this list. Good for kids and parking on site.
11.Englewood Picnic Area
4.6 · 475 reviews · New York
Rated 4.6 from 475 reviews in New York. Dogs welcome, good for kids and parking on site.
12.Clay Pit Ponds Interpretive Center
4.8 · 39 reviews · New York
Rated 4.8 from 39 reviews in New York.
13.Haverstraw Beach State Park
4.6 · 149 reviews · Haverstraw
Rated 4.6 from 149 reviews in Haverstraw. Dogs welcome and good for kids.
14.Grover Cleveland Birthplace Historic Site
4.6 · 83 reviews · New York
Rated 4.6 from 83 reviews in New York. Good for kids and restrooms.
15.Roberto Clemente State Park
4.5 · 1,802 reviews · New York
4.5 stars from 1,802 reviews in New York, one of the most reviewed on this list. Good for kids and parking on site.
16.Lake Superior State Park
4.5 · 422 reviews · Sullivan County
Rated 4.5 from 422 reviews in Sullivan County. Dogs welcome, good for kids and parking on site.
17.Charles Memorial Park (Gateway National Recreation Area)
4.4 · 1,297 reviews · New York
4.4 stars from 1,297 reviews in New York, one of the most reviewed on this list. Dogs welcome, good for kids and parking on site.
18.Clay Pit Ponds State Park
4.4 · 299 reviews · New York
Rated 4.4 from 299 reviews in New York. Good for kids and parking on site.
19.Bayswater Point State Park
4.4 · 292 reviews · New York
Rated 4.4 from 292 reviews in New York. Dogs welcome, good for kids and parking on site.
20.Rubeo Cieslinski Park
4.4 · 34 reviews · New York
Rated 4.4 from 34 reviews in New York. Dogs welcome and good for kids.
Common questions
What is the best state park in New York?
Watkins Glen State Park in Watkins Glen ranks first, with 4.8 out of 5 stars from 23,858 Google reviews.
Which city in New York has the most top-rated state parks?
New York has 16 of the 20 state parks on this list.
Which state parks in New York allow dogs?
Watkins Glen State Park, Gantry Plaza State Park, Parque 80, Lake Sebago Boat Launch (By PERMIT Only) and Liberty State Park Reserve Pavilions, among others, are listed as dog-friendly.
Which state parks in New York are good for kids?
Watkins Glen State Park, Gantry Plaza State Park, Parque 80, Little Island's Glockenspiel and Lake Sebago Boat Launch (By PERMIT Only), among others, are flagged as family-friendly.
Do these state parks have restrooms?
2 of the 20 list restrooms on site. Check each place's page before you go, since facilities can close seasonally.
More guides
Rankings come from Google ratings and review counts, and refresh whenever the AllParx directory is updated. Conditions and hours change, so check a place's page before you travel.