Cayuga Lake State Park Campground

Cayuga Lake State Park has a massive campground but most of the sites don't have water or electricity and are squeezed together in tiny loops. If you stay, I'd recommend the 800 or 1000 loops--the sites were much bigger in those areas. But we stayed in the 100 loop (appropriately named "Minnow) and ended up leaving early because our neighbors were just too close for comfort. 

The lakefront area of the park was very nice and we enjoyed walking on the drive down in front of the lake. Plus, Seneca Falls is an adorable town and it was great to visit the Women's Rights National Historic Park and the homes of Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Harriett Tubman, while we were in the area! 

To be fair to this park, we came directly from Watkins Glen State Park (which we loved) and our neighbors were rambunctious. We may have had a better opinion, had the circumstances been different. And in any event, we did really enjoy the area but decided to leave after 2 nights (rather than the 5 we had booked). 

Oh and if you have a boat--the dock area of the park seemed really nice. We'd have loved to get out on the lake!

I made a reservation for 7 nights for cabin #8. Plans changed and we arrived two days into our reservation intending to stay for 5 nights. We did not realized until the first morning that the pile of black stuff on the patio was bat dung. That morning we witnessed dozens of bats returning home for the night to the building we were staying in. On the third afternoon we saw a bat hanging from the outside of a screen door. My husband and I inspected the grounds for the bat but it had gone(or so we thought). He and I remained outside at the picnic table and a short time later I realized my arm was bleeding. When I cleaned the wound my husband and I both observed that I had two little distinct puncture wounds. I was at the emergency room until about 9PM and was told that I had to go home to New Hampshire to be treated with a series of shots that I will endure over the next couple of weeks. I camp often. This is my first time camping in NY. I believe it will be the last time. I knew that there was no bathroom in the cabin. I knew that there was no hot water. I knew that I had to bring a lot of stuff with us like bedding and cookware, But I did not think that I would be living in a bat house, full of flies.. I did not know that we would find rodent dung behind the microwave on the counter where I would be preparing food. I did not think there would be carpenter ants crawling all over that same counter. If I had known all that, I never would have rented the Hell hole. I get to visit with my daughter just once per year and that cabin completely ruined that visit. That building is unsuitable for people and pets. In addition, There is a highway that runs through it. The other guest were very quiet, but the traffic noise did not really add to the ambiance. The lake is across the street and the swimming area is small and too shallow for an adult to swim in. And the RVs are packed pretty tight. I would not recommend this place to anyone. I cannot think of one good thing to say about it. I am including pics that my daughter took hastally as we fled. But since it was dark you cannot really see the mouse turds on the kitchen counter. And the roof leaks. I keep forgetting that because it just seemed like something I should have expected. Most of what I have written I have already sent to the park and I think everyone should take a look at the response I got to my request, no my demand, for my money back(at least) and compensation for the hotel we had to stay in and my medical bills. I think if you are thinking about staying there you should read their response because I think it will help you decide if this place is really for you."Hello, We are very sorry that your experience at Cayuga Lake State Park was not a pleasurable visit. There is a very high population of wildlife in the area. Animals such as bats, mice, chipmunks, ants, flies, bees, birds, skunks, racoons, fox, coyote, etc are a normal occurrence when camping in a nature setting. We take precautions and continue to make improvements to try and minimize wildlife interactions. This area also has a very high bat population. It is not uncommon at all for the bats to roost on the outside of the buildings and under porch eves on the buildings in the park. Unfortunately there are times when wildlife such as mice, chipmunks, flies or bees find entry, occupy the space and may leave droppings or get into a food source. This may be very unappealing, but our cleaners do very well to ensure the dwelling is clean and ready for use when you arrive. Many times animals gain entry after the patron has arrived. We cannot issue a refund for your camping stay. You will not be reimbursed your hotel costs or your medical costs, as there was no negligence on the part of the park that caused what occurred."

Cayuga Lake Campground is honestly one of my favorite places to visit and spend time with family and friends. There is just something about this place that always leaves me wanting to come back again. I have been here twice, and I honestly wish I could come every weekend. It is so peaceful and relaxing, and the nice thing is that it isn't as crowded as the neighboring campgrounds. Some people may say that because it is not busy, that means it is not a good campground. I would disagree with that, because this place to me is a hidden gem. The lake is gorgeous, and if you go at the right time of year, the flowers are blooming and it's just amazing. The campsites are pretty close together, so it does lack some privacy from your neighbors, but I felt like I was hardly around my campsite to even notice. I was too busy playing in the lake, hiking, and riding my bike on some paths. I also saw a few people fishing in the lake, but not really sure what kind of fish you can catch. There are campsites, but I also saw that you can rent houses along the lake. I personally like camping, but if you enjoy having a hot shower, bed to sleep in and a roof over your head, this may be the option for you! The houses along the lake were really cute, and you literally just walked out your back patio and down to the lake. I would recommend bringing some type of bug repellent because I got quite a few mosquito bites. They were pretty heavy down by the lake, so just spray really well and you should be fine. The bathrooms on site weren't the cleanest. There was dirt and mud on the floors, and there was no hand towels. This isn't a huge issue for me, but for some people a clean bathroom is important to them. I'm used to hiking and having to use much worse restrooms! They do have some good trails nearby, with paths that were well maintained and easy to follow. I wouldn't consider these to be typical "hikes." They are more of walking trails, but they were still beautiful.