Shay S.
Traveler
TravelerSpruce Row Campsite
Great Family campground
They are super family friendly, its very quiet and peaceful. The pool is beautiful and a cool and unique shape. They have activities on the weekends and its very safe for kids.
Camping near Apalachin, NY
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SUMMARY PRESENTED BY
Camping options around Apalachin, New York span multiple state parks and private campgrounds scattered throughout the Finger Lakes region. Chenango Valley State Park Campground, located about 25 miles northeast of Apalachin, offers tent sites, RV hookups, cabins, and glamping accommodations with access to hiking trails and water recreation. Pine Valley RV Park and Campground in Endicott provides full-hookup sites with electricity, water, and sewer connections alongside tent camping areas and cabin rentals. The camping landscape ranges from state-managed facilities with developed amenities to more rustic county parks like Greenwood County Park near Binghamton.
Most campgrounds in the region operate seasonally from May through September or October, with limited year-round options. Hickories Park Campground in nearby Owego remains open from April to October, while Chenango Valley State Park operates from mid-May to early October. A camper noted, "Sites are decently sized and well secluded from one another, and the park is so well situated within the Finger Lakes and all the various wine trails." Electric hookups are common at most established campgrounds, though some areas limit generator use. Cell service varies but remains generally reliable throughout the region. Many campgrounds require advance reservations, particularly during summer weekends and holiday periods when facilities often reach capacity.
The Finger Lakes region surrounding Apalachin draws visitors with its combination of waterfalls, gorges, and lakefront recreation opportunities. Watkins Glen State Park, about an hour drive west, receives consistently high ratings for its dramatic scenery. According to visitor reviews, "The gorge trail is especially cool, with foot bridges crisscrossing over the river. There are several gorgeous waterfalls, and the walk was shady and cool, even though it was a hot day." Campers seeking more solitude might prefer the less-developed Greenwood County Park, which features electric hookups and showers but fewer amenities than larger state parks. Family-friendly facilities are abundant, with many campgrounds offering playgrounds, swimming areas, and easy access to hiking trails. During peak summer months, lakefront sites fill quickly due to their popularity and proximity to water recreation.
Best Campgrounds near Apalachin (135)
1. Hickories Park Campground
"i pulled in at about 6pm mid week, the ranger station was closed drove around & found tent site 79 open, it's next to the river."
"Lovely but simple views all around and rolling green hills in the distance. Campground is well-kept and relatively modern but not particularly memorable. Nice little stopover on a road trip."
2. Chenango Valley State Park Campground
"This is a beautiful park, the hiking is great with varied trails, nice changes in elevation due to the glacial geology of the landscape, and scenic vistas overlooking 2 beautiful lakes."
"The only downfall is that there really isn't much else to do around the area."
from $21 - $123 / night
Check Availability3. Pine Cradle Lake Family Campground
"The tent sites are located in the back of the campground behind the sports field within the trees. I unfortunately didn’t get a chance to see them but they have them pictured on their website."
"Great family campground, decent sized sites, many lake side sites, very clean bathrooms/ showers. Several playgrounds, heated pool, pet friendly with shots paperwork."
4. Pine Valley RV Park & Campground
"They have hayrides in the summer and swimming in the lake. Lakeside sites are spacious and reasonably priced. The owners are always accessible."
5. Pine Valley Recreational Vehicle Park and Campgrounds
"There’s a lake, which is quite scenic, and several paths and trails."
from $27 / night
Check Availability6. Greenwood County Park
"Typical New York weather. Overall, the park is more than I expected for a county park."
"The lake is pretty, the beach and picnic area is well kept, the campground is like a high quality state park—bravo to the Broome County Parks Department!"
from $30 / night
Check Availability7. Watkins Glen State Park Campground
"Watkins Glen boasts one of New York’s most beautiful state parks! I last camped here in 2012 and absolutely loved hiking along the gorges. Also- the camping was next to perfect."
"Definitely one of the top places to camp and visit in New York, Watkins Glen State Park never disappoints. Each time I come back, I find something new to discover and have a great time doing that."
from $24 - $58 / night
Check Availability8. Salt Springs State Park Campground
"A lical group, the Friends of Salt Springs, stepped up and offered to maintain the park with funds raised by their group."
"I stayed in late September in one of the drive in spots. There were no other campers bc of the season- and it’s mid week."
9. Aspen Family Campground
10. Robert H. Treman State Park Campground
"Located in Tompkins County, Ithaca New York has beautiful gorges and hiking trails. Robert Treman is a treat and a gorgeous place to camp in the Ithaca, NY area."
"A waterfall cascades through a gorge here, ending in a beautiful pool for swimming at the base of the falls, with a trout stream flowing out of it towards nearby Cayuga Lake. "
from $24 - $128 / night
Check Availability
Drive Time
- 13 min from Binghamton, NY
- 34 min from Elmira, NY
- 46 min from Ithaca, NY
- 1 hr 7 min from Scranton, PA
Recent Camping Photos near Apalachin, NY
156 Photos of 135 Apalachin Campgrounds
Paully B.
Hickories Park Campground
Janet R.
Greenwood County Park
Katye M.
Pine Cradle Lake Family Campground
Riley S.
Oasis in the woods by the family tree
Cory S.
Oasis in the Woods
Jeff H.
Chenango Valley State Park Campground
RYAN C.
Lake Front Campsite !!!
Carly S.
Private Campsite on 50 Acres
The Dyrt
Tentrr Signature Site - Occanum Creek
The Dyrt
Tentrr Signature Site - Agfa Lake
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Doo Dah Campgrounds
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Camp Earth Connection
Recent Reviews near Apalachin, NY
502 Reviews of 135 Apalachin Campgrounds
Stefanie K.TravelerLackawanna State Park Campground
Quiet getaway
The state park is beautiful. The site was very nice. The park itself is very big with many activities available such as boat rentals and a swimming pool. There's also an amphitheatre which hosts specials. During our stay the only activity we made it to was the pool. The main reason we didn't do more was the distance. We have a motorhome so we didn't have additional vehicles to get to and from places. We walked to the park which according to my Fitbit was 1.5 miles away. That doesn't seem too bad until you realize it's mostly hills in both directions! We are a fairly active young family who has no problem with a bit of a walk but after that experience we decided to just spend the remainder of our trip hanging out at our site. It's a good thing we only stayed 2 nights because our 10 year old might've lost his mind with boredom if we stayed longer. Overall, the site we had was great and I'd recommend it. My husband and I may come back for a couples date weekend.
- HHeather B.Traveler
Tall Pines Campground & Canoeing
Sweetest Campground Around
This was the sweetest campground around!! They deliver fire wood right to your site along with anything else you need. Free delivery of amazing pizza on Friday nights(delivered by a 1969 pink beetle!!). There is a giant river, a dog park and the camp ground is close to town, but far enough away so that you still feel like your camping! Amazing bathroom/shower facilities and a clean swimming pool:)
- TTinski H.Traveler
Skyline Drive State Forest
Nice free spot in the woods
Only one spot as far as we could tell. We arrived 5.30PM and no one was there. There was quite a deep dip in the beginning of the side road, so higher clearance needed to get there. Nice spot between the trees, lots of shade, clean. Felt safe. There was a firepit. Bring bug repellent!
- TTed D.Traveler
Watkins Glen State Park Campground
Watkins Glen worth the trip
Campground is quiet, bathrooms are OK. Some sites have power, some don’t, none have water or sewer. Lots of things to do here. Been here 5 days and still haven’t done it all.
- TTed D.Traveler
Watkins Glen State Park Campground
Not bad
Site 80 is across from water access. But only 5 minutes to fill your tank. If you book an inside loop close to #80 you will be close to water.
Emily M.TravelerLong Pond Campground
Great dispersed camp sites
All the roads are gravel, so it might get a little muddy after a big rain but I had no issue with a low clearance car driving around to explore the sites available. About half the sites are spread out in a large patch of spruce trees, I stayed at one of these. You can hear and sometimes see cars on the main road from your site but overall the spruce trees give you a lot more privacy. Had a neighbor blasting their speaker and didn't even hear it until I was walking by on that stretch of road. You might catch a glimpse of someone's fire at night, but it mostly felt like I had the place to myself. The other half are clustered much closer together among some deciduous trees but all the sites are pretty spacious, with a picnic table, fire pit, and easy access to the water. You might get a visit from day-use visitors looking for water access, especially if you pick a site closer to the water access paths, so if you're looking for more seclusion you may want to look elsewhere, but I didn't mind and the people who did stop near my site were respectful and didn't seem to want to disturb me once they saw the site near the water access was occupied. A free permit is needed for camping during the on-season. I stayed off-season and most of the sites were unoccupied, but I could see this being a popular spot during the warmer months. Port-a-potties are also not available off-season – be prepared to find a good cat hole spot or bring a wag bag if you're not self-contained. Seeing some litter around my site was a bit of a bummer (don't be that guy!), but overall the sites looked pretty clean and well-maintained. I did notice some broken glass at my site, so if you have pets (or shoe-averse children) be mindful of their paw pads (and feet). There's plenty of downed wood for making a fire, and I passed a couple homes selling firewood on the side of the road on the way. Service was spotty (AT&T) but if you wandered around enough you could get a couple bars to send a text, or if you really needed to, drive up the road a couple of minutes. I would easily stay here again, but if I came during the main season I'd probably want to plan a mid-week trip and get my permit and claim my site as soon as possible.
Ashlee C.TravelerAndersen Hill State Forest
Great spot!
Stayed one night. Spot was great! It had rained so we weren't able to have a fire, but there was a spot where others had one previously. A little road noise from Rt 79, but honestly wasn't terrible.
Janet R.
LegendRobert H. Treman State Park Campground
Terrific Treman Park
This is a state park centered on the amazing geologic features of Enfield Glen. A waterfall cascades through a gorge here, ending in a beautiful pool for swimming at the base of the falls, with a trout stream flowing out of it towards nearby Cayuga Lake. For the geologically curious, the trails through the gorge are fascinating and educational. And fossils abound, easily visible in the stream flowing out of the falls. This was a main draw for me about this park, as was the proximity to the paleontology institute and Museum of the Earth just to the north in the hamlet of Trumansburg. https://www.museumoftheearth.org/
Within the park itself, there are camping options for both tent and trailer camping. However, even if you usually prefer campground camping, it might be well worth your while to consider the camper cabins. These beautiful rustic cabins are located alongshore and adjacent to the falls in one of the most beautiful parts of the park! Although hikers and swimmers walk the trails nearby to the cabins alot during the day, they are usually done by late afternoon and then your cabin site is peaceful, shady and quiet, with the main sound being wind through the hemlocks and rippling of water over the stones in the brook closeby. Pull up a rocker and ease your way into a peaceful evening! Great location as a basecamp not only to explore the park, but also the nearby Geology museum as mentioned, plus Ithaca, Cayuga Lake, and area vineyards
Guide to Apalachin
Campers seeking a site near Apalachin, New York can access several campgrounds within 30 minutes' drive. The Southern Tier region sits at elevations ranging from 800-1,200 feet, creating moderate summer temperatures that typically hover between 75-85°F during peak camping season. Most camping areas near Apalachin experience rainfall averaging 3-4 inches monthly during summer, with thunderstorms common in July and August.
What to do
Swimming in natural settings: At Robert H. Treman State Park Campground, campers can swim in a unique waterfall-fed swimming area. "You can swim in the waterfall area here. Need I say more? Actually, it can be VERY busy in the summer time in the swimming area, making it difficult to find your own 'space,'" notes reviewer Matt G.
Fishing access: Hickories Park Campground offers excellent river fishing opportunities. "Some campsites are right on the river," explains Matt G. Another camper adds, "Some of the best river access there is to paddle through a great small town."
Hiking trail variety: Multiple difficulty levels exist across the region's parks. Robert H. Treman features strenuous options as one camper warns: "Don't let the beginning steps fool you, the rim trail can be very strenuous." For easier trails, Greenwood County Park offers "multi-use trails for hiking or mountain biking" with miles of scenic paths.
What campers like
Privacy between sites: Chenango Valley State Park Campground offers secluded camping spots. "Campsites are in the woods with picnic tables and fire ring, plenty of shade and a good amount of space between camps," notes Mary P., who visited with her grandson.
Wildlife viewing: Morning and evening wildlife sightings are common at many campgrounds. Mary S. reported: "We had four [deer] that were feeding behind our site in the morning" at Chenango Valley, while other campers mention chipmunks, rabbits and various bird species throughout the park.
Waterfront camping options: Pine Cradle Lake Family Campground offers premium lakeside camping. "The lakeside spots are gorgeous and the private dock is great when you have kids that love to fish," explains Tracey. Sites along water features typically cost $5-10 more per night than standard sites.
What you should know
Shower facilities vary: Quality of bathhouses differs significantly between parks. At Greenwood County Park, electric sites include shower access, but some campers note facilities need updating. Robert H. Treman offers "multiple free, hot showers" with separate dishwashing sinks in the restrooms according to Emma N.
Cell service limitations: Several campgrounds have poor connectivity. Pine Cradle Lake has "very very little cell reception and only wifi if you pay for it," which Tracey notes makes it "a place to disconnect for a few days."
Reservation timing matters: For lakefront sites at popular parks, booking well in advance is essential. "Get your reservations in early though weekends for lakeside sites are booked super fast!" advises a camper at Pine Cradle Lake.
Tips for camping with families
Kid-friendly water features: Pine Valley RV Park & Campground offers extensive water recreation options. "So many things for kids to do. From boating, to giant swimming inflatables, putt putt even a giant slide. All part of the price of the campground," explains Mommy D.
Playground access: Several parks offer play equipment for children. Jennifer D. notes Robert H. Treman has "a large playground," while Mary P. describes Chenango Valley as having a "playground and shallow swimming area for children with life guards and a sandy beach."
Family-sized sites: Hickories Park provides ample space for families. "This place is an excellent place to take your family it's got hookups and plenty of space for your RV," says Jill R., adding it "is just great all-around fun for the family."
Tips from RVers
Site leveling challenges: Some campgrounds have uneven sites requiring additional work. Victoria notes that at Robert H. Treman, "Electric sites are not the best though. Rocky and unlevel. Not made for large campers."
Hookup availability: Salt Springs State Park Campground offers limited hookups. "One campground has a large open mowed grassy meadow with level sites for car camping or small campers, no hookups are available but each site has a fire ring and picnic table," explains Janet R.
Pull-through accessibility: Pine Cradle Lake accommodates larger vehicles with "nice, pull-through on gravel pad with full-hookups that can take large rigs," according to Cheryl W., making it convenient for those with larger setups who want to avoid difficult backing maneuvers.
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Apalachin, NY?
What camping is available near Apalachin, NY?
According to TheDyrt.com, Apalachin, NY offers a wide range of camping options, with 135 campgrounds and RV parks near Apalachin, NY and 15 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Apalachin, NY?
Which is the most popular campground near Apalachin, NY?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Apalachin, NY is Hickories Park Campground with a 4.9-star rating from 9 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Apalachin, NY?
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Apalachin, NY?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 15 free dispersed camping spots near Apalachin, NY.
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