Best Campgrounds near Apalachin, NY

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 Camping Sites Near Apalachin, New York (128)

    1. Hickories Park Campground

    9 Reviews
    Owego, NY
    4 miles
    Website
    +1 (607) 687-1199

    "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

    20 Reviews
    Chenango Forks, NY
    20 miles
    Website
    +1 (607) 648-5251

    $17 - $123 / night

    "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."

    3. Pine Cradle Lake Family Campground

    10 Reviews
    Towanda, PA
    16 miles
    Website
    +1 (570) 247-2424

    "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

    2 Reviews
    Endicott, NY
    6 miles
    Website
    +1 (607) 785-6868

    "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

    1 Review
    Endicott, NY
    6 miles
    Website
    +1 (607) 785-6868

    $27 / night

    "There’s a lake, which is quite scenic, and several paths and trails."

    6. Greenwood County Park

    5 Reviews
    Berkshire, NY
    15 miles
    Website
    +1 (607) 778-2193

    $30 / night

    "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!"

    7. Watkins Glen State Park Campground

    90 Reviews
    Watkins Glen, NY
    42 miles
    Website
    +1 (607) 535-4511

    $20 - $58 / night

    "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."

    8. Salt Springs State Park Campground

    4 Reviews
    Brackney, PA
    19 miles
    Website
    +1 (570) 945-3239

    "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

    1 Review
    Candor, NY
    15 miles
    Website
    +1 (607) 659-7865

    10. Robert H. Treman State Park Campground

    22 Reviews
    Ithaca, NY
    30 miles
    Website
    +1 (607) 273-3440

    $20 - $128 / night

    "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."

    "The exception to this is cabin 14 which is a double cabin and is located near the playground and surrounded by standard electric camping sites."

Show More
Showing results 1-10 of 128 campgrounds

2025 Detourist Giveaway

Presented byToyota Trucks

Review Campgrounds. Win Prizes.

Enter to Win


Recent Reviews near Apalachin, NY

497 Reviews of 128 Apalachin Campgrounds


  • Rachel C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 30, 2025

    Hickories Park Campground

    Great location

    Beautiful park - some road noise from 17c. Sites are spacious

  • D C.
    Oct. 23, 2025

    Live The Outdoors LLC

    Peaceful & Private Getaway🏞️

    Really enjoyed staying here. It’s super private and peaceful, and we loved that it’s not a crowded campground. The land is open and easy to access, and you can tell the owners are constantly upgrading and improving things. We were even able to fish here, which was a bonus. Would definitely recommend if you appreciate privacy, nature, and a peaceful place with the freedom to relax and do your own thing.

  • JThe Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 16, 2025

    Pine Crest Campground

    Great place

    Nice private campground. Host was very generous. Used Coin operated laundry facilities. Full hookups for a reasonable price. Would return again.

  • KThe Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 4, 2025

    Sugar Hill Fire Tower Campsite

    Would Stay again

    We stayed here for 2 nights car camping. quiet and clean. spots had fire rings and picnic tables. Bathrooms were clean and had potable water. There were lots of horses. There are hiking trails right out of the site! would absolutely stay here again!

  • HThe Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 3, 2025

    Sugar Hill Fire Tower Campsite

    Free camping with amenities!

    26 camp sites with bathrooms! That flush! Very quiet and the sites aren’t on top of each other. People bring their horses. You can drive to to your site and tent camp or camper camp. I would come back!

  • EThe Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 1, 2025

    Watkins Glen State Park Campground

    Nice campground in a gorgeous state park.

    Nice pretty campground, only electric hookup for the RV sites, tho. The showers were cool, no hot water. Close to some gorgeous hiking tho! And town is about a mile away with shops, restaurants and on the edge of one of the Finger Lakes to make it beautiful!

  • Chelsea B.
    Sep. 27, 2025

    Robert H. Treman State Park Campground

    Good location

    Location: This park is close to Ithaca which was the best part. Trails and Natural Features: We loved the waterfall, swimming area (seasonal so closed when we stayed), and the fall colors. Sites: They have very few electric sites so we decided to boondock. It surprised me that all the full hookup sites were reserved but very people actually showed up for their reservations while we stayed. Lame. And heads up that if you don’t stay in the big clearing for big rigs, there are tight turns between trees to get in and out of the non-electric sites. We ended up making a back-in site into a pull-through site… whoops. Starlink: I work remotely so internet is important. We weren’t camping in the clearing because those sites were booked, but even the Starlink struggled where we were and I ended up working from the library in town. So heads up if you need internet. Bathrooms: They were spacious but older. Temperature in the showers was tricky. Hot is cold and cold it hot. Cool stuff: They had compost bins and provide bags for all campers. That’s cool!

  • c
    Sep. 25, 2025

    Salt Springs State Park Campground

    Worked for me

    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. I love this park and it’s close to my house so I just wanted to crash there and wake up early to hike. It was quiet all night. The bathrooms are very far from tne sites and it was visible where some people had relieved themselves in the bushes. There is no potable water anywhere so bring some. I enjoyed it but during the on season or busy times tnere is zero privacy between sites other than sites 13 and 14. Def wouldn’t stay here during summer for that reason.

  • Bare Soul  W.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 15, 2025

    South Slope Trail Head Dispersed Camp

    Relaxing

    There is one campsite near trail. There was more traffic than I expected. Also there is no cell service. No real tires


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?

According to TheDyrt.com, Apalachin, NY offers a wide range of camping options, with 128 campgrounds and RV parks near Apalachin, NY and 13 free dispersed camping spots.

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?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 13 free dispersed camping spots near Apalachin, NY.