State parks near Aurora offer rustic and upgraded cabins with various amenities throughout the year. The cabin options at Watkins Glen State Park provide unique combinations of comfort and seclusion, with both wooded sites and more open areas. At Buttermilk Falls State Park Campground, cabin guests can access nearby hiking trails that connect to waterfalls. Sned Acres Campground maintains year-round cabin rentals with both standard and deluxe options. The cabin sites at Taughannock Falls are positioned for easy access to Cayuga Lake and seasonal amenities. Junius Ponds Cabins provides family-focused cabin experiences with proximity to regional attractions.
What to do
Swimming at natural pools: Buttermilk Falls State Park Campground features a unique swimming experience below waterfalls. "Been here in all the seasons, each is beautiful. Campgrounds are wooded. Pretty basic facilities, nice though. None of the tent sites have exceptional views but you're a short walk from the creek/gorges," shared a visitor.
Waterfall hiking: Watkins Glen State Park Campground offers dramatic gorge trails with 19 waterfalls. A visitor noted, "Watkins Glen was absolutely beautiful. The sites are quite wooded with plenty of space in between. We stayed in a 30 ft. motorhome, and the roads within the campground were kind of tight to get through with trees and curves. The gorge trail is a MUST."
Winter activities: Winter cabin rentals near Aurora provide access to cross-country skiing and snowshoeing trails. "The Finger lakes region is so beautiful. Be sure to time your visit with the fall foilage change, or grab your snow shoes for a winter adventure. Great cabins for rent here!" noted a Buttermilk Falls visitor.
Military history exploration: Sampson State Park Campground includes a Naval museum with artifacts from when the area served as a training base. "It has a Naval museum with many authentic items from that era. Very shady and ample bathroom, shower, and water facilities. If you like wild life you may run into some animals that are indigenous to Central/Western NY," reports a visitor.
What campers like
Privacy levels: Taughannock Falls State Park Campground offers varying site types with more seclusion in the upper campground. "The upper part of the campground is pretty private, while the lower end near the entrance/exit is more open. There is a small playground for kids. The bathrooms are fairly clean and well maintained," reports a camper.
Homemade welcome treats: Sned Acres Campground greets cabin guests with freshly baked goods. "First time camper! We really enjoyed our stay. They were so helpful as we were first time campers. We loved the friendship bread when we arrived. Conveniently located close to lots of wineries," explains a visitor.
Accessible swimming: Cabins near Aurora provide easy access to lake and pool swimming. "This campground is very walkable to the swimming area, which goes to 12 feet deep and has a dock to jump off of. The hiking to the waterfall is very manageable," according to a Taughannock Falls visitor.
Cabin positioning: Some cabins offer lakefront views while others provide more woodland privacy. "We stayed in the 800 loop along the tree line. Sites were very spacious! Great camping location with plenty of outdoor activities to enjoy or just sit and enjoy the peace," notes a camper about Cayuga Lake State Park.
What you should know
Site variations: Robert H. Treman State Park Campground cabins differ significantly in size and terrain. "Electric sites are not the best though. Rocky and unlevel. Not made for large campers," reports a visitor.
Seasonal facility limitations: Many campground pools close before Labor Day despite warm temperatures. "One thing that we were kind of disappointed in, is that the campground pool doesn't open until the end of June," mentioned a camper about Watkins Glen.
Bathroom maintenance varies: Cleanliness standards fluctuate across campgrounds and seasons. "The bathrooms were messy, with a couple of toilets not flushed/clogged. Thank God shower stall in a decent condition and it was free! Nice hot waters as well," shared a Taughannock Falls visitor.
Winter access considerations: Snow removal at cabins near Aurora varies by facility. "We stayed a week and absolutely loved it! Great hiking to waterfalls, beautiful campgrounds and a large playground. Some sites have shared fresh water hookup between the sites," notes a Robert H. Treman visitor.
Tips for camping with families
Playground proximity: Fillmore Glen State Park Campground offers family-friendly amenities near cabin sites. "Bathrooms are very clean and close to all campsites. Kids loved the park and swimming in the waterfall beach," notes a visitor.
Educational opportunities: Several parks feature interpretive displays about geological formations and local wildlife. "Lots of educational posters along the way to keep you informed of what you were seeing and the history about how it was created," explains a camper at Taughannock Falls.
Noise considerations: Tent and cabin sites have different sound dynamics. "Tent camping here felt like we were camping in a neighborhood backyard. We could hear so many different families talking and really doing everything you do while camping but the area felt so open and unobstructed voices carried," reports a Cayuga Lake visitor.
Swimming safety: Natural swimming areas have varying depths and currents. "There is a large pond is nice, there were a lot of campers fishing. The general store is well stocked and the family running the campground and store are very friendly. There is a nice pool for the kids," shared a visitor at Sned Acres.
Tips from RVers
Access challenges: Narrow roads and tight turns can challenge larger rigs at Watkins Glen. "We stayed at site 42, which was mostly shady. The upper part of the campground is pretty private, while the lower end near the entrance/exit is more open," notes a Robert H. Treman visitor.
Hookup positioning: Junius Ponds Cabins offers specific sites better suited for large rigs. "We stopped here for the night and it was very pretty, quiet, and clean. The roads are narrow and hilly, but we pull a 36' 5th wheel (mid-profile) and we had no issues with branches. They had a oversized, long pull through available (site 88) that made entering and exiting the site nice and easy," explains a visitor.
Seasonal availability: Winter cabin rentals for RVers with hookups are limited near Aurora. "Well maintained and friendly staff. Clean facilities. Most sites can accommodate large rigs with full hookups. Reservations recommended especially during summer weekends," shares a Junius Ponds visitor.
Leveling requirements: Some cabin and RV sites require substantial blocking. "My campsite was very clean and was well equipped with a fire ring picnic table and a restroom nearby. There was a lot of seed weed washed up and you can smell it. That was the only downside," reports a Cayuga Lake visitor.
