Best Campgrounds near Cato, NY

Developed campgrounds surround Cato, New York, with most properties located within a 10-mile radius of this central New York community. Cross Lake Park Campgrounds sits directly in Cato, while several established campgrounds can be found in nearby communities like Fair Haven and Wolcott. The camping landscape includes a mix of state parks and private facilities offering tent sites, RV hookups, and cabin rentals. Fair Haven Beach State Park provides multiple camping areas including Bluff Camping Area, Lakeview Camping Area, and Drumlin Camping Areas, all featuring access to Lake Ontario and Sterling Pond.

Many campgrounds in the region maintain seasonal operations, typically open from April through October. The Lake Bluff RV Park specifically operates from April 15 to October 31, while Cayuga Lake State Park welcomes campers from April 21 to October 23. "We have been coming here for years. Nice large beach, swimming, fishing in Ontario or Sterling pond," notes one regular visitor to Fair Haven Beach State Park. Winter closures are standard throughout the area due to harsh New York winters, with most facilities shutting down completely during colder months. Reservations are recommended, particularly for summer weekends and holiday periods when waterfront sites fill quickly.

Waterfront access represents a significant draw for campers visiting the Cato area, with Lake Ontario, Cross Lake, Duck Lake, and Cayuga Lake all offering recreation opportunities. Campers consistently praise the beach access at Fair Haven Beach State Park, with one reviewer noting that "sites were very large and private. The swimming area was a bit of a walk, but was worth it." Several campgrounds provide electric hookups and water access, though amenities vary significantly between properties. Tent campers have fewer options than RV travelers, as many facilities cater primarily to recreational vehicles with electric, water, and sewer connections. Some reviews indicate occasional issues with mosquitoes at certain properties, particularly those near wetland areas or during early summer.

Best Camping Sites Near Cato, New York (119)

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Recent Reviews near Cato, NY

394 Reviews of 119 Cato Campgrounds


  • Chelsea B.
    Sep. 30, 2025

    Green Lakes State Park Campground

    Good camp sites

    The sites are good, level, and the campsite is pretty but as clean as the bathrooms are, the showers still suck. I’ll never understand why parks use the misting shower heads. Maybe TMI, but sorry ladies, you’ll never get the soap out of your bits. It’s best to use the ADA bathrooms because those shower heads are normal and have wands. I can’t say much about the amenities since we camped in the off season (really bummed not to rent a boat), but the trails around the lake are great! Beautiful water and various difficulties on the trails make it pretty fun to explore. Overall a good stay but took a star away for the showers and the landscapers. They spent at least 5-6 hours the Monday we were here mowing around our campsite, coming within inches of our power and Starlink cords. Really annoyed by that and when we called the park office, they said they’d take care of it but we still endured 4 more hours of multiple mowers going over the same areas multiple times. Honestly think they were messing with us at that point…

  • S
    Sep. 17, 2025

    Oneida Shores County Park

    Nice park for a reasonable price

    Campground is recently paved. Lots of geese, therefore lots of goose poop. Sites are small and close together. Nice wooded setting on the lake.

  • Ryan G.
    Sep. 14, 2025

    Pleasant Lake Campground

    Clean and Quiet

    I found this location to have very clean sites with plenty of amenities. Had no issues with the Wi-Fi watching Bills games and play a few video games.

  • T&J  F.
    Aug. 27, 2025

    Yogi Bears Jellystone Park Camp Resort at Mexico

    Unfortunate

    Pros: river is awesome, wading, catching crayfish, cooling off. Staff were consistently friendly. Sites were flat, easy to level travel trailer. Plenty of kid activities, foam party, obstacle course, balloon launch, etc. Large store. Game room. Bathrooms (at least near the playground) were spacious, with toilet, sink, shower. Cons: signs/photo ops were crooked/loose/broken. Planted annual flowers were dead, overgrown with weeds. Miniature golf holes were falling apart. Bounce pad had a hole in it. The sand from around the edge was blowing from that hole into kids eyes, nose, mouth. Bathrooms were dirty; each has a 2-roll toilet paper dispenser; by early evening two stalls had zero TP left. Tent sites had used toilet paper along the tree line where others had used it as a bathroom. Fire pits were old tire rims, which worked, but unable to cook anything on it

  • Greg D.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 21, 2025

    Mayfair Campground NY

    Mostly for seasonals

    We called to make last minute reservations for a one night stopover enroute to Vermont. The person on the phone was friendly and accommodating to our needs. When we arrived after hours, the entrance was gated with a card reader access which we did not have a card for. We tried calling back several times but a recording said that the line was busy. Luckily, another camper let us in. There are no signs to direct you which way to go and the sites are poorly marked. With some help from friendly campers we were eventually able to find our site. The sites are have a poorly graveled parking spot and the ground is a little soft. Restrooms are basic and minimal, having a single toilet and sink, a tiny mirror and hand dryer, however it was fairly clean and functional. I was told that there are new owners and they are making improvements

  • Ken B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 11, 2025

    Canandaigua-Rochester KOA

    Lovely KOA

    The campground is clean and well maintained. The staff are ALL so nice. The amenities are plentiful and well cared for. The sites are level, in great shape, and has a wonderful large wooded area. Thank you!

  • MacKenzi G.
    Aug. 11, 2025

    Yellow Lantern Kampground

    Would stay again

    Me and my husband stayed here to visit a local friend and it wasn’t bad it was very private and quiet. The property was well maintained and the owners were very friendly as well. We would definitely come back here in the future.

  • Sarah M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 10, 2025

    Finger Lakes National Forest

    Quiet site near a small pond

    The road in (a loop) is steep on both sides (a truck or vehicle with clearance would be helpful but you could also park at the bottom if you needed to). The site was trashy so we picked up a lot of what we could. A bonus—the site was quiet, roomy and once at the ‘top’ is quite level. Not vehicles came in or out all night (and it was a Saturday!).


Guide to Cato

Camping spots near Cato, New York center around the region's abundant lakes and waterways. The area sits at a modest elevation of around 400 feet above sea level with a humid continental climate that delivers warm summers and cold, snowy winters. Most campgrounds maintain seasonal operations due to lake effect snow patterns, with peak camping season running from late spring through early fall when daytime temperatures typically range from 65-85°F.

What to do

Fishing opportunities: Sterling Pond at Fair Haven Beach State Park offers excellent freshwater fishing. "We have been coming here for years. Nice large beach, swimming, fishing in Ontario or Sterling pond. Boat launch, or small boat launch in Sterling pond," notes one camper, highlighting the multiple fishing locations available.

Kayaking and boating: Duck Lake provides calm waters perfect for paddling. "Tiny quiet campground right on duck lake. Water front sites available," reports a visitor to Duck Lake Cabins and Campground, emphasizing the intimate lake access for water activities.

Hiking trails: The trail system around Green Lakes offers various difficulty levels. "There are miles of trails to explore," mentions one visitor, while another adds, "Beautiful water and various difficulties on the trails make it pretty fun to explore" at Green Lakes State Park Campground.

What campers like

Private wooded sites: Many campers appreciate the secluded spots at Cayuga Lake State Park. "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," shares one visitor who valued the campground's layout.

Sandy beaches: Lake access at Bluff Camping Area receives consistently positive reviews. "We camped here two nights at the lake view area and loved it! Spacious sites, not all are enclosed with trees but still plenty of room to spread out," reports one camper who appreciated the generous space.

Clean facilities: Several campgrounds maintain well-kept bathroom facilities. "Showers were super clean & wicked spacious. Staff was friendly and extremely helpful when we needed to switch our site due to unkind neighbors," notes a Bluff Camping Area visitor, highlighting both the amenities and responsive staff.

What you should know

Site selection matters: Some camping areas offer dramatically different experiences based on loop selection. At Lake Bluff RV Park, one camper found, "We had a huge site near a little stream, overall the campground isn't very big with lots of seasonsals. Lots of activities for kids, and just around the corner from chimney bluff state park which are a must see!"

Water conditions: Beach quality varies by location and can change seasonally. "I booked this site for one night and ended up staying three. Trying to avoid the heat, I was relieved that the shaded electric camping area staved off most of the days heat," mentions a Bluff Camping Area visitor who found relief in the tree cover.

Reservation requirements: Most camping locations near Cato fill quickly during peak season. "Sites were very large and private. The swimming area was a bit of a walk, but was worth it. Great place to camp if you are heading to the Sterling Renaissance Festival," reports one visitor to Drumlin A Camping Area.

Tips for camping with families

Playground access: Several campgrounds feature play areas for children. "Near the play ground they have a nice game room pool, air hockey, video games. There is a change machine too," notes a visitor about Lake Bluff RV Park, detailing the entertainment options for kids.

Swimming areas: Beaches vary in size and safety features. "We love this place it has just enough waves that the little kids can jump them. But small enough that they don't get pulled over by the waves. Absolutely love it Sandy beaches great campsites. Very clean," says one camper about Lakeview Camping Area.

Wildlife viewing: The region offers opportunities to spot local fauna. "I took some videos at sundown. I heard the most beautiful sounds!" reports a visitor to Little Creek Camp, while another mentions, "Lovely weekend weather, curious creatures."

Tips from RVers

Electric hookup options: Many campgrounds offer various electrical connection options. "Full hook ups for my camper," mentions one RVer who stayed at Lake Bluff RV Park, noting the complete services available despite COVID restrictions during their visit.

Site leveling concerns: Some camping areas present challenges for larger vehicles. "The non-electric sites were pretty much all on hilly areas, most would be impossible for an RV to get level, though there were a few that would have worked," warns a visitor about Lakeview Camping Area, providing valuable information for RVers considering this location.

Seasonal considerations: Weather impacts camping experiences, particularly for RVers. "You can smell it. That was the only downside. The night is very quiet and and a nice breeze," notes a Cayuga Lake State Park camper, referencing the occasional odors from seed weed but highlighting the peaceful nighttime conditions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What camping is available near Cato, NY?

According to TheDyrt.com, Cato, NY offers a wide range of camping options, with 119 campgrounds and RV parks near Cato, NY and 7 free dispersed camping spots.

Which is the most popular campground near Cato, NY?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Cato, NY is Lake Bluff RV Park with a 4.3-star rating from 13 reviews.

Where can I find free dispersed camping near Cato, NY?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 7 free dispersed camping spots near Cato, NY.