Campgrounds surrounding Alpine, New York provide diverse camping experiences ranging from primitive tent sites to full-hookup RV facilities throughout the 800-foot elevation landscape of the Finger Lakes region. The area experiences four distinct seasons, with camping generally available from April through October when temperatures range from 50-80°F during peak season. Forest campgrounds often feature mixed hardwood tree coverage while offering varying levels of seclusion from neighboring sites.
What to do
Gorge hiking trails: At Watkins Glen State Park Campground, the Gorge Trail takes visitors past 19 waterfalls through dramatic stone walls. "Watkins Glen was absolutely beautiful. The sites are quite wooded with plenty of space in between. The gorge trail is a MUST. Definitely go check this campsite out!" notes Laura L.
Swimming in waterfall pools: At Robert H. Treman State Park Campground, visitors can swim in natural pools beneath waterfalls. "Beautiful waterfall swimming pool is very cold, but great on a hot day," reports not S., while Paully B. adds, "Sure there is a diving board into a swimming hole filled by a waterfall which draws so many."
Nighttime stargazing: The Blueberry Patch Campground offers exceptional star viewing opportunities just 10 miles from Alpine. "There are in fact blueberries! And a great field to see the stars from," shares Emily S. The remote location provides minimal light pollution for clear constellation viewing.
What campers like
Privacy between sites: At Buttermilk Falls State Park Campground, campers appreciate the wooded separation between sites. "We have never felt crowded while here," reports Molly G., while Lori F. observed at Watkins Glen that "tent sites are nice and shaded" with "good patrols at night to keep people from being too noisy."
Clean facilities: Many campers highlight the well-maintained bathrooms at campgrounds near Alpine. At Taughannock Falls, Barbara S. notes, "The bathrooms are fairly clean and well maintained. For washing dishes there is a sink in each bathroom."
Level campsites: The terrain around Alpine offers generally flat camping spots. At Park Station Campground, Jessica G. explains, "Campsites are mostly all on gravel so make sure you bring air mattresses or lots of padding if you will be in a tent," while Mike C. appreciates the "nice spacious lots."
What you should know
Fire regulations vary: Different campgrounds have different rules about fires. At Sugar Hill Fire Tower Campsite, each site comes with a fire pit, and Hannah G. reports, "26 camp sites with bathrooms! That flush! Very quiet and the sites aren't on top of each other." Bring cash for firewood purchases, as many local vendors sell bundles for around $5.
Off-season closures: Most campgrounds operate on limited schedules. Kevin C. notes at Sugar Hill, "Weekends are very busy but weekdays there were no more than 7 or 8 campsites occupied each night," while Pine Creek Campground's swimming pool might close early in some conditions.
Reservation systems: Most established campgrounds require advance booking, while dispersed sites often operate first-come, first-served. Blueberry Patch has "no reservations, first-come first served," according to Shari G., who adds it's "small and quiet national forest campground, just about 20 minutes from the hustle and bustle of both Ithaca and Watkins Glen."
Tips for camping with families
Swimming access for kids: Several campgrounds feature swimming areas suitable for various ages. At Park Station, Becky S. describes, "Sandy beach, man-made lake with enough space to swim, and boating to explore. Nice trail around the lake to walk or bike with a little difficulty."
Playground availability: For families with younger children, look for campgrounds with play equipment. Jennifer D. at Robert Treman mentions "a large playground," while Jessica G. notes Park Station has "a newer and good sized playground in the day visit area."
Wildlife viewing opportunities: Harpy Hollow provides opportunities for animal interactions. Lara Star M. shares, "They have chickens which were so cute to look at, and a couple of sweet dogs. The place is very dark at night- a treat when there's a lot of light pollution."
Tips from RVers
Site dimensions and access: RV campers should verify site sizes before booking. At Watkins Glen, Laura L. notes, "We stayed in a 30 ft. motorhome, and the roads within the campground were kind of tight to get through with trees and curves."
Hookup availability: Electric and water access varies significantly between campgrounds. Victoria at Robert Treman cautions, "Electric sites are not the best though. Rocky and unlevel. Not made for large campers."
Dump station locations: Plan ahead for sanitary services, especially for longer stays. Cheryl W. at Pine Creek observes, "They also charge for electricity on any stays one week or longer which we had not encountered previously at campgrounds where we have stayed."
