Letchworth State Park Campground and Stony Brook State Park Campground both offer premium glamping options with spacious canvas accommodations set among wooded surroundings. Letchworth's luxury sites feature electricity with 30/50-amp hookups, comfortable beds with linens, and private picnic areas for enjoying the outdoors in comfort. The glamping yurts at both locations provide a blend of rustic charm and modern convenience, with solid floors and sturdy canvas walls that create an upscale outdoor experience. A recent visitor mentioned, "The glamping area is beautiful and has a unique swimming area carved from the mountain—perfect for cooling off after hiking the gorgeous trails." Both parks maintain clean, modern shower facilities and restrooms conveniently located near the glamping sites, creating a comfortable base for exploring the natural beauty of New York's Finger Lakes region.
The gorge trails at Stony Brook State Park offer glamping guests spectacular waterfall views with multiple swimming opportunities during summer months when lifeguards are on duty. Hikers can explore three distinct trails including the popular Gorge Trail featuring cascading waterfalls and natural swimming holes. According to a camper, "The hike through the gorge to see all the waterfalls is stunning and can't be passed up—it makes the premium accommodations even more worthwhile." Seasonal availability runs from late April through mid-October, with peak glamping season during summer when the natural swimming areas are open. The Ridge Campsite offers additional eco-friendly glamping options with spacious sites nestled among mature trees, complete with electricity and water hookups for a more luxurious outdoor experience. Both locations provide easy access to nearby Dansville for additional dining options and supplies, with Letchworth's dramatic "Grand Canyon of the East" only a short scenic drive away.
$149 / night
"Every few miles the winding pavement breaks out onto a few of the ridges and valley below, before ducking back into the forest of Western New York."
"We stayed in a cute cabin with running water, a stove, and a heater for cold nights! Outside we had a picnic table and a campfire pit. The park itself has amazing hiking with awesome views."
$17 - $90 / night
"Walking trails can be a bit tough, west rim especially, but the gorge trail is tolerable for most with multiple waterfalls you can enter into a swim area(no lifegaurds)."
"The campground side doesn't open until around 11 we were told, and we reached at 8am, so we started at the North (day-use) side, parked there, hiked, ate, and eventually drove back to the other side, checked"
"Great secluded tent camping (recomend numbers 7 and 8), cabins are new and ample beds and space. Camper camping is close to everything, but less privacy."
"We used the open area to set up volley ball and it was nice having the mini fridge. The only con was the weather! We were there during a crappy time so it was super foggy."
"Nice lake for kayaking and fishing. The finger lakes trail runs through the campground. Did a 5.5 mile hike up Pennsylvania Hill today. A little road noice and no water hookups."
$20 - $58 / night
"Bathrooms were clean. The site was huge, the campfire ring was lovely. The gorge trail is absolutely amazing- beautiful waterfalls!!"
"I absolutely love coming to Watkins Glen Campground, especially when I went to get away from the busy city. This park has gorgeous waterfalls, and great paths to walk and hike on."
"This is a park with a lake. In the green rolling hills of the Finger Lakes. Grassy open fields are nice but not private. Used the basic tent setup. Clean, grounds kept up nice, simple, no water."
"Electric only, so be prepared to transport water from available spigots. Lots of things to do from paddling and fishing to hiking trails or learning about the dam."
ScoutBathrooms were clean. The site was huge, the campfire ring was lovely. The gorge trail is absolutely amazing- beautiful waterfalls!! Quiet hours were honored even by the crazy Nascar fans (we were there race weekend)! Great time had here! Highly recommend!!
GuideI absolutely love coming to Watkins Glen Campground, especially when I went to get away from the busy city. This park has gorgeous waterfalls, and great paths to walk and hike on. It's located in Upstate New York, so it's close enough to the city but you feel like you are far away from the city. The campsites are great, clean and well kept. This park does get pretty busy though, because it is open to campers and people who just want to visit for the day to walk the trails. I love that they have trails that lead very close to the waterfalls..lots of rim trails that literally overlook the waterfalls and gorges. In the campground they do offer a pool, which again, does get busy because it's open to everyone regardless if you are camping or not. There also is tours you can take in the summer that will take you along the waterfalls and gorge, they have a playground for kids and an area with picnic tables. I went mid July and it was extremely busy, not sure when a good time to go during the summer when it's not as busy. That was the only downside I would say, is how crowded it was. There is also Seneca Lake nearby that many people go to fish in, however I didn't go on this trip but plan to next time. There are restrooms on site, however I didn't think they were that clean. Toilet paper and seat covers were out in most stalls, so I would advise to bring your own when you go. There is also some gift shops and food stands set up...one food stand has some pretty good hot dogs! The hikes to the gorge and waterfalls is pretty well maintained, however there are quite a bit of stairs. There were some people with kids in strollers that had to turn around because the stairs made it difficult. Not handicap friendly. I would advise to wear a good pair of walking shoes, and not sandals because it is slippery in some spots and again, a lot of stairs! I would highly recommend coming here, even if you don't decide to stay the night!
LegendJust off US 15 at the New York border. All roads and parking pads are paved. The sites are closer together than most other COE parks where we’ve stayed. We stayed in the Bench Loop which is very busy since it is waterfront. Our first week, we were on site 54 (W/E 50A) and waterfront. Our second week, we stayed on site 44 (FHU 50A) right across from the seldom used playground. Quite wooded here but we managed to get satellite TV. No Verizon phone service and very slow internet with a booster. This area is pretty with rolling hills all around so we enjoyed a couple of scenic drives. About an hour away is the Pine Creek Rail Trail in the Pennsylvania Grand Canyon.
LegendIn most states, those without falls like Niagara, this state park would be the pride of the land. With three serious drops in as many miles, the Genesse River winds it’s way through what locals call the “Grand Canyon of the East.” Many states try to make such claims, but this might be the closest any come to actually living up to such. It is stunning!
Along the river this park gives the motorist the distinct feel that she is on a parkway, not unlike Shenendoah, or Blue Ridge. Every few miles the winding pavement breaks out onto a few of the ridges and valley below, before ducking back into the forest of Western New York.
The campground, which is about 15 miles from the major falls area, offers what many come to expect from state parks. There are a wide variety of campsites, all reservable online, which can accommodate lots of different types of camping, large RV’s, small tents, and everything in between. Most, if not all, campsites offer electrical and water is available close by.
The bathrooms are practically luxurious by most camping standards, with single-use restroom/ showers available at all hours. The camp store offered a few grocery items, along with cold drinks, firewood and ice in addition to laundry facilities. Within a short walk were many hiking trails, an old-school fitness path, and a stellar playground where anyone under 9 years of age should get a great workout.
But let’s be honest, we’re not coming here for the campground, it’s the rest of the park that makes the drive worth it. So, check it out and get to know this stunning place first hand and be sure to bring a picnic basket.
RangerWatkins 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. Sites are decently sized and well secluded from one another.
in addition, the park is so well situated within the Finger Lakes and all the various wine trails! Made for a perfect girls weekend! Definitely recommend!
GuideWe stayed in a cute cabin with running water, a stove, and a heater for cold nights! Outside we had a picnic table and a campfire pit. The park itself has amazing hiking with awesome views. Highly recommend!
TravelerIf you're looking for a nice campground to see Watkins Glen or go to the racetrack, these are fantastic! Right up the hill from the Glen and a short walk or drive into the village with tiny restaurants and shopping. These are going to be pretty crowded in the summer and are not very secluded sites. Quiet hours are well enforced and campsite loops are regularly patrolled. Overall, a well maintained campground for seeing Watkins Glen for a weekend.
LegendWe were looking to spend a couple of nights near Watkins Glen to hit the wineries, waterfalls, and nearby museums around the finger lakes of New York and this park seemed to be in a good location for us to do all that. There were other options closer to downtown Watkins Glen but they were closed for the season when we visited. This park is quite large and can accommodate any size RV with plenty of activities to keep the entire family busy without even leaving the park (but we wouldn’t recommend that because there is so much to do in the surrounding area).
Typical KOA with a wide range of RV sites and lodging options and tons of activities and amenities. We booked online and got our KOA discount, so check-in was easy and we were greeted by friendly people. There is a mix of site types which you can pick out online. If you don’t see the type you want online, give them a call because sometimes they can move people around to accommodate you. The roads in the park and campsites are gravel but the park is easy to navigate. They do have short fences at the front and back of sites which can make maneuvering into your site a little tricky. Not sure why they have these unless it is to keep people from driving or parking on the grass. Deluxe sites with fancy paved patios are available for a bit more$$$ than standard sites. All sites have a picnic table and fire pit.
Our site was level and long enough to fit our tow car. The pad was gravel but the patio was paved. Our fire pit stuck out pretty close to the road which was a bit awkward. Sites are definitely close so upon check-in we noticed that the park was not very crowded and asked that they not put us right next to people if at all possible. The women in the office told us that our neighbors were leaving the next morning and that was the only site option. Turns out they didn’t leave and there did appear to be other sites available. Oh well!
The park advertises free wifi and we were skeptical as to how good it would be but it turned out that it worked well at our site for surfing the internet. Our 4G Verizon phone reception was good and the open pull-thru sites work well for those wanting to use satellite. There is cable which broadcasts 70 channels.
What we liked about this campground was: the pastoral setting yet it was close to many attractions and things we wanted to do. The hiking trail was a big plus and really appreciated by our Labrador retriever. Wifi worked great and there were lots of cable channels. Our patio was paved which is nice but it is more expensive than standard sites with grass (so we ended up paying for that).
By far the worst thing about this park is the price. If you come here in the summer and use all the amenities then maybe we could see paying $100/night. But we really just wanted a place to park and hook-up the RV since we spent very little time there during the day. The only amenity we were even slightly interested in was the heated indoor swimming pool.
The surrounding area boasts lots of activities from exploring the natural wonders to wineries and museums. The region is known for its waterfalls including the popular Watkins Glen Gorge that has 19 waterfalls and many more in the surrounding area. Watkins Glen sits at the southern end of Seneca Lake and offers many opportunities to get out on the water for sight-seeing and a diner cruise. Close by are 40 some wineries and breweries that draw many visitors. A 30-minute drive south will put you in the town of Corning home to the spectacular Corning Museum of Glass and the Rockwell Art Museum. Watkins Glen Speedway hosts major motor racing events including the NASCAR Sprint Cup. Click here for a link to our blog post about what we did
ScoutThe state park is breathtaking. The campground is horrendous. The restrooms were disgusting. The site barely fit our one tent (8man Coleman) even though it was advertised as a two tent site. The camp fire ring had no solid base- it just sat on the grass and fires would not stay lit. The quiet hours were not enforced. Yelling and loud music kept us up until ridiculous hours. I would not rate this as family friendly.
The Finger Lakes region surrounding Dansville, New York sits at approximately 700 feet above sea level, with rolling hills creating diverse camping terrain. The area receives about 35 inches of precipitation annually, creating lush surroundings with well-established hardwood forests. Camping options range from basic tent sites to luxury glamping accommodations with seasonal availability typically running from April through October.
Hiking gorge trails: At Stony Brook State Park Campground, three distinct trails accommodate different skill levels. "The gorge trail is very busy but you still can enjoy the beautiful waterfalls along with the gorge formation. We also did the east trail that goes up to the top of the gorge and is also a little further into the woods. It was much quieter up there and the views looking down from there were breathtaking," notes one visitor who appreciated the varied terrain.
Fishing opportunities: Several campgrounds offer fishing access, including Kanakadea Park where "Lots of things to do from paddling and fishing to hiking trails or learning about the dam. There is an observation deck and ball fields available." The park permits only electric motors or manual boats on the water.
Explore waterfalls: Watkins Glen State Park Campground features 19 waterfalls along its main trail system. According to a camper, "Watkins Glen is beautiful and scenic. If you enjoy hiking and scenery this is the place for you. I would describe the hikes as moderately difficult. The main one has a lot of steps but lots of walkway in between them so it's not just up up up more steps."
Visit Farm Sanctuary: Located a short drive from Watkins Glen, this animal sanctuary offers educational tours. A parent shared, "Seneca lake is a short drive away for great fishing, kayaking and swimming. Also a short Drive away is a Farm Sanctuary that my son very much enjoyed."
Natural swimming areas: Stony Brook State Park features a unique swimming area cut from natural rock. A camper notes, "There are lots of paths and picnic areas, as well as beautiful hiking trails and creeks to cool off in." The swimming areas are lifeguarded during summer months.
Spacious campsites: Ontario County Park at Gannett Hill offers particularly roomy sites. "Great secluded tent camping (recommend numbers 7 and 8), cabins are new and ample beds and space. Camper camping is close to everything, but less privacy," writes one reviewer who appreciated the layout options.
Clean facilities: Letchworth State Park Campground maintains well-kept restrooms and shower facilities. "The campgrounds are basic and very nice given the relatively high popularity. The campsites are in two main areas of the park and further broken down into many different loops. The loops near the Lower Falls are our favorites," reports a frequent visitor.
Family-friendly playgrounds: Multiple campgrounds feature play areas. At The Ridge Campsite, "We spent two nights in June. Campground is large and spacious. Family owned. Large mature trees. Clean facilities. Lots of activities and amenities if you are interested in that."
Seasonal operations: Most campgrounds in the area operate from late April through mid-October. At Letchworth, a visitor observes, "This is a popular park so make reservations." Peak season runs from Memorial Day through Labor Day when all facilities are fully operational.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular glamping campsite near Dansville, NY?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular glamping campground near Dansville, NY is Letchworth State Park Campground with a 4.6-star rating from 77 reviews.
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TheDyrt.com has all 34 glamping camping locations near Dansville, NY, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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