Robert H. Treman State Park Campground provides traditional camping options 7.5 miles southwest of Freeville, New York. The park sits at 748 feet elevation and features sites nestled among hardwood forests with diverse terrain. Winter temperatures average 20°F, while summer highs typically reach 80-85°F with moderate humidity levels, making May through October the prime season for exploring glamping and traditional camping opportunities in the region.
What to do
**Waterfall swimming: Robert H. Treman State Park features natural swimming areas beneath waterfalls. "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.' However, the hiking trails are awesome," shares Matt G.
Trails for all seasons: Taughannock Falls State Park Campground offers year-round hiking options with varying difficulty levels. "Great place to go up the Rim Trail and pull out a hammock to camp overnight. I've done this in the summer a few times. One of my favorite places in Ithaca," mentions Allyssa B.
Wine tasting: Several campgrounds provide convenient access to the Finger Lakes wine region. "Conveniently located close to lots of wineries," notes Debbie C. from Sned Acres Campground, making it an excellent base for exploring local vineyards during glamping trips near Freeville.
What campers like
Diverse camping styles: Sampson State Park Campground offers multiple accommodation options. "Large tent and rv sites most with electric. Potable water fill station and dump tanks at entrance/exit. Bathrooms were very clean and had dish washing stations in them," reports Stephanie C.
Secluded cabin options: Round Top Retreat provides private, rustic cabin experiences. "Very secluded. We let the kids and dogs run pretty much wherever without worry. And close to Ithaca so you can drive into town easily. The yard is surrounded by wild berry bushes," writes Tara D.
Campsite quality: The level terrain at many campgrounds makes setup easy. "Site 54 at Robert H Treman is very large, flat, nonelectric and well shaded with areas of sun. A long walk to the restroom. Beautiful waterfall swimming pool is very cold, but great on a hot day," shares Not S.
What you should know
Seasonal limitations: Most campgrounds in the region operate from May through October. "Watkins Glen State Park Campground offers tent camping from May 13 to October 10. "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," notes Laura L.
Bathroom conditions: Quality varies between parks and can impact your comfort. "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," reports Janet B. from Taughannock Falls State Park.
Additional fees: Some campgrounds charge extra for certain amenities or visitors. "The weekend got pretty pricey after adding our children to the site. They even charged us extra for our 8 month old," warns Sarah S. from Pinecreek Campground.
Tips for camping with families
Swimming options: Green Lakes State Park Campground offers family-friendly water activities. "Beach for swimming with concession stand with quite a full menu. Beach also has a great playground for kids that is perfect for play and swim," recommends Kelly J.
Playground accessibility: Several campgrounds feature recreational areas for children. "Great little beach and swimming area; water was very clean. Small camp store and concession stand with fish fries, breakfast foods and ice cream," notes Stephanie C. about Sampson State Park.
Kid-friendly hiking: Look for trails suitable for younger campers. "This was a total surprise when we stayed at this site. We thought we were going to go to another park to camp but this one was so nice we ended up staying. Bathrooms were nice. Sites were really flat with some tree coverage for shade. Great water for older kids that can swim," shares Kelly J. about Robert H. Treman.
Tips from RVers
Hookup considerations: Pinecreek Campground offers full-service sites for RVs from May to October. "Not too far from home, bathrooms were a little on the rough side, park itself was ok, not overly impressed with any of it, we'll be going back again this coming season to give it a fair shake," shares Jason.
Site leveling: RV campers should consider terrain when selecting sites. "Electric sites are not the best though. Rocky and unlevel. Not made for large campers," warns Victoria about Robert H. Treman State Park.
Power access: At some parks, you may need extra equipment. "Electric service boxes are shared in-between sites. This could pose an issue if your power cord is not long enough," advises Amanda K. regarding Sampson State Park.