Glamping in Georgetown, New York offers rustic accommodations in a rural woodland setting. The area sits at the eastern edge of the Finger Lakes region with an elevation of approximately 1,200 feet, creating cooler summer temperatures than surrounding lowlands. Most glamping sites operate seasonally from May through October when overnight temperatures typically range from 45-65°F, requiring adequate bedding even in summer months.
What to do
Hiking on glacial terrain: Chenango Valley State Park features trails across unique kettle lakes formed by glacial activity. "Nice green park on the water. Short easy trails. Lots of info about the glaciers that formed the lakes you can swim in. Great wildlife (wood ducks & kingfishers)," notes Dan N.
Kayaking on calm waters: Multiple parks offer boat rentals for peaceful paddling. "Bring your bikes, the swimming is great and the entire swimming/boating area just underwent a major renovation. You can rent kayaks and paddle boards," explains Courtney Z. about Chenango Valley State Park.
Mountain biking on multi-use trails: Robert H. Treman State Park provides varied terrain for cyclists. A visitor notes, "There are endless waterfalls, hiking trails, fishing holes and bird watching opportunities. The campground has bathrooms, showers, picnic tables, a playground and a dump station."
What campers like
Private wooded sites: Bowman Lake State Park offers secluded camping areas. "This campsite was beautiful. It was very secluded and in the woods, right next to the lake as well. I enjoyed how spread out this campground is compared to most and the location is beautiful," reports Katarina M.
Clean facilities: Campers consistently mention well-maintained amenities at area parks. "The bathrooms were nice. Sites were really flat with some tree coverage for shade. Great water for older kids that can swim," according to Kelly J. at Robert H. Treman State Park.
Winter accessibility: Some parks remain open for cold-weather activities. "We camped in July, but were told that the park is opened for winter activities such as xcountry skiing and snow mobiling," shares Brian O. about Bowman Lake State Park.
What you should know
Seasonal operation: Most glamping sites have limited availability. "Pine Valley Recreational Vehicle Park and Campgrounds operates seasonally from May through September," with similar timelines at most locations.
Variable shower conditions: Bathroom quality can differ between parks. At Green Lakes State Park, one camper noted: "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."
Wildlife encounters: Prepare for local fauna interaction. "Beware of raccoons. They are brazen thieves here...and every campground they inhabit. Just don't leave your food out," warns Mary S. at Chenango Valley State Park.
Tips for camping with families
Shallow swimming areas: Several parks feature kid-friendly water access. "Playground and shallow swimming area for children with life guards and a sandy beach and new bath house. They have fishing and boat rentals," explains Mary P. about Chenango Valley State Park.
Playground availability: Taughannock Falls State Park provides play equipment for younger visitors. "This is a beautiful campground. I 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. There is a small playground for kids," writes Barbara S.
Educational opportunities: Many parks offer learning experiences about local ecology. "Plenty of space here at Chenango Valley State Park. The walking trails are well maintained. You can also fish in the lake for trout and bass," shares Matt G.
Tips from RVers
Site selection strategy: Choose locations based on hookup configuration. "Check out which side the hookups are on. Some not situated on the right side so you'll need extra long cords," advises a camper at Taughannock Falls.
Limited large rig options: Hickories Park accommodates bigger vehicles but has constraints. "This place is an excellent place to take your family it's got hookups and plenty of space for your RV and it also has showers," notes Jill R., though other parks mention limitations like "Electric sites are not the best. Rocky and unlevel. Not made for large campers."
Off-season availability: Seasonal timing affects amenities. "We were just passing through on a rainy night, but this park would be a good choice for a multi-night stay," explains Mary S. about Chenango Valley State Park, noting the electric loops with "30 amps and 50 amps have a good amount of gravel."
