Best Glamping near Hector, NY

Definitely one of the top places to camp and visit in New York, Watkins Glen State Park never disappoints. Each time I come back, I find something new to discover and have a great time doing that. Pair awesome trails and camping space with world class wineries up the lake, you cannot go wrong.

Watkins 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!

Taughannock Falls State Park is one of my favorite parks in New York. The camp grounds are excellent, there are TONS of trails nearby, the swimming area of the lake is close, and the water is very clean. The crown jewel of the place is Taughannock Falls, which is a short flat hike to one of the tallest single drop waterfalls on the east coast. It really is quite the sight. There are cool playgrounds for the kids, grills, restrooms, showers, and plenty of activities to do, such as stand up paddle boarding. Taughannock has it going on, and I will be back!

We camped here for 3 nights, I had an event in Geneva. Location was handy, easy in and out. It’s an old navy/Air Force base that was converted in the 60’s. Sites have a weird thing with one electric post per two sites… but they aren’t pull through. So, apparently, New York doesn’t care if you just park anywhere in the general area of your site, which is a vibe, but bring an extension cord. There’s some kind of “resort” co-located that appears to have more conventional hookups, but I’m unclear on how to book that. Price was fine, spot was ok, lake swim beach and playground were nice.

Okay, we all get that there is awesome hiking, scenery, wineries, racing, and more in the Watkins Glen area. So let’s just chat about the campground.

The bathhouses were A+. Clean, well maintained, newer…just overall impressive!

There were water fill up stations EVERYWHERE! We camped in the dry camping loop - it was the only one available to us in our 35’ class A. We didn’t miss anything!

The playground was OUTSTANDING! All adults in our party and we couldn’t help but jump on some of the swings. It’s a newer type playground and is hands down the best I’ve ever seen!

Last, and certainly not least…personnel.

We had the opportunity to speak with the campground ranger, facilities engineer, and gate attendants. Everyone was accommodating, friendly, warm, helpful, and more. :).

One of the BEST campgrounds out there! Thank you New York State, the NYState park system and all the folks at Watkins Glen State Park Campground who make the magic happen!!!

One mention: our site was rated for a 25’ RV, we were 35’ long and fit nicely. Other sites rated for 35’ RV were NOT long enough. (We had to switch sites).

Went for a quick getaway to this little gem of a state park in the finger lakes region of New York. I’ll be coy, and use their slogan ‘Ithaca is Gorges’ and Gorgeous!!! The falls trails were all well defined and excellent for a beginner, moderate hiker. More advanced trails were also offered as well as biking trails, so plenty for any level of adventurer!! Lots of educational posters along the way to keep you informed of what you were seeing and the history about how it was created. The locals were pleasant, and eager to share fun facts about their area. We stayed at the campground in the park. It was cozy, clean, and just right for a little off the grid fun. No electricity or water hook ups available, but nice big public baths and plenty of water access all around the camp ground. (Say one water spot every 3-4 camp sites). There was also a dump station and trash dumpsters easily accessible at the entrance. Can not wait to go back, planning a week long trip next year and will do all three tours, wine, beer, and cheese!! Till next September!! Stay Gorges!!!

Pinecreek is a beautiful park in a great area 10 minutes from downtown Ithica New York and Lake Cayuga. The area has everything you could possibly want or need. Fabulous State Parks with spectacular waterfalls, a farmers market right on the lake front, Cornell University and so much more. That being said it may be the reason the campground doesn't offer any planned activities. They do have a swimming pool and what appears to be a large clubhouse/meeting area that is not or was not used while we were there, nor were any activities publicized. They do have a small arcade but it did not stay open past 8 pm and did not appear to be air-conditioned.

Our campsite was a full hookup with a large grassy area for setting up our outside chairs and picnic table. Although we enjoyed our stay we felt it was a bit overpriced for not having much to offer. They also have a very long list of rules & while they do allow pets there is a list of breed restrictions you need to be aware of before booking a reservation. They also charge for electricity on any stays one week or longer which we had not encountered previously at campgrounds where we have stayed.

Overall we enjoyed our stay but not sure we would stay again.

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. 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!

——REASONS I STAYED HERE——

The see Watkins Glen, of course! And go paddleboarding nearby.

—————BASIC FAQ—————

[Tent camping with a Subie]

Dump station? - Yes

Water fill or hookup? - Water fill at dump station but no water hookups. Water spigots are scattered throughout each loop.

Electricity? - Yes, some loops have it but not mine

Clean site? - Yes

Clean bathroom? - Yes

Flush toilet? - Yes

Showers? - Yes

Laundry? - No

Dish washing sink? - Yes, in the bathroom

—————PROS—————

→ The access to Watkins Glen! My site was in Loop D (Onondaga Village) which has a direct hiking trail to the trail along Watkins Glen! I highly recommend going early to beat the crowds. It’s peaceful and easier to enjoy and take photos.

→ Proximity to Seneca Lake! We went paddleboarding. We put in at a boat launch at the very southeastern corner of the lake near Seneca Lake Kayak. You can paddle down to Hector Falls and see it from the water.

→ You can drive to the many waterfalls nearby. I recommend Havana Glen Park for a short hike to the waterfall. Also, drive to Chequaga Falls.

—————TIP—————

→ There’s a power outlet in the bathroom. It was very common for people to charge phones while showering. Or leaving a battery in there to charge.

—————OVERALL—————

5-stars - Speaking for Loop D, of course. Clean site, clean bathroom with hot water, access to Watkins Glen, no issues while staying there.

—————INTERNET—————

Verizon via iPhone 12: 20 mbps down and 0.03 mbps up with 74 ms ping.

We 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

It’s a no frills city campground with a great location!!! Bring your bikes, kayaks, wine glass, and swimsuits. You’ll have a fantastic time!

If you are near the marina gate, the buzzer every time it opens will annoy you immensely.

The best thing about this park is location, location, location! Situated on the bottom of Seneca Lake you are just a short walk to downtown and Watkins Glen State Park. In addition directly across the street from the park is a local park with a small beach for swimming. The park itself seems to be mostly seasonal campers but the section near the office is for campers who are staying shorter periods of time or transient campers. We did have a large pull through site that accommodated our 40ft RV. Staff were very friendly and helpful with anything you may need to know about the area. Needless to say you are in wine country with wineries and breweries galore to explore! The Walmart is across the bridge a 5 minute walk away to pick up any supplies you may need. The one negative was the time we were there it rained heavily and the ground was quite saturated and roadway was somewhat flooded. However we enjoyed our stay and would stay here again.

Clute Park & Campground is a pretty quite and very clean park. Sites are moderately spacious but a little packed together. Lots of seasonal sites but plenty of RV sites with full hook ups and a nice tenting area that is somewhat seperated from the RVs.

This campground was so great to stay at! The hosts were lovely and very sweet, and created a wonderful place to stay off-grid. Our tent site was spacious and secluded nestled in a ton of trees. I was able to hang my hammock up and set up my 6 person tent no problem! We rarely heard anyone, and felt like we had the place to ourselves. Their outhouse has a camper toilet- it was super nice, not at all what I was expecting! They installed a gorgeous shower facility, which was so well appointed. They even had hotel shampoo/conditioner/soap sets in baggies for you! I went out and bought a towel just to shower (I usually never shower when camping). 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. The only thing is, know that you will be woken up by a rooster! We have a 5 year old that wakes up at the same time, so it was no big deal for us! I can't say enough good things about these hosts and their spot- it was relaxing, low key, and we felt incredibly safe, and welcome.

This will always be my favorite place to camp. Sites were a bit close together but the campers were so nice. The scenery was stunning and staff helpful.

This park offers over 300 campsites with restrooms, hot showers, dumping stations and firewood for sale. The park is open all year round. Check for dates on openings for pool, campgrounds, and trails. Pets are allowed on the grounds but not on the trails

The trails follow a gorge with multiple waterfalls that weave in and out of small caves and falls. For all you wondering, swimming is not allowed in the gorge. Overall nice hiking. My only drawback is the dog rule and the campsites being so close to one another.

this place is beautiful as i live close by and go there several times a year and never get tired of it

Watkins glen is a beautiful area in the NY Finger Lakes. The park itself is well maintained and the hike through the gorge is stunning. It is however, very busy. We camped there in Mid-July and tourists were being dropped off by the bus load to walk through the gorge. The campsites were well shaded and fairly spacious, but you definitely knew what your neighbors were doing. Bathrooms were clean, firewood was available for purchase, there is a small convenience store & a large swimming pool open to the public. It is fairly close to a race track, so I imagine it could be noisy at times. The walk through the gorge is stunning enough to make this a worthwhile camping experience.

The campsites are wide open sites great for campers or tents.  Very few sites have electric so if you want it- book early.  The gorge hike is beautiful.  It is a moderate hike but even if you are not a hiker the views are totally worth it.  It is located in close proximity to many wineries and the finger lakes so not only is there a lot to do at the campground there is also a lot to do close by.

Campground has spacious sites with alot of privacy.  The Gorge Trail is a must do, dont get discourage by the # of stairs, its not that bad.

Watkins Glen has been on my bucket list since I first saw a picture of it on Flickr back in 2008 and it definitely lived up to expectations! I recommend taking the shuttle to the upper parking lot and hiking down unless you really like stairs. The campground is a standard state park campground, clean, fairly private. I would definitely like to come back. Hopefully it won’t take me 10 years to return.

The winning attraction is clearly the gorges and we spent 5hrs hiking through them. Wonderful! Pool was nice, but you need to drive to it. If you have a choice, camp in the Iroquois area or another in the back. The front area (can’t remember the name) is really overcrowded. We basically shared our little campsite with the people on each side. Our picnic table was all of 10’ from that of our neighbors.