Best Campgrounds near Hornell, NY

Are you in need of a campground near Hornell, NY? There are tons of hikes and other fun activities to partake in, as well as sights to see and explore. You're sure to find the perfect campground for your Hornell camping trip.

Best Camping Sites Near Hornell, New York (157)

    1. Stony Brook State Park Campground

    20 Reviews
    Dansville, NY
    14 miles
    Website
    +1 (585) 335-5530

    $17 - $90 / night

    "We stayed for two day and hike the trails. The gorge trail has all the waterfalls and you can walk right next to them."

    "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"

    2. Sugar Creek Glen Campground

    7 Reviews
    Almond, NY
    7 miles
    Website
    +1 (585) 335-6294

    "There was outer edges of a tropical storm when we went so lots of rain! The bathrooms are clean - quarter showers were nice and hot!"

    "It was right next to the river and actually very nice! They ever had karaoke at night, which was fun and different! Great place !!"

    3. Letchworth State Park Campground

    77 Reviews
    Perry, NY
    30 miles
    Website
    +1 (585) 493-3600

    $300 / night

    "Letchworth State Park is known as the Grand Canyon of the East and is located in Mt. Morris New York. My husband and I visited regularly when we lived near Rochester, NY."

    "Not technically in the Finger Lakes but still one of the most beautiful parts of Western New York State. Splurge and eat at the Glen Iris Inn! Great for cycling and hiking but no swimming."

    4. Palmers Pond State Forest

    8 Reviews
    Alfred, NY
    13 miles
    Website
    +1 (585) 466-3241

    "Beautiful grassy spots around the pond and along the road in. Google maps directed us to a dead end, go in through the north entrance and you’ll be good!"

    "I was able to set up next to the water with no problem. Definitely will be back."

    5. Kanakadea Park

    4 Reviews
    Almond, NY
    3 miles
    Website

    "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."

    6. Kanakadea Park - Almond Lake

    2 Reviews
    Almond, NY
    3 miles
    Website
    +1 (607) 664-2460

    "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."

    "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."

    7. Watkins Glen State Park Campground

    90 Reviews
    Watkins Glen, NY
    40 miles
    Website
    +1 (607) 535-4511

    $20 - $58 / night

    "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."

    "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."

    8. Sun Valley Campsites

    1 Review
    Dansville, NY
    10 miles
    Website
    +1 (607) 545-8388

    $45 - $67 / night

    9. Ossian State Forest

    1 Review
    Dansville, NY
    14 miles
    Website
    +1 (607) 776-2165

    "Three simple campsites strewn in a circle around Evergreen Pond. The one closest to the road is very suitable for car camping, the other two you need to hike into but neither are very far."

    10. Evergreen Trails Campground

    4 Reviews
    Belfast, NY
    19 miles
    Website
    +1 (716) 466-7993

    "The cabins next to us were very loud so that was distracting. The cabins looked very nice though.
    The shower house was clean and nice but did cost money, which I think is not appropriate."

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Recent Reviews near Hornell, NY

642 Reviews of 157 Hornell Campgrounds


  • julian S.
    Oct. 6, 2025

    Tiadaghton Campground — Tioga State Forest

    Very crowded with bikers

    Nice campsite and cool view but be prepared to have a lot of bikers walking around the campground or stopping for lunch at near by sites. Also would recommend 4 wheel drive vehicles to drive to site, steep dirt roads to access it. It has a nice water front view but if seclusion is something you would like this spot may not be for you.

  • KThe Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 4, 2025

    Sugar Hill Fire Tower Campsite

    Would Stay again

    We stayed here for 2 nights car camping. quiet and clean. spots had fire rings and picnic tables. Bathrooms were clean and had potable water. There were lots of horses. There are hiking trails right out of the site! would absolutely stay here again!

  • HThe Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 3, 2025

    Sugar Hill Fire Tower Campsite

    Free camping with amenities!

    26 camp sites with bathrooms! That flush! Very quiet and the sites aren’t on top of each other. People bring their horses. You can drive to to your site and tent camp or camper camp. I would come back!

  • EThe Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 1, 2025

    Watkins Glen State Park Campground

    Nice campground in a gorgeous state park.

    Nice pretty campground, only electric hookup for the RV sites, tho. The showers were cool, no hot water. Close to some gorgeous hiking tho! And town is about a mile away with shops, restaurants and on the edge of one of the Finger Lakes to make it beautiful!

  • Roger V.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 1, 2025

    Palmers Pond State Forest

    beautiful spots near pond or in woods

    if the lake spots are busy check the woods, there are a bunch more nice spots. dispersed free LNT style. no services. would stay here again.

  • Dana M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 30, 2025

    Lyman Run State Park Campground

    Quiet, Quaint and Clean!

    We love the lower loop! We were there on a Monday night and there were 4 sites occupied on our loop. Great stars. Clean bathrooms!

  • Bare Soul  W.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 15, 2025

    South Slope Trail Head Dispersed Camp

    Relaxing

    There is one campsite near trail. There was more traffic than I expected. Also there is no cell service. No real tires

  • Dayne B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 5, 2025

    Ontario County Park at Gannett Hill

    Inexpensive, Peaceful.

    I've stayed here on 3 separate occasions, twice in RV 12 and once in RV 6. 

    I used the 30 AMP hookup and had zero issues.

    Beautiful playground for my son to enjoy and meet other kiddos. Deer, chipmunks and rabbits will say hi in the early and late hours.

    Large dumpsters near entrance. 

    Dump stations are present, but I haven't used them yet. 

    Potable water is present at a small spigot. 

    The washrooms facility is very close and speaking for the men's side, it had 2 stalls, 2 urinals, 2 showers, multiple sinks, and a sturdy baby changing station.

    Hiking trails with gorgeous views of the valley within a 5 min walk of my campsite.

  • B
    Aug. 31, 2025

    Leonard Harrison State Park Campground

    Small campground with clean bathrooms

    We stayed here Wednesday through Saturday of Labor Day weekend.  On Wednesday and Thursday nights there were about 5 sites that were taken. By Friday they were all full

    The campground is a simple loop of 28 sites.  19 are non -electric and 9 are electric. Sites are spacious and easy to back in to. I believe there are two pull throughs. Water spigots are continently located around the campground.  

    The PA Grand Canyon Visitor center and the Turkey Path (main path down into the canyon) are a short 5 minute walk across the parking lot from the campground.  For biking there is the  Pine Creek Rail Trail, that runs the length of the canyon at the bottom. To access from the campground you can drive there in 16 minutes Darling Run trail access area.


Guide to Hornell

Camping near Hornell, New York, offers a variety of beautiful spots for outdoor enthusiasts. From stunning gorges to serene lakes, there’s something for everyone in this picturesque region.

What to do:

  • Hiking: Explore the breathtaking trails at Watkins Glen State Park Campground. One camper mentioned, “The access to Watkins Glen! My site was in Loop D which has a direct hiking trail to the trail along Watkins Glen!”
  • Paddleboarding: Enjoy some fun on the water at nearby Seneca Lake. A visitor shared, “We went paddleboarding. We put in at a boat launch at the very southeastern corner of the lake near Seneca Lake Kayak.”
  • Waterfalls: Don’t miss the stunning waterfalls in the area. One reviewer said, “The waterfalls were amazing. The rec center had tons of activities and sports for the kids to do.”

What campers like:

  • Clean facilities: Campers appreciate the well-maintained restrooms and showers. A visitor at Letchworth State Park Campground noted, “Bathrooms were very clean with nice hot water in the showers.”
  • Spacious sites: Many campgrounds offer generous space between sites. A camper at Lyman Run State Park Campground mentioned, “The site and facilities were very well kept and clean. The sites are well spaced so you don’t feel like it’s crowded.”
  • Family-friendly activities: Campgrounds like Sampson State Park Campground have playgrounds and swimming areas. One reviewer said, “Place is great for kids. Lots to do with a couple of playgrounds, guarded swimming area, kayak rentals.”

What you should know:

  • Limited cell service: Some campgrounds have spotty reception. A visitor at Cherry Springs State Park Campground mentioned, “Stars were incredible and we were there when it was cloudy!!”
  • No camp store: Many campgrounds don’t have a store on-site, so plan ahead. A camper at Stony Brook State Park Campground noted, “No camp store - so if you forgot an essential item, you've got to go out from the park.”
  • Seasonal availability: Most campgrounds are open from spring to fall. For example, Keuka Lake State Park Campground operates from May 6 to October 16.

Tips for camping with families:

  • Choose spacious sites: Look for campgrounds with larger sites for more room to play. A camper at Darien Lakes State Park Campground said, “The park was nearly empty, perhaps 6 or 8 other campers widely spread out.”
  • Plan for activities: Bring bikes and outdoor games for family fun. One reviewer at Buttermilk Falls State Park Campground mentioned, “The campground is amazing and GO SEE THOSE FALLS!”
  • Check for playgrounds: Many campgrounds have playgrounds for kids. A visitor at Letchworth State Park Campground noted, “The playground is huge and there's lots of room for riding your bike around.”

Tips from RVers:

  • Bring extension cords: Some sites have electric posts far from the pads. A camper at Sampson State Park Campground advised, “Electric service boxes are shared in-between sites. This could pose an issue if your power cord is not long enough.”
  • Check site conditions: Look for level sites to avoid hassle. A visitor at Darien Lakes State Park Campground mentioned, “Our site was spacious, clean, and pretty darn level.”
  • Plan for water fill-ups: Some campgrounds have limited water fill stations. A camper at Lyman Run State Park Campground noted, “There is only one source for water fill up. This could end up being a very long wait if you arrive at the same time as other campers.”

Camping around Hornell, New York, is a great way to enjoy nature and create lasting memories. Whether you’re hiking, swimming, or just relaxing by the campfire, you’ll find plenty to love in this beautiful area.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best campgrounds near Hornell, NY?

Letchworth State Park Campground, known as the "Grand Canyon of the East," is among the best options near Hornell. This stunning park offers tent sites, RV spaces, and cabin rentals with gorgeous hiking trails and magnificent waterfalls. Watkins Glen State Park Campground is another excellent choice, featuring secluded, well-sized sites and spectacular gorge hiking trails. Both parks provide clean facilities and access to natural attractions that make them standout destinations. For a more intimate experience, local private campgrounds like Sugar Creek Glen offer peaceful settings with essential amenities. The region's camping options cater to various preferences, from fully-equipped RV sites to more primitive experiences.

Are there any free camping sites near Hornell?

Palmers Pond State Forest near West Almond offers free camping with drive-in and walk-in access. This location is also big-rig friendly, making it suitable for various camping setups. Ossian State Forest is another option for free primitive camping near Hornell. These state forests typically operate on a first-come, first-served basis with no reservations required. Facilities are minimal, so campers should be prepared to bring their own water and pack out all trash. While these sites lack amenities like showers or electrical hookups, they provide peaceful, natural settings for those seeking a more rustic camping experience away from crowds and fees.

What amenities are available at Hornell area campgrounds?

Campgrounds near Hornell offer a range of amenities. Sun Valley Campsites provides water, toilets, and is big-rig friendly with reservable sites. Kanakadea Park offers water and toilet facilities with drive-in access. Many campgrounds in the region feature fire rings, picnic tables, and access to hiking trails. Some parks provide electrical hookups, while others maintain a more rustic experience. Depending on the campground, you may find additional amenities like showers, dump stations, and camp stores for supplies. During peak season, it's advisable to check if reservations are required, as many popular sites fill quickly.