Best RV Parks & Resorts near Ithaca, NY

The owners do a fantastic job keeping the campground shipshape. Restrooms/showers are immaculate any time of day. Heated swimming pool and the splash pad for kiddies is spotless as well. Nice, pull-through on gravel pad withfull-hookups that can take large rigs. Lake is lovely for fishing/kayaks/canoes. Seasonal campers are tidy. Only a few tent sites with water & electricity tucked into woods. Larger pull-through sites don't get a lot of shade, but there are back-in sites for shorter campers in wooded sites and shaded lake front, as well. Campground store sells ice-cream & nachos and supplies. Campground is pretty quiet during the week, but fills up on weekends with guests using own (or renting) golf carts. Activities on weekends. The campground sits atop one of NEPA's "rolling hills" in quiet, rural farming area. Cell service is spotty. Local winery/cafe just down the road for tastings and lunch. Row boat, paddle boat rentals.

We were just passing through on a rainy night, but this park would be a good choice for a multi-night stay. 

Activities for a Multi-Day Stay

• Swimming in the lake, golfing, boating, fishing, multi-use trails for hiking or mountain biking

• You're only about 20 minutes from the Binghamton/Johnson City area. For us, that means food and craft beer.

Sites in the Chipmunk Camping Area

• Parking pads in the non-electric section are dirt/grass. Some of the pads are short; this section is geared toward tent campers. We found a site long enough to easily accommodate our vehicle and teardrop trailer (30 ft total) since we didn't want to detach for a one night stay. Even if the pad wasn't that long, there are other pads wide enough to handle a vehicle and trailer like ours side by side.

• Parking pads in the electric loops (30 amps and 50 amps) have a good amount of gravel.

• We usually prefer sites on the outer part of a loop, and this was no exception. The sites have more trees.

Amenities

• Electricity at about 1/3 of the sites

• Pretty good restrooms/showers

• Water spigots on the loops and more water at the dump station

• Trash disposal

• Playground at the beach area, not the campground

Wildlife

• Beware of raccoons. They are brazen thieves here...and every campground they inhabit. Just don't leave your food out.

• The park brochure warns of the occasional bear but that's true even in towns all over NY. I doubt you'll see one.

• Deer are all over. Watch out for them on the roads. We had four that were feeding behind our site in the morning.

We arrived on Saturday, 10.8.22 and are staying for a week. This is a delightful location. Rachel and Doug are cheerful, attentive, and very personable owners who are on-site at almost all times. This park just opened this year, so we checked in at an entrance building that they're using until their primary building is complete. We were greeted with delicious cookies, our site(#9) backs up to a wooded area(with a hiking path buried in there) with a lot of space. We booked early, which was a good thing because they were 100% full for Indigenous People's Day. We chose this site because there was a lot of room around it and we're used to really tightly packed RV parks. But what we found is that all of the sites are very nicely spread out with generous spacing, so that's not an issue. It's still nice to be on the outskirts. We also chose this section per a review we read to be away from the main road noise, but there really isn't much road noise to worry about, anyway. The WiFi is strong and consistent. We're using 30amps, but they also have 20 and 50amp service to each site. The water pressure is great. The bath house is new and very comfortable. Each site has a picnic table, a fire ring and lots of room for big rigs. We watched Doug neaten up sites after other RV's vacated, which shows an attention to detail we don't often find. They also drive by each site every morning to collect trash and recycling. The sunsets are spectacular over the lake(we can't see the lake from here, but it's close). There are numerous award-winning wineries surrounding us and up and down the lake. We're headed out for tastings today. We've been hiking the last few days- Watkins Glen State Park- Gorge Trail(go early or it gets REALLY crowded), Taughannock State Park- Gorge& North Ridge Trail over on Cayuga Lake, and a concert(Rufus Wainwright) at Point of the Bluff Winery over on Keuka Lake. We stopped afterward for dinner in Hammondsport at Timber Stone Grill which was truly wonderful. That's about 35- 45 minutes away. Lots more hiking trails to do in the National Forest and surrounding areas. And there's Watkins Glen, a charming town just minutes away. We highly recommend Finger Lakes RV Resort and we'll be back!

This CG has two distinct sections. Near the entrance is the Pull Through Area. Behind a row of trees there are several sites with full hookups including cable TV and Wi-Fi. The sites are open, reasonably level, and a good size. The other sites are in the woods, most of these sites do not have sewer connections. There is a honey wagon service available. We camped with a relative who was new and we were teaching them how to operate their camper. We had a couple of dry days then some rain. Still was a great teaching/learning experience.

Make sure you use a water filter, there was a lot of sediment in the water when we were there. See pictures of 4 days on a new cartridge.

We had a fantastic sunrise one morning.

Campers arriving at Watkins Glen State Park are immediately captivated by its dramatic gorge scenery, where 19 waterfalls cascade through narrow stone walls. Their campsites are nestled among hardwood forests, offering a perfect balance of sunlit clearings and shady retreats. Each site comes equipped with a picnic table and fire ring, making it easy to prepare meals after a day spent exploring the park’s famous Gorge Trail. The park’s facilities blend rustic charm with modern comforts: clean flush toilets, hot-water showers, and convenient potable water stations. Hiking enthusiasts appreciate the interconnected trail system, which includes the popular Rim Trail for elevated views of the gorge, as well as more secluded footpaths through hemlock groves. Families particularly enjoy the nearby swimming pool and easy-access picnic areas overlooking Seneca Lake. To simplify travel logistics for out-of-state visitors, many campers opt to pre-book an airport transfer so they can arrive at Ithaca or Elmira–Corning Regional Airport and head straight to the park without the hassle of car rentals. Those planning to explore multiple stops along the Finger Lakes often choose the provider’s reliable city-to-city rides for comfortable, door-to-door transportation between destinations. All in all, Watkins Glen State Park delivers an unforgettable combination of awe-inspiring gorge hikes, well-appointed campsites, and family-friendly amenities. Campers seeking both adventure and relaxation will find this New York treasure hard to surpass.

Small and quiet national forest campground, just about 20 minutes from the hustle and bustle of both Ithaca and Watkins Glen. We woke up to thrushes singing and fell asleep to nightingales and owls calling!  Sites are basic with a picnic table and fire ring. Two pit toilets and trash/recycling are available, but no drinking water (also no streams for filtering water…so come prepared). Some sites can accommodate longer RV’s and some are perfect for tents.  All sites have quite a bit of shade and privacy as they are lined with trees and shrubs.

The best part about this campground is you are perfectly situated in the heart of the NY wine country!  Seneca Lake is just a couple miles west and has more wineries than you can possibly visit. Our favorite was Catharine Valley Winery…great wine, fun atmosphere, and gorgeous view of the vineyards and lake. 

Also, with the help of a local, we found Smith Memorial Park – a great place to launch our kayaks and make some dinner at the beach. Their campground is currently closed for renovations, but there is a boat launch/docks, picnic pavilion, and a lovely view of the sunset.

No reservations, first-come first served.