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Best Campgrounds near Lansing, NY

562 Reviews

State parks and forests surrounding Lansing, New York provide a diverse range of camping experiences within the scenic Finger Lakes region. Watkins Glen State Park Campground, approximately 30 miles southwest of Lansing, offers well-maintained sites nestled among hardwood forests with access to the park's famous gorge featuring 19 waterfalls. Closer to Lansing, Taughannock Falls State Park Campground provides accommodations for tents, RVs, and cabins with proximity to one of the tallest single-drop waterfalls east of the Mississippi. Robert H. Treman and Buttermilk Falls state parks in nearby Ithaca feature similar amenities with their own distinctive gorge and waterfall landscapes. For those seeking more primitive experiences, Blueberry Patch Campground in the Finger Lakes National Forest offers a simpler camping environment with basic facilities and greater seclusion.

Most campgrounds in the Finger Lakes region operate seasonally from mid-April through mid-October, with peak season running from Memorial Day through Labor Day. Advance reservations are strongly recommended, especially for summer weekends and holidays when sites fill quickly. As one camper noted, "We did our usual reservation-less 'pull up and see what they have open' style of camping, but during the main season, this place is nuts! You'll definitely need to plan ahead." Weather conditions vary significantly throughout the camping season, with summer temperatures typically ranging from 55-85°F and occasional thunderstorms. Cell service is generally reliable near developed campgrounds but may be limited in more remote areas. Many campgrounds offer electric hookups, water access, and shower facilities, though amenities vary by location.

Campers consistently highlight the region's natural features as the primary draw. "Watkins Glen boasts one of New York's most beautiful state parks! I absolutely loved hiking along the gorges," shared one visitor. The proximity to wineries and other attractions adds to the appeal, with another camper noting the parks are "so well situated within the Finger Lakes and all the various wine trails." Campground crowding remains a common concern during peak season. "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," reported one reviewer. Sites at most state parks feature standard amenities including picnic tables and fire rings, with bathhouses described as "clean, well maintained, newer...just overall impressive!" by satisfied campers.

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Best Camping Sites Near Lansing, New York (128)

    1. Robert H. Treman State Park Campground

    22 Reviews
    Ithaca, NY
    7 miles
    Website
    +1 (607) 273-3440

    $24 - $128 / night

    "Located in Tompkins County, Ithaca New York has beautiful gorges and hiking trails. Robert Treman is a treat and a gorgeous place to camp in the Ithaca, NY area."

    "The exception to this is cabin 14 which is a double cabin and is located near the playground and surrounded by standard electric camping sites."

    2. Watkins Glen State Park Campground

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

    $24 - $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."

    3. Taughannock Falls State Park Campground

    19 Reviews
    Jacksonville, NY
    7 miles
    Website
    +1 (607) 387-6739

    $24 - $67 / night

    "Taughannock Falls State Park is one of my favorite parks in New York."

    "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!!!"

    4. Buttermilk Falls State Park Campground

    18 Reviews
    Ithaca, NY
    6 miles
    Website
    +1 (607) 273-5761

    $21 - $66 / night

    "Buttermilk Falls State Park is a great state park in central New York. The scenery is what makes this park stand out."

    "Short drive out of Ithaca proper near one of the Finger Lakes. Medium to easy trails (the ones near the gorges are steep but with nice rock steps)."

    5. Pinecreek Campground

    8 Reviews
    Ithaca, NY
    9 miles
    Website
    +1 (607) 273-1974

    "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."

    "Beautiful lake, woodland and natural surrounding. Friendly campground visitors and staff. Open to seasonal and day campers alike. Playground needs improving."

    6. Fillmore Glen State Park Campground

    15 Reviews
    Moravia, NY
    15 miles
    Website
    +1 (315) 497-0130

    $21 - $67 / night

    "region of Upstate New York."

    "Awesome little park in the Finger Lakes region with nature on site and lots more to do and explore nearby (wine trails!)."

    7. Blueberry Patch Campground — Green Mountain & Finger Lakes National Forests

    11 Reviews
    Hector, NY
    16 miles

    $15 / night

    "The only Finger Lakes National Forest designated campground, Blueberry Patch offers a secluded experience in the heart of this sometimes overlooked beautiful geographic region in the State of New York."

    "I ALWAYS recommend heading away from state parks and camping in state forests. There's always more privacy and more wilderness. Of course, this is a personal preference!"

    8. Spruce Row Campground

    2 Reviews
    Jacksonville, NY
    5 miles
    Website
    +1 (607) 387-9225

    9. Spruce Row Campsite

    1 Review
    Jacksonville, NY
    5 miles
    Website
    +1 (607) 387-9225

    10. Firelight Camps

    1 Review
    Ithaca, NY
    7 miles
    Website
    +1 (607) 229-1644

    "Even with the restrictions we had a great visit and felt safely distanced from other campers and staff. Great hiking trails because it is attached to Buttermilk Falls State Park."

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Recent Camping Photos near Lansing, NY

255 Photos of 128 Lansing Campgrounds

Recent Reviews near Lansing, NY

562 Reviews of 128 Lansing Campgrounds

  • 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!

  • Chelsea B.
    Sep. 30, 2025

    Green Lakes State Park Campground

    Good camp sites

    The sites are good, level, and the campsite is pretty but 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. It’s best to use the ADA bathrooms because those shower heads are normal and have wands. I can’t say much about the amenities since we camped in the off season (really bummed not to rent a boat), but the trails around the lake are great! Beautiful water and various difficulties on the trails make it pretty fun to explore. Overall a good stay but took a star away for the showers and the landscapers. They spent at least 5-6 hours the Monday we were here mowing around our campsite, coming within inches of our power and Starlink cords. Really annoyed by that and when we called the park office, they said they’d take care of it but we still endured 4 more hours of multiple mowers going over the same areas multiple times. Honestly think they were messing with us at that point…

  • Chelsea B.
    Sep. 27, 2025

    Robert H. Treman State Park Campground

    Good location

    Location: This park is close to Ithaca which was the best part. Trails and Natural Features: We loved the waterfall, swimming area (seasonal so closed when we stayed), and the fall colors. Sites: They have very few electric sites so we decided to boondock. It surprised me that all the full hookup sites were reserved but very people actually showed up for their reservations while we stayed. Lame. And heads up that if you don’t stay in the big clearing for big rigs, there are tight turns between trees to get in and out of the non-electric sites. We ended up making a back-in site into a pull-through site… whoops. Starlink: I work remotely so internet is important. We weren’t camping in the clearing because those sites were booked, but even the Starlink struggled where we were and I ended up working from the library in town. So heads up if you need internet. Bathrooms: They were spacious but older. Temperature in the showers was tricky. Hot is cold and cold it hot. Cool stuff: They had compost bins and provide bags for all campers. That’s cool!

  • 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.

  • Mindie C.
    Aug. 24, 2025

    Pinecreek Campground

    Overnight stay

    The campground is cute and quiet. Staff is friendly and helpful. My only complaint is the condition of the roads. They are in dire need of grading and new gravel. Be careful!

  • Casey L.
    Aug. 17, 2025

    Watkins Glen State Park Campground

    Busy campground

    Sites are level, some are more spaced apart than others but none seemed crowded as they seemed to all have trees between. Main complaint was most people speed way too fast through the campground. There was poison Ivy around the edges of our site and on the path to the bathroom. Bathroom was fairly modern and clean. It was nice to be able to access the gorge right from the campground.

Guide to Lansing

Camping near Lansing, NY, offers a fantastic escape into nature with plenty of campgrounds to choose from. Whether you're looking for a peaceful retreat or an adventure-filled getaway, this area has something for everyone.

What to do:

  • Hiking: Explore the stunning trails at Watkins Glen State Park Campground. One visitor said, "The access to Watkins Glen! My site was in Loop D which has a direct hiking trail to the trail along Watkins Glen!"
  • Water Activities: Enjoy paddleboarding or swimming at Green Lakes State Park Campground. A camper mentioned, "We went paddleboarding... You can paddle down to Hector Falls and see it from the water."
  • Fishing and Boating: Spend a day fishing or boating at Keuka Lake State Park Campground. One review noted, "The lake is clean and clear, great for fishing, boating, and swimming."

What campers like:

  • Clean Facilities: Campers appreciate the well-maintained restrooms and showers. A visitor at Green Lakes State Park Campground said, "The bathrooms are great! Super modern and clean and hot, free showers!"
  • Spacious Sites: Many campgrounds offer roomy sites. A review from Sampson State Park Campground stated, "Most sites are pretty spacious... Lots to do with a couple of playgrounds."
  • Natural Beauty: The scenic views and natural surroundings are a big hit. One camper at Buttermilk Falls State Park Campground remarked, "The campground is amazing and GO SEE THOSE FALLS!"

What you should know:

  • Site Proximity: Some campgrounds have sites that are close together. A camper at Taughannock Falls State Park Campground noted, "Sites are on top of one another, but some have good shade."
  • Limited Amenities: Not all campgrounds have stores or markets nearby. A visitor at Stony Brook State Park Campground mentioned, "No camp store, but firewood & ice were available at check-in station."
  • Noise Levels: Some areas can be noisy, especially during busy weekends. A review from Taughannock Falls State Park Campground said, "The crowd was definitely loud and nosy."

Tips for camping with families:

  • Kid-Friendly Activities: Look for campgrounds with playgrounds and swimming areas. One camper at Sampson State Park Campground highlighted, "There are lots of playgrounds for kids."
  • Plan for Meals: Bring your own food or check for nearby dining options. A visitor at Watkins Glen / Corning KOA mentioned, "Two pizza places in Watkins Glen will deliver directly to your site."
  • Safety First: Always supervise kids around water and play areas. A parent at Watkins Glen / Corning KOA noted, "The kids were very vocal about leaving in the review they think the gravel surround is a bad idea."

Tips from RVers:

  • Check Site Size: Make sure your RV fits the site before booking. A camper at Sampson State Park Campground advised, "Sites are generous in size but the power poles are between sites."
  • Bring Extension Cords: Some sites may have power poles far from your RV. A review from Chenango Valley State Park Campground mentioned, "Electric service boxes are shared in-between sites."
  • Explore Nearby Attractions: Take advantage of the local wineries and parks. A visitor at Keuka Lake State Park Campground said, "Not far from Penn Yan, nice city, wineries are all over."

Camping near Lansing, NY, is a great way to enjoy the outdoors with family and friends. With a variety of campgrounds and activities, you're sure to find the perfect spot for your next adventure!

Frequently Asked Questions

Are there any free camping options around Lansing?

While Lansing doesn't have many free camping options directly in town, budget-conscious campers can find dispersed camping opportunities in nearby state forests. Dansville State Game Area approximately 20 miles southeast of Lansing offers primitive camping with a free permit. Another option is Ionia State Recreation Area, which while not free, provides rustic sites at minimal cost. Always check local regulations before setting up camp, as rules and availability may change seasonally.

What are the best campgrounds near Lansing, Michigan?

The Lansing area offers several excellent camping options. Sleepy Hollow State Park is a top choice just 20 minutes north of downtown, featuring spacious sites, hiking trails, and a 410-acre lake for water activities. For a more rustic experience, Fitzgerald County Park provides wooded sites with proximity to the Grand River. Both parks have well-maintained facilities and are ideal for families. Reservations are recommended during peak summer months, especially for weekend stays.

What amenities are available at Lansing campgrounds?

Lansing area campgrounds offer a range of amenities to suit different camping styles. Lake Lansing Park North provides electric hookups, modern restrooms with hot showers, picnic tables, and fire rings. Many sites include water access. For more luxurious accommodations, Cottonwood Campground features full RV hookups, WiFi, a camp store, and laundry facilities. Most campgrounds in the region include basic amenities like potable water, vault toilets or restrooms, and designated camping pads. Premium sites with additional features typically require reservations well in advance, especially during summer.

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