Lisle, New York serves as a hub for diverse camping experiences in central New York's Finger Lakes region. Chenango Valley State Park Campground, located about 15 miles southeast of Lisle, provides a mix of accommodations including tent sites, RV hookups, cabins, and glamping options. Long Pond Campground offers more rustic, dispersed camping opportunities approximately 5 miles east of town. The area features both established campgrounds with developed facilities and more primitive sites in public forest lands. Mixed-use campgrounds like Greenwood County Park accommodate tent campers and RVs with electric hookups, while Upper Lisle Park offers tent-only camping just north of town.
Camping seasons typically run from May through October, with some facilities like Greenwood County Park remaining open year-round. Most developed campgrounds in the area provide electric hookups, fire rings, and picnic tables, while primitive sites offer minimal amenities. As one visitor noted, "Greenwood can get VERY crowded in the summer time, but for good reason. The swimming is excellent, lots of space for everyone, and they have lifeguards on duty just in case." Reservations are recommended for established campgrounds during peak summer months, especially on weekends and holidays. Cell service is generally reliable near town but may be spotty in more remote camping areas. Temperatures can vary significantly between day and night even during summer months, particularly at higher elevations in the surrounding hills.
The region's campgrounds provide access to numerous outdoor recreation opportunities. Several local camping areas feature water access, with Greenwood County Park and Long Pond Campground offering swimming and fishing. According to a recent review, "Long Pond Campground is great for dispersed camping with spots right on the pond next to a dock. People drive in to fish and kayak so you don't feel isolated." Hiking trails are available throughout the area, with established routes through wooded terrain. Wildlife viewing opportunities are plentiful, particularly in the less developed camping areas. Campers report relatively quiet conditions during weekdays, with more activity on summer weekends. The proximity to nearby attractions such as the Finger Lakes wine region makes these campgrounds popular base camps for regional exploration.
$17 - $123 / night
"This is a beautiful park, the hiking is great with varied trails, nice changes in elevation due to the glacial geology of the landscape, and scenic vistas overlooking 2 beautiful lakes."
"The only downfall is that there really isn't much else to do around the area."
$30 / night
"Typical New York weather. Overall, the park is more than I expected for a county park."
"The lake is pretty, the beach and picnic area is well kept, the campground is like a high quality state park—bravo to the Broome County Parks Department!"
"Aside from that this was a short drive in and I was able to score a spot right on the pond next to a dock."
"All the roads are gravel, so it might get a little muddy after a big rain but I had no issue with a low clearance car driving around to explore the sites available."
"This is a small county park and campground located east of Greene NY. It gets a lot if day use for fishing, hiking and picnicking. There is also a wooded campground, mostly RV’s and some tents."
"It has a small lake that is great for fishing and kayaks but swimming is not allowed. Some sites may be a challenge for the largest of rigs. Has a small play area for kids."
"i pulled in at about 6pm mid week, the ranger station was closed drove around & found tent site 79 open, it's next to the river."
"Lovely but simple views all around and rolling green hills in the distance. Campground is well-kept and relatively modern but not particularly memorable. Nice little stopover on a road trip."
$53 - $65 / night
"Fantastic animal preserve zoo nearby which is a must visit. Pretty golf course with full bar and food right across the street. Overall one of our favorite stops on our New England trip."
"They have hayrides in the summer and swimming in the lake. Lakeside sites are spacious and reasonably priced. The owners are always accessible."
GuideI likes this spot and i really like that you need a reservation as well just to secure your spot! The spots are big and great walks as well if you have dogs. Easy access to the pond too. 20 minutes to waterfall state park & there is a maple shop not too far as well for treats etc.
TravelerAll the roads are gravel, so it might get a little muddy after a big rain but I had no issue with a low clearance car driving around to explore the sites available. About half the sites are spread out in a large patch of spruce trees, I stayed at one of these. You can hear and sometimes see cars on the main road from your site but overall the spruce trees give you a lot more privacy. Had a neighbor blasting their speaker and didn't even hear it until I was walking by on that stretch of road. You might catch a glimpse of someone's fire at night, but it mostly felt like I had the place to myself. The other half are clustered much closer together among some deciduous trees but all the sites are pretty spacious, with a picnic table, fire pit, and easy access to the water. You might get a visit from day-use visitors looking for water access, especially if you pick a site closer to the water access paths, so if you're looking for more seclusion you may want to look elsewhere, but I didn't mind and the people who did stop near my site were respectful and didn't seem to want to disturb me once they saw the site near the water access was occupied. A free permit is needed for camping during the on-season. I stayed off-season and most of the sites were unoccupied, but I could see this being a popular spot during the warmer months. Port-a-potties are also not available off-season – be prepared to find a good cat hole spot or bring a wag bag if you're not self-contained. Seeing some litter around my site was a bit of a bummer (don't be that guy!), but overall the sites looked pretty clean and well-maintained. I did notice some broken glass at my site, so if you have pets (or shoe-averse children) be mindful of their paw pads (and feet). There's plenty of downed wood for making a fire, and I passed a couple homes selling firewood on the side of the road on the way. Service was spotty (AT&T) but if you wandered around enough you could get a couple bars to send a text, or if you really needed to, drive up the road a couple of minutes. I would easily stay here again, but if I came during the main season I'd probably want to plan a mid-week trip and get my permit and claim my site as soon as possible.
TravelerStayed one night. Spot was great! It had rained so we weren't able to have a fire, but there was a spot where others had one previously. A little road noise from Rt 79, but honestly wasn't terrible.
LegendThis is a state park centered on the amazing geologic features of Enfield Glen. A waterfall cascades through a gorge here, ending in a beautiful pool for swimming at the base of the falls, with a trout stream flowing out of it towards nearby Cayuga Lake. For the geologically curious, the trails through the gorge are fascinating and educational. And fossils abound, easily visible in the stream flowing out of the falls. This was a main draw for me about this park, as was the proximity to the paleontology institute and Museum of the Earth just to the north in the hamlet of Trumansburg. https://www.museumoftheearth.org/
Within the park itself, there are camping options for both tent and trailer camping. However, even if you usually prefer campground camping, it might be well worth your while to consider the camper cabins. These beautiful rustic cabins are located alongshore and adjacent to the falls in one of the most beautiful parts of the park! Although hikers and swimmers walk the trails nearby to the cabins alot during the day, they are usually done by late afternoon and then your cabin site is peaceful, shady and quiet, with the main sound being wind through the hemlocks and rippling of water over the stones in the brook closeby. Pull up a rocker and ease your way into a peaceful evening! Great location as a basecamp not only to explore the park, but also the nearby Geology museum as mentioned, plus Ithaca, Cayuga Lake, and area vineyards
LegendThis is a campground set in a nice forest location, but close by to Treman State Park and Ithaca, so a good base for day trips. They offer mostly RV camping, but do have a substantial area for tent camping and also have nice some rustic camper cabins as well as cottages and regular full service cabins. For families who enjoy neighbors, this is a good campground. Lots of families, lots of kids riding bikes and doing activities, nice kid-friendly fishing pond, lots of open space for ball games etc. There is even an offleash dog park so Fido can come along and have fun. This is a busier campground than I ordinarily would have chosen as a tent camper, but I was joining friends for a cabin stay on Labor Day weekend as nearby state park campgrounds were full. The whole grounds are well maintained and well landscaped, they did have some scheduled activities, and the pool looked sparkling clean. The cabin we stayed in was very nice, and set back into the woods along a small river and with good access to hiking trails. The camper cabins looked brand new, and I spoke to a family staying in one and they really liked it. My friends son loved the fishing, swimming, and meeting other kids to play with. The campground was not noisy for the size, and though it was large and nearly full everything was nice and all the campers respectful of each others space. Ithaca is not far for activities and supplies, and there are many local state parks that are easy to get to. I would rather camp right in a state park but this would be a great alternative especially for folks with RVs
ScoutBeautiful park - some road noise from 17c. Sites are spacious
ScoutReally enjoyed staying here. It’s super private and peaceful, and we loved that it’s not a crowded campground. The land is open and easy to access, and you can tell the owners are constantly upgrading and improving things. We were even able to fish here, which was a bonus. Would definitely recommend if you appreciate privacy, nature, and a peaceful place with the freedom to relax and do your own thing.
TravelerNice private campground. Host was very generous. Used Coin operated laundry facilities. Full hookups for a reasonable price. Would return again.
RangerNice 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!
Campsites near Lisle, New York range from primitive tent sites to fully-equipped RV campgrounds throughout Broome and Chenango counties. The region sits at elevations between 900-1500 feet with terrain characterized by rolling hills, mixed hardwood forests, and small glacial lakes. Summer temperatures typically reach 75-85°F during the day, dropping to 50-60°F at night, with higher humidity levels from June through August.
Kayaking and fishing at local ponds: Long Pond Campground offers excellent water access just 5 miles east of Lisle. "People have driven in to fish and kayak so I don't feel isolated and afraid, and I am just a few steps away from sitting on the dock and admiring the scenery," notes one visitor. The pond is stocked with game fish and has multiple access points.
Swimming in designated areas: Pine Valley RV Park & Campground provides family-friendly water activities during summer months. "From boating, to giant swimming inflatables, putt putt even a giant slide. All part of the price of the campground," mentions one reviewer. The lake has a supervised swimming area with inflatable water features.
Hiking forest trails: Hickories Park Campground offers river access and trail networks. "We brought our bikes and explored the many hiking and riding trails on the premises," reports one visitor. The park maintains several miles of multi-use trails suitable for day hikes of varying difficulty levels.
Secluded sites with shade: Bowman Lake State Park Campground features private, wooded campsites. "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," writes one camper. Sites are separated by mature trees providing natural privacy.
Clean facilities: Several campgrounds maintain well-kept amenities. "Very clean shower house and grounds. Very quiet with primarily seasonal campers. Good clientele. Great rates," mentions a visitor to Cook Park. Most established campgrounds offer shower facilities that are regularly maintained.
Lake access: Chenango Valley State Park Campground provides water recreation opportunities. "The beach area is well staffed and clean. Changing areas are available as well as a splash pad for the little kids. There are miles of trails to hike and roads to bike," notes one camper. The park recently completed renovations to its swimming areas.
Seasonal operation: Most campgrounds in the Lisle area operate between May and October. "Stayed with our camper after a family birthday party. Very small camp ground but nice. There was no swimming in the pond allowed though. Beware, very tight sites amount the pines & very sloped," warns a Cook Park visitor about site conditions.
Primitive vs. developed options: Chenango County Cook Park offers both standard camping and a hike-in option. "For a solo camper who wants a bit if solitude, there is a better and super-nice option—the hike-in lean-to! Its a short hike in, and it is lively, well built shelter and nice fire pit," explains one reviewer. Primitive sites typically lack hookups but offer more privacy.
Reservation requirements: Campgrounds fill quickly during summer weekends. "This is a first come first serve campground," notes a Hickories Park visitor. Some parks require advance bookings while others operate on first-come systems, particularly for tent camping areas.
Choose campgrounds with dedicated children's activities: "We had a lot of tree cover so we didn't even need our air conditioning on during an 85 degree day," writes a Bowman Lake visitor describing the comfortable camping environment. Most family-oriented campgrounds offer playgrounds, beaches, and organized activities.
Look for swimming options: Some locations prohibit swimming while others have dedicated areas. "The swimming is excellent, lots of space for everyone, and they have lifeguards on duty just in case," states a visitor about swimming facilities at one park.
Consider noise levels: Belden Hill Campgrounds offers a quieter experience. "Really nice clean and quiet campground. Incredible views. Staff and residents so helpful and friendly," notes one family. Weekday camping typically provides a more peaceful experience than weekend stays.
Check site dimensions carefully: "Sites in the electric loops (30 amps and 50 amps) have a good amount of gravel," mentions a Chenango Valley visitor, noting the variation in site surfaces. Many campgrounds have limited spaces for larger rigs.
Prepare for varying hookup options: "We had a back in site with a fire pit, picnic table, and no hook ups. It was gravel and not super level, but we made it work. There was a potable water spigot a few sites over," reports a Bowman Lake camper about managing without full hookups.
Consider seasonal sites: "Very accommodating," notes a Belden Hill visitor about the campground's flexibility. Many RV parks in the region offer seasonal sites for longer-term stays with better amenities and lower monthly rates.
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Lisle, NY?
According to TheDyrt.com, Lisle, NY offers a wide range of camping options, with 140 campgrounds and RV parks near Lisle, NY and 16 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Lisle, NY?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Lisle, NY is Chenango Valley State Park Campground with a 4.5-star rating from 20 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Lisle, NY?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 16 free dispersed camping spots near Lisle, NY.
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