Best Campgrounds near Marathon, NY

Marathon, New York offers several camping opportunities within the Finger Lakes region of central New York State. Country Hills Campground, located directly in Marathon, provides RV and tent sites with electric hookups, water access, and sanitary facilities. The surrounding area includes both established campgrounds and dispersed camping options, with Long Pond Campground offering more primitive camping experiences approximately 15 miles southwest of Marathon. Most campgrounds in the region accommodate both tent and RV campers, with several state parks like Bowman Lake and Chenango Valley offering cabin rentals in addition to traditional camping areas.

Camping seasons generally run from April through October across most established sites, with full services typically available mid-May through early October. "Some of the sites have new picnic tables, some have old tables that are falling apart, and some have none at all," noted one visitor to a nearby primitive camping area, highlighting the varied amenities and maintenance levels at different locations. Reservations are recommended for weekend stays during summer months, particularly at popular state parks. Cell service varies throughout the area, with better coverage at established campgrounds closer to towns. Winter camping options are limited, though Greenwood County Park, about 20 miles from Marathon, maintains year-round access with reviewers noting it as "a beautiful and quiet campground—a hidden gem."

The fishing opportunities represent a significant draw for many campers throughout the region. Several small lakes and ponds near Marathon provide waterfront camping with fishing access, including Long Pond where "people have driven in to fish and kayak" according to one camper. While swimming is prohibited at some locations like Cook Park, most water-adjacent campgrounds permit fishing and non-motorized boating. Campers seeking more privacy might prefer the dispersed camping options in state forests, where sites are often situated away from crowds but still provide basic amenities like fire rings and occasionally portable toilets. Family-friendly activities are abundant at established campgrounds, with Yellow Lantern Kampground described as having "tons of activities for kids to do" according to a frequent visitor.

Best Camping Sites Near Marathon, New York (137)

    1. Chenango Valley State Park Campground

    20 Reviews
    Chenango Forks, NY
    19 miles
    Website
    +1 (607) 648-5251

    $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."

    2. Greenwood County Park

    5 Reviews
    Berkshire, NY
    11 miles
    Website
    +1 (607) 778-2193

    $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!"

    3. Long Pond Campground

    4 Reviews
    Georgetown, NY
    10 miles

    "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."

    "While this is next to the road, it is also within 40 yards of the only potta potty in the park. About 100 yards away was the public fishing dock and another camp site."

    4. Country Hills Campground

    1 Review
    Marathon, NY
    3 miles
    Website
    +1 (607) 849-3300

    $34 - $39 / night

    "Nice area, beautiful small lake … great place to stay"

    5. Bowman Lake State Park Campground

    8 Reviews
    Oxford, NY
    19 miles
    Website
    +1 (607) 334-2718

    $17 - $65 / night

    "We had never been to site before so when we booked, we thought we were next to a bathroom. Turns out you had to walk through woods to get there in the mud."

    "There was a potable water spigot a few sites over and a bathroom with showers a short walk away. This is a great spot for tent camping, so if that’s your vibe this place is perfect."

    6. Robert H. Treman State Park Campground

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

    $20 - $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."

    7. Buttermilk Falls State Park Campground

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

    $17 - $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)."

    8. Lighthouse Landing Campground

    1 Review
    Blodgett Mills, NY
    11 miles
    Website
    +1 (607) 849-4559

    9. Yellow Lantern Kampground

    2 Reviews
    Homer, NY
    14 miles
    Website
    +1 (607) 756-2959

    10. Live The Outdoors LLC

    1 Review
    Georgetown, NY
    12 miles
    Website
    +1 (657) 790-1984

    $45 - $50 / night

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Recent Reviews near Marathon, NY

541 Reviews of 137 Marathon Campgrounds


  • D C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 23, 2025

    Live The Outdoors LLC

    Peaceful & Private Getaway🏞️

    Really 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.

  • JThe Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 16, 2025

    Pine Crest Campground

    Great place

    Nice private campground. Host was very generous. Used Coin operated laundry facilities. Full hookups for a reasonable price. Would return again.

  • 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!

  • c
    Sep. 25, 2025

    Salt Springs State Park Campground

    Worked for me

    I stayed in late September in one of the drive in spots. There were no other campers bc of the season- and it’s mid week. I love this park and it’s close to my house so I just wanted to crash there and wake up early to hike. It was quiet all night. The bathrooms are very far from tne sites and it was visible where some people had relieved themselves in the bushes. There is no potable water anywhere so bring some. I enjoyed it but during the on season or busy times tnere is zero privacy between sites other than sites 13 and 14. Def wouldn’t stay here during summer for that reason.

  • 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


Guide to Marathon

Camping spots near Marathon, New York offer access to the Finger Lakes and southern tier landscapes at approximately 1,200 feet elevation. The region features rolling hills with mixed hardwood forests and watershed areas feeding the Tioughnioga River. Most campgrounds open from late April through mid-October, with typical overnight temperatures dropping into the 40s F even during summer months.

What to do

Kayaking and fishing access: Country Hills Campground in Marathon provides direct water access for anglers and paddlers. "Me and my husband stayed here to visit a local friend and it wasn't bad it was very private and quiet," reports a visitor to Yellow Lantern Kampground, located 15 miles northwest of Marathon.

Swimming in natural settings: Several parks near Marathon offer swimming opportunities during summer months. At Chenango Valley State Park, "The beach area is well staffed and clean. Changing areas are available as well as a splash pad for the little kids," according to a recent visitor.

Hiking trail options: Multiple trail systems exist within 30 minutes of Marathon. Long Pond Campground offers hiking access near the water. "I am just a few steps away from sitting on the dock and admiring the scenery," notes one camper who appreciated the easy trail access to viewpoints.

What campers like

Secluded waterfront sites: The more remote camping areas provide greater privacy. "Campgrounds are wooded. Pretty basic facilities, nice though. None of the tent sites have exceptional views but you're a short walk from the creek/gorges," explains a visitor to Buttermilk Falls State Park.

Wildlife viewing opportunities: The woodland settings support diverse animal populations. "We had four that were feeding behind our site in the morning," reports a camper at Chenango Valley State Park about the deer that frequently visit campsites.

Water recreation variety: Multiple lakes and rivers offer different water experiences. "Friendly helpful staff. Well-run campground. Highlight is the tubing, kayaking and canoeing right on the river that leads to the campground," notes a visitor to Lighthouse Landing Campground, about 19 miles northeast of Marathon.

What you should know

Site maintenance varies significantly: Some campgrounds maintain better facilities than others. "Campgrounds is a maze of campsites through densely wooded forests so it's pretty private and shady even though it's full no matter what season we visited," explains a camper at Bowman Lake State Park.

Weather preparedness essential: The region experiences significant temperature fluctuations. "Went in the fall, very quiet, and peaceful. Woke to snow on the tent," reports a camper at Robert H. Treman State Park, highlighting the need for proper gear even during shoulder seasons.

Differing bathroom quality: Facilities vary between parks. "This place has amazing hiking trails with great waterfalls. Campsite was clean and bathrooms were ok," notes a Robert H. Treman State Park visitor, while others mention older facilities at some locations.

Tips for camping with families

Kid-friendly activities: Several campgrounds specialize in family programming. "Tons of activities for kids to do. I still remember from when I was little kid having a great time and still have gone again as an adult," explains a visitor about Yellow Lantern Kampground.

Playgrounds and safe swimming: Many parks offer designated child play areas. "Campsites are in the woods with picnic tables and fire ring, plenty of shade and a good amount of space between camps. They have so many birds, squirrels, chipmunks, rabbits and insects that it was a veritable wonderland. Playground and shallow swimming area for children with life guards," describes a visitor to Chenango Valley State Park.

Accessible nature exploration: Several areas offer easier trails for younger hikers. "This was a great campground – very family-friendly. My kids spent a week with my parents there, there were lots of sites that were separated from each other by small patches of words, which made it more private. Playgrounds and spaces to ride bikes, swim, picnic, and all-around have fun!" reports a Chenango Valley visitor.

Tips from RVers

Site selection considerations: RV sites vary significantly in quality and size. "Site 54 at Robert H Treman is very large, flat, nonelectric and well shaded with areas of sun. A long walk to the restroom," notes one RVer, adding useful context about amenities proximity.

Limited hookup availability: Electric options exist but with restrictions. "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 and a bathroom with showers a short walk away," reports a visitor to Bowman Lake State Park.

Seasonal considerations: Shoulder season camping offers advantages but requires preparation. "This is a great spot for tent camping, so if that's your vibe this place is perfect. We had a lot of tree cover so we didn't even need our air conditioning on during an 85 degree day," explains a Bowman Lake camper who visited with their trailer.

Frequently Asked Questions

What camping is available near Marathon, NY?

According to TheDyrt.com, Marathon, NY offers a wide range of camping options, with 137 campgrounds and RV parks near Marathon, NY and 16 free dispersed camping spots.

Which is the most popular campground near Marathon, NY?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Marathon, NY is Chenango Valley State Park Campground with a 4.5-star rating from 20 reviews.

Where can I find free dispersed camping near Marathon, NY?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 16 free dispersed camping spots near Marathon, NY.