104 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Country Hills Campground in Marathon welcomes pets at all sites with adequate outdoor space for animal exercise. This family-run facility features electric and water hookups, fire rings, and picnic tables at each pet-friendly site. Campers report the small lake is beautiful and provides excellent fishing opportunities. Greenwood County Park and Bowman Lake State Park also accept pets throughout their facilities, including in certain cabins with appropriate cleaning fees. Dogs must be leashed at all times in public areas and campsite grounds. Most campgrounds in the region limit pets to 2-3 per site and require proof of current rabies vaccination upon check-in.
Long Pond Campground offers free dispersed camping with pets in a rustic setting near Marathon. The quiet, secluded sites provide ample space between neighbors for dog walking and feature fire pits at each location. Each spot has plenty of shade and access to downed firewood, with some sites positioned right on the pond next to a dock. A port-a-potty is available near the entrance, but otherwise follows leave-no-trace principles. The pond provides excellent fishing opportunities and kayaking access where dogs can cool off during summer months. Campers can stay up to 14 days without permits or fees. Yellow Lantern Kampground offers an alternative with more amenities for RVers with pets, featuring full hookups and organized activities that keep children entertained.
"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."
"Allow dogs."
from $17 - $123 / night
Check Availability"Typical New York weather. Overall, the park is more than I expected for a county park."
"Dogs allowed, nice sites"
from $30 / night
Check Availability"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."
"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."
"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."
from $17 - $65 / night
Check Availability"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."
"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. "
from $20 - $128 / night
Check Availability"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)."
from $17 - $66 / night
Check Availabilityfrom $35 / night
Check Availability"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."
"I absolutely love coming to Watkins Glen Campground, especially when I went to get away from the busy city. This park has gorgeous waterfalls, and great paths to walk and hike on."
from $20 - $58 / night
Check Availability"we just returned to philly after a long weekend here. this was our 6th consecutive summer visiting here. very secluded. we let the kids and dogs run pretty much wherever without worry. and close to ithaca"
from $85 / night
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TravelerWonderful location and marvelous hosts. We were welcomed with chocolate chip cookies as we checked in. Bathrooms were beautiful and clean. Two wineries we could walk to and dozens more nearby. Our site was spacious and the dog park gave our pups plenty of time off leash. We definitely plan on returning.
RangerThe park itself is pretty small but it’s in a really cute area with a lot of outdoor recreational activities. 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. Lots of day use activity. Dog park is kind of annoying with all the barking and owners shouting futile commands, try to camp away from it. Ditto for train noise, stay by the river. It does what it does well, so five stars!
GuidePinecreek 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. Fabulous State Parks with spectacular waterfalls, a farmers market right on the lake front, Cornell University and so much more. That being said it may be the reason the campground doesn't offer any planned activities. They do have a swimming pool and what appears to be a large clubhouse/meeting area that is not or was not used while we were there, nor were any activities publicized. They do have a small arcade but it did not stay open past 8 pm and did not appear to be air-conditioned.
Our campsite was a full hookup with a large grassy area for setting up our outside chairs and picnic table. Although we enjoyed our stay we felt it was a bit overpriced for not having much to offer. They also have a very long list of rules & while they do allow pets there is a list of breed restrictions you need to be aware of before booking a reservation. They also charge for electricity on any stays one week or longer which we had not encountered previously at campgrounds where we have stayed.
Overall we enjoyed our stay but not sure we would stay again.
RangerWatkins 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. Sites are decently sized and well secluded from one another.
in addition, the park is so well situated within the Finger Lakes and all the various wine trails! Made for a perfect girls weekend! Definitely recommend!
GuideIt is a very nice open area to camp in. It is a first come first serve campground. The dog park is a great addition to the park. There is always something going on. Also allows for an easy place right off Route I-86 to rest while driving across MY. Some of the best river access there is to paddle through a great small town.
LegendJake from the Dyrt here! Nature Lover's Paradise is new to the Dyrt and they have an awesome spot to share with access to a vast network of trails in upstate New York. Check them out and make sure to share some pics of your adventure!
GuideI absolutely love coming to Watkins Glen Campground, especially when I went to get away from the busy city. This park has gorgeous waterfalls, and great paths to walk and hike on. It's located in Upstate New York, so it's close enough to the city but you feel like you are far away from the city. The campsites are great, clean and well kept. This park does get pretty busy though, because it is open to campers and people who just want to visit for the day to walk the trails. I love that they have trails that lead very close to the waterfalls..lots of rim trails that literally overlook the waterfalls and gorges. In the campground they do offer a pool, which again, does get busy because it's open to everyone regardless if you are camping or not. There also is tours you can take in the summer that will take you along the waterfalls and gorge, they have a playground for kids and an area with picnic tables. 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. That was the only downside I would say, is how crowded it was. There is also Seneca Lake nearby that many people go to fish in, however I didn't go on this trip but plan to next time. There are restrooms on site, however I didn't think they were that clean. Toilet paper and seat covers were out in most stalls, so I would advise to bring your own when you go. There is also some gift shops and food stands set up...one food stand has some pretty good hot dogs! The hikes to the gorge and waterfalls is pretty well maintained, however there are quite a bit of stairs. There were some people with kids in strollers that had to turn around because the stairs made it difficult. Not handicap friendly. I would advise to wear a good pair of walking shoes, and not sandals because it is slippery in some spots and again, a lot of stairs! I would highly recommend coming here, even if you don't decide to stay the night!
TravelerA bit off the beaten path for a KOA, but nearly sold out in early October nonetheless. Sites range from typical large rig to dispersed tents next to a creek. The tent sites with electric like the one we took used 240v 50A plugs, so we had to borrow a converter plug form the office for our 120v equipment. Only one bath house and it’s a bit dated. Very pet friendly including a dog play pen. Pool looked nice and was still open in early October.
GuideNew York State pretty much has abandoned this park. Trees fallen down across the sites. Might be ok for a tent but that’s all.
Campgrounds near Marathon, New York offer diverse camping experiences within the Southern Tier region. The area features rolling hills with elevations ranging from 1,100 to 1,300 feet and a humid continental climate with warm summers and cold winters. Marathon's position between Syracuse and Binghamton makes it a practical base for exploring multiple state parks and recreation areas.
Swimming in natural settings: Chenango Valley State Park Campground features a swimming beach area with lifeguards and modern facilities. "The park's facilities are clean and tidy. The beach area is well staffed and clean. Changing areas are available as well as a splash pad for the little kids," notes Fred C.
Kayaking on calm waters: The region offers excellent paddling opportunities for all skill levels. "There's a perfect lake for kayaking for beginner or seasoned," mentions Paully B. about Chenango Valley State Park. Many lakes in the region allow visitors to bring their own watercraft or rent equipment on-site.
Fishing for local species: Multiple ponds and lakes in the area provide good fishing spots. "The campground is like a high quality state park—bravo to the Broome County Parks Department! Really enjoyed the miles of hiking trails which are supposedly also great for snowshoeing and cross country skiing in the winter," shares Janet R. about Greenwood County Park.
Wildlife observation: The woodlands support diverse wildlife viewing opportunities. "We had four deer that were feeding behind our site in the morning," reports Mary S. at Chenango Valley State Park. Early morning and dusk offer the best chances for spotting animals.
Private wooded sites: Campers appreciate the natural setting and separation between sites. "Campground 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 Kim B. about Bowman Lake State Park Campground.
Clean facilities: Well-maintained bathrooms and showers rank high on visitor satisfaction. "The facilities are clean and tidy. We will definitely stay again," shares Eammon C. about Chenango Valley State Park. Most established campgrounds in the area provide hot showers and flush toilets.
Family-friendly amenities: Many local campgrounds cater specifically to families with children. "Playground and shallow swimming area for children with life guards and a sandy beach and new bath house," mentions Mary P. about Chenango Valley State Park. Several sites also offer organized activities during peak season.
Natural water features: The combination of camping near water is highly valued. "We had a lot of tree cover so we didn't even need our air conditioning during an 85 degree day," shares Oleńka S. about Bowman Lake State Park Campground. The shade provided by mature trees helps moderate summer temperatures.
Seasonal operation: Most campgrounds in the Marathon area operate from May through October. "We were just passing through on a rainy night, but this park would be a good choice for a multi-night stay," notes Mary S. about Chenango Valley State Park. Some facilities close earlier in fall depending on weather conditions.
Reservation requirements: Advanced booking is recommended, especially for weekends and holidays. Sites at Robert H. Treman State Park Campground fill quickly. "There are endless waterfalls, hiking trails, fishing holes and bird watching opportunities. The campground has bathrooms, showers, picnic tables, a playground and a dump station," describes Carlyne F.
Site conditions: Terrain varies significantly between campgrounds. "Parking pads in the non-electric section are dirt/grass. Some of the pads are short; this section is geared toward tent campers," explains Mary S. about Chenango Valley State Park. Review site specifications before booking to ensure compatibility with your equipment.
Wildlife awareness: Local wildlife requires proper food storage. "Beware of raccoons. They are brazen thieves here...and every campground they inhabit. Just don't leave your food out," advises Mary S. about Chenango Valley State Park. Secure food containers are essential at all area campgrounds.
Playground access: Multiple dog friendly campgrounds near Marathon feature dedicated play areas. Watkins Glen State Park Campground offers "a huge new playground for the kids and lots of area to walk around the loops if you don't want to hike the gorge trail," according to Lindsay C.
Swimming options: Water recreation provides reliable entertainment for children. "Bring your bikes, the swimming is great and the entire swimming/boating area just underwent a major renovation. You can rent kayaks and paddle boards and the park is well maintained and monitored by park police, very safe!" shares Courtney Z. about Watkins Glen State Park.
Educational opportunities: Several parks offer nature programs and interpretive trails. "Lots of info about the glaciers that formed the lakes you can swim in. Great wildlife (wood ducks & kingfishers)," reports Dan N. about Chenango Valley State Park. Check visitor centers for scheduled activities.
Site selection for families: Some camping loops are more suitable for families with children. "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!" describes Kayti D. about Chenango Valley State Park.
Site leveling challenges: Some campgrounds have uneven terrain requiring preparation. "Electric sites are not the best though. Rocky and unlevel. Not made for large campers," notes Victoria about Robert H. Treman State Park. Bring leveling blocks for comfort.
Hookup availability: Yellow Lantern Kampground near Marathon offers full amenities for larger rigs. "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. Clean and fun activities to keep kids busy," says Kelly J. The campground provides electric, water, and sewer connections.
Road access considerations: Interior campground roads can present challenges for larger vehicles. "The roads within the campground were kind of tight to get through with trees and curves," explains Laura L. about Watkins Glen State Park. Scout routes before attempting to navigate tight turns.
Dump station availability: Most established dog-friendly campgrounds provide sanitation facilities. "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," shares Oleńka S. about Bowman Lake State Park.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Marathon, NY?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Marathon, NY is Chenango Valley State Park Campground with a 4.5-star rating from 20 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Marathon, NY?
TheDyrt.com has all 104 dog-friendly camping locations near Marathon, NY, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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