State parks near Marietta, New York offer cabin experiences in diverse landscapes along the Finger Lakes region. Cayuga Lake State Park features cabins situated on its 141-acre property at an elevation of 435 feet, providing milder summer temperatures than surrounding areas. Many campgrounds maintain extended seasonal operations, with some private facilities like Sned Acres Campground offering year-round availability for visitors seeking off-season cabin camping options.
What to do
Boating and water recreation: At Cayuga Lake State Park Campground, visitors access designated launch areas for personal watercraft. "Kayaking in Cayuga Lake was not lacking some beautiful views," notes one camper, highlighting the lake's recreational opportunities. The park also features a "kayak or canoe launch pad" for easy water entry.
Gorge hiking: Watkins Glen State Park Campground offers multiple trail options beyond the main gorge path. "There are several beautiful hiking paths in all seasons," reports a reviewer. The park maintains accessible trails of varying difficulty, as another camper mentions: "various difficulties on the trails make it pretty fun to explore."
Museum exploration: The military museum at Sampson State Park provides educational opportunities when not at your cabin. "There is a museum, boat launch, pavilions, and ice cream shop on the camp ground," explains one visitor. Another adds there are "many authentic items from that era," referring to its WWII naval training base history.
What campers like
Spacious sites: Cabins and camping areas at Sampson State Park offer ample space for setup. "Large sites. Spacious park," notes one reviewer. Another camper elaborates, "Most sites are pretty spacious," making it easier for families to spread out equipment.
Clean facilities: Taughannock Falls State Park maintains well-kept bathroom facilities with shower access. "Nice camp ground with well-kept bathrooms," reports a visitor. The park provides dish washing stations in restroom areas and "free! Nice hot waters" in the shower facilities.
Swimming options: Green Lakes State Park provides supervised swimming areas with additional facilities. "Swimming is available at the large beach," explains one camper. Another notes, "The beach area is wide and shallow in most areas, in close proximity to the store and snack shop."
What you should know
Site selection considerations: When reserving cabins, pay attention to location details. At Cayuga Lake, "sites were very spacious" but one camper warns, "be weary that some of the camp sites are closer to playgrounds than they appear on the map." Another adds, "some sites are close to the highway, so be sure if pick a spot that isn't."
Seasonal variations: Cabin availability changes throughout the year, with most state parks operating from April/May through October. Green Lakes State Park operates "May 13 to October 9," while Sampson State Park extends slightly longer from "April 22 to November 8," giving campers additional late-fall options.
Weather preparation: The Finger Lakes region experiences variable conditions, requiring proper planning. "Bring lots of bugspray and fire starters as it does rain up here which affects the fire wood," advises one Cayuga Lake visitor. Parks typically stock firewood for purchase on-site.
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Multiple cabin campgrounds feature recreational facilities for children. Oneida Shores County Park includes "nice playgrounds" and a reviewer specifically mentions "a giant outdoor music play" area. At Sampson State Park, a camper highlights the "great lake front playground."
Swimming safety: Oneida Shores County Park maintains supervised swimming areas near cabin locations. "Beach area is nice and guarded," notes one visitor. Fillmore Glen also offers water recreation, as one camper explains, "Kids loved the park and swimming in the waterfall beach."
Activity options: Cabin campers with children benefit from diverse recreational choices. At Green Lakes State Park, a visitor shares, "There are miles of trails to explore. There is a camp store, laundry room, recreation room, playgrounds and much more." Another camper adds that the park features "great playgrounds" and "very clean" bathrooms.
Tips from RVers
Hookup access: Check electrical connection locations before arrival at Sampson State Park. One camper warns, "Electric service boxes are shared in-between sites. This could pose an issue if your power cord is not long enough." The park also has limited "water fill up" stations that may create delays during busy arrival periods.
Site layout: RVers staying in camping cabins near Marietta should note site orientation requirements. At Sampson, "They don't allow pull-in camping. Campers MUST be backed in," explains a reviewer. At Watkins Glen, "the roads within the campground were kind of tight to get through with trees and curves" when navigating larger vehicles.
Utility positioning: When booking cabin camping spots, verify the location of hookups relative to your setup. At Taughannock Falls, a camper advises to "Check out which side the hookups are on. Some not situated on the right side so you'll need extra long cords." This ensures proper connection without equipment modifications.
