Cabin camping near Mendon, New York centers around the Finger Lakes region, where elevations range from 450 to 2,100 feet above sea level. The area features a humid continental climate with four distinct seasons, making camping possible from April through October at most facilities. Winter temperatures often drop below freezing while summer highs typically reach 80-85°F, with occasional thunderstorms during peak camping months.
What to do
Hiking gorge trails: At Stony Brook State Park Campground, visitors can explore the natural formations. "The gorge trail is very busy but you still can enjoy the beautiful waterfalls along with the gorge formation. We also did the east trail that goes up to the top of the gorge and is also a little further into the woods," notes Verity S., highlighting both popular and quieter trail options.
Swimming in natural pools: Natural swimming areas provide alternatives to standard campground pools. "My favorite part about this park has to be their natural pool. It's beautiful and so refreshing," shares Olivia R. about Stony Brook's distinctive swimming area carved from the mountain.
Fishing with simple bait: The Canandaigua-Rochester KOA offers easy fishing opportunities for families. Amy T. mentions, "It is close to the finger lakes, is clean, has kid activities and a pond where the fish are easy to catch with hotdogs!"
Bird watching from tent sites: While primarily known for family activities, quiet opportunities exist for nature observation. "I'm a birder and my tent site here is next to a little grove of trees where I counted 12 species of birds this morning," writes Jenise P. about her experience at the Canandaigua-Rochester KOA.
What campers like
Elevated park views: Ontario County Park at Gannett Hill provides scenic overlooks of the surrounding valleys. "Stunning overlook that is breathtaking (also great for weddings). Hiking, bike trails, fishing pond, playground, open fields for sports, much more!" explains Sarah C., detailing the variety of activities available beyond just camping.
Convenient lake access: The proximity to Canandaigua Lake enhances camping experiences in the region. Greg S. reports, "Canandaigua is a really cool little town too and has a beautiful lakefront park with beach and playground, only ten minutes from this campground. The water in Lake Canandaigua was very clear!"
Recreational variety: Most campgrounds offer multiple outdoor activity options. "There is a two dog limit, which excludes many campers," Rich L. explains about Canandaigua-Rochester KOA, "Our kids rented cabins and some used tents and others came for the day. The campground has so much to do between swimming, golf, bike and paddle boat rentals."
Private bathroom facilities: Modern facilities improve the cabin camping experience. "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," notes Dayne B. about Ontario County Park.
What you should know
Site levelness varies: Some campgrounds require additional equipment for comfortable setup. "Make sure to bring plenty of leveling blocks as some sites are far from level," advises Jonathan G. about Ontario County Park at Gannett Hill.
Weather impact on sites: Rain affects some camping areas more severely than others. A camper at Stony Brook State Park observed, "Most of the camp areas washed out from rain with water running through them," indicating potential seasonal concerns for tent campers.
Wildlife encounters: Small animals may be common at certain locations. Kasey C. mentions, "Rats and mice all over. As we were walking back from a trail rats were jumping in to the underside of the car. The mice were all around the campsites," describing their experience at Stony Brook.
Site privacy differences: Privacy levels vary significantly between campgrounds and specific sites. "Not much privacy. Not a big issue with a fifth wheel but a real hassle with a motorcoach. We changed sites three times and finally resigned ourselves to not being leveled," reports Donna C. about Red's Twilight on the Erie RV Resort.
Tips for camping with families
Activity scheduling: Webster Park offers a family-friendly environment with centralized recreation. Scott C. explains, "Nice central playground and bathroom/shower house. There is hiking in the park, lots of nice woods, big field for playing games/sports... The campground is very quiet and very kid friendly to allow them to walk around and ride or scooter the loop alone."
Wildlife viewing opportunities: Early mornings and evenings provide the best wildlife spotting times. "Deer, chipmunks and rabbits will say hi in the early and late hours," says Dayne B. about their family experience at Ontario County Park.
Cabin selection for groups: When traveling with extended family, consider renting multiple adjacent units. Leah W. shares about Ontario County Park: "My boyfriends family rented out all the cabins for a weekend and it was great! We used the open area to set up volley ball and it was nice having the mini fridge."
Playground access: Most cabin camping areas include play areas for children. "Beautiful campground for kids, events, and hiking. Plenty of room on each site for whatever you need. Multiple playgrounds which are clean & well maintained," notes Jonathan G.
Tips from RVers
Hookup locations: At some campgrounds, utility connections may be positioned inconveniently. Sparks N. observed at Junius Ponds, "Sites are small... our water hook up was in the middle of someone's site," highlighting potential connection challenges.
Seasonal site availability: Peak season reservations can be difficult at popular locations. "Most of the sites are for seasonal guests so it can be difficult to get a reservation," warns Kimberlee P. about Junius Ponds.
Shade availability: Some RV sites offer minimal natural shade. Frank M. notes about Canandaigua-Rochester KOA: "Our site was clean and reasonably level but there was no shade at all. We were comfortable, though, after putting out the awning and setting up our portable gazebo."
Pull-through access: Larger rigs should seek specific sites designed for easy entry and exit. Kristine B. recommends, "They had a oversized, long pull through available (site 88) that made entering and exiting the site nice and easy. 50amp and water was used, didn't dump."
