Newark Valley is an ideal place for camping adventures of all kinds. Camping, hiking, biking: however you want to spend your days near Newark Valley, you'll find great campgrounds with The Dyrt. At The Dyrt, campers like you share their favorite spots, plus tips and photos. No matter where you're headed in Newark Valley, you'll find the best spot for you and your camping crew.
Watkins Glen State Park is the most famous of the Finger Lakes State Parks, with a reputation for leaving visitors spellbound. Within two miles, the glen's stream descends 400 feet past 200-foot cliffs, generating 19 waterfalls along its course. The gorge path winds over and under waterfalls and through the spray of Cavern Cascade. Rim trails overlook the gorge. Camping near Watkins Glen allows you to enjoy the Olympic-size pool, scheduled summer tours through the gorge, tent and trailer campsites, picnic facilities and excellent fishing in nearby Seneca Lake or Catherine Creek, which is renowned for its annual spring run of rainbow trout.
While most people consider New York City to be the main attraction of the state, further upstate lies Chenango Valley State Park; a much calmer 1,137 acre natural wonder of New York. This park is known for its two kettle lakes, named Chenango and Lily. The lakes, which were created after the last Ice Age, formed when large chunks of ice that were left behind by a glacier ended up buried deep beneath the earth. Over time, that ice melted, forming the bogs and wetlands known today as Chenango and Lily.
The park’s rich ecosystem attracts both migrant as well as predatory birds and other watchable wildlife. Subsequently, birdwatchers will delight finding and spotting the woodpeckers, nuthatches, warblers and thrushes found along woodland trails. You will also find herons, ducks, and kingfishers over on the lakeside.
Those searching for something closer to the lakes will enjoy an abundance of excellent fishing opportunities. Fishermen can attempt to catch trout, bass, perch, and bullhead in Chenango Lake, as well as the various wetlands and marshes throughout. Lily Lake is not known for its fishing opportunities, but makes a the perfect place for a relaxing day at the beach. After you’ve soaked up some rays, enjoy a relaxing game of gold over at the 18-hole Chenango Valley State Park Golf Course. There’s never a shortage of activities, nor scenic beauty to take in during your stay here. And luckily, if you can’t fit it all into one day the park offers fantastic overnight accommodations as well.
When camping here, take comfort knowing there’s plenty of room for everyone. In fact, campers can choose from among 184 campsites, or 24 warm and cozy cabins. The park offers shower buildings routinely placed throughout, as well as an amply-stocked convenience store with camper information inside.
Fortunately, there is a variety of campsite sizes and amenities to choose from. However, if you’re planning on camping with an RV, consider reserving your site at least a few months in advance as space can fill up very quickly, especially during the summer.
**Cash or Check payments only
$18 - $25 / night
$27 / night
A wonderful rustic, private, off-grid get-away, perfect for couples, families, and pups who enjoy camping (log cabin with wood furniture available, you may pitch your tent anywhere on the property, if you prefer - leave no trace). It is a quiet, rural, forest and field area. Once at the cabin there are only two to three houses within a half mile (through the woods), so you will have a private space all your own. Onsite: water pump, outhouse, wood stove, campfire ring, wood & propane grill. Exclusive access for nature hikes, streams, forest, pond, swimming, bird watching, star gazing, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, etc. When you book, you are confirming your understanding of the following: there is no electricity, running water, or bed/mattresses. You bring own air mattress, bedding, and gear you will need. All-wheel drive vehicle is recommended. To check dates available, calendar is available via airbnb or hipcamp. Note for winter guests: We do not plow the driveway in winter, you need to be ready to shovel an off-road parking spot, and transport gear to cabin(e.g. by sled, snowshoes) Here's a brief list of the basics to bring: Light source: Lantern propane or battery(there are flashlights on site, but the batteries may be low or gone). Air mattress or cot and whatever bedding you need. Paper products(cups, plates, utensils, toilet paper, etc.) Matches/fire starter(there is wood and newspaper on-site, and a propane grill for cooking that has a self-starter) Bug spray Cooler and ice Lawn chairs There are a few tables, several chairs and benches. There are 2 picnic tables(one outside and one inside). The benches can be moved outside if you'd like, just move them back inside before you leave. The propane grill should also be moved outside if you plan to use it. There is a hand axe in the cabin to shave kindling, and the wood is already split to be the length for the wood stove, as needed. Gas: 5 miles away. If you plan to grocery shop when you get to the area, the closest store is at East Hill Plaza in Ithaca, about 9 miles past where the cabin is(I can give you all that info if you like). There is lots to explore/see/do in the Ithaca area if you decide to come down off the hill one of the days. I'll have some brochures and things in the cabin, and can answer questions(aka where is the best ice cream, dinner, etc.).
$85 / night
Nice campground, sites are borderline close, and some are laid out funky. Bath houses get the job done, but nothing exciting.
5/5 Stars!
I recently stayed at Sned Acres Campground, and it was an incredible experience! The campground is beautifully maintained with stunning views of Cayuga Lake. The staff was friendly, welcoming, and went out of their way to make sure we had everything we needed. The facilities were spotless, and the campsites were spacious and well-kept. Whether you’re RVing or tent camping, there’s plenty of space and privacy.
The location is perfect for exploring the Finger Lakes region, with wineries, hiking, and local attractions just a short drive away. The peaceful atmosphere and serene surroundings made for a relaxing getaway. I can’t recommend Sned Acres enough – we’ll definitely be back!
Friendly staff, beautifully kept.
Site is sloped, shaded and right next to the bathrooms and water spigot. ATT coverage is decent. Other side of the bathrooms is access to the gorge trails. Pets are not allowed on the gorge trail itself but the rim and other trails are fine.
As for RV camping, this place is outdated. Sites are on top of one another, but some have good shade. Ours, site 6 didn't. Really can't walk to beach area or store. Cheap enough at $25. T-storms knocked out power overnight.
Great all-around campground. Level sites with plenty of trees. Clean bath houses. Tons of biking and hike trails. A “beach” swim area that is like a resort. A golf course. A great option for families.
A really beautiful area to visit. A very cool brewery is just 4 miles away.
We stayed here for Memorial Day Weekend and really enjoyed Sned Acres. The Grounds are well taken care of (although some areas around the playgrounds and pool could have been weed whacked better) there is a lot of grass and wide open areas for playing games, walking your dogs and you can let your dogs drag their leashes so they have free roam and feel like they are running free. The large pond is nice, there were a lot of campers fishing. The general store is well stocked and the family running the campground and store are very friendly. There is a nice pool for the kids. The only thing that would make Sned better is a little more spacing between the sites, they are close (we were in F130) to where if you open your window shades in your camper your neighbors are 5-10 feet away from you. Would definitely stay again if in the area.
This was our families first SoLo trip with our camper. It had alot of things to do indoor/ outdoor pool, pirate ship, slide, big pillow, waterside, golf and rock wall. The campground and showers were clean. There were some things that didn't work like the army truck ride, zipline, and playground. The biggest downfall was being near the dump station and something going on with this makeshift site next to us where around our area smelled of sewer fumes all the time we went out for dinner one night because my 3 yr old was gaging. However the area was absolutely gorgeous we hiked so many waterfalls, went and rented a boat for the day to check out the lake, and drive to the next lake to check out the park.
A great place to visit, I really like this place. I often lie here admiring the scenery and playing suika game. I like everything that is peaceful and slow
The park itself is located in a great region, close to many other top attractions of the Finger Lakes region. There are few nice hiking trails right from the park, which our whole family enjoyed.
We camped as a small group in two sites across from each other. Where we were, the sites were close to the road, and the road noise was distracting. The sites were also very close to each other and rather shallow, thereby limiting privacy. Upper sites, closer to the falls looked a lot nicer, deeper, and quieter, but we had no choice since it was booked with short notice. Not much to say about park facilities. Basic restroom and shower facilities, but the ability to do dishes in the designated sink in the bathroom was a plus. Bathroom facilities were old and not well maintained. We barely saw any real cleaning either. So, that was a bummer.
All in all, if you are eager to get out and camp, and have no better choice, I would say you will be OK. Otherwise, there are nicer options around.
Very convenient to Watkins Glenn State Park and the Speedway. Restrooms are modern clean and adequate. WiFi was good on a fall weekend with park pretty full. Some sites are concrete, ours was gravel and not particularly level. Good cable TV.
——REASONS I STAYED HERE——
The see Watkins Glen, of course! And go paddleboarding nearby.
—————BASIC FAQ—————
[Tent camping with a Subie]
Dump station? - Yes
Water fill or hookup? - Water fill at dump station but no water hookups. Water spigots are scattered throughout each loop.
Electricity? - Yes, some loops have it but not mine
Clean site? - Yes
Clean bathroom? - Yes
Flush toilet? - Yes
Showers? - Yes
Laundry? - No
Dish washing sink? - Yes, in the bathroom
—————PROS—————
→ The access to Watkins Glen! My site was in Loop D (Onondaga Village) which has a direct hiking trail to the trail along Watkins Glen! I highly recommend going early to beat the crowds. It’s peaceful and easier to enjoy and take photos.
→ Proximity to Seneca Lake! We went paddleboarding. We put in at a boat launch at the very southeastern corner of the lake near Seneca Lake Kayak. You can paddle down to Hector Falls and see it from the water.
→ You can drive to the many waterfalls nearby. I recommend Havana Glen Park for a short hike to the waterfall. Also, drive to Chequaga Falls.
—————TIP—————
→ There’s a power outlet in the bathroom. It was very common for people to charge phones while showering. Or leaving a battery in there to charge.
—————OVERALL—————
5-stars - Speaking for Loop D, of course. Clean site, clean bathroom with hot water, access to Watkins Glen, no issues while staying there.
—————INTERNET—————
Verizon via iPhone 12: 20 mbps down and 0.03 mbps up with 74 ms ping.
We stayed at site 184 which was great. The trail to get down to the Gorge Trail was just a few sites away. Bath house was clean but out dated. No camp store, but fire wood & ice were available at check in station. Pick a site on the outside of a loop and you’ll be good.
This campground was so great to stay at! The hosts were lovely and very sweet, and created a wonderful place to stay off-grid. Our tent site was spacious and secluded nestled in a ton of trees. I was able to hang my hammock up and set up my 6 person tent no problem! We rarely heard anyone, and felt like we had the place to ourselves. Their outhouse has a camper toilet- it was super nice, not at all what I was expecting! They installed a gorgeous shower facility, which was so well appointed. They even had hotel shampoo/conditioner/soap sets in baggies for you! I went out and bought a towel just to shower (I usually never shower when camping). They have chickens which were so cute to look at, and a couple of sweet dogs. The place is very dark at night- a treat when there's a lot of light pollution. The only thing is, know that you will be woken up by a rooster! We have a 5 year old that wakes up at the same time, so it was no big deal for us! I can't say enough good things about these hosts and their spot- it was relaxing, low key, and we felt incredibly safe, and welcome.
We spent three nights in Watkins Glen SP and will definitely be back. The sites aren't private, but are well kept, as are the bathrooms/showers. We enjoyed our hikes and if it had been a bit warmer, we would have checked out the pool.
Long time camper at oneida (usually during Miss Colombia weekend), this is an older and more established campground. This year, it changed owner and you can already see the improvements happening.
The one thing I did not like was seeing the new owner yelling at one of this employees. That wasn't cool at all.
Also, It is not very RV friendly as it can be challenging parking and setting up an RV at Oneida.
Being that I am now an RV owner, it it a bit challenging to navigate the campground.
We booked this as our first real camping trip with our new trailer, can’t recommend that for everyone lol, but we had a lovely time.
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.
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. There are a lot of mosquitoes, but with some bug spray and a couple thermacell mosquito repellents, we were comfortable the whole time. I loved cooking over the fire, the pit had a cinder block wall around it to set a grate on and block the wind. We had a lot of privacy because the campgrounds next to us were empty, but even if there were people nearby there was about 20-30 ft between our site and the next.
The lake is small but calm and great for kayaking. There is a little “beach” there for swimming, but know that it’s a soft lake bottom further out.
We really liked it here and booked another visit in August.
We originally booked for three nights at an electric site(52) and we enjoyed everything from the bath house to the overall privacy of the site. After the first night we decided to extend by two more nights which involved us moving to another site(215) which didn't have electric but still was a wonderful site. Both sites were large and mostly private. We spent every day hiking and biking. The Gorge trail is especially great after 5pm when the tourists have left for the day. There is also the Finger Lakes North Country trail which is dog-friendly. Towards the end of the loop there is a private stream with clean water that our dog loved. We can't wait to return many times. Verizon cell service was excellent in the Mohawk Village loop and decent in the Onondaga Loop. It was fine to work from the RV all week using our Pepwave BR1 Max with a Verizon data plan.
We've camped in two rustic cabins over the years. The campground is as quiet and peaceful as anyone would like, but the community enables campers the freedom to socialize and share meals whenever you want to reach beyond the family who came with you.
Jake here from the Dyrt! Harpy hollow not only has a great location in northern New York but is veteran owned and operated and ready to host more campers. Check them out and leave a review on the Dyrt when you stay!
Pros= Beautiful, wooded campground. Sites are big enough for a bit of privacy. Bathrooms were clean and updated. Cons= primitive sites only(no hook-ups). No real camp store, fire wood was available at check-in desk
The fall itself is amazing and the location is unbeatable since you’re camping in the State Park. But in my opinion that’s the only good part of this campground, which wasn’t bad for my quick one night stay.
The bathrooms were messy, with a couple of toilets not flushed/clogged. Thank God shower stall in a decent condition and it was free! Nice hot waters as well.
I stayed on a Saturday night so the crowd was definitely loud and nosy.
The staff were really accommodating with making a last minute reservation. They even provide homemade breakfast bread—area is beautiful but facilities are old. Bathroom was okay.
We were looking to spend a couple of nights near Watkins Glen to hit the wineries, waterfalls, and nearby museums around the finger lakes of New York and this park seemed to be in a good location for us to do all that. There were other options closer to downtown Watkins Glen but they were closed for the season when we visited. This park is quite large and can accommodate any size RV with plenty of activities to keep the entire family busy without even leaving the park (but we wouldn’t recommend that because there is so much to do in the surrounding area).
Typical KOA with a wide range of RV sites and lodging options and tons of activities and amenities. We booked online and got our KOA discount, so check-in was easy and we were greeted by friendly people. There is a mix of site types which you can pick out online. If you don’t see the type you want online, give them a call because sometimes they can move people around to accommodate you. The roads in the park and campsites are gravel but the park is easy to navigate. They do have short fences at the front and back of sites which can make maneuvering into your site a little tricky. Not sure why they have these unless it is to keep people from driving or parking on the grass. Deluxe sites with fancy paved patios are available for a bit more$$$ than standard sites. All sites have a picnic table and fire pit.
Our site was level and long enough to fit our tow car. The pad was gravel but the patio was paved. Our fire pit stuck out pretty close to the road which was a bit awkward. Sites are definitely close so upon check-in we noticed that the park was not very crowded and asked that they not put us right next to people if at all possible. The women in the office told us that our neighbors were leaving the next morning and that was the only site option. Turns out they didn’t leave and there did appear to be other sites available. Oh well!
The park advertises free wifi and we were skeptical as to how good it would be but it turned out that it worked well at our site for surfing the internet. Our 4G Verizon phone reception was good and the open pull-thru sites work well for those wanting to use satellite. There is cable which broadcasts 70 channels.
What we liked about this campground was: the pastoral setting yet it was close to many attractions and things we wanted to do. The hiking trail was a big plus and really appreciated by our Labrador retriever. Wifi worked great and there were lots of cable channels. Our patio was paved which is nice but it is more expensive than standard sites with grass (so we ended up paying for that).
By far the worst thing about this park is the price. If you come here in the summer and use all the amenities then maybe we could see paying $100/night. But we really just wanted a place to park and hook-up the RV since we spent very little time there during the day. The only amenity we were even slightly interested in was the heated indoor swimming pool.
The surrounding area boasts lots of activities from exploring the natural wonders to wineries and museums. The region is known for its waterfalls including the popular Watkins Glen Gorge that has 19 waterfalls and many more in the surrounding area. Watkins Glen sits at the southern end of Seneca Lake and offers many opportunities to get out on the water for sight-seeing and a diner cruise. Close by are 40 some wineries and breweries that draw many visitors. A 30-minute drive south will put you in the town of Corning home to the spectacular Corning Museum of Glass and the Rockwell Art Museum. Watkins Glen Speedway hosts major motor racing events including the NASCAR Sprint Cup. Click here for a link to our blog post about what we did
This is by far one of the best family oriented campgrounds we've ever been in. The staff, the grounds, the amenities made me wish we were closer. So many things for kids to do. From boating, to giant swimming inflatables, putt putt even a giant slide. All part of the price of the campground. Would definately recommend and go again if in the area.
Worth it for the Gorge hike alone - approx 1 1/2 mile hike down the gorge complete with 19 waterfalls, some of which you pass behind. Hike itself isn't too strenuous, with the exception of the final ascent, which is called, aptly, Jacob's Ladder - 180 or so steps up to the end of the trail, it will get your heartrate going! Do wear at the very least good sneakers, your feet will get wet.
As far as the campground goes, sites are level, if somewhat rocky. I thought they were maybe a bit on the smallish side,, but maybe that was just my site (site 70). Some sites seemed tough to back into, due to lack of maneuverability. Bathrooms - showers were clean. Olympic size pool and restaurant on premises.
The campground entrance is about 1/2 mile up a hill around the corner from the park entrance. I imagine MANY campers, like I did, pull their rigs into that parking lot wondering where the heck the campground is, getting out & going into the office to ask, only to be told where to go - maybe there should be a more visible sign in that lot telling campers where to go.
Great place to stay to visit Watkins Glen and the Gorge. Very clean grounds and bathhouse. Mostly adult crowd on Wednesday and Thursday evening. Very quiet. If you want to hike, stay in Onondoga Village loop. A trail down into the gorge is across from the bathhouse.
Camping near Newark Valley, New York, offers a variety of beautiful spots to pitch your tent or park your RV. With stunning landscapes and plenty of outdoor activities, it’s a great way to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life.
Camping near Newark Valley, New York, has something for everyone, whether you’re looking for adventure or relaxation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular glamping campsite near Newark Valley, NY?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular glamping campground near Newark Valley, NY is Watkins Glen State Park Campground with a 4.6-star rating from 85 reviews.
What is the best site to find glamping camping near Newark Valley, NY?
TheDyrt.com has all 24 glamping camping locations near Newark Valley, NY, with real photos and reviews from campers.
