Campgrounds near Owego, New York span across rolling hills and river valleys with elevations ranging from 800-1,200 feet. The Susquehanna River basin creates diverse camping environments with moderate summer temperatures averaging 70-85°F during peak camping season. Most campgrounds receive 36-42 inches of annual rainfall, making spring camping occasionally muddy.
What to do
Fishing opportunities: Hickories Park Campground offers easy access to the Susquehanna River for anglers. "Nice, pull-through on gravel pad with full-hookups that can take large rigs. Lake is lovely for fishing/kayaks/canoes," notes a camper about nearby Pine Cradle Lake Family Campground.
Water activities: The water features at Pine Valley RV Park make it popular with families. "They have hayrides in the summer and swimming in the lake... The owners are always accessible," reports one visitor. At Pine Cradle Lake, "You can rent non electric boats and they offer catch& release fishing without a PA license in the lake."
Wine tasting: For those seeking adult activities, the Finger Lakes region offers numerous wineries. "Finger Lakes RV Resort opened in the last couple years and is a great addition to the camping options around the Finger Lakes. Located about 1/3 of the way up the eastern side of Seneca Lake, the location provides easy access to the wineries, distilleries, and breweries along the lake."
What campers like
Clean facilities: "The bath house is immaculate and rivals those at Fort Wilderness Resort," notes one camper about Finger Lakes RV Resort. Another mentions, "This is a family owned campground and the owners were very friendly and took pride in their business. Fresh baked chocolate chip cookies are included at check-in."
Quieter atmosphere: Many campers appreciate campgrounds away from noise. "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," says a Finger Lakes RV Resort visitor.
Natural settings: Tent campers particularly enjoy wooded sites. "I chose this campground because the photos of the pool/splash pad looked fun. It turns out the tent site we had was the most wooded and cozy site we have camped in all year," shares a visitor about Pine Cradle Lake Family Campground.
What you should know
Seasonal operations: Most rv sites near Owego, New York operate on limited schedules. Aspen Family Campground runs "May 12 to September 30," while Belden Hill Campgrounds operates "Apr 1 - Oct 30." Make reservations well in advance, especially for summer weekends.
Road conditions: Some campgrounds have challenging access roads. At Buttermilk Falls State Park, "The hill you climb to the camp sites is riddled with pot holes." Another camper notes, "The gravel road getting to the campsites kinda kill any time advantage you would have."
Cell service variations: Connectivity differs significantly between campgrounds. At Pine Cradle Lake, there's "very very little cell reception and only wifi if you pay for it. We had to put our phones and devices down and just relax."
Tips for camping with families
Water-based activities: Buttermilk Falls State Park Campground provides natural water features. "The falls are always fun, despite the lack of impressive height. The fact they're integrated into the swimming area is a unique feature," notes one camper. Pine Valley RV Park offers "giant swimming inflatables, putt putt even a giant slide. All part of the price of the campground."
Playground access: Many local campgrounds feature play areas. One family notes, "Our campsite is AMAZING! Everything is clean, neat and organized. The fishing is good, and the turtles are eager to help themselves to your bait."
Private bathroom facilities: Families with young children appreciate certain campground layouts. At Pine Cradle Lake, "The restrooms were fantastic too, the buildings held two complete rooms with a toilet sink and shower in each. It's the only shower camping this year my 4yr old wasn't afraid of because we had the whole room to ourselves."
Tips from RVers
Site selection: When booking rv sites near Owego, consider specific site locations. "Easy access off I-88 friendly owner, friendly seasonal people. Pull thru full hookup, level, spacious. Room for pop up canopy and games. Great views of the mts," notes one RVer about Belden Hill Campgrounds.
Utility reliability: Power and water quality vary between parks. "Good working utilities on nice sites. The views from the campground are great," reports an RVer at Belden Hill. At Riverside RV Campground, "This place is right on the river and the freeway! So it's kind of loud the people are super friendly and had fresh vegetables and home baked goods available."
Big rig considerations: Many campgrounds accommodate larger vehicles with varying levels of convenience. "They let us book an RV site and it was rough setting up on a gravel RV site but we understood that we were not within a normal tent element and placed an extra tarp under the tent," explains a camper who typically uses a truck tent but stayed at an RV site.
