Robert H. Treman State Park encompasses 1,110 acres in New York's Southern Tier region, located at elevations ranging from 400 to 1,100 feet above sea level. Tent sites in the Pine City area typically require site pads of 15-20 feet and frequently experience evening temperatures 10-15 degrees cooler than daytime highs. Local campgrounds accommodate both traditional camping and upscale tent structures with various comfort levels.
What to do
Hiking state park trails: Watkins Glen State Park Campground features 19 waterfalls along the interconnected trail system. A camper notes, "Watkins Glen was absolutely beautiful. The gorge trail is a MUST. Definitely go check this campsite out!" Another adds, "We prefer walking down and catching the bus back. There are bathrooms at the top and bottom of the trails."
Swimming in natural settings: Robert H. Treman State Park Campground offers a unique natural swimming experience. A visitor shares, "You can swim in the waterfall area here. The hiking trails are awesome. Don't let the beginning steps fool you, the rim trail can be very strenuous." The park maintains diving boards at the swimming hole beneath the waterfall.
Fishing without licenses: Pine Cradle Lake Family Campground provides catch-and-release fishing without requiring Pennsylvania fishing licenses. One visitor explained, "The fishing is good, and the turtles are eager to help themselves to your bait." Another camper mentioned, "The lakeside spots are gorgeous and the private dock is great when you have kids that love to fish."
Wine tasting excursions: Explore the 40+ wineries near Watkins Glen / Corning KOA. A guest notes, "Nearby wineries and many wine drinkers camp here along with enjoying beautiful finger Lakes." Many establishments offer tastings for $5-10 per person, often waived with bottle purchases.
What campers like
Private wooded sites: Ferenbaugh Campground has both open and forested camping areas. A camper explains, "Lots of Trees and Shade OR Plenty of Grass and Sun; whichever is your preference, they have you covered!" The campground maintains two distinct sections separated by tree lines.
Clean facilities: Watkins Glen State Park Campground maintains well-kept bathhouses. One camper reports, "Friendly staff, good patrols at night to keep people from being too noisy, tent sites are nice and shaded. Some of the shower houses are better than others." Another adds, "The bathhouses are clean and well lit at night."
Lake activities: Tompkins Campground offers direct lake access with paved sites. A repeat visitor shares, "Spots are level and paved. It is always clean. There is a beach for swimming, marina for boating and the sites are huge and grassy." The campground sits on Tioga Lake with multiple water access points.
Glamping accommodations: For those seeking glamping in Pine City, New York and surrounding areas, Watkins Glen / Corning KOA provides structured glamping options. One reviewer noted their camping cabin experience: "We stayed in a small cabin (w/ bathroom). The weather was great, so we had a great view of the forest around us & the sky was amazing!"
What you should know
Varied site quality: Watkins Glen / Corning KOA has inconsistent site conditions. A visitor explains, "We got lucky and got a good site with shade but most sites are tiny and wide open. The full hookups were good, there was a concrete pad and nice fire ring in our site." Sites range from $40-115 depending on hookups and season.
Water quality issues: At Ferenbaugh Campground, water filtration is recommended. A full-timer advises, "The only bad comment I would make is there water is very smelly and brown. I actually bought a dual stage water filter and change it every two weeks."
Cell service limitations: Pine Cradle Lake Family Campground has minimal connectivity. A camper reports, "If you are looking for a place to disconnect for a few days this is it. There is very very little cell reception and only wifi if you pay for it." The paid WiFi costs $4.99 per day or $19.99 per week.
Seasonal differences: Most glamping structures in the Pine City region operate from mid-April through late October. Temperature variations can be significant, with overnight lows sometimes dropping to 45°F even in summer months.
Tips for camping with families
Playground options: Hills Creek State Park Campground offers newly renovated play areas. A visitor mentions, "There is 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." The main playground features accessible equipment suitable for ages 2-12.
Educational programs: Watkins Glen State Park Campground provides ranger-led activities. A camper noted, "The nature talks were really fun for the kids and interesting for the adults." Programs typically run weekends from Memorial Day through Labor Day at no additional cost.
Water activities for children: Pine Cradle Lake Family Campground caters to families with water features. A visitor reports, "We enjoyed fishing and kayaking in the lake, the heated pool and splash pad, spacious sites and clean amenities." The splash pad operates daily from 10am-7pm during summer months.
Dog-friendly policies: Most campgrounds in the region welcome pets but restrict certain areas. One camper at Watkins Glen State Park notes, "Dogs are allowed but they are not allowed on the gorge trail. I'm ok with this I just wish I had known before we got there."
Tips from RVers
Site selection strategy: Newtown Battlefield State Park Campground offers limited check-in hours. An RVer advises, "You can reserve a site or a cabin, or you can show up after three and see what is open. The sites are tidy and well mowed, a trash can at each site, nice combo grill/fire ring."
Navigational challenges: Some campgrounds have difficult access roads. At Pine Cradle Lake, "The campground is located at the top of some beautiful and scenic driving through farmland in Pennsylvania and you will be 30 minutes from anything like shopping or small town amenities."
Hookup availability: RV sites with full services are limited at most public campgrounds. A visitor to Hills Creek State Park noted, "We were pleasantly surprised by the size of the sites and many sites now offer full hook up! We did not know this on arrival as it wasn't on the site!"
Seasonal closures: Most glamping facilities and campgrounds with water activities close between mid-October and late April. Winterized camping options are limited to self-contained RVs at select locations.
