The Finger Lakes region surrounding Preble, New York contains several established campgrounds and dispersed camping areas within a 15-mile radius. Morgan Hill State Forest offers primitive dispersed camping at the Onondaga Trailhead campground and Spruce Pond Camping Area, both allowing tent and RV camping without hookups. More developed options include Green Lakes State Park Campground near Fayetteville, featuring tent sites, RV hookups, cabins, and glamping accommodations. Fillmore Glen State Park Campground in Moravia provides tent, RV, and cabin camping with electric hookups, showers, and toilets, while Yellow Lantern Kampground in Cortland offers full RV hookups with both 30 and 50-amp service.
Camping in the Preble area follows seasonal patterns with most established campgrounds operating from May through early October. Many sites at state parks require advance reservations during peak summer months, particularly for weekend stays. Unpaved forest roads in Morgan Hill State Forest may become difficult to navigate during spring thaw or after heavy rains. Cell phone coverage is generally available at developed campgrounds but can be limited in forested areas. Winter camping options are severely restricted, with Yellow Lantern Kampground being one of the few year-round facilities. A camper noted, "Morgan Hill State Forest offers free camping with fire rings, though lacking amenities like toilets or drinking water."
Water access constitutes a key feature at several campgrounds, with Green Lakes State Park built around its namesake meromictic lakes. Campers report excellent swimming opportunities and crystal-clear waters for kayaking and canoeing. Sites positioned farther from water features typically offer more seclusion and quieter camping experiences. The region's terrain varies from open meadows to densely wooded areas, with campgrounds reflecting these differences in their layouts and privacy levels. Proximity to hiking trails represents another significant consideration, as many campsites connect to the extensive Finger Lakes Trail system. State park campgrounds generally provide more amenities but fill quickly, especially during summer weekends and holidays. According to one review, "The campground at Fillmore Glen was totally full when we stayed there. The sites offered little privacy and were very close together, plus you could hear road noise all through the night."
$17 - $67 / night
"region of Upstate New York."
"Awesome little park in the Finger Lakes region with nature on site and lots more to do and explore nearby (wine trails!)."
$20 - $116 / night
"The lake is a fascinating meromictic lake with clear calcium-rich waters that are not only pristine and beautiful to look at, but also great for swimming and snorkeling as the waters are crystal clear"
"The sites are nice, some are little close to each other but nice for group camping. A short distance (walk or by car) to the beach. The lake is a little chilly sometimes but very refreshing."
"throughout the state forest, this is a group of ten established and well maintained primitive campsites right on Spruce Pond with fishing available and an amazing network of hiking and cross country ski trails"
$79 - $149 / night
"Nature Lover's Paradise is new to the Dyrt and they have an awesome spot to share with access to a vast network of trails in upstate New York. "
"The tent site and the 70 acres of hiking trails sound like the perfect getaway for anyone looking to reconnect with nature."
"This is a small state forest campground in the Morgan Hill forest from which you can directly access the Onondaga Trail branch of the National North Country scenic trail."
"This location has a set of 2 large trailhead parking lots for hikers and backpackers accessing the vast trail network of the Morgan Hill State Forest."
GuideWe got a spot last minute on the loop nearest the lake. Did not have a lot of shade so it was hot but the park is lovely. Decent bath houses— not well cleaned especially on the weekend. Utilities can be far from the parking spot.
LegendThis is a state park centered on the amazing geologic features of Enfield Glen. A waterfall cascades through a gorge here, ending in a beautiful pool for swimming at the base of the falls, with a trout stream flowing out of it towards nearby Cayuga Lake. For the geologically curious, the trails through the gorge are fascinating and educational. And fossils abound, easily visible in the stream flowing out of the falls. This was a main draw for me about this park, as was the proximity to the paleontology institute and Museum of the Earth just to the north in the hamlet of Trumansburg. https://www.museumoftheearth.org/
Within the park itself, there are camping options for both tent and trailer camping. However, even if you usually prefer campground camping, it might be well worth your while to consider the camper cabins. These beautiful rustic cabins are located alongshore and adjacent to the falls in one of the most beautiful parts of the park! Although hikers and swimmers walk the trails nearby to the cabins alot during the day, they are usually done by late afternoon and then your cabin site is peaceful, shady and quiet, with the main sound being wind through the hemlocks and rippling of water over the stones in the brook closeby. Pull up a rocker and ease your way into a peaceful evening! Great location as a basecamp not only to explore the park, but also the nearby Geology museum as mentioned, plus Ithaca, Cayuga Lake, and area vineyards
LegendThis is a campground set in a nice forest location, but close by to Treman State Park and Ithaca, so a good base for day trips. They offer mostly RV camping, but do have a substantial area for tent camping and also have nice some rustic camper cabins as well as cottages and regular full service cabins. For families who enjoy neighbors, this is a good campground. Lots of families, lots of kids riding bikes and doing activities, nice kid-friendly fishing pond, lots of open space for ball games etc. There is even an offleash dog park so Fido can come along and have fun. This is a busier campground than I ordinarily would have chosen as a tent camper, but I was joining friends for a cabin stay on Labor Day weekend as nearby state park campgrounds were full. The whole grounds are well maintained and well landscaped, they did have some scheduled activities, and the pool looked sparkling clean. The cabin we stayed in was very nice, and set back into the woods along a small river and with good access to hiking trails. The camper cabins looked brand new, and I spoke to a family staying in one and they really liked it. My friends son loved the fishing, swimming, and meeting other kids to play with. The campground was not noisy for the size, and though it was large and nearly full everything was nice and all the campers respectful of each others space. Ithaca is not far for activities and supplies, and there are many local state parks that are easy to get to. I would rather camp right in a state park but this would be a great alternative especially for folks with RVs
ScoutBeautiful park - some road noise from 17c. Sites are spacious
ScoutReally enjoyed staying here. It’s super private and peaceful, and we loved that it’s not a crowded campground. The land is open and easy to access, and you can tell the owners are constantly upgrading and improving things. We were even able to fish here, which was a bonus. Would definitely recommend if you appreciate privacy, nature, and a peaceful place with the freedom to relax and do your own thing.
ScoutWe stayed here for 2 nights car camping. quiet and clean. spots had fire rings and picnic tables. Bathrooms were clean and had potable water. There were lots of horses. There are hiking trails right out of the site! would absolutely stay here again!
Traveler26 camp sites with bathrooms! That flush! Very quiet and the sites aren’t on top of each other. People bring their horses. You can drive to to your site and tent camp or camper camp. I would come back!
RangerNice pretty campground, only electric hookup for the RV sites, tho. The showers were cool, no hot water. Close to some gorgeous hiking tho! And town is about a mile away with shops, restaurants and on the edge of one of the Finger Lakes to make it beautiful!
RangerThe sites are good, level, and the campsite is pretty but as clean as the bathrooms are, the showers still suck. I’ll never understand why parks use the misting shower heads. Maybe TMI, but sorry ladies, you’ll never get the soap out of your bits. It’s best to use the ADA bathrooms because those shower heads are normal and have wands. I can’t say much about the amenities since we camped in the off season (really bummed not to rent a boat), but the trails around the lake are great! Beautiful water and various difficulties on the trails make it pretty fun to explore. Overall a good stay but took a star away for the showers and the landscapers. They spent at least 5-6 hours the Monday we were here mowing around our campsite, coming within inches of our power and Starlink cords. Really annoyed by that and when we called the park office, they said they’d take care of it but we still endured 4 more hours of multiple mowers going over the same areas multiple times. Honestly think they were messing with us at that point…
The Finger Lakes region near Preble, New York sits at elevations ranging from 1,100 to 2,000 feet, creating distinct microclimates throughout the area. Camping options span from free primitive sites in Morgan Hill State Forest to full-service campgrounds with varying seasonal availability. Winter temperatures frequently drop below freezing, with summer highs typically reaching the mid-80s Fahrenheit.
Hiking trail access: Morgan Hill State Forest features multiple access points for hiking, including the Onondaga Trailhead campground which connects directly to the North Country Scenic Trail. One reviewer noted, "You can directly access the Onondaga Trail branch of the National North Country scenic trail" and "Hiking the trail west on a day trip will bring you to the beautiful Tinker Falls."
Tubing and kayaking: Water activities provide cooling recreation during summer months near campsites around Preble. Lighthouse Landing Campground offers "tubing, kayaking and canoeing right on the river that leads to the campground," according to a visitor who highlighted this as a standout feature.
Swimming in natural settings: Several campgrounds provide swimming options beyond standard pools. At Fillmore Glen State Park Campground, "Kids loved the park and swimming in the waterfall beach," while another reviewer mentioned the "gorgeous natural pool with lifeguard."
Unique water features: The color and clarity of lakes draw many campers to the area. At Green Lakes State Park Campground, the water is described as "Crystal clear and very blue, you will think you are in the Caribbean Islands." Another camper noted the lake is "beautiful with green/blue hue in which the park gets its name."
Clean facilities: Bathroom quality matters to campers visiting the Preble area. Fillmore Glen received praise: "Bathrooms are very clean and close to all campsites." Green Lakes also maintains high standards, with campers noting, "The bathrooms have been remodeled and most are private with a toilet, shower and sink which makes this a wonderful family campground."
Fishing opportunities: Several sites around Preble offer fishing access. Spruce Pond Camping Area in Morgan Hill State Forest is frequently visited by anglers, with one reviewer noting, "Lots of fisherman frequent the pond" and another highlighting "its own accessible fishing landing."
Sound considerations: Natural and human noise can affect sleep quality at campsites near Preble. At Spruce Pond, "the animals at the pond are very active and made a lot of noise in the night." At Fillmore Glen State Park, tent campers reported, "We were the only tent campers around and the RV groups were loud late and early. We struggled to sleep because of the noise."
Permit requirements: For dispersed camping in Morgan Hill State Forest, specific rules apply. While general areas are free, some locations require permits. At Nature Lover's Paradise, access to "70 acres of hiking trails" makes it "the perfect getaway for anyone looking to reconnect with nature."
Site spacing and privacy: Campgrounds vary significantly in site separation. While Morgan Hill offers "plenty of distance between neighboring campers," Fillmore Glen has sites that are "a little close" with "no privacy between any of the sites."
Playground proximity: Campgrounds with play areas keep children entertained. Fillmore Glen State Park offers "playgrounds and areas for various sports" while Green Lakes has "a great playground for kids that is perfect for play and swim."
Swimming depth awareness: Water safety varies by location. Green Lakes "beach area is wide and shallow in most areas," making it suitable for younger swimmers, while at Fillmore Glen, "there are some pretty steep drop offs so watch the kids close."
Activity planning: Scheduling family-friendly recreation helps maximize enjoyment. Empire Haven Nudist Park creates opportunities to "socialize and share meals whenever you want to reach beyond the family who came with you," creating a "quiet and peaceful" environment.
Hookup availability: RV sites with services vary widely around Preble. Cortlands Country Music Park and Campground offers "Electric and water at site" for RVs, though it's described as a "Small campground near NY finger lakes."
Big rig considerations: Several campgrounds accommodate larger vehicles, but access roads may present challenges. At Green Lakes, full hookups are available, with one RVer noting it's "one of the few that offer full hook ups."
Winter camping options: Most campgrounds near Preble close during winter months, but Yellow Lantern Kampground remains open from April through mid-November, offering RV sites with "full RV hookups with both 30 and 50-amp service."
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Preble, NY?
According to TheDyrt.com, Preble, NY offers a wide range of camping options, with 145 campgrounds and RV parks near Preble, NY and 15 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Preble, NY?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Preble, NY is Fillmore Glen State Park Campground with a 4.2-star rating from 15 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Preble, NY?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 15 free dispersed camping spots near Preble, NY.
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