Richfield Springs sits in Otsego County, New York, at approximately 1,300 feet elevation with a humid continental climate that brings warm summers and cold, snowy winters. The area features rolling hills surrounding Canadarago Lake, making it a hub for outdoor recreation from May through October when most RV campgrounds near Richfield Springs operate. Seasonal closures affect nearly all camping facilities in the region during winter months.
What to do
Fishing access: Spruce Creek Campground offers direct access to creek fishing. "The property is huge and surrounded by the beautiful creek, which is more like a river. Sites 2 and 3 looked absolutely beautiful- right on the creek with spruce trees and easy water access," notes one visitor.
Baseball tourism: Visit Cooperstown's attractions just 15 miles from Glimmerglass State Park Campground. A camper reports, "With Cooperstown 15-20 minutes away no lack of things to do for adults and kids. Great restaurants also. No reason to ever get bored."
Nature trails: Explore walking paths along the historic Chenango Canal from Butternut Hill RV Campground. "The campground is adjacent to a trailhead for a hiking trail along the historic Chenango Canal, an offshoot of the Erie Canal," writes a reviewer.
What campers like
Spacious sites: Many RV campers appreciate the generous site sizes at The Villages RV Park at Turning Stone. One camper noted, "Spacious FHU sites. Pull thru and back ins," while another mentioned, "The sites were level and great size with nice spacing in between."
Clean facilities: Campers consistently praise the well-maintained bathroom facilities throughout the region. At Cooperstown Beaver Valley Campground, one visitor observed, "Clean, modern bathrooms. Campsites were raked and ready for us when we arrived. Super friendly staff!"
Recreational amenities: Swimming options range from pools to natural water features. "The lake is pristine and wonderful to swim in. Nice beach. Also a place for showers and a bathroom and small place for food and extras things you might need for camping," shares a Glimmerglass State Park visitor.
What you should know
Site selection considerations: Choose locations carefully based on your specific needs. At Spruce Creek Campground, a reviewer warns, "Not good for larger rigs, largest site was too short for mine. Pot holes in the campground road are so bad that it caused damage to my trailer."
Seasonal event scheduling: Butternut Hill hosts several regional events that affect availability. "The meadows and fields of Butternut Hill are the superb festival setting for several regional events, including several Antique shows, the Central New York Fiber Festival, a craft fair and a car show, events that are scheduled a few times a month throughout the summer."
Weather preparedness: Rain can impact site conditions and access roads. At Butternut Hill, "it rained really hard one day of the event, and though the access roads got a little muddy, the campsites seem well drained and did not get muddy."
Tips for camping with families
Playground options: Riverside RV Campground offers river access for recreation. "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." For more extensive play areas, Beaver Valley Campground features "2 swimming pools, really nice playground for the younger kids, 2 baseball fields."
Swimming access: Glimmerglass State Park provides beach swimming options. "The beach area here is huge! Great for families, the parking lots is huge, there's easy hiking on the grounds," notes a visitor.
Group camping setups: Bring multiple tents to create family compounds at suitable sites. "The sites are a great size for accomadating two tents and have many people gather at meals," shares a Glimmerglass camper.
Tips from RVers
Setup assistance: Some campgrounds provide hands-on support for new RVers. At Spruce Creek, "Upon arrival my husband told the owner that we had never set up before and he came and walked us through the whole process. He also gave us tips on equipment to get."
Site navigation challenges: Be prepared for tight turns or obstacles. Some campgrounds have limitations, as one visitor to Riverside RV notes, "All the sites are full hook up I'm pretty sure. They used to have tent sites but no longer."
Utilities reliability: Water pressure variations occur at some locations. Villages RV Park offers "full hookups with 30/50-amp electric service, water, and sewer connections on sites that accommodate big rigs."
