Glamping close to Seneca Falls, New York offers lakeside accommodations within the fertile Finger Lakes region, characterized by long, narrow glacial lakes surrounded by rolling hills. The area sits at elevations between 400-600 feet above sea level and experiences warm summers with average highs of 82°F in July. Most luxury camping facilities operate seasonally from April through October, with some sites requiring reservations up to 6 months in advance during peak summer weekends.
What to do
Fishing opportunities: Sampson State Park Campground features multiple shoreline fishing spots along Seneca Lake where visitors can catch lake trout, smallmouth bass, and yellow perch. As one camper notes, "There is a nice little beach and swimming area; water was very clean. Small camp store and concession stand with fish fries, breakfast foods and ice cream."
Military history exploration: At Sampson State Park Campground, visitors can tour a Naval museum with artifacts from World War II. "It was a Naval training base during WWll. About 45 minutes from Rochester and about hr and half from Syracuse. It has a Naval museum with many authentic items from that era," explains one reviewer.
Kayaking at Taughannock: Taughannock Falls State Park Campground offers boat rentals and lake access for water activities. A visitor mentioned, "The campground is very walkable to the swimming area, which goes to 12 feet deep and has a dock to jump off of. The hiking to the waterfall is very manageable."
Fall foliage viewing: The hardwood forests around Cayuga Lake State Park transform with brilliant colors from late September through October. "Visit in the fall for unrivaled scenery (better than New England in my opinion!). Great area for biking, kayaking, swimming, hiking, fishing, plus winery tours," shares a camper.
What campers like
Secluded sites: Sned Acres Campground offers private spots with lake views. One camper mentioned, "We spent 4 nights there in June 2019 at site #17. It was easy to find, relatively easy to pull in, and the staff we dealt with (Wendy and Reid) were just wonderful."
Welcoming touches: Several glamping facilities near Seneca Falls provide special welcome amenities. A Sned Acres visitor noted, "The friendship bread given to us at check-in was so touching and sweet (as well as delicious)."
Multi-day recreation: Green Lakes State Park Campground offers varied activities within the property. A camper describes, "The hiking includes an easy 3.1 mile loop with much shade around two glacier formed turquoise lakes. The beach area is wide and shallow in most areas. In close proximity to the store and snack shop. Just past the swimming area is boat rentals ($7/hr for row boat rental)."
Privacy in wooded areas: Watkins Glen State Park provides tree-lined campsites. "The campsites are great and are all tree lined giving to a bit of privacy. As much as you get in campgrounds," explains a visitor who appreciated the natural separation between sites.
What you should know
Site selection considerations: At Watkins Glen State Park Campground, not all sites are equally situated. One camper advises, "The roads within the campground were kind of tight to get through with trees and curves," which is important for those with larger rigs to consider.
Seasonal crowds: During summer months, particularly weekends, most glamping facilities near Seneca Falls operate at capacity. "We stayed only one night at this park but wish we could have stayed longer as there seems to be quite a bit to enjoy here," mentions a Cayuga Lake State Park visitor who recommended booking well in advance.
Weather preparation: The Finger Lakes region experiences occasional heavy rainstorms, particularly in spring and early summer. "Bring lots of bugspray and fire starters as it does rain up here which affects the fire wood," notes a Cayuga Lake camper.
Pet restrictions: Not all trails and beaches allow dogs. A Watkins Glen visitor cautions, "Dogs are allowed but they are not allowed on the gorge trail. I'm just wish I had known before we got there."
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: When booking at Lake Bluff RV Park, select sites based on proximity to play areas. A regular visitor suggests, "Near the playground they have a nice game room pool, air hockey, video games. There is a change machine too."
Swimming options: Most glamping facilities offer swimming areas, but depths and supervision vary. At Green Lakes, "The beach for swimming with concession stand with quite a full menu. Beach also has a great playground for kids that is perfect for play and swim."
Kid-friendly fishing: Some properties stock ponds specifically for young anglers. At Canandaigua-Rochester KOA, one family noted, "It has a pond where the fish are easy to catch with hotdogs!"
Weekend activities: Many campgrounds offer organized events for children. "They do events for kids every weekend. If you camp 6 nights in one season you get a night free!" shares a Lake Bluff camper who visited multiple times.
Tips from RVers
Hookup placement: At Junius Ponds, check the location of utilities before choosing a site. One RVer advises, "Check out which side the hookups are on. Some not situated on the right side so you'll need extra long cords."
Seasonal site availability: Many campgrounds have limited turnover for RV sites. "Most of the sites are for seasonal guests so it can be difficult to get a reservation," cautions a camper who stayed at Junius Ponds during a holiday weekend.
Water fill stations: At Sampson State Park, plan ahead for water access. "There is only one source for water fill up. This could end up being a very very long wait if you arrive at the same time as other campers," notes a visitor who suggested arriving with tanks already filled.
Pull-through limitations: Some campgrounds have specific policies about RV positioning. As one Sampson State Park camper points out, "They don't allow pull-in camping. Campers MUST be backed in."
