Best Tent Camping near Sterling, NY

Nice modern-esque camp site with great views of the lake. They have cabins but we tent camped. Tent sites are open. On site they have swimming, boat launch, and (I think) a playground. Lots of other places to hike in the area too, plus attractions like wine trails, breweries, quaint amusement parks.

We have stayed in the 300 Loop and 400 loop on different occasions. These are non-electric tent camping loops, bathrooms are a short walk from spots, if you have kids there is a playground by the more open spots in the inner part of each loop or you can stay in the more secluded outer ring of the loops. We loved these spots and for anyone camping in the Finger Lakes region I would definitely recommend Cayuga Lake State Park. They have cabin and RV spots as well but we prefer tent camping.

Tent camping is $15/ night. You can get in to the park for free between 7 and 10pm though.

Tent camping here felt like we were camping in a neighborhood backyard. We could hear so many different families talking and really doing everything you do while camping but the area felt so open and unobstructed voices carried and in the evening when everyone was building campfires the smoke could be overwhelming at times.

We stayed through this weekend and had a great time and got to see some awesome sunsets. It was a little bit of a walk to get water but we were tent camping so we didn’t really mind. Our site had electric hook ups which we really didn’t need being in a tent but it was nice for charging our phones. Overall had a great time.

The tent sites on the west camp were roomy and reasonably private, but there weren't many water locations and no electric on that side of the park. The facilities were about as nice as you can expect at a state run campground. We're already planning to go back next year for more nights.

Beautiful lakes! The walking/hiking trails are fabulous. They also offer an activity booklet for the kids to fill out during their stay to earn a patch. We camped with our 30 foot trailer on an obvious tent site as it was a bit hard to back in between the trees, but the site was nice and flat and clean. Definitely can’t wait to go back!

One of my favorite parks in the area, this one is on the largest of the Finger Lakes, Cayuga. 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. Close to Ithaca, a wonderful "hippie" college town.

Nice State Park campground, clean & good facilities. Mostly tent/camper camping, also cabins (I've only tent camped). Nice large sites and while not super private it is serene (as long as you're not too close to the playground or highway). Shady, usually a bit of a breeze. Accessible sites are really very accessible.

We stayed on a Monday night and it was very quiet. A lot of empty spaces. And a lot of seasonal campers were gone for the week. The owner was super nice and it was close enough to the State Park to run over to the beach. Nice large, flat spot with full shade. Maybe I'm still on Midwest pricing, but I get annoyed when I have to pay for a shower when I've played $25 for a non-electric and no water tent site. The bathrooms were clean.

Small, family owned campground w/173 sites. Very quiet, rural area. Sites are very large and well maintained. Sites along the creek and lagoon have shade trees; tent sites to FHU’s; creekside beach; swings, patio agility course, many planned activities for kids: hayrides, sandcastle contests, Santa visit in July. Live bands or DJ’s on holiday weekends. Many fishing areas and several boat launch places with water access to large Oneida Lake. Bathrooms and showers are immaculate and well stocked. Staff members and owners are very pleasant and friendly.

This campground offers so much for people of all ages.

• Crafts
• Games
• Activities
• Playground
• Pool
• Bouncy pillow
• Twice Daily wagon rides with Yogi and Boo Boo
• Bike parades
• River access
• Fishing
• Tubing
• Lounging

Our family camps at Yogi on the river at least twice a year. We always attend candy bar bingo, lounge by the river, play games with friends, get the little ones in the bike parades, and hang out with the friendly owners. With the cabins, park model rentals, tent sites, RV sites, everyone can come, no matter what their accommodations are.

Sites are well maintained, the campers are friendly, and the staff is helpful.

This is a great example of what a state park should be. It not only preserves a place of unique biological diversity and geologic interest, it is also well set up and well maintained to maximize low impact outdoor recreation and environmental education. A new state of the art regional environmental education center is being built now that will open in spring, as well as new handicapped access kayaking docks that complement Accessible trails and campsites throughout the park. This is a great destination for families, handicapped campers, and natural history enthusiasts. There are several campgrounds, one is large and open and meant for large RVs, others are drive-in forested tent sites or trailer sites with hookups, and several walkin sites. There is also a colony of rustic camper cabins. The campgrounds have brand new restroom facilities and playgrounds, and the main lake has a new beach house. 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 and very deep. There are hiking trails, paved bike trails, a nature preserve for bird watching at Round Lake, a golf course, and great kayaking or canoeing. It is also located right next door to the Erie Canal State Park for those who want to hike or bike the historic Erie Canal. Though you might expect a park like this to be in a remote location, it is actually just a short distance east of the suburbs of the Syracuse metro area, so it is an easy park to get to, plus staying there also provides easy access to stores for supplies, or access to local cultural activities or restaurants for those who want that. One of my favorite state parks in New York!

Charles has beautiful property! Acres and acres to explore and admire! The most accessible is a patch of pines with several tent sites, a small cabin, stone outdoor stove and a cool clear pond that is stocked with fish! Follow the corn on foot or an 4 wheel drive vehicle to the back pasture a more open area with apple trees and another small pond, further out is more land and wooded area Charles is happy to offer to you! I stayed 3 nights with my daughter and dog and had a wonderful time! This is a perfect for a quick quiet getaway, or to camp and explore apple orchards in the area! Charles sells fresh meat on site and it is amazing!!! I highly recommended this property, Charles is a wonderful host willing to help with anything, very family friendly and dog friendly to boot!!!

This is an extremely popular campground, and fills up quickly in the summer, especially on holiday weekends. Many local people I know in Syracuse will even camp here on a weekend, just to get away. Recent renovations to one of the two campgrounds will allow more room and hookups for RVs, in addition to the available tent sites. Cabins are also available, including one handicap accessible cabin. At least one of the campgrounds has a playground and there is another playground by the beach.

From the campgrounds there is access to the two miromictic lakes, one of which has a large beach area that is popular with many locals; the other is a National Natural Landmark and very scenic, but swimming is not allowed there. The trails near the lakes get very crowded but there are a total of 18 miles of trails in the park and many of them are less crowded. Trails from the campgrounds lead to a large tract of old-growth forest, a bird conservation area, and mountain biking trails. The park also has a golf course, frisbee golf course, and boat rentals and fishing access (on Green Lake near the beach)

This review is for the Morgan Hill primitve campsites at Spruce Pond. Although dispersed primitive camping is allowed elsewhere 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 along with mountain biking along the forest roads. There are fire grills and nicely developed tents sites, one nestled in the woods and three with their own pond access, and one is actually handicapped accessible with its own accessible fishing landing and an easy access to the parking lot. There is a brand new outhouse with wide accessible doorway as well. The setting is scenic and peaceful, and you can easily paddle or fish on the pond. You can also easily hike from here to the Labrador Hollow overlook where area hang-gliders launch, you might see some in action or at least get an amazing view of the Labrador Valley!

Note: a detailed map of the campground is here: https://extapps.dec.ny.gov/docs/regions_pdf/sprucepond.pdf

You may camp at this campground for free, but you do need a permit and should review the campground map to select your preferred site

There is TONS of beach to explore at this little State Park in New York. I used to visit here as a kid years ago because my grandparents owned a cottage on the lake. Since they sold it, visiting Southwick is the next best thing. Lake Ontario is an amazing lake to be on and the water is pretty warm in the summer time. the waves don't get too big, so it is very safe for kids. Southwick itself has great camping spots right next to the beach. It is a little pricey if you only want to visit for the day, $8, but you can get a tent spot for $18 which is comparable to other state parks. Showers are available, and there are some short trails that are good for running or probably cross country skiing in the winter. There is also a sizable playground near the beach that is great for the kids.

We have been coming here for years. Nice large beach, swimming, fishing in Ontario or Sterling pond. Boat launch, or small boat launch in Sterling pond. The town has a small town charm, a couple of small shops, ice cream, mini golf, etc. It's worth the trip. Campground will also deliver wood to the site. One downside, NYS needs to upgrade electricity and make more sites electric. Lots of picnicking during the weekend.

We visited 6 state parks in the Finger Lakes region of New York this past summer. Fillmore Glen State Park was our favorite for hiking, but probably our least favorite for camping. The trails are uncrowded and well maintained. We hiked along the south rim trail and the gorge trail. The gorge trail is especially cool, with 9 foot bridges crisscrossing over the river. There are several gorgeous waterfalls, and the walk was shady and cool, even though it was a hot day. After hiking through the glen, we were hoping to cool off with a swim, but the swimming area was closed. Not sure why, but you can only swim when lifeguards are on duty, and there were No Swimming signs everywhere.

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 here road noise loud and clear all through the night. The water faucet near our site was out of order, and the bathrooms were only clean in the morning. The sites were all wooded and shaded, with nice flat spots for tents, but I probably wouldn’t stay there again during the busy summer months. If you’re headed out that way, I would definitely recommend Fillmore Glen for a day trip, but I’d camp at either Robert Treman or Buttermilk Falls state park in Ithaca.

We camped here for 3 nights, I had an event in Geneva. Location was handy, easy in and out. It’s an old navy/Air Force base that was converted in the 60’s. Sites have a weird thing with one electric post per two sites… but they aren’t pull through. So, apparently, New York doesn’t care if you just park anywhere in the general area of your site, which is a vibe, but bring an extension cord. There’s some kind of “resort” co-located that appears to have more conventional hookups, but I’m unclear on how to book that. Price was fine, spot was ok, lake swim beach and playground were nice.

Loved the campground. The sites were very large and private. The swimming area was a bit of a walk, but was worth it. Great place to camp if you are heading to the Sterling Renaissance Festival.

You have Lake Ontario on one side of the road within the park and Sterling pond on the other. Very unique. Swans are everywhere even though they are not native to the area. My grand kids love to fish on the pond and then go to the huge beach at the lake. Some of the camping sites are close together but if you're lucky enough to camp up on the bluff the sites are only on one side of the road leaving an open view of Lake Ontario. It's just gorgeous at sunset. We've been having family reunions at this park for years. It's beautiful.

We have gone here multiple years, during weekend trips to the Sterling Renaissance Faire. We have had a great experience each time. (Well, one year torrential rain storm and thunder throughout one of the 2 nights, but that's not the campsite's fault!!). :-) On the "extreme adventure camping" scale it is super low, but for the "functional, easy/family camping experience" it is really high; you can drive right up to your campsite; there are bathrooms with running water (and potable water!) a short distance away, etc. They're also really good at helping you find wood, and any that you find is fare game for burning. :-)

Our first time there, we were the only ones that showed any kind of Renaissance Faire interest, actually, so please don't feel that Renaissance Faire people are the only people that stay there...they're not at all the only clientele...though after we let people know about this place through TripAdvisor, etc, the next few years there were Pirate Campers parked nearby ours (and if you said you were coming for the Ren Fest, they can place you near others who are as well).

We've unfortunately been out of the area since 2012, but every time we went and stayed here, we really enjoyed it!

Whether staying for the evening after the ren-fest, or for a whole weekend of Ren-Festing, we have loved this campsite :-)