Best Campgrounds near Bath, NY

Bath, New York features several developed camping areas within a 30-mile radius, including state parks and private campgrounds. Babcock Hollow Campground, located directly in Bath, provides tent sites, RV hookups and cabin rentals. Nearby Hickory Hill Camping Resort offers 222 campsites with electric, water, and sewer connections. The region also includes two dispersed camping options at Sugar Hill Recreation Area, where primitive camping is available without reservations. Most campgrounds in the area accommodate both tent and RV camping, with several also offering cabin rentals for those seeking more comfort.

Most campgrounds in the Bath area operate seasonally from May through October, with limited winter availability. Reservations are recommended during peak summer months, particularly for holiday weekends. The area experiences typical northeastern seasonal patterns with warm summers and cold winters. Many campgrounds provide basic amenities including drinking water, showers, and toilets, though dispersed sites typically have fewer services. Electric hookups are common at developed campgrounds, but not universal. As one camper noted, "Sites not as private as we liked. Small campground. Friendly owners and staff."

Visitors consistently mention the family-friendly atmosphere at several campgrounds near Bath. Hickory Hill Camping Resort receives particularly positive reviews for its recreational facilities, with one camper highlighting that "there is a lot to do at Hickory Hill and everything is included in your site fee." Several campgrounds feature swimming pools, playgrounds, and organized activities. The Bath area provides convenient access to nearby attractions including vineyards and the Finger Lakes region. Campground cleanliness is frequently praised in visitor feedback, with clean bathrooms and well-maintained grounds noted as standout features. For those seeking a more rustic experience, the free dispersed camping at Sugar Hill Recreation Area offers a quieter alternative to the more developed options.

Best Camping Sites Near Bath, New York (149)

    1. Watkins Glen State Park Campground

    90 Reviews
    Watkins Glen, NY
    22 miles
    Website
    +1 (607) 535-4511

    $24 - $58 / night

    "Watkins Glen boasts one of New York’s most beautiful state parks! I last camped here in 2012 and absolutely loved hiking along the gorges. Also- the camping was next to perfect."

    "Definitely one of the top places to camp and visit in New York, Watkins Glen State Park never disappoints. Each time I come back, I find something new to discover and have a great time doing that."

    2. Keuka Lake State Park Campground

    22 Reviews
    Branchport, NY
    20 miles
    Website
    +1 (315) 536-3666

    $24 - $31 / night

    "Stayed at Keuka Lake in July 2023. Nice spots, close to others but people were quiet and respectful after 10 PM. Lake was beautiful and fun for swimming with the kids."

    "A dumping station right near the entry/exit.There is a large park area with beach for swimming, fishing, plenty of room for launching your kayak, dock and launch for your boat or using one of their grills"

    3. Sugar Hill Fire Tower Campsite

    13 Reviews
    Tyrone, NY
    17 miles
    Website
    +1 (607) 622-8282

    "We stayed here during an anniversary trip to the Finger Lakes. Easy proximity to Seneca Lake and Watkins Glen State Park. Nice wooded area kept us far enough away from other campers. Great location!"

    "Will be returning, I found a lovely spot tucked into a back corner and has the most relaxing weekend."

    4. Hickory Hill Camping Resort

    3 Reviews
    Bath, NY
    2 miles
    Website
    +1 (800) 760-0947

    $54 - $999 / night

    "Great location with beautiful vineyards close by."

    5. Camp Bell Campground

    5 Reviews
    Campbell, NY
    10 miles
    Website
    +1 (607) 527-3301

    "Has plenty of close by attractions. Kids enjoyed the the big playground and mini arcade. Has a large pool for swimming and fun activities"

    "Lots of activities for kids and near by attractions. They are with in a 20 minute drive to wakins Glen race way and do not raise prices for camping that weekend."

    6. Watkins Glen / Corning KOA

    18 Reviews
    Montour Falls, NY
    21 miles
    Website
    +1 (607) 535-7404

    "We were looking to spend a couple of nights near Watkins Glen to hit the wineries, waterfalls, and nearby museums around the finger lakes of New York and this park seemed to be in a good location for us"

    "There is amazing hiking trails along the gorge with views of waterfalls! There is a nice pool and playgrounds. It’s close to downtown Watkins glen with lots of restaurants."

    7. Babcock Hollow Campground

    1 Review
    Savona, NY
    4 miles
    +1 (607) 776-7185

    8. Stony Brook State Park Campground

    20 Reviews
    Dansville, NY
    23 miles
    Website
    +1 (585) 335-5530

    $21 - $90 / night

    "We stayed for two day and hike the trails. The gorge trail has all the waterfalls and you can walk right next to them."

    "The campground side doesn't open until around 11 we were told, and we reached at 8am, so we started at the North (day-use) side, parked there, hiked, ate, and eventually drove back to the other side, checked"

    9. Summer Haven

    1 Review
    Avoca, NY
    5 miles
    +1 (607) 207-4700

    $50 / night

    "It was somewhat difficult to locate as TheDyrt did not include a street address.  This early in the season water was not available, but electricity was. "

    10. Sugar Hill Recreation Area Camping

    5 Reviews
    Tyrone, NY
    16 miles
    Website
    +1 (607) 622-8282

    "Its location is convenient, just a 15-minute drive from Watkins Glen, making it an ideal base for exploring the area."

    "Nice hiking trails at the moment (pretty close to overgrown at this point in the season). Great free location between destinations."

Show More
Showing results 1-10 of 149 campgrounds

2025 Detourist Giveaway

Presented byToyota Trucks

Review Campgrounds. Win Prizes.

Enter to Win


Recent Reviews near Bath, NY

682 Reviews of 149 Bath Campgrounds


  • julian S.
    Oct. 6, 2025

    Tiadaghton Campground — Tioga State Forest

    Very crowded with bikers

    Nice campsite and cool view but be prepared to have a lot of bikers walking around the campground or stopping for lunch at near by sites. Also would recommend 4 wheel drive vehicles to drive to site, steep dirt roads to access it. It has a nice water front view but if seclusion is something you would like this spot may not be for you.

  • KThe Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 4, 2025

    Sugar Hill Fire Tower Campsite

    Would Stay again

    We 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!

  • HThe Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 3, 2025

    Sugar Hill Fire Tower Campsite

    Free camping with amenities!

    26 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!

  • EThe Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 1, 2025

    Watkins Glen State Park Campground

    Nice campground in a gorgeous state park.

    Nice 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!

  • Roger V.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 1, 2025

    Palmers Pond State Forest

    beautiful spots near pond or in woods

    if the lake spots are busy check the woods, there are a bunch more nice spots. dispersed free LNT style. no services. would stay here again.

  • Dana M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 30, 2025

    Lyman Run State Park Campground

    Quiet, Quaint and Clean!

    We love the lower loop! We were there on a Monday night and there were 4 sites occupied on our loop. Great stars. Clean bathrooms!

  • Chelsea B.
    Sep. 27, 2025

    Robert H. Treman State Park Campground

    Good location

    Location: This park is close to Ithaca which was the best part. Trails and Natural Features: We loved the waterfall, swimming area (seasonal so closed when we stayed), and the fall colors. Sites: They have very few electric sites so we decided to boondock. It surprised me that all the full hookup sites were reserved but very people actually showed up for their reservations while we stayed. Lame. And heads up that if you don’t stay in the big clearing for big rigs, there are tight turns between trees to get in and out of the non-electric sites. We ended up making a back-in site into a pull-through site… whoops. Starlink: I work remotely so internet is important. We weren’t camping in the clearing because those sites were booked, but even the Starlink struggled where we were and I ended up working from the library in town. So heads up if you need internet. Bathrooms: They were spacious but older. Temperature in the showers was tricky. Hot is cold and cold it hot. Cool stuff: They had compost bins and provide bags for all campers. That’s cool!

  • Bare Soul  W.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 15, 2025

    South Slope Trail Head Dispersed Camp

    Relaxing

    There is one campsite near trail. There was more traffic than I expected. Also there is no cell service. No real tires

  • Dayne B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 5, 2025

    Ontario County Park at Gannett Hill

    Inexpensive, Peaceful.

    I've stayed here on 3 separate occasions, twice in RV 12 and once in RV 6. 

    I used the 30 AMP hookup and had zero issues.

    Beautiful playground for my son to enjoy and meet other kiddos. Deer, chipmunks and rabbits will say hi in the early and late hours.

    Large dumpsters near entrance. 

    Dump stations are present, but I haven't used them yet. 

    Potable water is present at a small spigot. 

    The washrooms facility is very close and speaking for the men's side, it had 2 stalls, 2 urinals, 2 showers, multiple sinks, and a sturdy baby changing station.

    Hiking trails with gorgeous views of the valley within a 5 min walk of my campsite.


Guide to Bath

Camping near Bath, New York, offers a mix of beautiful landscapes and fun activities for everyone. Whether you're looking for a peaceful retreat or an adventurous getaway, there are plenty of campgrounds to choose from.

What to do:

  • Hiking: Explore the stunning trails at Watkins Glen State Park Campground. One camper mentioned, "The access to Watkins Glen! My site was in Loop D which has a direct hiking trail to the trail along Watkins Glen!"
  • Water Activities: Enjoy paddleboarding and swimming at Letchworth State Park Campground. A visitor shared, "We went paddleboarding... You can paddle down to Hector Falls and see it from the water."
  • Stargazing: Head to Cherry Springs State Park Campground for some of the best stargazing in the area. One camper said, "Great place for stargazing and astronomy! The campground was well maintained."

What campers like:

  • Clean Facilities: Campers appreciate the cleanliness of the sites and restrooms. A review for Lyman Run State Park Campground noted, "The site and facilities were very well kept and clean."
  • Spacious Sites: Many campgrounds offer generous space between sites. A visitor at Sampson State Park Campground mentioned, "Most sites are pretty spacious."
  • Family-Friendly Activities: Campgrounds like Letchworth State Park Campground have playgrounds and activities for kids. One family shared, "The rec center had tons of activities and sports for the kids to do."

What you should know:

  • Limited Cell Service: Be prepared for spotty cell reception in some areas. A camper at Keuka Lake State Park Campground mentioned, "TV reception there is none, cell phone not great either."
  • Booking in Advance: Popular spots fill up quickly, especially during peak season. A visitor at Sampson State Park Campground advised, "Book quickly because they fill up fast."
  • No Alcohol at Some Parks: Some campgrounds, like Stony Brook State Park Campground, do not allow alcohol. A camper noted, "No alcohol permitted in the whole campgrounds."

Tips for camping with families:

  • Choose Campgrounds with Playgrounds: Look for campgrounds that have playgrounds and family activities. A camper at Letchworth State Park Campground mentioned, "There are lots of playgrounds for kids."
  • Plan for Meals: Bring easy-to-cook meals or snacks. One family at Buttermilk Falls State Park Campground said, "The facilities were clean and well stocked."
  • Pack for Water Activities: If you're near lakes or rivers, bring swimsuits and water toys. A visitor at Keuka Lake State Park Campground enjoyed, "The lake is clean and clear, great for fishing, boating, and swimming."

Tips from RVers:

  • Check Hookup Availability: Make sure to confirm if your site has electric and water hookups. A camper at Lyman Run State Park Campground noted, "The bathrooms were very clean with nice hot water in the showers."
  • Bring Extension Cords: Some sites may have power poles that are far from the pads. A visitor at Sampson State Park Campground mentioned, "Electric service boxes are shared in-between sites."
  • Plan for Dump Stations: Know where the nearest dump stations are located. A camper at Taughannock Falls State Park Campground advised, "The dumping station is lacking but overall nice park."

Camping near Bath, New York, has something for everyone, from families to RV enthusiasts. With beautiful parks and plenty of activities, it's a great spot for your next outdoor adventure!

Frequently Asked Questions

What camping is available near Bath, NY?

According to TheDyrt.com, Bath, NY offers a wide range of camping options, with 149 campgrounds and RV parks near Bath, NY and 11 free dispersed camping spots.

Which is the most popular campground near Bath, NY?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Bath, NY is Watkins Glen State Park Campground with a 4.6-star rating from 90 reviews.

Where can I find free dispersed camping near Bath, NY?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 11 free dispersed camping spots near Bath, NY.

What parks are near Bath, NY?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 8 parks near Bath, NY that allow camping, notably Cowanesque Lake and Tioga-Hammond Lakes.