Best Campgrounds near Union Springs, NY

Campgrounds near Union Springs, New York cluster around the scenic Finger Lakes region, offering diverse camping experiences within a short drive of town. Cayuga Lake State Park Campground, located in Seneca Falls, provides tent sites, RV hookups, and cabin accommodations with lakefront access. Sampson State Park Campground in Romulus features similar options with the addition of boat-in camping opportunities. The area's established campgrounds predominantly support both tent and RV camping, with several locations like Sned Acres Campground and Fillmore Glen State Park also offering cabin rentals for those seeking more sheltered accommodations.

Most campgrounds in the Finger Lakes region operate seasonally, typically from April through October, with limited year-round options. Road access to campgrounds is generally well-maintained, though some sites may require advance planning during peak periods. "The campground has bathrooms, showers, picnic tables, a playground and a dump station. There are cabins, tents and RV sites, some of which are handicapped accessible," noted one visitor describing amenities at a nearby state park. Reservations are strongly recommended during summer weekends and holiday periods when facilities reach capacity quickly. Weather conditions vary significantly throughout the camping season, with summer temperatures typically ranging from 70-85°F during the day and cooling considerably at night, especially near the lakes where evening breezes are common.

The Finger Lakes region's campgrounds receive consistently positive reviews for their natural beauty and proximity to recreational activities. Campers particularly appreciate the waterfront locations that offer swimming, fishing, and boating opportunities. A visitor remarked, "The swimming is excellent, lots of space for everyone, and they have lifeguards on duty just in case." Many campgrounds in the area feature hiking trails that showcase the region's dramatic gorges and waterfalls, creating opportunities for day excursions from base camps. Sites at state parks like Watkins Glen and Taughannock Falls are especially popular for their combination of well-maintained facilities and access to scenic natural features. Proximity to the Finger Lakes wine region adds another dimension to the camping experience, with several reviewers mentioning winery visits as highlights of their stays.

Best Camping Sites Near Union Springs, New York (137)

    1. Cayuga Lake State Park Campground

    14 Reviews
    Cayuga, NY
    5 miles
    Website
    +1 (315) 568-5163

    $21 - $107 / night

    "I was too busy playing in the lake, hiking, and riding my bike on some paths. I also saw a few people fishing in the lake, but not really sure what kind of fish you can catch."

    "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!)."

    2. Sampson State Park Campground

    20 Reviews
    Willard, NY
    13 miles
    Website
    +1 (315) 585-6392

    $28 / night

    "The bathrooms are great with showers and each camp spot has plenty of distance away from the next one."

    "Potable water fill station and dump tanks at entrance/exit. Bathrooms were very clean and had dish washing stations in them. Loop 5 has beautiful views of the lake."

    3. Sned Acres Campground

    9 Reviews
    Aurora, NY
    10 miles
    Website
    +1 (607) 869-9787

    $25 - $99 / night

    "The Grounds are well taken care of (although some areas around the playgrounds and pool could have been weed whacked better) there is a lot of grass and wide open areas for playing games, walking your"

    "The campground is beautifully maintained with stunning views of Cayuga Lake. The staff was friendly, welcoming, and went out of their way to make sure we had everything we needed."

    4. Fillmore Glen State Park Campground

    15 Reviews
    Moravia, NY
    17 miles
    Website
    +1 (315) 497-0130

    $21 - $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!)."

    5. Finger Lakes — Long Point State Park

    4 Reviews
    Aurora, NY
    9 miles
    Website
    +1 (315) 497-0130

    "Tons of lakes scattered between Canada and the USA on Lake Ontario provide endless recreation opportunities."

    "Plenty of sites to go around and great hiking. A different feel that typical NY but loved it! Be sure to do a boat ride in the area."

    6. Junius Ponds

    10 Reviews
    Phelps, NY
    16 miles
    Website
    +1 (315) 781-5120

    $39 - $999 / night

    "They had a oversized, long pull through available (site 88) that made entering and exiting the site nice and easy. 50amp and water was used, didn’t dump."

    "These fine folks never stop driving and take the time to walk and enjoy the the beauty of their surroundings."

    7. Watkins Glen State Park Campground

    90 Reviews
    Watkins Glen, NY
    34 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."

    8. Taughannock Falls State Park Campground

    19 Reviews
    Jacksonville, NY
    22 miles
    Website
    +1 (607) 387-6739

    $24 - $67 / night

    "Taughannock Falls State Park is one of my favorite parks in New York."

    "Went for a quick getaway to this little gem of a state park in the finger lakes region of New York. I’ll be coy, and use their slogan ‘Ithaca is Gorges’ and Gorgeous!!!"

    9. Waterloo Harbor Campground

    2 Reviews
    Waterloo, NY
    10 miles
    Website
    +1 (315) 539-8848

    10. Hidden Ponds Campgrounds

    1 Review
    Willard, NY
    10 miles
    +1 (607) 237-8732
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Recent Reviews near Union Springs, NY

581 Reviews of 137 Union Springs Campgrounds


  • 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!

  • Chelsea B.
    Sep. 30, 2025

    Green Lakes State Park Campground

    Good camp sites

    The 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…

  • 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!

  • S
    Sep. 17, 2025

    Oneida Shores County Park

    Nice park for a reasonable price

    Campground is recently paved. Lots of geese, therefore lots of goose poop. Sites are small and close together. Nice wooded setting on the lake.

  • 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

  • Ryan G.
    Sep. 14, 2025

    Pleasant Lake Campground

    Clean and Quiet

    I found this location to have very clean sites with plenty of amenities. Had no issues with the Wi-Fi watching Bills games and play a few video games.


Guide to Union Springs

Camping near Union Springs, New York, offers a mix of beautiful landscapes and fun activities for everyone. Whether you're looking for a peaceful retreat or an adventure-filled getaway, this area has something for you.

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 or swimming at Green Lakes State Park Campground. A visitor shared, "We went paddleboarding... You can paddle down to Hector Falls and see it from the water."
  • Fishing and Boating: Spend a day at Keuka Lake State Park Campground, where the lake is great for fishing and swimming. One review noted, "The lake was beautiful and fun for swimming with the kids."

What campers like:

  • Clean Facilities: Campers appreciate the well-maintained restrooms and showers at Sampson State Park Campground. A reviewer stated, "Large sites, clean restrooms & showers. Should be a model for other state campgrounds."
  • Spacious Sites: Many enjoy the roomy campsites at Chenango Valley State Park Campground. One camper said, "The sites were spacious and woodsy. They make you feel secluded."
  • Family-Friendly Activities: Families love the playgrounds and swimming areas at Stony Brook State Park Campground. A visitor mentioned, "The campground side doesn't open until around 11... It was a very nice time."

What you should know:

  • Site Proximity: Some campgrounds have sites that are close together. A camper at Taughannock Falls State Park Campground noted, "The sites were also very close to each other and rather shallow, thereby limiting privacy."
  • Limited Amenities: Not all campgrounds have stores or markets. For example, Buttermilk Falls State Park Campground lacks a camp store, which can be inconvenient if you forget supplies.
  • Noise Levels: Some areas can be noisy, especially on weekends. A visitor at Watkins Glen / Corning KOA mentioned, "The crowd was definitely loud and nosy."

Tips for camping with families:

  • Choose Campgrounds with Activities: Look for places like Sampson State Park Campground, which offers playgrounds and swimming areas. One reviewer said, "Place is great for kids. Lots to do with a couple of playgrounds, guarded swimming area."
  • Plan for Meals: Since some campgrounds lack stores, plan meals ahead. A camper at Green Lakes State Park Campground noted, "You can only swim at the beach which is pretty small... Lots of picnic tables and a perfect place to have a picnic."
  • Bring Entertainment: Pack games or outdoor toys to keep kids entertained. A visitor at Watkins Glen State Park Campground mentioned, "It’s peaceful and easier to enjoy and take photos."

Tips from RVers:

  • Check Site Hookups: Make sure to confirm the availability of electric hookups. A camper at Keuka Lake State Park Campground mentioned, "Only the inner sites had shared water connections... If you are prepared for this ahead of time it is not an issue at all."
  • Bring Extension Cords: Some sites may have power poles that are far from your RV. A visitor at Sampson State Park Campground advised, "The power poles are between sites and are often more than 20’ away."
  • Explore Nearby Attractions: Take advantage of the beautiful surroundings. A camper at Taughannock Falls State Park Campground noted, "The fall itself is amazing and the location is unbeatable."

Camping near Union Springs, New York, is a great way to enjoy nature and create lasting memories with family and friends.

Frequently Asked Questions

What camping is available near Union Springs, NY?

According to TheDyrt.com, Union Springs, NY offers a wide range of camping options, with 137 campgrounds and RV parks near Union Springs, NY and 8 free dispersed camping spots.

Which is the most popular campground near Union Springs, NY?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Union Springs, NY is Cayuga Lake State Park Campground with a 3.9-star rating from 14 reviews.

Where can I find free dispersed camping near Union Springs, NY?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 8 free dispersed camping spots near Union Springs, NY.