Searching for the best camping near Watkins Glen, NY? There are tons of hikes and other fun activities to partake in, as well as sights to see and explore. Get the dirt on all the best camping near Watkins Glen. Browse campgrounds by amenities, site types, and more.
$20 - $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."
"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"
"Watkins Glen/ Corning KOA this is a nice KOA in the Watkins Glen area. Our site was a full hookup site. Campground offered clean sites with gravel drives and grass areas between them."
$15 / night
"There are a few small trails leading right from the sites, one of which goes to the blueberry patch, which is in fact covered in wild blueberry bushes and allows for some stellar stargazing at night."
"I ALWAYS recommend heading away from state parks and camping in state forests. There's always more privacy and more wilderness. Of course, this is a personal preference!"
"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."
$20 - $128 / night
"Located in Tompkins County, Ithaca New York has beautiful gorges and hiking trails. Robert Treman is a treat and a gorgeous place to camp in the Ithaca, NY area."
"The exception to this is cabin 14 which is a double cabin and is located near the playground and surrounded by standard electric camping sites."
$80 - $89 / night
"We stayed at Finger Lakes RV Resort in Hector, a short drive from Watkins Glen and Ithaca, in search of waterfalls and wine in the Finger Lakes region of NY state. "
"It's still nice to be on the outskirts. We also chose this section per a review we read to be away from the main road noise, but there really isn't much road noise to worry about, anyway."
$20 - $67 / night
"Lucked out with a find in the Finger Lakes. Nice campground. Has everything you need. Small sites but fine for our hybrid. Ours was shady. Check out which side the hookups are on."
"Taughannock Falls State Park is one of my favorite parks in New York."
"The best thing about this park is location, location, location! Situated on the bottom of Seneca Lake you are just a short walk to downtown and Watkins Glen State Park."
"It was close to town, with a park and swimming beach across the street."
$20 - $27 / night
"The campground is perfect location near Keuka lake in Wine Country, also close by to branchport, Penn Yan, and also Watkins Glen! Will continue to go to this campground!"
"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."
$17 - $66 / night
"Buttermilk Falls State Park is a great state park in central New York. The scenery is what makes this park stand out."
"Short drive out of Ithaca proper near one of the Finger Lakes. Medium to easy trails (the ones near the gorges are steep but with nice rock steps)."
GuideThis campground is very small, only 12 sites. It is a gravel lot with full hookups located behind a Gastropub with an outstanding menu. Its called Rusted Acres CG and the gastropub is The Rusted Nut. You call the pub and make a reservation. Check in on arrival. All hookups are located at the back of the sites, so you might need a longer sewer hose and water hose.
Note: You must pay cash for the site for now.
The location is quiet, minor road noise. Close by is a grocery store and gas station, post office is a short walk away.
GuideThis CG has two distinct sections. Near the entrance is the Pull Through Area. Behind a row of trees there are several sites with full hookups including cable TV and Wi-Fi. The sites are open, reasonably level, and a good size. The other sites are in the woods, most of these sites do not have sewer connections. There is a honey wagon service available. We camped with a relative who was new and we were teaching them how to operate their camper. We had a couple of dry days then some rain. Still was a great teaching/learning experience.
Make sure you use a water filter, there was a lot of sediment in the water when we were there. See pictures of 4 days on a new cartridge.
We had a fantastic sunrise one morning.
ScoutI had a wonderful stay at Beaver Bend. The campground is beautifully landscaped, spacious and quiet. I experienced camping in the summer, the weather was very pleasant. We hiked in the woods, fished and visited the heardle nearby lakes. It was truly a memorable experience.
LegendNice, quiet stay. Third time staying here over the last decade when passing through the area and it's been great every time.
GuidePulled back and punted bc of Storm Debbie. Lucked out with a find in the Finger Lakes. Nice campground. Has everything you need. Small sites but fine for our hybrid. Ours was shady. Check out which side the hookups are on. Some not situated on the right side so you’ll need extra long cords. Just beautiful area. Hiked here. Drove to Watkins Glen-hiked-absolutely breathtaking. That campground is much larger. Went to Buttermilk Falls too.
TravelerI love that despite there being so many sites, you don’t feel on top of each other in Seneca Village. It’s a state campground so don’t expect it to be anything close to dispersed camping. Trees separated me from my neighbors on either side, woods behind my tent, lots of quiet, no one blasted music or anything like that. I woke up to seeing trees above me and hearing birds. The bathroom was clean, with multiple ways to enter it without going near someone else’s site. The campground felt safe, and you are able to buy firewood (I didn’t due to quite a bit of rain). To get to the gorge trail, you have to walk over to the next site (Oswego I think) but it’s not too far. I would most likely stay at that loop next time though because it seemed to have even more space on each site. I didn’t see any bears and asked a few workers but only one had seen a bear the entire time they’ve been there. Definitely recommend this location. Lots of beautiful trails, red cat wine slushies were delicious, grounds were fun to explore and people were either friendly or kept to themselves which was great. Super dog friendly and I met many of them! Just a note, dogs are NOT allowed on the gorge trail.
ScoutPerfect location great view of the lake and close to many breweries wineries distilleries hiking trails state parks and amazing restaurants
GuideVery well maintained. Some sites are close and some a spread out. About half of them are in the sun and half get shade all day. I switched sites after a day to get some solar charging. Clean bathrooms with flush toilets. Sign in near bathrooms on arrival. Dogs must be on a leash but I found a spot down the hill to the south where there are no campsites to let them play fetch for a bit.
ScoutTent 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.
Camping near Watkins Glen, New York, offers a fantastic mix of natural beauty and outdoor activities. With stunning gorges, waterfalls, and plenty of campgrounds, it’s a great spot for families, couples, and solo adventurers alike.
Camping near Watkins Glen, New York, is a great way to enjoy the outdoors, and with these tips, you’ll be well-prepared for a fun trip!
Frequently Asked Questions
According to TheDyrt.com, Watkins Glen, NY offers a wide range of camping options, with 121 campgrounds and RV parks near Watkins Glen, NY and 6 free dispersed camping spots.
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Watkins Glen, NY is Watkins Glen State Park Campground with a 4.6-star rating from 86 reviews.
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 6 free dispersed camping spots near Watkins Glen, NY.
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 8 parks near Watkins Glen, NY that allow camping, notably Bankhead National Forest and Chugach National Forest.
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