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."
"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."
$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."
TravelerThe coordinates are wrong. Search for sugar hill fire tower and you’ll find it. (42.3868868, -77.0025425)
The place itself is really great.
TravelerThis campground is basically a big field surrounded by the forest. The sites are really nice, each one has a table with benches and a fire place. You can drive your car in here (gravel road). It has a toilet house.
TravelerBeautiful camp site with electricity. Close to lots of trails.
ScoutThe campground is under new ownership and is being renovated. The pool and cabins are being replaced. The camper lots hook ups could use an upgrade.
ScoutCampsites are VERY close to neighbors. Rules are excessive and unneeded. One must stay at site at all times. It is not a free campground. It is $30 a night, $8 per car. Max is 2 cars. Sites are gravel so tent fixing is Hard. There are no flotation devices allowed in the water. Beach hours are 12am-6pm even when it’s extremely hot outside. Nature is drowned out by the noise of the residence.
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.
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 123 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 87 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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