The Finger Lakes region near Waverly, New York features a mix of established campgrounds and natural areas that accommodate various camping styles. Several campgrounds within a 30-mile radius of Waverly provide options for tent, RV, and cabin camping, with notable locations including Watkins Glen State Park Campground and Pine Cradle Lake Family Campground in nearby Rome, Pennsylvania. Most established campgrounds in the area offer electric hookups, water access, and shower facilities, while maintaining proximity to the region's lakes, gorges, and hiking trails. Many campgrounds also feature cabin accommodations, with some locations like Watkins Glen State Park and Newtown Battlefield State Park offering glamping options for those seeking more comfortable outdoor experiences.
Camping seasons in the Finger Lakes typically run from April through October, with peak visitation during summer months. The majority of campgrounds near Waverly require advance reservations, particularly for weekend stays between Memorial Day and Labor Day. Sites with water views or electric hookups tend to book quickly during peak season. Several state parks in the region, including Watkins Glen and Robert H. Treman, maintain consistent operating seasons from mid-spring through mid-fall. Access to most campgrounds involves paved roads suitable for RVs, though size restrictions may apply at some locations. A camper observed, "The sites vary in size quite a bit and this happened to be one of the largest ones, made for a larger camper/motor home but also had a mulched area for tents which was nice."
Many visitors cite the region's natural features as primary attractions when camping near Waverly. The gorges and waterfalls at Watkins Glen State Park draw consistently high reviews, with multiple campers mentioning the well-maintained hiking trails as highlights of their stay. Based on reviews from The Dyrt, facilities at most established campgrounds receive positive feedback, with several mentions of clean bathhouses and well-maintained shower facilities. Sites that combine water views with proximity to regional attractions like wineries and museums score highest in visitor satisfaction. While most campgrounds offer adequate space between sites, reviews indicate that privacy varies considerably, with some locations offering more secluded options than others. Weekday camping generally provides a quieter experience with better site selection than weekend stays during summer months.
$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."
"The tent sites are located in the back of the campground behind the sports field within the trees. I unfortunately didn’t get a chance to see them but they have them pictured on their website."
"Great family campground, decent sized sites, many lake side sites, very clean bathrooms/ showers. Several playgrounds, heated pool, pet friendly with shots paperwork."
"i pulled in at about 6pm mid week, the ranger station was closed drove around & found tent site 79 open, it's next to the river."
"Lovely but simple views all around and rolling green hills in the distance. Campground is well-kept and relatively modern but not particularly memorable. Nice little stopover on a road trip."
"Sandy beach, man-made lake with enough space to swim, and boating to explore. Nice trail around the lake to walk or bike with a little difficulty."
"Convenient location to explore the Finger Lakes. 30-40 minutes from Watkins Glen, Ithaca and Corning."
$21 - $81 / night
"Pretty self serve, rangers drive through often but never seems to be anyone at the check-in. You can reserve a site or a cabin, or you can show up after three and see what is open."
"I happened upon this campground by following the blue tent sign on the highway. No frills but very comfy and nice views. Don’t forget to look for the Peace sign."
$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."
"A waterfall cascades through a gorge here, ending in a beautiful pool for swimming at the base of the falls, with a trout stream flowing out of it towards nearby Cayuga Lake. "
$21 - $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)."
"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."
ScoutWe stayed two nights the week immediately after Memorial Day 2026. Park was almost empty. We had only one other travel trailer in our section. Short distance to Hammondsport NY at the south end of Keuka Lake. Great place to visit and have dinner.
TravelerAll the roads are gravel, so it might get a little muddy after a big rain but I had no issue with a low clearance car driving around to explore the sites available. About half the sites are spread out in a large patch of spruce trees, I stayed at one of these. You can hear and sometimes see cars on the main road from your site but overall the spruce trees give you a lot more privacy. Had a neighbor blasting their speaker and didn't even hear it until I was walking by on that stretch of road. You might catch a glimpse of someone's fire at night, but it mostly felt like I had the place to myself. The other half are clustered much closer together among some deciduous trees but all the sites are pretty spacious, with a picnic table, fire pit, and easy access to the water. You might get a visit from day-use visitors looking for water access, especially if you pick a site closer to the water access paths, so if you're looking for more seclusion you may want to look elsewhere, but I didn't mind and the people who did stop near my site were respectful and didn't seem to want to disturb me once they saw the site near the water access was occupied. A free permit is needed for camping during the on-season. I stayed off-season and most of the sites were unoccupied, but I could see this being a popular spot during the warmer months. Port-a-potties are also not available off-season – be prepared to find a good cat hole spot or bring a wag bag if you're not self-contained. Seeing some litter around my site was a bit of a bummer (don't be that guy!), but overall the sites looked pretty clean and well-maintained. I did notice some broken glass at my site, so if you have pets (or shoe-averse children) be mindful of their paw pads (and feet). There's plenty of downed wood for making a fire, and I passed a couple homes selling firewood on the side of the road on the way. Service was spotty (AT&T) but if you wandered around enough you could get a couple bars to send a text, or if you really needed to, drive up the road a couple of minutes. I would easily stay here again, but if I came during the main season I'd probably want to plan a mid-week trip and get my permit and claim my site as soon as possible.
TravelerStayed one night. Spot was great! It had rained so we weren't able to have a fire, but there was a spot where others had one previously. A little road noise from Rt 79, but honestly wasn't terrible.
ScoutEveryone here was helpful and friendly. It is extremely clean and well run while the showers and laundry room could use a little facelift but clean clean clean.
LegendThis is a state park centered on the amazing geologic features of Enfield Glen. A waterfall cascades through a gorge here, ending in a beautiful pool for swimming at the base of the falls, with a trout stream flowing out of it towards nearby Cayuga Lake. For the geologically curious, the trails through the gorge are fascinating and educational. And fossils abound, easily visible in the stream flowing out of the falls. This was a main draw for me about this park, as was the proximity to the paleontology institute and Museum of the Earth just to the north in the hamlet of Trumansburg. https://www.museumoftheearth.org/
Within the park itself, there are camping options for both tent and trailer camping. However, even if you usually prefer campground camping, it might be well worth your while to consider the camper cabins. These beautiful rustic cabins are located alongshore and adjacent to the falls in one of the most beautiful parts of the park! Although hikers and swimmers walk the trails nearby to the cabins alot during the day, they are usually done by late afternoon and then your cabin site is peaceful, shady and quiet, with the main sound being wind through the hemlocks and rippling of water over the stones in the brook closeby. Pull up a rocker and ease your way into a peaceful evening! Great location as a basecamp not only to explore the park, but also the nearby Geology museum as mentioned, plus Ithaca, Cayuga Lake, and area vineyards
LegendThis is a campground set in a nice forest location, but close by to Treman State Park and Ithaca, so a good base for day trips. They offer mostly RV camping, but do have a substantial area for tent camping and also have nice some rustic camper cabins as well as cottages and regular full service cabins. For families who enjoy neighbors, this is a good campground. Lots of families, lots of kids riding bikes and doing activities, nice kid-friendly fishing pond, lots of open space for ball games etc. There is even an offleash dog park so Fido can come along and have fun. This is a busier campground than I ordinarily would have chosen as a tent camper, but I was joining friends for a cabin stay on Labor Day weekend as nearby state park campgrounds were full. The whole grounds are well maintained and well landscaped, they did have some scheduled activities, and the pool looked sparkling clean. The cabin we stayed in was very nice, and set back into the woods along a small river and with good access to hiking trails. The camper cabins looked brand new, and I spoke to a family staying in one and they really liked it. My friends son loved the fishing, swimming, and meeting other kids to play with. The campground was not noisy for the size, and though it was large and nearly full everything was nice and all the campers respectful of each others space. Ithaca is not far for activities and supplies, and there are many local state parks that are easy to get to. I would rather camp right in a state park but this would be a great alternative especially for folks with RVs
ScoutBeautiful park - some road noise from 17c. Sites are spacious
ScoutReally enjoyed staying here. It’s super private and peaceful, and we loved that it’s not a crowded campground. The land is open and easy to access, and you can tell the owners are constantly upgrading and improving things. We were even able to fish here, which was a bonus. Would definitely recommend if you appreciate privacy, nature, and a peaceful place with the freedom to relax and do your own thing.
TravelerNice private campground. Host was very generous. Used Coin operated laundry facilities. Full hookups for a reasonable price. Would return again.
Camping spots near Waverly, New York offer diverse terrain from densely wooded sites to open lake views across the Finger Lakes region. The camping season typically runs from mid-April through October, with many sites closing after the first frost. Nighttime temperatures can drop significantly even in summer months, especially at higher elevation campgrounds.
Swimming at natural pools: Robert H. Treman State Park Campground features a unique swimming area beneath waterfalls. A camper noted, "You can swim in the waterfall area here. Need I say more? Actually, it can be VERY busy in the summer time in the swimming area, making it difficult to find your own space."
Fishing for variety: Pine Cradle Lake in Rome, PA provides catch-and-release fishing without requiring a Pennsylvania fishing license. "The fishing is good, and the turtles are eager to help themselves to your bait," explains a reviewer who found success at this family campground.
Hiking different trail systems: The interconnected trails at Buttermilk Falls State Park Campground offer varying difficulty levels. "Walking along the water from the upper and lower entrances is great! If you walk Gorge trail and Rim trail you connect to make a nice loop and see just about everything the park has to offer," shares a visitor who appreciated the trail connectivity.
Wine tasting excursions: Most campgrounds in the Waverly area serve as good base camps for exploring regional wineries. "The Seneca Lake Wine Trail runs right through this area and makes for a fun diversion to your hiking trip!" notes a camper who stayed at Buttermilk Falls State Park.
Wooded tent sites: Hickories Park Campground offers riverside tent camping with natural surroundings. A camper shares, "I pulled in at about 6pm mid week, the ranger station was closed, drove around & found tent site 79 open, it's next to the river. I was able to pull directly into the camp site, the campground is well maintained."
Clean facilities: Watkins Glen State Park facilities receive consistent praise. "Friendly staff, good patrols at night to keep people from being too noisy, tent sites are nice and shaded. Some of the shower houses are better than others," explains a visitor who appreciated the maintenance standards.
Lakeside camping: Park Station Campground offers sites with lake views that campers specifically seek out. "This campground has a nice small beach area with sand for the kids. Water is very shallow however, so not the best place for swimming for older kids and there is no pool, but there are life guards and plenty of depth for young kids," notes a reviewer.
Space between sites: Campers consistently mention site spacing as important. At Newtown Battlefield State Park, a visitor shared, "Camp sites are tidy and well mowed, a trash can at each site, nice combo grill/fire ring." This suggests good site maintenance and practical amenities.
Reservation timing: Peak season weekends at most campgrounds near Waverly fill quickly. At Pine Cradle Lake, a camper advises, "Get your reservations in early though weekends for lakeside sites are booked super fast!"
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Waverly, NY?
According to TheDyrt.com, Waverly, NY offers a wide range of camping options, with 149 campgrounds and RV parks near Waverly, NY and 9 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Waverly, NY?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Waverly, NY is Watkins Glen State Park Campground with a 4.6-star rating from 89 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Waverly, NY?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 9 free dispersed camping spots near Waverly, NY.
What parks are near Waverly, NY?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 8 parks near Waverly, NY that allow camping, notably Tioga-Hammond Lakes and Cowanesque Lake.
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