Camping options near Windsor, New York range from state parks to private campgrounds scattered throughout the region's rolling hills and glacial valleys. The area sits at elevations between 900-1,500 feet with a temperate climate that brings warm summers and cold, snowy winters. Most campgrounds in the region open from mid-May through early October, with seasonal closures for winter conditions.
What to do
Hiking trails: Bowman Lake State Park offers secluded wooded paths circling the lake. As one camper noted, "There is a little 'beach' there for swimming, but know that it's a soft lake bottom further out" and the "trails were not all that great and provided only minor enjoyment."
Kayaking and canoeing: Oquaga Creek State Park provides a small lake ideal for paddlers. According to a visitor, "You can kayak and swim in the lake, and see incredible stars at night. Would recommend bringing your bikes. Great that the campground is just far enough from the lake/park, which makes it a bit more private."
Swimming and beach activities: Chenango Valley State Park features renovated swimming facilities. One reviewer mentioned, "The beach area is well staffed and clean. Changing areas are available as well as a splash pad for the little kids." Another added, "The entire swimming/boating area just underwent a major renovation. You can rent kayaks and paddle boards."
Local exploration: The Binghamton area, about 20 minutes from some campgrounds, offers additional activities. A camper noted, "You're only about 20 minutes from the Binghamton/Johnson City area. For us, that means food and craft beer."
What campers like
Privacy and spacing: Many sites provide good separation between campsites. At Chenango Valley, "Sites in the non-electric section are dirt/grass. Some of the pads are short; this section is geared toward tent campers." The park has "several different areas to camp in" with sites that are "well kept and spacious."
Wildlife viewing: Morning and evening wildlife sightings enhance the camping experience. One visitor to Chenango Valley mentioned, "Deer are all over. Watch out for them on the roads. We had four that were feeding behind our site in the morning."
Lake access: Keen Lake Resort Campground offers direct water access. A camper shared, "I stayed on a lakeside electric/water site for 5 nights in August 2020. It was SO BEAUTIFUL. We had SUPs and kayaks to take on the lake and our sites were right next to the boat launch. Each day we would paddle over to the swimming area on the lake."
Quiet atmosphere: For glamping close to Windsor, New York, Oquaga Creek State Park delivers tranquility. A visitor described it as "a great campground if you want to get off-the-grid for a little while. There are plenty of well-marked trails to hike. Bathrooms were clean and well stocked."
What you should know
Limited cell service: Many campgrounds have spotty coverage. At Hickories Park Campground, "Cell service covers the area, if you care," but other parks may have limited connectivity.
Seasonal closures: Most campgrounds operate from May through early October. Keen Lake Resort runs "Apr 26 - Oct 14," while state parks like Chenango Valley and Oquaga Creek operate "May 13 to October 9."
Weather preparedness: Rain can create challenges. One camper at Bowman Lake State Park shared, "Our entire campsite was flooded so we just set up our tent on my brothers site with them. Ended up being wonderful and the lake was beautiful."
Bathroom facilities: Quality varies across parks. At Chenango Valley, visitors found "Pretty good restrooms/showers" with "Water spigots on the loops and more water at the dump station." However, at Bowman Lake, "depending where your camp site is it's a bit of a walk to it."
Booking ahead: Popular weekends fill quickly. For glamping accommodations near Windsor, reservations are essential, especially for holiday weekends.
Tips for camping with families
Splash pads and kid-friendly swimming: Lackawanna State Park Campground provides structured water recreation. One visitor mentioned, "It also has a huge pool area" and "a nice swimming beach."
Playground access: Many parks have dedicated play areas. At Chenango Valley State Park, "There's a playground at the beach area, not the campground" and the park is "very family-friendly."
Wildlife education: Turn animal sightings into learning opportunities. A camper at Chenango Valley noted they have "so many birds, squirrels, chipmunks, rabbits and insects that it was a veritable wonderland Playground."
Bicycle-friendly grounds: Multiple parks feature roads suitable for kids to ride. A visitor to Chenango Valley State Park recommended, "Bring your bikes, the swimming is great" and mentioned "miles of trails to hike and roads to bike."
Tips from RVers
Site selection: At Chenango Valley, "Parking pads in the non-electric section are dirt/grass" while "Parking pads in the electric loops (30 amps and 50 amps) have a good amount of gravel." One visitor noted, "We usually prefer sites on the outer part of a loop, and this was no exception. The sites have more trees."
Leveling challenges: Some sites require work to level. At Bowman Lake State Park, sites are "gravel and not super level, but we made it work."
Hookup options: Pine Valley RV Park & Campground offers full hookups. A visitor mentioned, "Lakeside sites are spacious and reasonably priced. The owners are always accessible."
Generator restrictions: Policies vary between parks. At Lackawanna State Park, "Two electric hookups would trip the 50 amp circuit breaker on any load about 30 amps, which means the hookups are old and unmaintained."
