Overall Great Stay!
Husbands first time camping and he says he'll go again….WIN! Clean bathrooms and awesome playgrounds for the kids. Quiet time was quiet. Huge pool open 11-7. And of course the hiking is amazing!
Site286
Month of VisitJuly
Great campground, most beautiful hike
This was a great campground for the family! Take a hike (the Gorge trail is unbeatable), go swimming in the Olympic sized pool, and at the end of the day, enjoy your campsite.
The sites have good privacy and the bathrooms are clean. Couldn’t ask for a better experience.
Month of VisitJuly
This place was much better than expected. The hikes are absolutely stunning
Great stay. Our campsite was bigger than most places we’ve stayed at. It’s a family friendly place with lots to do. The hikes were beautiful and you’re close to wine and cheese country. We visited a local farm and got fresh fruits and local cheese to take back to camp with us. The playground was awesome. My kid really enjoyed this place. There’s water available at almost every campground and plenty of space for group camping.
Month of VisitJune
Family friendly, peaceful and close to a lot of activities
Watkins Glen Watkins Glen is beautiful and scenic. If you enjoy hiking and scenery this is the place for you. I would describe the hikes as moderately difficult. The main one has a lot of steps but lots of walkway in between them so it's not just up up up more steps. There are a total of 19 waterfalls on your way up, all of them absolutely beautiful. There are also several more waterfalls nearby that are very easy hikes. Our favorite was Eagles Cliffs Falls. I have a 7 year old son and he enjoyed every second of this, there is a lot to see and a lot of water to play in! One thing that we were kind of disappointed in, is that the campground pool doesn't open until the end of June. Seneca lake is a short drive away for great fishing, kayaking and swimming. Also a short Drive away is a Farm Sanctuary that my son very much enjoyed. There are Stables nearby where you can book a trail ride, we did not do this only because you have to be 8 years old to ride but look forward to doing it in the future!
SiteMohawk village
Month of VisitJune
Heaven on Earth
One of the most beautiful and relaxing campgrounds we have ever stayed at. Stayed a week there and wished we had more time to explore and enjoy the beautiful surroundings. Lots to see and do in the area - visit Seneca Lodge for an experience you won't forget and try their Peach Beer in the summer! Great meals there also. Make sure you walk the Glen, and get a chance to visit historic Watkins Glen Race Track and the town of Watkins Glen. Our favorite campgrounds and state park!
Month of VisitSeptember
Clean campsites, bathrooms in some loops nicer than others
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. Wonderful hiking at the gorge and it was beautiful.
Month of VisitJune
Like Stepping into Another World!
Wow, what an absolute delight! From the gorgeous hike up the Watkins Glen Gorge to watching the sunset over Seneca Lake to enjoying some wine from the grapes grown in the region, the Finger Lakes regions is hard to beat for total family entertainment. We came for a couple nights to check it out and stayed for over a week!
The campground at the state park is a classic one, with six loops each representing a native tribe from the area. Each site has a picnic table and fire ring, with no bells and whistles. You can choose from non-electric or electric sites with full-hookups. We stayed in site #9, just across from the bathrooms, in the Cayuga Loop (non-electric). There is not much privacy between sites, but we were there the week after Memorial Day, so hit it during a lull period. The bathrooms are old, but kept clean and the showers are awesome. There are a couple of playgrounds for the kiddos, picnic areas/shelters, and a pool. There are also some nice cabins for those not interested in camping.
But, the campground is only the beginning of what this area has to offer! Just a short walk from the campground, you will find Watkins Glen Gorge. Entering from the main entrance (as early in the day as you are willing to get there to avoid the crowds) will afford you a walk through what feel like you have stepped into another country (or world for that matter). It is truly one of the most spectacular gorges I’ve ever seen in the U.S.! Photos simply don’t do it justice.
In addition to great hiking and gorgeous waterfalls, this area is filled with bike trails, water sports of all kinds on Seneca Lake, Farm Sanctuary, the Watkins Glen Int’l Raceway, an extensive wine trail and more! Watkins Glen is a small town, but has all that you need to resupply…including more ice cream shops than I’ve ever seen in just a few city blocks.
We did our usual reservation-less “pull up and see what they have open” style of camping, but during the main season or race weekends, this place is nuts! You’ll definitely need to plan ahead and make reservations if you plan to be here during the silly season. Note: Prices are lower on weekdays and you get a reduced rate for your second night, too. Bonus!
Site9
Month of VisitJune
Amazing
amazing place to camp, staff was friendly, bathrooms were clean and some campsites were bigger then expected. 5 stars is a definet for me
Watkins Glen State Park
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. Sites are decently sized and well secluded from one another.
in addition, the park is so well situated within the Finger Lakes and all the various wine trails! Made for a perfect girls weekend! Definitely recommend!
Amazing
Everything about this area is beautiful. Get there early to beat the crowds and definitely go to the falls and hike up all the stairs. The waterfalls are amazing and the structures at the top are really cool. The sites are great as is the whole area.
Month of VisitJune
Camping with waterfalls
Watkins Glen is a public park. The campgrounds are near several waterfalls. There is a lengthy trail that you can hike for the main falls. Most people hike up to the top and take the bus back down. We went in the opposite direction. We had an early morning stay and beat the crowds. They were on their way up as we were approaching the bottom.
Month of VisitJuly
Some of the best in NY
The gorges speak for themselves, lots to do in the nature here. Each campsite is pretty big and sadey, but can get noisy. The campground is popular on weekends (and almost daily in summer) but even with a bit of a crowd absolutely worth it when you’re in the Finger Lakes. Clean and rather modern overall though not built up feeling. I don't remember if you can make reservations but try to get them if you can. Don’t miss this park.
Great for hiking
I stay here usually once or twice a year and spend my weekends hiking the various gorge trails nearby. Tent camping is nice here. The sites are good sized, they offer cabins as well. The bathhouses are clean and well lit at night. This is definitely a large family area. Expect to hear your neighbors once and a while.
Month of VisitJuly
First visit to Finger Lakes
I was planning a "guys weekend" camping trip, and the stunning photos I found of the gorge at Watkins Glen hooked me. Aside from some rain that delayed our initial setup, it was the perfect camping weeking. Between hiking the gorge trail, taking advantage of the massive pool or just relaxing by the campfire, we were never bored but never rushed. Great place to camp.
Friendly, beautiful, and well organized
I ended a two-day backpacking trek through the Finger Lakes National Forest at Watkins Glen. After grunting all the way up the long hill to the campground, I checked in with a wonderful and helpful employee. She gave me all the information about the campground and park that I could ever want, and then we laughed a little about the antics of young husky mixes (I had my dog with me on the hike). The campground is dog-friendly, provided that you have a current rabies certificate and keep him/her on leash.
I stayed at a tent site, which has no electricity. RV sites, which cost a little more, provide electric hookups. My camp site and all the neighboring ones were clean. Water from spigots is easily accessible, as are showers and toilets.
The campground is situated walking distance from the main attractions of the park; during the summer, a large swimming pool is a popular place to hang out with family. Hiking trails parallel the creek with beautiful falls. I was disappointed to find that dogs are not allowed on the Gorge Trail, which is closest to all of the falls.
All in all, I loved this campground. It was a very relaxing place to spend the night.
Watkins Glen
This is a popular park because it’s so beautiful, which makes it rather crowded and can be noisy. It’s worth a little annoyance since the gorges are so beautiful and the trails connect to the campground. Everything is very well cared for and clean, a great state-run campground. Definitely worth checking out as a base camp or to spend a few days here.
City of Waterfalls!
This place is amazing, it's hiking trails are beautiful with many views of waterfalls. Many different difficulties as well!
Awesome trip to Watkins Glen!
Highly recommend camping in the Onondaga Village loop! Very close access to the gorge trail!
Convenient Campground for the Area
If you're looking for a nice campground to see Watkins Glen or go to the racetrack, these are fantastic! Right up the hill from the Glen and a short walk or drive into the village with tiny restaurants and shopping. These are going to be pretty crowded in the summer and are not very secluded sites. Quiet hours are well enforced and campsite loops are regularly patrolled. Overall, a well maintained campground for seeing Watkins Glen for a weekend.
Beautiful waterfalls!
I absolutely love coming to Watkins Glen Campground, especially when I went to get away from the busy city. This park has gorgeous waterfalls, and great paths to walk and hike on. It's located in Upstate New York, so it's close enough to the city but you feel like you are far away from the city. The campsites are great, clean and well kept. This park does get pretty busy though, because it is open to campers and people who just want to visit for the day to walk the trails. I love that they have trails that lead very close to the waterfalls..lots of rim trails that literally overlook the waterfalls and gorges. In the campground they do offer a pool, which again, does get busy because it's open to everyone regardless if you are camping or not. There also is tours you can take in the summer that will take you along the waterfalls and gorge, they have a playground for kids and an area with picnic tables. I went mid July and it was extremely busy, not sure when a good time to go during the summer when it's not as busy. That was the only downside I would say, is how crowded it was. There is also Seneca Lake nearby that many people go to fish in, however I didn't go on this trip but plan to next time. There are restrooms on site, however I didn't think they were that clean. Toilet paper and seat covers were out in most stalls, so I would advise to bring your own when you go. There is also some gift shops and food stands set up...one food stand has some pretty good hot dogs! The hikes to the gorge and waterfalls is pretty well maintained, however there are quite a bit of stairs. There were some people with kids in strollers that had to turn around because the stairs made it difficult. Not handicap friendly. I would advise to wear a good pair of walking shoes, and not sandals because it is slippery in some spots and again, a lot of stairs! I would highly recommend coming here, even if you don't decide to stay the night!
waterfall wonderland
this is a great family spot. best in the fall!
Watkins Glen
This town is famous for two things: this state park and the racetrack (cars). Both make the campground bustling and fill up fast all summer long so absolutely make reservations online. The campground is really big with playgrounds throughout and plenty of bathrooms and other modern campground things like a pool. Close to the main gorges too and a short drive into town for groceries. Excellent campground especially with kids.
Amazing sights, ok sites...
I have to agree with other reviews in that if you're in a tent (and even a slightly light sleeper) this campground isn't for you. Might be ok if you're in a RV. It just gets so noisy. You do have a lot of amenities, nice restrooms, fire pit, spacious site.
Although the hikes are awesome and you're in a great location to hop off to other area. Ithaca truly is "gorge"ous There are tons of great hikes in the area although none are really long or strenuous so you can easily visit several of them in a day.
noisy, but falls hike through gorge is beautiful
We stayed three nights in the Seneca Loop. Great place for RV's. Not so great for tent campers. The park's campground map does not show there is an active railroad close by with trains running in the middle of the night and during the day. We awoke Monday morning to the sound of race cars doing practice laps and tune-up runs at Watkins Glen Raceway. The park is high above the town of Watkins Glen so biking to and from the park is a challenge although you can bike around the park. The swimming area accommodates a lot of people. The redeeming quality for this campground is the short, connecting trail that provides easy access to the Watkins Glen Gorge Trail. It's beautiful and well worth the visit even if you aren't staying in the campground.
The views!
This place is amazing, be sure to explore all that the park has to offer, the waterfalls are beautiful. I didn't go in fall, but I suppose the fall foliage with this park would be so pretty as well. Site are clean, spacious, and the park itself is easy to navigate. Bathroom facilities are also clean
Like a postcard!
Watkins Glen State park is a must see for NY campers and hikers. There's the waterfall which is easy for even children to get to, and several beautiful hiking paths in all seasons. The state park campground is like a postcard, especially in fall. The Seneca Lake Wine Trail runs right through this area and makes for a fun diversion to your hiking trip!
Lovely Area
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. Pair awesome trails and camping space with world class wineries up the lake, you cannot go wrong.
Beautiful Scenery, Great Hiking
This park and the gorges are well worth the trip. There is great hiking and nice clean campsites. Its is very busy on the weekends during the summer, although the scenery is arguably better in the fall when the leaves are changing.
Do not miss this park!!!
Amazing Falls! Not far off the beaten path!!
Very fun SP!
Definitely check this SP out. The waterfalls and the rock formations were amazing. Hiking is well worth it! Campground is very nice and picturesque. Before Watkins Glen became a state park, it was developed as a privately owned resort. It eventually opened to the public in 1863. We had a great time (albeit quite toasty!) exploring the park and headed back “home” tired but with big smiles on our faces.
