Watkins Glen State Park
RV Guide

Tuscarora Village caters primarily to tent campers and smaller RVs, featuring 53 campsites with only 12 sites designated for recreational vehicles ranging from 20 to 30 feet in length. This village appeals to hikers and outdoor enthusiasts who want direct access to the park's extensive trail network.

The village's rustic character and location near trailheads make it popular with active campers who spend their days exploring and return to camp primarily to sleep. Basic amenities include vault toilets (no shower facilities), picnic tables, and fire rings at each site. A nearby playground provides entertainment for families camping with children.

Tuscarora Village offers the most budget-friendly camping option in the park, with lower nightly rates reflecting the more primitive facilities. If you're traveling in a small campervan or truck camper and prefer a backcountry feel while still maintaining access to your vehicle, Tuscarora provides an appealing compromise between tent camping and full-amenity RV parks.

Cayuga Village stands as one of the most popular RV camping destinations within the park, offering 49 campsites with 33 sites specifically designed to accommodate RVs up to 20 or 30 feet in length. This village provides a good balance of forest shade and open sky, with sites nestled among mature hardwood trees that offer natural privacy between neighbors.

The village includes electrical hookups at select sites, making it ideal for RVers who need to power air conditioning, refrigerators, and other appliances. Amenities include clean restrooms with hot showers, potable water spigots distributed throughout the loop, and convenient access to the centrally located dump station near the camp office. Picnic tables and fire rings with cooking grills come standard at each site, perfect for preparing campfire meals after a day on the trails.

Cayuga Village's location provides easy walking access to several park features. The South Rim Trail can be reached from the campground, offering an alternative route to view the gorge from above when the main Gorge Trail is crowded. Families appreciate the proximity to the modern playground and swimming pool area, just a short walk or drive from most Cayuga sites.

Mohawk Village caters specifically to RV campers with 54 sites designed for recreational vehicles, though maximum length varies by site—some accommodate RVs up to 20 feet, while others handle rigs up to 30 feet. This village is particularly popular because all sites include electrical hookups, a premium amenity that fills these sites first during reservation periods.

The village features a well-maintained layout with both back-in and pull-through options depending on your site assignment. Each campsite comes equipped with a picnic table and fire ring, and the village provides clean restrooms with hot showers and potable water access. The central location within the campground complex means you're never far from the dump station, camp office, or main park amenities.

Mohawk Village offers a community atmosphere where families and RV enthusiasts naturally connect. The wooded setting provides afternoon shade while still allowing morning sunlight to warm your campsite. Many campers prefer this village for extended stays because the electrical hookups eliminate concerns about battery power or generator runtime restrictions.

Seneca Village encompasses the largest camping area in the park with multiple loops providing spacious, well-separated campsites. Many campers praise Seneca for its generous site sizes and the fact that, despite the village's capacity, the thoughtful layout prevents that crowded feeling common in busy campgrounds.

The village welcomes RVs and trailers, with most sites handling rigs up to 30 or 40 feet, depending on specific site configuration. Sites feature the standard amenities of picnic tables, fire rings with grills, and access to clean restroom facilities with hot showers. Potable water spigots are strategically placed throughout the village loops, so you're never carrying water containers long distances.

Seneca Village's wooded setting provides excellent shade duringthe summer months, and the substantial foliage between sites creates natural privacy screens. The village's location toward the edge of the campground complex means you'll need to walk or drive to reach the swimming pool and main park areas, but this also results in a quieter, more peaceful camping experience.

Leveling Note: Several campers have reported that sites in Seneca Village may require significant leveling blocks—sometimes 6-8 inches—due to the natural slope of the terrain. Come prepared with adequate leveling equipment, especially if you're sensitive to being off-level while sleeping.

Watkins Glen / Corning KOA ranks as the premier private campground in the area, located just minutes from both Watkins Glen State Park and the famous Corning Museum of Glass. This family-friendly facility welcomes RVs up to 120 feet in length with full hookup sites featuring 50-amp electrical service. The campground boasts premium amenities, including heated indoor and outdoor pools, a sauna, fitness center, mini-golf, giant water slides for kids, bike rentals, and an on-site Snack Shack and Kamping Kitchen. Choose between the luxurious Sunset Acres RV campground, where sites include private gazebos, or sites near the family fun center known as Seneca Thrills. Complimentary WiFi and cable TV come standard. The KOA's location makes it ideal for multi-day stays when you want to explore both natural and cultural attractions in the Finger Lakes. You can learn more and book at Watkins Glen / Corning KOA.

Onondaga Village strikes an excellent balance for RVers, featuring 49 total campsites with 26 sites accommodating recreational vehicles up to 30 feet in length. This village provides a mix of site types, allowing for both small campervans and larger motorhomes, though none offer electrical hookups—making it best suited for self-contained RVs with good battery capacity or efficient generators.

The village layout takes advantage of the park's natural topography, with sites arranged to maximize privacy while maintaining easy access to central facilities. Restrooms with hot showers, potable water spigots, and the usual picnic table and fire ring at each site ensure comfortable camping. The absence of electrical hookups results in quieter evenings since generator use is limited to designated hours (typically 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM).

Onondaga Village attracts campers who appreciate a balance between accessibility and a more rustic experience. The village's location provides convenient access to hiking trails that connect to the park's rim trail system, allowing you to explore the gorge from above without battling crowds on the main Gorge Trail.

If you are looking for more of a rustic experience, there are several cabins you can choose from at Watkins Glen State Park. These cabins feature restrooms and showers. You can even bring your furry friends to stay with you at the cabin since they are pet-friendly.

Pinecreek Campground in nearby Newfield offers a peaceful retreat set among 42 wooded acres in the heart of Finger Lakes Wine Country. Located about 20 minutes northeast of Watkins Glen, this campground provides convenient access to Cornell University, Ithaca College, and multiple wineries on the Seneca Lake trail. RV sites offer full hookups with complimentary WiFi, and the campground features clean restrooms with hot showers, coin-operated laundry facilities, a sparkling in-ground swimming pool, children's playground, indoor arcade room, ball fields, and sporting courts. The property includes a large catch-and-release fishing pond and a trout stream running through the grounds, perfect for anglers of all skill levels. A propane filling station and dumping station add convenience for extended stays. Discover more at Pinecreek Campground.

Ferenbaugh Campground spreads across 274 open and wooded acres in Corning, just a stone's throw from the world-renowned Corning Museum of Glass and the Rockwell Museum. This family-friendly RV park offers 115 wooded sites plus 30 pull-through sites, accommodating big rigs and slideouts with ease. Sites feature 20/30/50 amp electrical connections along with water, sewer, and cable TV hookups, plus complimentary WiFi for staying connected. Campground amenities include a swimming pool, recreational hall, well-stocked camp store with groceries, laundry facilities, badminton and volleyball courts, children's playground, and mini-golf course. The location provides easy access to both the natural wonders of Watkins Glen and the cultural attractions of Corning's Heritage Village of the Southern Finger Lakes. Find out more at Ferenbaugh Campground.

Flint Creek Campground in Middlesex delivers family-friendly camping with a full slate of activities and events. This Yates County campground features RV sites with full hookups supporting 30/50 amp electrical service, dump station access, restrooms with hot showers, and WiFi connectivity. Each site includes a picnic table and fire ring for evening campfires and s'mores. The campground entertains guests with a swimming pool, fishing pond, playground, mini-golf course, horseshoes, ladder golf, and organized weekend activities with pirate, pet, and casino themes. Wagon rides and a dedicated dog area welcome four-legged family members. The location provides excellent access to the Finger Lakes Wine Trail, nearby Newark village, and major cities like Rochester and Buffalo for day trips. Check availability at Flint Creek Campground.

These private campgrounds typically offer more flexible length-of-stay options, from overnight stops to monthly rentals, making them ideal for extended Finger Lakes explorations or as a comfortable base when attending events at Watkins Glen International racetrack.