Ferenbaugh Campground

Camp in an RV near Corning and spend a day exploring the Sugar Hill State Forest, a 9,085-acre protected area that’s particularly popular with horse riders. There are numerous horse camps and stables located throughout the state forest, as well as hiking and biking routes along the Six Nations Trail System. Soak up the views across the region from the 68-foot-high Sugar Hill Fire Tower, which was built in 1941 by the Civilian Conservation Corps, then stretch your legs along the main trailhead that’s located nearby.

Corning can also be used as a base for visiting the Finger Lakes National Forest, which encompasses more than 16,200 acres between Seneca and Cayuga lakes. Its dramatic gorges, picturesque pastures, and woodlands can be explored along the forest’s 30 miles of interconnecting trails, including the 3.8-mile Burnt Hill Loop and the Interloken Trail. Also traversing the park is the Finger Lakes Trail/North Country National Scenic Trail, which extends for 584 miles from the Allegany State Park to the Catskill Forest Preserve.

RV camping at Ferenbaugh Campground also provides a good base for exploring Seneca Lake, which is the largest of New York’s glacial Finger Lakes. It’s particularly renowned for its trout fishing, although largemouth bass, northern pike, and yellow perch can also be caught here. While visiting the area, be sure to admire the painted rocks that can be found on a cliff face at the southern end of Seneca Lake, with an American flag and depictions of Native Americans. The Finger Lakes region is also renowned for its wineries and cellar doors, with plenty of places where you can sample fine Riesling, as well as craft beer and gourmet local foods.

When you’re camping at Ferenbaugh Campground, you can shop for groceries in Corning, which is just 10 minutes’ drive from the RV park. You’ll also find gas stations here if you need to fill up your RV rental and a great selection of restaurants and fast-food eateries for dining out.

While in Corning, don’t miss a visit to the Corning Museum of Glass, which highlights the science and history of glass. It was established in 1951 by the Corning Glass Works and now presents more than 35 centuries of glass art through over 50,000 glass objects. Get up close to a full-scale model of an Egyptian furnace and see contemporary glass vessels and sculptures created by some of the world’s most celebrated international glass artists. Aside from its galleries, the Corning Museum of Glass also houses the Glass Innovation Center where you can witness glass chemistry in action. After visiting the museum, take the time to stroll past Little Joe Tower, a riverside structure that was once used to draw glass for making thermometers.

Also in Corning is the Rockwell Museum, a Smithsonian Affiliate that boasts a world-class collection of American art. See iconic paintings by Albert Bierstadt and sculptures by Ed Mell, then admire the Frederick Carder Glass Collection and Native American artworks.

If you walk across the Chemung River that winds through Corning, you’ll arrive at the Heritage Village of the Southern Finger Lakes. It centers around the Benjamin Patterson Inn, which dates to 1796 and is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Join a guided tour to explore its historic tavern room and the innkeeper’s quarters, then see the log cabin, late 19th-century schoolhouse, and blacksmith shop that are located on the grounds.

Whether you want to tour the wineries of the Finger Lakes region or stretch your legs on the long-distance North Country National Scenic Trail, book an RV in Steuben County and start planning your next vacation.