Unadilla / I-88 / Oneonta KOA

Camp in an motorhome near Oneonta and make the short drive south to the Bear Spring Mountain Wildlife Management Area, which sprawls across more than 7,000 acres in Delaware County. It’s a popular destination for fishing, hunting, and trapping, as well as hiking, horseback riding, and snowmobiling. Stretch your legs along the trails that wind through tracts of red oak, maple, beech, and black cherry, together with the remains of apple orchards that are still maintained by the state to provide food for local wildlife.

Continue driving east, and you’ll arrive at the Pepacton Reservoir, which was created on the East Branch of the Delaware River following the construction of the Downsville Dam. While motorboats aren’t permitted on the reservoir, it’s an incredibly popular destination for trout fishing, with around 60 miles of shoreline where you can cast a line. The brown trout that live here grow to an average weight of around five pounds, with catfish, rock bass, and perch also for the taking.

Camping at Unadilla / I-88 / Oneonta KOA is a great base for hiking through the Catskill Mountains in the Big Indian Wilderness. It’s a remote destination marked by rugged mountains and glacial-cut valleys, with eight prominent peaks within its bounds that include Balsam, Haynes, and Eagle Mountain. There are around 30 miles of hiking trails to explore, including the short McKenley Hollow Trail that accesses Balsam Mountain and the 14-mile-long Pine Hill-West Branch Trail, which spans five peaks along an impressive ridge.

Camp in an RV near Oneonta and you’re within easy access of supermarkets for stocking up on grocery supplies, as well as gas stations if you need to fill up your RV rental. Oneonta is also home to a handful of fast-food restaurants and eateries for dining out while a farm market is just a five-minute drive from the Unadilla / I-88 / Oneonta KOA, with fresh produce and local artisan goods for sale.

While visiting Oneonta, enjoy a stroll through its historic core, which flourished following the arrival of the Delaware and Hudson Railroad in the mid-19th century. It’s home to a number of elegant Victorian-era buildings and residences, including the former home of George Winthrop Fairchild who founded what eventually became IBM. Also listed on the National Register of Historic Places are the Oneonta Armory and the Chapin Memorial Church, as well as the Old Post Office and Stonehouse Farm.

Oneonta is also home to the Wilber Mansion, which has been owned by the local Arts Council since 1999. The mansion was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2000 and is considered a fine example of Victorian-era architecture. After an extensive renovation, it now hosts art exhibitions and a writer’s salon, serving as an artistic hub for the community.

Franklin campers can also spend a day exploring Binghamton, which has numerous attractions geared towards families. You can get up close to big cats and birds of prey at the Binghamton Zoo or explore the kid-friendly, hands-on exhibits at the Discovery Center of the Southern Tier. Take a step back in time to discover the life of the upper classes during the Gilded Age in the elaborate Phelps Mansion Museum or enjoy a stroll through the picturesque greenery of Recreation Park, which is complete with a vintage carousel. Binghamton is also home to the Roberson Museum and Science Center where you’ll find exhibits on the region’s natural history and science in an early-20th-century building.

Whether you want to discover the family-friendly attractions of Binghamton or escape to the remote hiking trails of the Catskill Mountains, book an RV in Delaware County and start planning your next vacation.