Some Info About Camping at Watkins Glen State Park

Location and Park Entrance

Watkins Glen State Park is located in the Village of Watkins Glen in the Finger Lakes Region of New York.

There are several entrances to the park, but to get to the campground, you’ll want to use the South Entrance.

Camping Season

The campgrounds at Watkins Glen are open from early May until early October. The Cayuga and Mohawk loops open first, and then the remaining loops open about a week later. You can find exact dates on its Reserve America website.

Reserve Your Site

Reservations for Watkins Glen campsites can be made up to 9 months in advance. However, you can also make day-of (until 3 pm) reservations for any open campsite.

Park Fees

Although Watkins Glen State Park typically charges $10 per vehicle for entry to the park, your campground reservation allows you FREE access to all New York State Parks during the length of your stay. This gives you a good reason to visit nearby parks like Taughannock Falls, Buttermilk Falls, and Robert H. Treman.

Alcohol Policy

No alcohol is allowed at any of the campsites at Watkins Glen State Park.

Cellular Service

We had decent cell service while at the Watkins Glen campground. Our Verizon service fluctuated between 2 and 3 bars, and we were able to use the internet and social media apps.

Pets

Up to two dogs per site are allowed at the Watkins Glen Campground. A certificate of rabies vaccination must be presented for pets. Pets cannot be left unattended, and they are not allowed on the Gorge Trail, in playgrounds, buildings, or at the pool, so keep that in mind when planning your trip.

Nearby Amenities

The nice thing about camping at Watkins Glen State Park is that you feel secluded, but you are not far from civilization. That means if you forget or run out of anything, you have a short drive to get what you need.

There is a gas station right at the bottom of Old Corning Road that also sells ice and firewood. And a Tops Friendly Market is a little further down the road, selling whatever groceries you might need.

Activities at Watkins Glen State Park and Nearby

Hiking

Hiking the Gorge Trail is the biggest draw to Watkins Glen State Park. It’s one of the best waterfall trails in the Finger Lakes! The campgrounds (specifically Onondaga Village) have an access trail to the Rim Trail, making it easy to reach the Gorge Trail.

Swimming

The pool at Watkins Glen State Park is open from the end of June until the first week of September. Reach out to the park office to confirm swimming is open before your visit.

Fishing at Seneca Lake and Catherine Creek

Although fishing inside the park is not allowed, visitors can enjoy fishing at Seneca Lake or Catherine Creek. Make sure to follow the state’s fishing rules and regulations.

Boating at Seneca Lake

There are many options for getting out on the water at Seneca Lake. Seneca Lake Kayak offers tours and rentals. Sail True Love offers daytime and sunset excursions on a 67-foot schooner. And Finger Lakes Cycle gives visitors a chance to sing, drink, and snack while pedaling around the lake.

Biking on the Catherine Valley Trail

The Catherine Valley Trail is a 13-mile, compact stone-dust trail perfect for bike rides. It takes you past some of the best sites in the area, including Aunt Sarah’s Falls and Shequaga Falls Park.

Campgrounds at Watkins Glen State Park

There are six loops at the Watkins Glen State Park campground, all accessed via the same main road. Only two of the loops offer electric sites. The other four loops are all non-electric.

Cayuga Village

Cayuga Village Loop has 49 sites, all offering electricity. All of the sites allow RVs (varying between 20′ and 30′ allowance). There is a bathroom/shower house at the center of the loop. This loop is closest to the camp office.

Mohawk Village

Mohawk Village Loop has 55 all-electric RV sites. About half accommodate 20′ and the other half accommodate up to 30′. In addition to the central bathroom/shower house, this loop has a playground. It shares a road with the Cayuga Village loop.

Oneida Village

If you’re looking to stay in a rustic cabin, the Oneida Village Loop is where you’ll want to be. There are nine rustic cabins on this loop, as well as a mix of RV and tent sites (all non-electric) for the other 35. Like the other loops, there is a central bathroom/ shower house. It doesn’t share a road with any other loop.

Onondaga Village

Onondaga Village Loop is the only loop in the campground with direct access to the Rim Trail (which is why we chose it). The 48 sites offer a mix of RV and tent-only sites. There is a central bathroom/ shower house. And the loop shares a road with Seneca Village.

Seneca Village

Although Seneca Village has about the same number of sites as the other loops (46), the loop itself is a bit larger than the others, so the sites feel a bit more spread out (relative to the other loops). That’s good if you’d like more privacy, but you might have a longer walk to the central bathroom/shower house. Most of the sites can accommodate an RV. There is also a playground in the loop.

Tuscarora Village

Tuscarora Village has a lot to offer, especially if you’re camping with kids. First, there is a HUGE playground and also volleyball and basketball courts in the center of the loop, which can be a big draw for families. As well as a centralized bathroom/shower house.

However, a large chunk of the 53 non-electric sites are out in the open, poorly protected by trees, and offer little privacy. If that doesn’t bother you and you are camping with young kids, this might be the best loop option for you.

Watkins Glen Campground Review (Onondaga Village)

I can’t say enough good things about the campground at Watkins Glen! We stayed on a Monday and Tuesday night in mid-August, and the campground was about half full, so the bathhouse never felt too busy. The campground itself was also very quiet.

We stayed in site 189 on the Onondaga Village Loop, and I thought it was absolutely perfect. We backed up to the Rim Trail (I could see people walking, but we were high enough to still have privacy), and we had plenty of space.

The bathroom was across the road from our site, and we were right next to the access trail to the gorge, but the site layout and the trees still gave us plenty of privacy.

Checking In

Check-in was very fast and easy at Watkins Glen Campground. We entered via the South Entrance and were given easy directions to the camp office. There, it was less than five minutes to check in since I had completed the pre-registration before we left.

I was handed a map of the campground, with specific directions to my site, and a pass to hang on my rearview mirror that also gave us FREE access to other state parks during our stay.

Site Conditions

As noted above, our site at 189 in Onondaga Village had ample space. I set up our large 6-person tent and a smaller 2-person tent, and still had plenty of room. The site next to us looked much smaller because of the trees lining the back of the site.

However, when driving through the loop, it appeared that most sites had plenty of space to spread out.

Bathroom and Showers

The bathroom and shower house at the Onondaga Loop was fine. It’s not as nice as the one at Promised Land State Park in Pennsylvania, but it was clean.

I liked that they had a large mirror with a shelf and electrical sockets, making it easy to blow-dry hair. I actually saw someone charging their power station, and I thought that was brilliant! (You can tell who the seasoned campers are…).

The showers were hot with decent enough water pressure. I used the larger, accessible stall, which had a single knob and the water stayed on. The other stall had a push-button knob (similar to those you’d find at park sinks), where the water turns off after 10-15 seconds. Neither stall had a separate area for drying/changing, and there weren’t enough hooks to hang your dry clothes, so keep that in mind.

Also inside the bathroom was a large utility sink with an adjacent shelf. This is a good area to wash your dishes, but we used it to fill our collapsible water container.

Rim Trail Access

As I mentioned above, one of the reasons I chose the Onondaga Village Loop was the easy access to the Rim Trail and thus, the Gorge Trail. The trail is right across from the bathhouse (and right next to site 189). It’s about 100 yards long and connects you to the Rim Trail, near Mile Point Bridge.

Cell Phone Service

Cellular service was pretty good at the campground. I could easily access the internet, watch videos on social media, and stream music. I think we fluctuated between 2 and 3 bars and had 5g connection the whole visit.

Other Observations

A few other things about the Onondaga Village Loop.

First, if you’re looking for a little more privacy, opt for sites on the “left” side of the loop (when looking at the map). That would include 155-164 and 197-203. The other sites were a bit closer to the shower house, with some even backing right up to it, making them less private.

Also, I noticed the dumpsters weren’t bear-proof, which leads me to believe there aren’t many bear issues in the park. That would make sense since it’s literally right next to town and the park itself is very popular. As always, be mindful of wildlife when camping! We still put our food in the car at night to make sure little critters didn’t get into it.

Camping at Watkins Glen State Park Wrap-Up

I really enjoyed our camping trip to Watkins Glen State Park. The site was great, the amenities were good, and you can’t beat the location!

We were able to leave for the day and enjoy waterfall views at Taughannock Falls and Robert H. Treman State Park. We explored some of Ithaca. After dinner at the campsite, we drove into Watkins Glen to grab ice cream and then walk the jetty along Seneca Lake. There really is so much to do nearby.

The site itself feels so secluded, except you could hear a boat horn in the morning and a train going by in the evening – but those were the only indicators that civilization was close by. But knowing we were so close to anything we could possibly need made it even better.

If you’re debating about camping at Watkins Glen, debate no more! It’s a great place and definitely worth visiting.

Location

Promised Land State Park is located in northwestern Pennsylvania, about 30 minutes east of Scranton and just over two hours from both New York City and Philadelphia.

It’s also about 30 minutes from popular Delaware Water Gap hikes like Bushkill Falls and George W. Childs Park.

Camping Season

Most of the campgrounds at Promised Land State Park are open from Memorial Day Weekend through Labor Day Weekend.

There are some exceptions. At the Lower Lake Campground, the Beechwood, Northwoods, and Hemlock Hill areas open in early May and are available until mid-October. Pickerel Point Campground has some sites that are open year-round, but access is not always guaranteed due to weather conditions.

Reserve Your Site

To guarantee a spot at the various campgrounds, you’ll want to reserve your site in advance. However, same-day reservations are available on a first-come, first-served basis after noon. Visit the park office to secure a site.

Park Fees

All Pennsylvania State Parks are FREE to enter. However, there are varying fees to rent a campsite, depending on the type of site.

Alcohol Policy

No alcohol is allowed at any of the campsites at Promised Land State Park

Pets

Some of the campgrounds at Promised Land State Park offer pet-friendly sites. Pets are allowed at every site in Deerfield Campground, at some designated sites in Pickerel Point, and at the Lower Lake Campgrounds. Pets are not allowed at the Pines Campground.

Bears

When we checked in at our campsite, they warned us about bear activity. We did not experience any issues with bears, but it’s recommended to use a bear bag to store your food or keep it in your trunk.

Restaurants and Stores

Within Promised Land State Park is a small section called the Village of Promised Land, which is not part of the park. Here, you’ll find a small neighborhood, along with a couple of stores and eateries.

My cooler ice was melting faster than anticipated, but thankfully the Pine Cone Gift Shop sold bags of ice (among other things). If you need anything while camping, you can probably find it at one of the stores in the Village.

Covering nearly 3000 acres, there are so many things to do at Promised Land State Park. Here are some activities you can do during camping season.

Water Fun

Promised Land State Park is centered around two large lakes, making water sports and swimming the main draw.

There are five boat launches around the park where electric-motor and non-powered boats can access the water (registration or launch permits required).

You can also rent various boats, like paddleboards, kayaks, and rowboats. Swimming is available at the day-use area and Pickerel Point. And don’t forget to bring your fishing pole!

We saw many people out and about in their inflatable kayaks and paddleboards. If I had more room in the car, I would have brought mine.

Hiking

There are over 50 miles of hiking trails at Promised Land State Park. One of the most popular trails leads to Little Falls. Many visitors also enjoy the informational trail on Conservation Island. Several of the trails connect to trails inside Delaware State Forest.

Don’t forget to bring your hiking essentials with you!

Horseback Riding

Promised Land State Park is horse-friendly! You can even camp with them at the Hemlock Hills area of the Lower Lake Campground. There are several miles of trails to take your horse on in the Delaware State Forest connecting to Promised Land.

Mountain Biking

Like horseback riding, there are multiple miles of trails within the Delaware State Forest that are accessible to mountain bikers from Promised Land State Park.

Masker Museum

Promised Land State Park is one of the parks that was originally part of the Civilian Conservation Corps during the 1930s. You can learn more about the program and what the men in the Corps accomplished at the Masker Museum near the Deerfield Campground.

There are also family-friendly activities and information about the wildlife at Promised Land State Park inside.

Campgrounds at Promised Land State Park

As noted above, there are several campgrounds at Promised Land State Park. Find maps of each campground on the state park website.

Pines Campground

Starting at the northern end of the park, the Pines Campground has over 60 non-electric sites and two bathroom buildings with flush toilets. There are no showers at this campground, but guests can use the coin-operated showers in the Day-Use area, a short walk from the campground.

Lower Lake Campground

To the east is the Lower Lake Campground, which consists of the Beechwood, Northwoods, Rhododendron, and the Hemlock Hills Equestrian areas.

Beechwood has about 100 electric sites for both RVs and tents. About half of those sites are pet-friendly. There is a shower house at the center of camp. There is also coin-operated laundry available.

Northwoods has about 50 sites, a mix of electric-only and full-hookup. All of the sites in this area are pet-friendly. Like Beechwood, there is a central shower house with a coin-operated laundry inside.

The Rhododendron area has about 40 non-electric sites, a few electric sites, and also the new glamping sites (booked through a separate website). About half the sites, including all of the glamping sites, are pet-friendly. There is a central shower house and laundry available.

Lastly, the Hemlock Hill Equestrian Area is smaller, with only six sites. There are non-flush toilets at the site, but the shower house and restrooms at Northwoods are a short walk away.

Pickerel Point Campground

Jutting into the southeastern end of Promised Land Lake is Pickerel Point. This is where we stayed, and I will go into more detail about the campground below.

Pickerel Point has about 70 campsites. Half of them are walk-to non-electric tent sites (with designated parking spots!). About a dozen are full-hookup sites, and the remaining sites are electric-only. There are two shower houses and also a separate building with flush toilets. There are only six pet-friendly sites on Pickerel Point.

Pickerel Point campers have easy access to the small beach at the end of the peninsula, which was one of the reasons we chose to camp there.

Deerfield Campground

Just across Pickerel Point Road, and past the Masker Museum, is Deerfield Campground. There are about 30 non-electric sites, and all of them are pet-friendly. There are no shower houses at Deerfield, but there are flush toilet restrooms.

Pickerel Point Campground Review

We camped at Pickerel Point at the end of June, on Monday and Tuesday nights. About half of the campground was in use, but it didn’t feel crowded, and we never had to wait for a shower.

We stayed at site 141, which is right next to the bathroom and a short walk to the beach. However, the site is very open, with only a few trees, making us feel a bit exposed to everyone walking by. I was glad to have our screened canopy, which obscured some of our activity at the picnic table.

Checking In

It was easy to check in for the campsite. We headed right to the Park Office just after 3 pm, got our parking permit for our site, and were out the door pretty fast.

Parking

Each walk-to campsite on Pickerel Point has one assigned parking space. If you are bringing more than one car, there are some unassigned spaces at each parking area. During our stay, there were several open spots, but I can see there being issues with finding parking on busy days.

Site Conditions

The one thing I noticed about Pickerel Point is that every site was mainly gravel. I was nosy and checked out other unoccupied sites in the campground to see if they were all that way, and it seems to be the case. That made it pretty difficult to get stakes into the ground, so I never ended up securing my tent or rainfly. Thankfully, it wasn’t rainy or windy during our stay.

Sites varied in whether they had a good view of the lake. Our site had a nice view of the water (and also easy access to it, which brought some friendly ducks to our site one night). But other sites had many trees and plants blocking the view.

The picnic table at our site was in decent condition. However, the site next to us (which wasn’t booked during our stay) had a decent hole from a fire in the middle of the table.

Toilets and Showers

I was impressed by the cleanliness of the bathrooms and shower houses. The water pressure was good, and the water got hot enough.

The changing areas inside the shower were big enough that it was easy to get dressed without getting everything soaked. There was an accessible stall that was bigger for those who need the extra space.

Pickerel Point Beach

I liked having easy access to Pickerel Point Beach. During the day, we swam and floated around with the ducks.

At night, we enjoyed watching the sunset. Later, we enjoyed some stargazing. I think the beach is the best part about staying on Pickerel Point

Cell Phone Service at Pickerel Point

I know everyone says they like to “disconnect” from the world. But in this day and age, it’s nice to know you can make a phone call or send a text if needed.

We had okay cell service on Pickerel Point using Verizon. I could stream music, send texts, and make phone calls. I could also access some websites. But doing anything more than that was hit or miss.

Promised Land State Park Camping Review Wrap Up

Overall, I would camp at Promised Land State Park again. The ease of checking in and getting the campsite made it a pleasant experience from the start.

We had no issues with loud neighbors, and the amenities at Pickerel Point were great. The beach access was awesome (and we could avoid the crowded day-use area). And the bathrooms and shower house were clean.

The only thing that would have made the experience better was if the campsites were more dirt and grass than gravel. But if that’s the only thing I can find to complain about, I think that’s pretty good!