Why Waterfront Camping Here Works
The Finger Lakes region packs an unusual amount of public waterfront into a small geographic area. Six state parks have campgrounds within walking distance of a lake or swimming hole. A national forest offers free backcountry camping on ridgeline terrain between the two largest lakes. And a handful of private campgrounds fill in the gaps with lakefront sites that the state system does not cover. The result is a camping landscape where you can fall asleep to the sound of water lapping a shore, swim before breakfast, and still reach a gorge trail or wine tasting room within a 20-minute drive.
This guide covers the campgrounds with the best water access, organized from the largest and most popular to the quieter alternatives. Every campground listed has direct access to a lake, creek, or swimming area — no driving from your site to the nearest beach.
State Park Campgrounds
Taughannock Falls State Park (Cayuga Lake)
Taughannock Falls has the best combination of camping and scenery in the Finger Lakes. The campground sits on the shore of Cayuga Lake, 10 miles north of Ithaca on Route 89. There are 76 tent and RV sites spread across two loops, plus 16 cabins. The lakefront sites in Loop 2 (sites roughly 60-76) face Cayuga Lake directly — you can hear the water from your tent. A public beach with swimming is a short walk from most sites, and a boat launch provides kayak and canoe access.
The real draw is proximity to the 215-foot Taughannock Falls, accessible via a flat, three-quarter-mile Gorge Trail that starts at the campground’s day-use area. The campground also connects to the North and South Rim Trails, each about 1.5 miles one way, which provide overlook views down into the gorge. Between the lake and the falls, this campground delivers more per night than any other in the region.
Rates: $18 to $35 per night for tent and RV sites; cabins from $60 to $90 per night. Reservations: Through ReserveAmerica, available up to 9 months in advance. Summer weekends book out months ahead — reserve as early as the system allows. Midweek availability is easier to find through June and September. Season: Typically mid-May through mid-October.
Watkins Glen State Park (Seneca Lake)
The campground at Watkins Glen State Park sits at the upper rim of the gorge, separate from the main entrance and the village below. There are 305 tent and RV sites across multiple loops — one of the larger campgrounds in the state park system. The campground itself does not have direct lake access (it sits on the plateau above the gorge), but the village of Watkins Glen and Clute Memorial Park on Seneca Lake are a 10-minute drive or a hike down through the gorge. The Olympic-size pool in the campground area provides swimming without leaving the park.
The primary advantage here is location: the Gorge Trail entrance at the top of the canyon is a short walk from the campsites, meaning you can hike the 19-waterfall trail first thing in the morning before the day-use crowds arrive from the lower entrance. For gorge access, no other campground comes close.
Rates: $18 to $35 per night. Reservations: Through ReserveAmerica. Peak summer weekends require booking months in advance. Season: Mid-May through mid-October. For more on what to do in the area, see our Watkins Glen beyond the gorge guide.
Sampson State Park (Seneca Lake)
Sampson State Park occupies the former Sampson Naval Training Station on the eastern shore of Seneca Lake, about 20 minutes south of Geneva. The campground is large — 309 electric sites across flat, open loops on what was once a military base. The terrain is more exposed than the forested campgrounds (less shade, more sky), but the lake access is excellent: a sandy beach runs along the Seneca Lake shoreline, with swimming, a boat launch, and a marina. The sunsets from the beach, looking west across the lake, are striking.
Sampson works well for families and RV campers. The sites are wide and level, the facilities are maintained, and the lake beach is supervised in summer. The flat terrain and paved roads also make it accessible for campers with mobility considerations.
Rates: $18 to $35 per night (all sites have electric hookups). Reservations: Through ReserveAmerica. Season: Mid-May through Columbus Day weekend.
Keuka Lake State Park (Keuka Lake)
Keuka Lake State Park sits on the western shore of Keuka Lake’s southwestern branch, about 6 miles from Hammondsport. The campground has 150 tent and RV sites in a wooded setting that slopes down toward the lake. A swimming beach and boat launch provide direct Keuka Lake access. The sites nearest the water (lower loops) have partial lake views through the trees.
Keuka Lake is smaller and quieter than Seneca or Cayuga, and the state park reflects that character. The campground is less crowded than Taughannock or Watkins Glen, even on summer weekends, and the village of Hammondsport — with restaurants, shops, and Keuka Lake wineries — is a 10-minute drive south.
Rates: $18 to $35 per night. Reservations: Through ReserveAmerica. Easier to book on shorter notice than the Seneca and Cayuga Lake parks. Season: Mid-May through Columbus Day weekend.
Buttermilk Falls State Park (Near Ithaca)
The campground at Buttermilk Falls sits above the gorge on the south side of Route 13, about 2 miles south of downtown Ithaca. There are 46 tent and RV sites in a wooded, hilly setting. The water access here is not a lake but the natural swimming pool at the base of the 165-foot Buttermilk Falls cascade — a cold, creek-fed pool with lifeguards in summer. The Gorge Trail climbs from the pool alongside continuous waterfalls for 1.6 miles.
This is the best campground for a base near Ithaca. Downtown restaurants, Cornell University, and the Ithaca Farmers Market are all within a 10-minute drive. The campground is small and fills quickly on summer weekends.
Rates: $18 to $35 per night. Reservations: Through ReserveAmerica. Book early for summer weekends. Season: Mid-May through mid-October.
Cayuga Lake State Park (Seneca Falls)
Cayuga Lake State Park sits at the north end of Cayuga Lake near Seneca Falls, about 10 miles east of Geneva. The campground has 286 sites (tent, RV, and electric) with a beach and boat launch on Cayuga Lake. The park’s location at the intersection of Cayuga Lake and the Seneca River/Erie Canal makes it a good base for both lake activities and visits to the Seneca Falls historic district (the Women’s Rights National Historical Park is 3 miles away). The campground is flat and open, similar to Sampson in character.
Rates: $18 to $35 per night. Reservations: Through ReserveAmerica. Season: Mid-April through October.
Free Camping: Finger Lakes National Forest
The Finger Lakes National Forest covers 16,000 acres of ridgeline between Seneca and Cayuga Lakes, and it is the only national forest in New York State. Dispersed camping is free throughout the forest — no permit, no reservation, no fee. You can camp anywhere that is at least 150 feet from a trail, road, or water source. The forest has over 30 miles of trails, including the 12-mile Interloken Trail that traverses the full length of the forest through hardwood stands, open meadows, and pine plantations.
For those who prefer a designated site, Blueberry Patch Campground is a small, first-come-first-served site near the forest’s midpoint with a vault toilet, fire rings, and space for about 10 groups. No water hookups, no showers, no electric — bring everything you need. The campground is free.
The national forest does not have lake access (it sits on the ridge between the lakes, not at the shore), but it is a 15- to 20-minute drive to Seneca Lake on the west side or Cayuga Lake on the east side. For hikers and backpackers who want solitude and zero cost, this is the best option in the region. See our Finger Lakes Trail hiker’s guide for trail details.
Private Campgrounds With Water Access
Cheerful Valley Campground (Phelps, Near Canandaigua Lake)
A family-run private campground with a swimming pond and creek access. Not lakefront, but the on-site pond provides swimming. About 15 minutes from Canandaigua Lake. Sites run $35 to $55 per night with hookups available.
Cayuga Lake Campgrounds (Various)
Several private campgrounds line the shores of Cayuga Lake between Ithaca and Seneca Falls. Spruce Row Campground on the east shore near Ithaca has wooded sites with lake proximity and a camp store. Rates range from $40 to $65 per night. Private campgrounds generally offer more amenities (showers, camp stores, playgrounds) than state parks, at a higher nightly rate.
Practical Tips for Booking and Choosing Sites
Reservation Windows
New York State parks open reservations on ReserveAmerica up to 9 months in advance. For waterfront or lakefront sites at Taughannock Falls, Watkins Glen, and Sampson, book at the 9-month mark for any summer weekend (Friday and Saturday nights from late June through Labor Day). Midweek nights are available on shorter notice — often two to four weeks out.
Best Sites to Request
- Taughannock Falls: Loop 2, sites 60-76 for lakefront. Loop 1 is more wooded but farther from the water.
- Sampson: Request sites in the loops closest to the beach (the campground map on ReserveAmerica shows proximity).
- Keuka Lake: Lower loop sites for the shortest walk to the swimming beach.
- Watkins Glen: Sites near Loop A for the shortest walk to the upper gorge entrance.
What to Bring
State park campgrounds provide a picnic table, a fire ring, and (at most sites) an electric hookup. Bring your own firewood or buy it at the park — New York State prohibits transporting untreated firewood more than 50 miles to prevent the spread of invasive insects. Showers are available at all state park campgrounds listed here. Water spigots are shared among clusters of sites. No state park campground in the Finger Lakes has sewer hookups — RVs need to use the dump station.
Shoulder Season Advantage
May and September are the shoulder months for Finger Lakes camping. The campgrounds are open, the rates are the same, but availability is dramatically better. Water temperatures limit lake swimming to July and August at most Finger Lakes (Canandaigua warms earliest, Seneca latest), but the hiking, the gorge trails, and the wine tasting are all better in the shoulder months — fewer crowds, moderate temperatures, and lower costs across the board.
