Go camping at these New York State Park camp sites
Go camping at these New York State Park camp sites
Camping season is in full bloom, and AAA is ready to help you find a place to set up your tent or park your RV. We’re featuring five regional state park campgrounds, but you can find camping spots all around the country with our AAA Campground Search.
If you’ve got a camper, trailer, or motorhome, make sure you’ve added RV/Motorcycle coverage to your AAA Membership. RV/Motorcycle coverage extends present Emergency Roadside Service benefits to recreational vehicles for all services to include motorcycles, all motor homes, pickup trucks with campers, travel trailers, and 5th wheel travel trailers.
Here’s our quick list of five go-to campgrounds located at New York State Parks.
Remember to contact the parks ahead of time with any questions, including questions about restrictions related to the coronavirus.
Letchworth State Park
Castile, NY
(585) 493-3600
Located in Castile, Letchworth State Park protects more than 14,000 heavily forested acres along the gorge and offers cabins, a campground, picnic areas, and paved roads lined with scenic overlooks, among them popular Inspiration Point.
The don't-miss park highlight is photogenic Middle Falls, where the river roars over a 107-foot-high bluff. It's illuminated until 11 p.m., May-Oct., but as the name implies, there are also Upper and Lower falls nearby as well as smaller cascades along tributaries such as Wolf Creek. The best time to visit is in fall when the forest ignites with the russets and golds of autumn.
Allegany State Park
Salamanca, NY
(716) 354-2182
The 65,000-acre Allegany State Park is the largest state park in New York. You'll find 5 miles of paved biking trails, giving you a scenic tour of this impressive park. While you are there, check out park highlights like the Summit Fire Tower, Red House Lake, Bridal Falls, and the Art Roscoe Ski Area.
Allegany State Park’s primary camping spots are the Quaker Area and the Red House Area.
Hamlin Beach State Park
Hamlin, NY
(585) 964-2462
You’ll find sandy beaches on Lake Ontario, six miles of trails and plenty of outdoor activities at Hamline Beach State Park. The 1,287-acre park has 264 tent and trailer campsites and all the amenities you’ll need to enjoy camping.
Along the park’s trails, you’ll find the Devil’s Nose, a tree-covered bluff that’s the site of many shipwrecks, including the York in 1799 and the C. Reeve in 1862.
Taughannock Falls State Park
Trumansburg, NY
(607) 387-6739
The centerpiece of Taughannock Falls State Park is the 215-foot Taughannock Falls located in a .75-mile-long glen with sides rising from 350 to 400 feet. Trails follow the edge of the gorge. The park offers a weekly schedule of guided tours and nature programs.
You’ll find plenty to do with a multi-use trail, including hiking and cross-country skiing, that winds past sledding slopes and natural skating ponds. Camping, boating, and swimming are permitted in season.
Watkins Glen State Park
Watkins Glen, NY
(607) 535-4511
The ‘glen’ behind ‘Watkins Glen State Park’ can be found here. The glen, which drops about 500 feet in 1.5 miles, is highlighted by rock formations and 19 waterfalls; Rainbow Falls is especially lovely. Cliffs rise 300 feet above the stream; a bridge 165 feet above the water spans the glen.
Fishing in nearby Seneca Lake or in Catherine Creek is well known for its rainbow trout.
If you’re going camping, make sure your home on wheels is covered wherever you go with top-notch RV insurance from AAA.