Campgrounds and RV parks near Trumansburg, NY

Waterfalls define the area. Taughannock Falls is located in Ulysses, part of the Finger Lakes Region of central New York, in a state park between the Village of Trumansburg and the city of Ithaca, with a cataract that drops 215 feet, one of the highest east of the Rocky Mountains. At Robert H. Treman State Park, winding trails pass 12 waterfalls culminating at the iconic 115-foot Lucifer Falls, and visitors can enjoy nine miles of hiking trails or swim in a stream-fed pool beneath a waterfall. On the water, Cayuga Lake supports fishing, boating, kayaking, and swimming. Myers Park sits on the eastern shore of Cayuga Lake with grass-covered, tree-shaded acreage, extensive lake frontage, a boat marina with paved launching ramps, a lifeguarded swimming area, playground, and courts. The Cayuga Wine Trail, farm stands, and the shops and restaurants of downtown Ithaca round out a family itinerary within a short drive of any campground.

The camping season in the Finger Lakes runs roughly from May through mid-October. At Robert H. Treman State Park, the camping season runs from May 15 through November 7, with advance reservations strongly recommended. Spruce Row is open for the season May 1 to early October. Town-run camping at Myers Park operates on a similar warm-weather schedule. Summer is peak season. Weekends from Memorial Day through Labor Day book out weeks in advance, especially the electric sites and cabins at Treman. Weather is warm and often humid, with afternoon thunderstorms possible. The area has a humid continental climate marked by very large seasonal temperature contrasts, with warm and fairly wet summers, and cold, very snowy winters that often receive significant winter snowfall partly due to lake-effect from the Great Lakes. Late spring and early fall bring smaller crowds and cooler nights, and September and October add foliage color across the gorges. Winter shuts down most campgrounds, and RV travel in the region is essentially a May-through-October activity.

Sites vary widely. At Robert H. Treman there are 72 campsites, with 11 electrical hook-up sites and 61 no-utility hook-up sites for RVs, and if staying with an RV, one tent is also allowed on the campsite. Campers with larger rigs should note that the non-electric sites can involve tight turns between trees. Cabins are rustic and unheated. Spruce Row offers full hookups, a pool, and a playground, with more open, RV-oriented layouts. Myers Park camping is waterfront and simple, with electric and water hookups on some sites and a dump station on-site. Expect gravel or grass pads, mixed cell reception depending on which side of the lake you are on, cool nights even in July, and mosquitoes near the gorges after rain. Bring layers, bug spray, and a plan for wet-weather activities.