The Great American Campout is the perfect excuse to spend the weekend disconnecting from the daily grind and getting back to what matters most- spending time with your family, getting outside, and snacking on the sticky sweetness of a freshly made s’more. From state campgrounds to private retreats, we've rounded up a few of our favorite spots to spend the night under the stars.
Tucked on the southern banks of Lake Ontario, Orleans County is a charming country retreat tucked in between the city life of Rochester and the roar of Niagara Falls.
Tranquility meets history at Red Rock Ponds RV Resort. Located just across the road from the Erie Canal, your camping stay puts you feet away from some of the best hiking and biking New York has to offer. But you don’t even need to leave the resort to have a great time, with guest access to paddle boards, rowboats, canoes, and kayaks. 5 ponds dot the property, perfect for getting on the water, casting a line in, or kicking back and relaxing on the beach. The large recreation hall hosts weekly activities from BBQs and wine tasting to food trucks and bingo!
If you’ve ever dreamed of a golfing getaway, this is the campsite for you! Hickory Ridge RV’n to a Tee is located on the Hickory Ridge Golf Course and Country Club, so you’re just steps away from your next game. With over 150 campsites, it’s the perfect place to get some friends together for a restful vacation and a great round of golf. You can even pop into the restaurant for a dinner away from the campfire. With onsite fishing, kayak and boat rental, nature trails, a pool, and bocce ball, there’s something for everyone to enjoy here!
Where rolling hills and fertile farmland meet the charm of historic small towns.
Darien Lake State Park is the campsite that has it all- open green spaces, sandy beaches, and over 150 campsites equipped with electricity. Perfect for RVs and tent campers alike, you can soak in all the benefits of the sunshine and fresh air while enjoying the modern amenities of the bathrooms and showers. Cast your line for a fish, hike the trails, and explore the island in the middle of the lake. Need something more? Take the family out for an afternoon of fun with the on-site disc golf course!
Six Flags Darien Lake Theme Park Campground
Whatever your favorite kind of camping is, you’ll find it at the Six Flags Darien Lake Campground. With over 1,000 campsites for tents and RVs as well as glamping, guest houses and a variety of cabins to rent, there’s a way to reconnect with nature that everyone will love. Sleep in the modern comforts of one of the guest houses or enjoy a rustic experience in a cabin for rent. Large groups can enjoy a cabin village, with several building rentals and a communal green area. Spend the day swimming, fishing, or head to the waterpark. You’re just steps away from the Six Flags Darien Lake Theme Park, the premier theme and waterpark park in Western NY!
Skyline Camping Resort
Skyline Camping Resort has everything you need to make your next camping trip easy. With over 300 campsites nestled on a ridge line in the woods, you’ll enjoy the serenity of nature and scenic views of the lake. You don’t have to sacrifice the comforts of modern life here, with enclosed bathrooms and showers. Fish for bass in the lake, take a dip in one of two pools, or just kick your feet up at the recreational area. In the market for a new RV? You can find that here too!
Bookending the Finger Lakes Region, Wyoming County has an abundance of fresh air, open space, and outdoor recreation.
Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park of WNY
Tucked away in the heart of the pines, Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park of WNY is the perfect place to let your family disconnect and spend time outside. Pull the RV through, set up the tent, or rent a cabin. But here, there’s much more than a place to rest your head at night. The heart of this resort lies in their large, interactive WaterZone, a playground with a fort, waterslides, water cannons, and more. Take the family for an afternoon of minigolf, or explore the trails at nearby Letchworth State Park. Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park is a pet-friendly campground, so your four-legged friends can come too.
For a wooded retreat like no other, head to the campgrounds at Letchworth State Park. Overlooking the sweeping gorge are dozens of campsites perfect for tent and RV camping. Visitors can also rent a cabin or hike into a lean-to. Sites here are perfect for extended stays, with over 66 miles of trails to explore, playgrounds, playing fields, a pool, and even a museum. Additionally, the campsites provide showers and bathrooms so you’re never without the comfort of modern amenities. Visitors with an adventurous streak can take advantage of whitewater rafting down in the gorge, horseback riding along the trails or even a hot air balloon ride over the waterfalls!
Nestled in the heart of the Finger Lakes, Livingston County offers an abundance of rolling hills, open skies, and stunning water views.
A small corner of paradise in the Finger Lakes, Sugar Creek Glen has been welcoming campers for more than 50 years. With over 90 acres of land, Sugar Creek offers primitive campsites as well as electric sites for tent and RV camping. Boasting some of the most beautiful waterfalls in the area, the cool air and stunning scenery will draw you out of the campsite and down the trails. It’s easy spend all day in the fresh air here, with hiking trails, fishing, and a large playground. They’re also pet-friendly!
Forest camping meets the lake vacation of your dreams! Nestled on the shores of Conesus Lake, the Conesus Lake Campgrounds has everything you need for a great time. Take to the water with pontoon boat, rowboat, and kayak rentals or rent a space for your own boat. Head to the jump pad and then the indoor pool to cool off. Burn off energy on the playgrounds, cast a line off the docks for a walleye or get your hands dirty with gem mining. And of course, there’s nothing better than kicking your feet up on the lakeshore with a bonfire burning. However you vacation, you’ll have a great time here.
The inviting green spaces at Holiday Hill Campground are the perfect place to kick back and relax in the woods. Parents can enjoy some R&R while the kids enjoy wagon rides, sponsored crafts, mini golf, basketball, volleyball and more. Spend some time as a family in the field games, or enjoy adult games after the kids have gone to sleep. Everyone will love the heated pools and weekend DJ dances!
Known as Western NY Wilds, Allegany County is a welcome retreat into the wilderness, where untamed forests meet charming Main Streets.
Described by visitors as the hidden jewel of the Southern Tier, the campgrounds at Evergreen Trails are surrounded by dense, lush forests. Here, you can breathe a little easier as your troubles melt away with the swaying of the leaves in the breeze. Stay by a bubbling creek in a tent, tucked in the forest in an RV, or rent a rustic cabin for the full forested experience. Hike the surrounding trails, see what wild life you can spot, or cast a line in one of their two ponds for a chance at a big catch. You won’t want to leave!
Located near Letchworth State Park, the Houghton Letchworth KAO is a scenic retreat, with rolling hills and open green spaces spanning 100 acres. Set up the tent, pull the RV through or rent one of their spacious cabins. Activities abound here to keep the whole family occupied, with two pools, outdoor games, planned family activities and even a dog park. Enjoy hiking trails, a fishing pond, arcade games, playgrounds and even field spaces for volleyball and basketball. No one gets bored here!
Trout Run Camp Resort
Situated along the banks of the Genesee River, Trout Run Camp Resort is everything you’re looking for in your next camping retreat. With large campsites, secluded tent sites and over 120 RV sites with electricity, you have room to spread out and enjoy your stay. For an unforgettable vacation, book a log cabin or a lean-to. During the day, take advantage of their heated pool, trout fishing, and guided kid’s crafts. Get out on the water with canoe and kayak rentals, or head for the hills on one of their many trails.
Discover all the adventurous things you can see and do in the Fresh Air Adventures region. Then bring your travel packet with you to use while you're visiting destinations in the area.