Go RVing To Watkins Glen State Park
New York State’s biggest attraction is not only New York City, the city that never sleeps. Take your RV or camper trailer and explore what New York State has to offer. If you love breathtaking scenery and adventure, then go RVing to the Finger Lakes Region and visit Watkins Glen State Park. Prepare to feast your senses on the magical views that await you.
You can find Watkins Glen State Park south of Seneca Lake in Schuyler County. The famous park has 19 delightful waterfalls that dot the prehistoric rockface that dates back to the Pleistocene era. The combination is nothing short of spectacular. But, the adventure doesn’t stop at Glen State Park. Go RVing, cruise America and find your way Northeast to explore the area around Glen State Park and find exciting, delicious, and places that can literally take your breath away.
Things and Places To Do and See In and Around Watkins Glen State Park
Watkins Glen Gorge Trail
Watkins Glen has a few trails to take, but if you had to take only one, you’d want to take the Gorge Trail. This 1.7-mile one-way hike trail is consistently named one of the best hikes in the Northeast. The moderate hiking course starts from the east end of the Watkins Glen Gorge to the park’s west end.
This hike takes you to a breathtaking gorge and showcases all 19 of the Park’s Glen Creek Waterfalls. At the beginning of the trail, you’ll cross a stone bridge over the gorge that’ll lead you to Cascade Falls – the park’s showstopper. The 52-feet waterfall framed with a magical stone bridge, a blue-green pool, and ancient rocks looks like a scene from a magical fairy tale. So bring your best phone camera or professional camera because there are plenty of Instagrammable photo ops along the hike.
If you want to experience this magical hike, make sure to go between June to October. The trail is closed from November through early May because of dangerously icy conditions in the gorge.
Drive Around Seneca Lake
Take your RV and drive around Seneca Lake for more exploring. Seneca is the largest ( in terms of volume) of the five finger lakes, and it takes two hours for a scenic drive around the Lake.
Don’t worry, you won’t be bored because there are many things to do at and around the lake. If you’re a wine lover, you can go wine tasting and savor white varieties like Riesling and Chardonnay or red wine like Cabernet Franc at any wineries that dot the Lake. The beautiful, deep Lake also offers a variety of watersports – from relaxing kayaking to sailing.
Niagara Falls
When you’re in Watkin’s Glen, a trip to the iconic Niagara Falls is something you can’t pass up. The drive from Watson’s Glen to Niagara Falls is about two hours. Don’t forget to bring a raincoat for yourself and a waterproof case for your phone or camera, so you don’t need to worry about it getting wet while you take breathtaking photos.
Niagara Falls is a group of THREE waterfalls located at the southern end of Niagara Gorge – American Falls, Bridal Veil Falls, and Horseshoe Falls. The falls span the border of Ontario, Canada, and the State of New York.
The largest and the one you usually see in photos is Horseshoe Falls. The Canadians call this the Canadian Falls. The Horseshoe falls lie directly at the international border of the two countries and are 187 feet high.
You can observe the falls from a distance or take a boat ride and experience the majestic beauty of the waterfall up close.
After your waterfall adventure, you can explore the numerous shops, restaurants, and wineries that dot Niagara county.
Race Watkins International Race Track
If you’re a racing enthusiast, you’ll be making a beeline for “The Glen.” The Glen, which NASCAR currently owns, is a race track known as the Formula One United States Grand Prix’s home hosted from 1961 to 1980. Until now, it hosts a variety of races which you can find on its website. If you want to experience the action for yourself, you can take your car and drive three paced laps around the course for $25. This privilege is available from April to October.
Places to Park Your RV in the Magical Watkins Glen State Park
Are you wondering where to park your RV? Whether you want to rough it or go glamping, here are the three highest-rated places in and around Watkins Glen State Park.
Watkins Glen State Park
If you need a place to park your RV, you don’t need to look further than the park itself. The Watkins Glen State Park has over 305 campsites that can accommodate RVs up to 40 feet. Each of the campsites comes with restrooms, hot showers, dump stations and has firewood for sale should you need it.
It also has the following amenities: food concessions, gift shops, grills, picnic tables, playgrounds, and an Olympic-sized swimming pool.
Oh, and pets are allowed at the camping site, so feel free to bring your furry friends.
Clute Park and Campground
If you don’t like any of the campsites at Watkins Glen State Park, you can head over to The Clute Park and Campground. The park ground is over 35 acres of family recreation area within walking distance of the Watkins Glen downtown.
The park has a beautiful view of Seneca Lake and has seasonal (April-May) dock rentals if you want to stay by the Lake. The campground is equipped with electricity, water, dumping stations, cable TV, and wi-fi. There is also a nearby skate park, ball field, kayak rentals, and other seasonal sports.
You can bring your dogs, but they must be kept on a leash. The park also requires you to obtain proof of rabies vaccination which you must present to the park office.
Watkins Glen/ Corning Koa Resort
If glamping is your thing, you want to park your RV at Corning Koa Resort. The site features full-featured RV sites that can accommodate big RVs. It has electric hookups, dumping stations, showers, and restrooms. If you want to take a break from your RV, it even has 35 camping cabins for you to choose from.
They have a lot of fun activities for everyone in the family- pirate ship playgrounds, movies, mini-golf, and basketball, to name a few. It has a 30′ x 50′ heated INDOOR pool, a fitness center, and a spa if you want to relax. They even have a nightly Theater in the Woods where they play family movies. They even allow pets in this resort, so your pet can come along for the adventure.
Online reservations are not available as of this writing, so you’ll have to call the campsite at 800-562-7430 to make a reservation.
Rent an RV with RVnGO For Your Ultimate Glen State Park Adventure
There’s so much to see and do in and around Watkins Glen State Park, so you need to plan your RV trip to make the most of your time. Seeing the iconic places in and around Glen State Park and the Five Finger Lakes in an RV is the best way to do it. With an RV, you won’t feel rushed, you’ll save money from hotel stays, and you can even convert the RV to an office so you can work and play at the same time.
PS – Read These Tips to Get the Most Out of Your Trip
When you’re planning an RV adventure, here are some tried and tested tips to ensure you have the best time.
- Plan when to go, and work out a loose schedule on where to go. Some of these attractions are seasonal, so make sure it fits your schedule.
- Choose the best RV for the trip. There are many classes of RV,so make sure you rent the right one that’ll fit your needs.
- Make a checklist of the things you’re going to need on your adventure. These can include kitchen supplies, food, beddings, emergency supplies, bikes, and anything else you think you’ll need for the trip.
Camping with an RV rental can be very different than tent camping. Some campsites have certain regulations and rules for visitors traveling in an RV. If this is your first time taking a road trip in an RV rental, check out this First Time RV Camping Guide to gather some essential knowledge.
Are you ready to start planning your relaxing getaway road trip to cruise America and check out the Watkins Glen State Park?
No RV? No Problem! Rent one through RVnGO
If you’re looking for a reliable RV rental company, look no further than RVnGO. RVnGO is a tried and tested RV American company that offers a massive selection of RVs for you to choose from. And, to top it off, it provides excellent damage protection coverage for up to $200,000 to cover most damages. Rent an RV through RVnGO, and find a vetted and verified Host and go on that epic adventure of a lifetime.