Camping near Rochester with wildlife watching

This sleeper city is a good home base to explore Lake Ontario, the Finger Lakes, and Niagara Falls.

96% (1011 reviews)
96% (1011 reviews)

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12 top campgrounds near Rochester with wildlife watching

95%
(52)

Apple Cove Farm

9 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents15 acres · Gainesville, NY
Bought this place 13 yrs ago it was nothing but bare land. I've cleared out an area to camp, play, and enjoy the world. Find this as a good chance to share the outdoors with new ppl. Every year we host a Tree fundraiser called "May We Begin" where we replant as many trees with tree shields as we can raise funds for. Learn more about this land: The feeling of peace is about 1 mile off the road. Pulling into Apple Cove you'll see we've cleared areas for tents and small van style RVs. There is an individual fire pit for each camper, a small rock bottom creek runs through the 15 acres for a nice, relaxing view of the woods. The kids and I set up a swing set, and a spot by the creek to play and splash. Now, New York is a 420 friendly state. Enjoy yourself but please be respectful of others Minutes away from: Letchworth State Park, Silver Lake, Genesee River, Geneseo, Silver Springs MX track, Mt. Morris Dam, Walmart, Tim Hortons, Escoy Creek, Wiscoy falls, Stony Brook Creek, Silver Lake Drive Inn, With in an hour from: Buffalo, Batavia, Corning, Chautauqua, Lake, Rochester, Olean, Hamburg, Jamestown, Franklinville, Ellicottville, Niagara Falls Tonawanda, Lake Erie, Lake Ontario, Case Lake, Finger lakes, Rushford lake, Watkins Glenn, Three different casinos, Bills Stadium, Sabers Rink, Bison's and Batavia baseball Statium Recycling is encouraged, camping is at your own risk and discretion for spot location. Military members showing id at check in receive $5 cash back or free small bundle of wood. Thanks for your service!
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$28.50
 / night
93%
(217)

Mission Hemlock Grove

4 sites · RVs, Tents200 acres · Conesus, NY
Welcome, Mission Conesus, originally built by Franciscan Catholics. These lands were likely chosen for many reasons. Suffice it to say there is something special here. Come discover for yourself. Lose yourself here, or maybe find yourself, among the Hemlocks. First, a bit about the terrain. There is much in the way of forest, very mature, and a broad array of plant species. Elevation differences are vast, land to the west is uphill for quite a ways, and downhill to the east, to Hemlock lake below, so the world here can feel a bit tilted. We adjoin 150 acres of nature conservancy lands that nobody seems to know about. These lands are for respectful public daytime use. We also adjoin 6600 acres of NY state forest which is public property. Exploring all that is here would take a very long time! Want to get away? Welcome to our little slice of heaven. We are just getting started in the camping space, but for now, we're accepting bookings and looking forward to hosting you, at the mission. See the provided map for site locations. Site 1 is open field and is near the pavilion, sites 2 and 3 are along the woods, and site 4 is the most private and tucked into the woods. We looking forward to hosting you, at the mission.
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$25.60
 / night
97%
(89)

Yost Ridge in the Finger Lakes

2 sites · RVs1 acre · Waterloo, NY
FULL HOOKUP site, 30, 50, 110 electric - WIFI - POTABLE WELL WATER (65psi) - SEPTIC TANK - LARGE DRIVEWAY ENTRANCE - LEVEL PARKING on pad This is a perfect area for fishing, kayaking, bicycling, kite flying, hiking, wine trailing or relaxing. Enjoy the well-maintained fire pit in the Adirondack chairs. (Local firewood is for sale in the area.)  Sunrise and sunset are spectacular here and stargazers will be delighted with the expansive views. Amish carriages and work horses are common sites. Park however it suits you for getting the best views. It's easy to back in or out with big rigs and trailers from the quiet road . The driveway entrance is extra large. There's plenty of space for a boat, trailer or second vehicle. YOST RIDGE is located between Cayuga Lake and Seneca Lakes ("Trout fishing capital of the World") in the Finger Lakes wine country, and is just a short distance from numerous wineries; Swedish Hill, Knapp Vineyards, Three Brothers, Thirsty Owl, Ventosa, Buttonwood Grove, and Hosmer wineries. Also located nearby are the National Women's Hall of Fame, and many state parks, including Cayuga Lake State Park, Seneca Lake State Park, Taughannock Falls State Park, Watkins Glen State Park, Buttermilk Fall State Park, within short distances of this site. Two boat launch sites a few miles away.
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$18
 / night
100%
(7)

Revive Your Spirit at Lagom Langing

3 sites · Lodging, Tents60 acres · Dansville, NY
Get away from it all on 60 acres of quiet space! You have two options--bring your own tent and camping gear and rough it, or stay in our hand-built cabin with all you need for a couple of nights of pure R&R! Experience zero light pollution at this off the grid cabin or in one of our camping spots. Although the cabin is not hooked up to electric or water, it is equipped with kitchen cabinets, pots and pans and dishes and silverware, drinking and cleaning/cooking water, a pullout bed with sheets and blankets (2 people), a couch that becomes a futon, one more couch and a blowup air mattrees, a dining room table and four chairs, a porch glider, an outhouse, a camp stove, books, a few rechargeable lights (but good to bring your own), kindling and firewood, and is insulated with a stove for winter stays. A fire pit and benches await your nighttime enjoyment of the solitude and stars. We encourage you to walk and experience a true "backwoods" experience, but we will drive you down in our Utility Vehicle if needed. A ping pong table is available in the barn/workshop if people would like to play. We also have pollinator and vegetable gardens and chickens, and we produce maple syrup in the spring. If guests are interested in workshops on carpentry, food preservation, foraging, gardening, bread baking, and kombucha-brewing, they should let us know a WEEK in ADVANCE. We also offer spiritual direction and Enneagram exploration/typing conversations. This experience can be as solitary as a guest would like, or guests can also experience the gift of connecting with others in community.
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$29.75
 / night
100%
(83)

Peaceful Private Campground

3 sites · RVs10 acres · Penn Yan, NY
Private campground with 3 full hookup sites (book each separately, see below) on 10 acres of wooded property with winding Sugar Creek running through. Everything the Finger Lakes has to offer is close by! Wineries, breweries, hiking, fishing, boating, antiquing, shopping, historic sites, and charming small towns are just some of the little adventures you can experience. Keuka Lake State Park is only 4 miles away and we're in close proximity to the village of Penn Yan where you'll find any provisions you may need. Time slows down as you relax and experience what we like to call 'Camp Time'. We hope you enjoy it as much as we do!The sites are grouped together so that you can do just that - go with a group! Also a great site to go solo. If you rent a site, the entire property is yours for that time frame. We would not rent to multiple unassociated groups during the same reservation time.**Of note, you will need a 50 amp plug to hook into our electricity**We're just beginning on our HipCamp journey. We're happy to work with you while we learn the ropes!
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$45
 / night

Available this weekend

Under $50

Value Prop
Value Prop
Happy farmer sitting in a truck in a grassy field
Happy farmer sitting in a truck in a grassy field

Camping near Rochester with wildlife watching guide

Overview

Looking to explore the great outdoors near Rochester, New York? Hipcamp has over 1,600 options for camping with a wildlife watching preference in this area. Whether you're a seasoned nature enthusiast or just looking to unplug and reconnect with nature, you'll find the perfect campsite. Check out top campsites like ZiegenVine Homestead (230 reviews), Waterfall Creek (197 reviews), and Underhill Forest and Farm (166 reviews) for a truly immersive experience. With popular amenities like toilets, showers, and campfires, and activities like swimming, fishing, and exploring historic sites, you'll have everything you need for a memorable camping adventure. Plus, with average prices starting at $40 per night and options as low as $10, it's affordable too.

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