The best waterside campgrounds near Utica, New York

Just 35 miles south of the Adirondacks, this small city is a gateway to central New York. With lakes, marshes, and the Erie Canal, Utica is fascinating for urban adventurers and families alike.

The Erie Canal hasn't run directly through Utica for nearly a century. Today, the paved-over waterway is the 13.5-mile Canalway Trail. The flat terrain makes for easy biking. The trail passes the Utica Marsh Wildlife Management Area, a nice spot for nature walks and birding.

The Mohawk River is also here, offering a watery view of the shore's shuttered factories and wildlife. To launch, take your canoe to Harbor Road near Genesee Street in Utica. You can also hop aboard an Erie Canal tour boat, with options from group kayaks to house boats. The guides are a great source of Erie history and can explain finer points like the canal's antique locks.

Kayakers can pitch tent at Lock 20 in Marcy, NY. The facilities have bathrooms and water, but the first-come, first-serve camping is quite small, so try to arrive early.

In nearby Rome, Delta Lake State Park sits on a peninsula jutting into the Delta Reservoir. A popular spot for fishing, the park has a boat launch and a sandy beach with lifeguards during the summer. The camp has spacious sites, some on the waterfront, and each comes with a picnic table and fire ring. The wooded grounds here are relatively flat, making for easy walking along the trails.

Pixley Falls State Park is a short drive from Delta Lake. The star of the park is the 50-foot tall waterfall. A hiking trail follows the streams uphill for deeper exploration.

The private campgrounds in the Adirondack foothills are great if you want a summer camp vibe. Close to Utica, these camps range from rustic cabins to RV parks and resorts. Several offer extras such as fishing ponds and swimming pools, plus amenities like Wi-Fi and laundry.

Utica is well-situated for day trips, with Lake Ontario and the Finger Lakes both about 80 miles away. Less than an hour away, the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown is a must-see for sports fans.

99% (1.1K) • 12 campsites

Top-rated campgrounds near Utica

The Swim Pond at Olin Springs

1. The Swim Pond at Olin Springs

100%

(18)

34mi from Utica · 3 sites · Tents, RVs

The property was historically used for milk cows grazing and the farmer would put the milk jugs in the main emergent spring to keep cold. Federal wetlands in the back are protected from adding to or changing, but can be explored in your wellies! There was nothing on the land when purchased in 2018. We wanted to create our own lake front property for our retirement. The man made pond is blue clay, spring fed and holds water year round. It was stocked with large mouth bass and channel catfish in 2020. Please, only keep fish over 12 inches. Learn more about this land: Also, there is a small stream and wetlands to explore.

Pets

Toilets

Campfires

from

$40

/ night

Sisi Farm @ Guilford Lake NY State

2. Sisi Farm @ Guilford Lake NY State

49mi from Utica · 10 sites · Tents, RVs

Sisi Farm is a 22 acres beautiful family owned farm. The farm is across the street from a 70 acres width with 70 feets depth Guilford Lake New York State Park. Sisi Farm has a pond with relatively flat grass land. This farm is perfect for either short-term, medium-term and long-term camping. There are only limited numbers of campsites on the farm. Therefore, each campsite will have its own privacy area. There are various choices of the campsites between pondfront, on grass, in the forest, or top of the hill. The farm has a Farmers Market on every Saturday from Spring to Fall. People can stop by to spend a nice weekend at the farm. The land is surrounded with beautiful fruit trees. This natural environment offers beautiful natural surroundings in all seasons. The farm is located at a very convenient location. There are only 10 minutes driving distance to get to all places to satisfy the daily essentials. There are banks, gas stations, supermarkets, fast food restaurants, bakeries, pharmacies etc around the area. In addition to the good location, there are unlimited things to do around the area everyday.

Pets

Campfires

Picnic table

from

$41

/ night

Whetstone Gulf State Park

3. Whetstone Gulf State Park

State park 44mi from Utica · 57 sites

Upstate may be the best part of New York and you’ll find out why at Whetstone Beach State Park. Set in one of the prettiest gorges in the East, you’ll have access to hiking and biking trails, swimming, and playgrounds that are fun for e’rebody! Hike up the gorge for world class fishing in the reservoir and when the day is done relax under the starry sky in one of the wooded campgrounds.