Dispersed Camping in Tompkins County, New York
Showing 21 locations in Tompkins County.
Backbone Horse Campground
A developed equestrian-friendly campground in the Finger Lakes National Forest offering rustic sites with hitching posts and basic amenities.
Bald Mountain Trailside Hike-In
A hike-in backcountry camping spot located along the Snowmobile Trail near Bald Mountain.
Ballard Pond Parking Area
A quiet parking area and road spur located within the Finger Lakes National Forest near Ballard Pond.
Buttermilk Falls State Park Campground
A developed state park campground offering convenient access to Buttermilk Falls hiking trails. While scenic and well-equipped with a dump station, the campground sits near a highway and railroad, resulting in significant ambient noise.
Cass Park Municipal Parking Area
A municipal parking area situated next to sports fields along the Cayuga Lake waterfront. While some visitors have stayed overnight, municipal codes strictly limit overnight use.
Cayuga Shopping Plaza
Parking within a suburban shopping plaza, situated between a lodging facility and an automotive shop. While useful for an overnight stay, the area is active and can experience evening noise from surrounding businesses.
Connecticut Hill Bivouac Site
A basic bivouac camping site located along Connecticut Hill Road near the Finger Lakes Trail, offering primitive overnight space.
Dryden Roadside Parking
A basic roadside parking pull-off located along the highway in Dryden.
Fair Street Stealth Parking
A quiet, dead-end residential street on Fair Street next to the river in Ithaca, suitable for discrete overnight stealth parking. This residential area requires highly incognito vehicles to maintain a low profile and avoid neighborhood disruption.
Giles Street Stealth Parking
On-street parking along Giles Street in Ithaca, offering 24-hour limit spaces next to the creek. Located near the university, this spot is convenient but experiences regular morning commuter traffic and occasional street sweeping.
Headquarters Road Dispersed
A scenic corridor within the Finger Lakes National Forest, offering roadside dispersed camping opportunities along a well-graded aggregate road.
Irvin Campsite
A quiet hike-in campsite located off Adams Road, likely within the state forest land. Ideal for primitive tent camping away from vehicles.
Ithaca Bivouac Site
A basic walk-in bivouac campsite designated for backpackers and hikers.
Kimmie Bivouac
Rustic hike-in bivouac shelter located in Robinson Hollow State Forest, offering a primitive backcountry camping setup.
Planet Fitness Lansing
A commercial gym parking lot with permission for overnight stays. Parking is best near the trees on the far side of the lot, which provides morning shade and some privacy.
Potomac Group Campground
A primitive walk-in group campground in Finger Lakes National Forest. Ideal for groups of 8 to 40 people, it features a scenic setting near several ponds and hiking trails. Sites are located approximately 500 feet from the parking area, requiring all gear to be packed in and out.
Robert H. Treman State Park
This state park campground offers a scenic, wooded environment near spectacular gorges and waterfalls, including Lucifer Falls. It features well-maintained hiking trails, swimming areas near the lower falls, and clean amenities including showers. The campground has both non-electric and electric (30 amp) sites suitable for tents and various rig sizes, making it an excellent base camp for exploring the nearby Ithaca area. Camping permits here also include day-use vehicle access to other nearby state parks through the end of checkout day.
Runway Lane Parking
A public paved parking lot on Runway Lane near the Cayuga Lake Inlet and local city parks.
Taughannock Falls State Park Campground
A beautifully wooded state park campground situated along the west shore of Cayuga Lake. It offers clean restrooms, hot showers, tent sites, electric hookup sites, a playground, and close access to the breathtaking Taughannock Falls trail. Wild camping and roadside overnight stays are strictly prohibited within the state park; all campers must stay in designated sites.
Teeter Pond Dispersed Area
Dispersed camping and parking area near Teeter Pond in the Finger Lakes National Forest, offering quiet forested sites.
Trumansburg Parking Area
A basic paved parking area suitable for a quick rest stop near Trumansburg.