This campground was recommended to me by a friend, and I tent camped there in July 2007.
Describe your camping trip:
Sampson State Park has gained the top spot in our favorite campground list. Sampson is a former military base located on the eastern shore of Seneca Lake (one of the NY Finger Lakes.) Nearly all of the sites are on flat ground. There are beautiful views of the lake, nature trails, a military museum and very friendly staff. I brought my four kids (three of them are toddlers), and we had an excellent time. Sampson is very family oriented.Pros: This campground was scrupulously clean. At least once a day, the bathrooms were cleaned inside and out (no spider webs). There is an outdoor sink at the bathrooms that allows you to wash dishes in hot water. Sampson has bicycle rentals (currently $5/hr) including a bike trailer for toddlers. There are grills for the fire at each campsite. The campsites are located on a loop with a large field and bathroom in the middle of each. There is a lot of open space at the campground, but each has some sort of shade tree. The camp store also has a restaurant in it. Daily, a truck circles the campsites with wood and ice available. There is a beach at the campground as well, but our family did not use it as it was chilly/rainy while we were there. There is a large indoor common area with pool tables and picnic tables. My daughter and I went on a "Night Sounds" educational program and guided night hike (about 20 minutes for the hike, very easy on everyone.) There are programs a few times a week from very informed staff. Excellent, excellent place to stay. We didn't want to leave, and we'll definitely be back several times each year.
Cons: The camp store isn't very well stocked with essentials, but those are easily available within a 20 minute drive to Wal-Mart and grocery stores. There are quite a few RVs at the campground, especially on the weekend.
Cons: The camp store isn't very well stocked with essentials, but those are easily available within a 20 minute drive to Wal-Mart and grocery stores. There are quite a few RVs at the campground, especially on the weekend.
Nearby attractions: The campground is very near historic Seneca Falls, NY, which is the birthplace of women's rights and the inspiration for the town featured in "It's A Wonderful Life." There are plenty of shopping areas (Prime Outlet mall is about 20 minutes away in Waterloo), excellent restaurants and the wine trails/restaurants. There are plenty of free events during the summer, a schedule is available online at the county Web site.
