When you live in Maine, choosing a summer vacation can be hard.
We chose Niagara Falls and fell in love with Watkins Glen State Park along the way.
Our summer vacation camping trip to New York with stops in Watkins Glen State Park and Niagara Falls.
We bought our new fifth wheel in the Spring to take a trip beyond Maine. Before that unit, we had a small travel trailer, which served its purpose. But we knew if we were going to spend over a week in it on the road, it was time for an upgrade. For our first adventure in the new camper, we didn’t want to travel more than a day’s drive. That’s how we decided on New York. I had visited Niagara Falls as a child, but barely remember it. Will had never been. Knowing we also wanted to stay in State Parks, a little research added Watkins Glen State Park to our itinerary. Best choice we ever made.
The first stop was Vermont.
On a Saturday, we took the scenic route across New Hampshire to a local campground in Vermont. Although there were a few state parks in the area, we decided to stay at the best choice for the night. Coincidentally, that afternoon was the yearly Maine Moose Lottery drawing. Will’s name was drawn for his third moose hunt, making him a very lucky guy. If you’re interested, you can click here to read my story about the anticipation of this day.
Four and a half hours to Watkins Glen State Park.
Off to New York, where we spent two amazing days at Watkins Glen State Park. The drive was long, traversing the vast stretch of highway known as Interstate 88. Not only was it long, it was bumpy for close to the entire ride. Our only stop was for fuel, bathroom, and of course a couple of slices of that good old gas station pizza.
Arriving at Watkins Glen State Park.
As we ascended a large hill with a fifth-wheel camper in tow, we came to realize how deep this gorge was. We chugged along to the camp headquarters where we were greeted by pleasant staff. Firewood was available, as New York, as many states now, require local wood to be burnt, and not carried in from other areas.
With over 300 campsites to choose from we were completely satisfied with our choice, being right behind the entrance to the gorge trail. Our cost was only $23 per night, with $5 being an out-of-state resident fee. Well worth the price.
Hiking the gorge.
This magnificent gorge is the highlight of Watkins Glen State Park. In just two miles the stream winds down 400 feet through cliffs over 200 feet tall. There are up to 19 waterfalls, depending on the season, some of which the trail goes right underneath. I was a bit intimidated at first, as there was a sense of vertigo looking up at the sides of the massive cliffs. We decided to hike down the outer trail to start, towards town. We then reversed our direction and came back up through the gorge itself. The trip took us roughly a couple of hours.
Niagara Falls was incredible too.
Next on our itinerary was Niagara Falls. We stayed at Four Mile Creek State Park, which is about fifteen miles away. It was a perfect location. Nestled on the shores of Lake Ontario, it had a large, clean, and comfortable campground. There was even a laundry (even on vacation, it’s got to be done). We spent 3 days in the area, first at the American Falls, then into Canada for the other side. Each side seems to have its pros and cons, but I didn’t prefer one side to the other. The last day we spent visiting the Erie Canal and even took a trip through a couple of locks. Very interesting for sure.
We ended our trip with a long ride home. We had planned on stopping in Massachusetts for an overnight at a local Elks Lodge. If you are an active member you are welcome to use their parking areas for camping, providing there is room. It’s quite a perk, as all Elk Lodges seem to be very accommodating. But my husband wanted to keep going, and he’s the driver, so who am I to stop him? We arrived home quite late after about 14 hours on the road, but it was nice to be home from another great vacation beyond Maine.