Sampson State Park RV & Campground Guide
New York
Sampson State Park
offers a number of activities in the area of Romulus, NY, including fishing, boating, swimming, and hiking. The park, which is on the eastern shore of Seneca Lake, is open all year, but some activities are seasonal. The swimming season starts on June 20 and ends on September 7, and the camping season starts on April 17 and ends on November 3. While the lake is the center of its beauty, there are other interesting places around the park, including the Sampson Veterans Memorial Cemetery. The park is 13.7 miles from Geneva, 57.4 miles from Rochester, and 61.2 miles from Syracuse.
Spring 23-77 F
Summer 50-80 F
Fall 21-72 F
Winter 14-44 F
RV Resorts & Campsites in Sampson State Park
An RV is an ideal way to travel and to enjoy what parks have to offer. RVs give you the flexibility you need as they allow you to set base wherever you want, which is perfect for camping. If you don't own an RV for your visit to Sampson State Park, rent one on RVshare.
Twin Oaks Campground and Marina
Twin Oaks Campground and Marina is directly on Cayuga Lake. It has 186 sites and includes amenities for activities such as boating, fishing, basketball, and swimming. Some of the campground's interesting features include full hookup sites and a marina, boat dockage, and seasonal campsites.
Sned Acres Family Campground
The Sned Acres Family Campground is on Route 89 in the Finger Lakes area. It offers a serene environment for a peaceful experience. Some of the activities available include boating, camping, disc golfing, and hiking. The campground also has horseshoe pits, a fishing pond, and an arcade room. Wi-Fi is available for those who need to stay connected, and the grounds are pet friendly for those traveling with their furry companions.
What to Do at
Sampson State Park
Inside Sampson State Park
Sampson State Park features a wide selection of recreational activities, including swimming, fishing, hunting, biking, tennis, basketball, geocaching, volleyball, boating, and wildlife viewing. You can also enjoy camping at the campground, which has 243 campsites; many have hookups for your RV. The magnificent view of the lake at the center of the park makes it a breathtaking experience.
Outside Sampson State Park
There is a diverse range of places you can visit outside the park. The area has many interesting attractions, including historic sites, wineries, vineyards, parks, trails, museums, shops, and restaurants.
Restaurants
Knapp Winery Restaurant
The Knapp Winery Restaurant is 11 miles south of Seneca Falls. The restaurant offers impressive contemporary food with the menu changing every two months. It has a covered patio overlooking its flower garden and vineyard, providing the ideal dining spot during warm weather. The restaurant offers several interesting seafood menu items.
Type: American, Seafood
Location: 2770 County Rd. 128, Romulus, New York 14541
Fargo Bar & Grill
The Fargo Bar & Grill offers pub-style food with some flair. The restaurant is across from the Aurora Inn and offers lunch and dinner in a casual setting. Its most popular item is the burger, which comes with raw or caramelized onion toppings, cheese, and hand-cut fries. Other menu items include spicy black bean burgers, pulled-pork sandwiches, and barbecue chicken sandwiches.
Type: American
Location: 384 Main St., Aurora, New York 13026
Ventosa Vineyard
Ventosa Vineyard offers homemade Italian cuisine. The restaurant has a warm, comfortable atmosphere with a great dining ambiance as you enjoy breathtaking views of Seneca Lake and estate vineyards. It also offers gluten-free pizza dough and bread among other menu items.
Type: Italian
Location: 3440 State Route 96A, Geneva, New York 14456
La Cocina
The La Cocina restaurant is a great choice for Mexican or Latin cuisine. It offers lunch and dinner. Many menu items are vegetarian friendly, and gluten-free options are also available.
Type: Mexican
Location: 16 Maiden Ln., Penn Yan, New York 14527
Keuka Restaurant
Keuka Restaurant offers local American cuisine. You can enjoy your lunch, dinner, or late-night meals at this spot. The restaurant has guest-centric menu items that are vegetarian friendly and that include vegan and gluten-free options.
Type: American
Location: 12 Main St., Penn Yan, New York 14527
Shopping
Carriage House Gift Shop and Visitor Center
This gift shop is part of the Rose Hill Mansion. It has a selection of children's games and toys from the 19th century. There are also historic books and unique handmade items from the Finger Lakes area.
Location: 3373 Rte. 96A, Geneva, New York 14456
Muranda Cheese Company
Muranda Cheese Company offers excellent cheese. You can take part in the cheese tasting at the barn to find a new favorite snack or meal accompaniment.
Location: 3075 State Route 96, Waterloo, New York 13165
Village Market
Village Market, next to the Aurora Inn, has a wide selection of locally crafted items. You can also enjoy delicious meals and soups.
Location: 385 Main St., Aurora, New York 13026
Mackenzie-Childs
Mackenzie-Childs offers a range of beautiful home items. You can get handmade ceramics, glassware, furniture, enamelware, and home accessories from this shop.
Location: 3260 State Route 90, Aurora, New York 13026
Austin’s Collectibles and Antiques at the Traders Village
This shop offers a collection of antique items, including furniture, household wares, and collectibles. It is the perfect place to find gifts and souvenirs.
Location: 6128 State Route 89, Romulus, New York 14541
Sightseeing
Oliver House Museum
The Oliver House Museum is in the former residence of the Olivers and was built in 1852. The museum belongs to the Yates County Historical Society and offers guided tours of the Victorian rooms. It also offers historical exhibits that include furniture, textiles, costumes, Native American artifacts, blacksmithing and carpentry tools, decorative arts, and paintings and photographs.
Location: 107 Chapel St., Penn Yan, New York 14527
Fox Run Vineyards
Fox Run Vineyards produces some of the best wine in the region. The winery sits in what was a Civil War-era dairy barn before its conversion into a winery in 1990. Situated on the shores of Seneca Lake, the winery offers tours every hour on the hour until 4:00 p.m. There is also a café that offers salads, sandwiches, and homemade soups.
Location: 670 State Rte. 14, Penn Yan, New York 14527
Rose Hill Mansion
The Rose Hill Mansion is a restored 1839 Greek Revival mansion that overlooks Seneca Lake. There are 21 rooms open to the public. You can take a guided tour preceded by an introductory film. The tour takes you through the history of the Swans, a family that inhabited the house between 1850 and 1890, as you view letters, diaries, and photographs. The front porch offers a magnificent view of Seneca Lake.
Location: 3373 Rte. 96A, Geneva, New York 14456
Deer Haven Park
Deer Haven Park sits on part of the former Seneca Army Depot. The park offers a unique ecosystem of wildlife that includes the American bald eagle and the Seneca white-tailed deer. It consists of a hop farm with seven cultivars and about 1,500 hills.
Location: 5479 Ny-96a, Romulus, New York 14541
Climbing Bines Hop Farm
The Climbing Bines Hop Farm is a premier New York brewery. It offers tours that take visitors through its production process.
Location: 511 Hanson Point Rd., Penn Yan, New York 14527
How to Get to
Sampson State Park
Via NY-96 S, W Blaine Rd., and NY-96A: This is the fastest route to Sampson State Park from Romulus. It would take you approximately 12 minutes over 9.7 miles to get to the park. Head south toward Cayuga St. on NY-96 S, then turn right to join W Blaine Rd. Take NY-96A N and continue straight to the park.
Via NY-96 N, Yale Farm Rd., and NY-96A S: This route takes approximately 12 minutes and is 10.1 miles. On NY-96 N, head north toward Van Riper Rd. Turn left to join Yale Farm Rd, then turn left onto NY-96A S and head straight to the park.
Via Seneca Army Depot: This route is only 4.6 miles but would take 13 minutes. Take NY-96 S and head south toward Cayuga St, then take a right turn onto E Patrol Rd. Continue straight for 0.7 miles onto E Kendaia Rd, then continue straight for 1.1 miles toward the Seneca Army Depot. Take a left turn onto North-South Baseline Rd, then take a right turn onto Smith Farm Rd./Smith Vineyard Rd. and continue to follow it to the park
Entering Sampson State Park
Sampson State Park is open daily from dawn until dusk.
Entry fee (per vehicle) : $7
You'll make memories that last a lifetime when you take an RV adventure to Sampson State Park. If you don't have an RV of your own, rent one with RVshare! If you share your trip photos on social media, be sure to tag us, or send them to [email protected] for a chance to be featured on our blog.