Ithaca, NY
Firelight Camps
Firelight Camps turns a wooded hillside on Ithaca's west edge into the Finger Lakes' most polished glamping basecamp — safari tents with hardwood floors and private…
Finger Lakes · New York
Private campsites & glamping in Ithaca, NY
Ithaca's slogan — 'gorges' — is a promise the landscape keeps: the town sits at the southern tip of Cayuga Lake, sliced by gorges with names like Buttermilk, Treman, and Taughannock, each with waterfalls that would be a state park anywhere else. Cornell and Ithaca College give it a year-round pulse — bookshops, a legendary farmers market, and a restaurant scene wildly out of proportion to a town of 30,000.
Glamping here means safari tents on a hillside farm on Danby Road, five minutes from Buttermilk Falls State Park: canvas tents with real beds and wood stoves, farm animals, and fire pits under some of the darkest skies in the Finger Lakes. You're ten minutes from downtown Ithaca, an hour from the Cayuga wine trail, and four hours from Manhattan — the farthest drive on this list, and the one most worth it.
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1 stays in Ithaca
Questions, answered
Camping in Ithaca: FAQs
How far is Ithaca from New York City?
About 230 miles, roughly 4 hours via I-81 or Route 17. It's a commitment — plan at least three days.
Which gorge should I visit first?
Buttermilk Falls for the swimming and the easy access; Robert H. Treman for the gorge trail; Taughannock for the single tallest waterfall east of the Rockies.
Can you swim in the gorges?
At designated swimming areas only — Buttermilk's pool and Treman's lower falls. Gorge swimming outside marked areas is dangerous and illegal.
What's the best time to visit Ithaca?
Late May through October. Fall is spectacular and the colleges are in session; summer has the swimming. Winter is stark and quiet.
Is the wine trail worth it?
The Cayuga Lake Wine Trail was the first in America — the Rieslings are the real draw, and the lake views from the east-side wineries are superb.
What's the deal with the farmers market?
The Ithaca Farmers Market at Steamboat Landing is a regional institution — Saturday and Sunday, April through December, on the inlet with the lake behind it.