Tompkins

Cowanesque Lake — lakeside, fishing, hiking

Location: TIOGA, PA, PA

Price: From $24 per night

Price range: $24–$46 per night

Rating: 4.4 out of 5 (322 reviews)

Season: May through October

Tompkins Campground is on the north shore of Cowanesque Lake in the northern tier of Pennsylvania, less than one mile from the New York state border. Surrounded by lush forested ridges, the lake offers recreation for the entire family, including picnicking, swimming, boating, fishing, hiking, hunting and wildlife watching. The campground is a great place for kids of any age.Tompkins has a variety of shoreline sites, most of which have electric hookups.

Cell coverage (FCC estimate): none signal. Actual signal may vary in remote areas.

Amenities: Fire Rings, Picnic Tables, Drinking Water, Showers, Dump Station, Electric Hookups, Fishing, Boat Launch

Availability alerts: Set a free cancellation alert at camperwatch.org/campground/tompkins to be notified when sites open up.

Tompkins Campground sits on the north shore of Cowanesque Lake with spacious, clean sites and excellent lake views. Campers praise the scenic surroundings, restroom facilities, and variety of water activities including boating, fishing, and kayaking.

Wildlife alert: Timber Rattlesnake and Northern Ringneck Snake present in area. Also Red Fox, North American Porcupine, Eastern Chipmunk, Long-billed Dowitcher, and Greater Yellowlegs.

Insider tips for Tompkins: Book early — this is a popular federal campground with limited availability Meadow loop (MEAD on reservation.gov) offers great waterfront sites like P16 with direct lake views Bench loop near water has full hookup sites available Plan kayaking for early morning to avoid powerboat traffic

Skip Tompkins if: You need water/sewer hookups — only electric hookups available on select sites. You require year-round camping — seasonal operations May through October only. You prefer sites with guaranteed hookups — most sites have none.

Best time to visit Tompkins: May through October — Campground operates seasonally during these months only.

Nearby campgrounds: Lawrence Recreation Area (Tioga, PA), South Shore Recreation Area (Tioga, PA), Ives Run (TIOGA, PA), Lambs Creek Recreation Area (Tioga, PA).