Two Teslas at Taughannock?
TAUGHANNOCK FALLS STATE PARK
1740 Taughannock Blvd, Trumansburg, NY 14886
$24/night (non-electric) plus $7.50 reservation fee, 2 night minimum
I’ve been looking forward to TeslaCamping with a friend for some time now. We’ve been talking about it for several years, and while I’ve got a number of trips under my belt and he’s done one of his own, we’ve yet to manage to take a road trip at the same time.
Why not find a campground here in upstate New York and just plan a weekend? We decided to do just that, and settled on Taughannock Falls.
Taughannock Falls State Park's namesake waterfall is one of the outstanding natural attractions of the Northeast. Taughannock Falls plunges 215 feet past rocky cliffs that tower nearly 400 feet above the gorge. It is the tallest single-drop waterfall east of the Rocky Mountains. Gorge and rim trails offer spectacular views from above the falls.
In early April 2025 my friend Ryan and I took Red Rocket to Ithaca to do some reconnaissance, hoping to find the perfect campsite at this state park for a stay later in the season. We found a gate with a ‘closed’ sign blocking half the road, but we ignored it, driving around into the campground itself. We were pulled over taking notes when we noticed a Tesla Model Y driving through, as well - another Tesla road tripper or TeslaCamper? It’s catching on!
The campground offers 17 sites with 30-amp electrical service, but we found them to be small and too out in the open for us. Since the Tesla Supercharger is only 10 miles away in Ithaca, and knowing that there is a J-1772 charger at a nearby marina, we continued on into the non-electric, tent camping section.
We found a number of sites underneath a canopy of trees. We settled on site 38, which something of a view of Cayuga Lake, as well as more privacy, including one with more area off the road, room for two Teslas and a tent, and a fire pit. (It appeared that some sites lacked those, though they may be brought back in time for the season opening?)
The only drawback: an incline down into the site would leave us sleeping at somewhat of an angle. I have done this before and didn’t mind, but there were more level sites available, and I wondered if one might be a better choice. Regardless, I booked the site for an upcoming available weekend and we began making plans, with hopes that our Cayuga Lake view wouldn’t be too obscured from leaves six weeks into the future…
Taughannock Falls' main falls is a 215-foot drop (66 m), making it 33 feet (10 m) taller than Niagara Falls! It boasts significantly less volume, making it less impressive. Visitors to the Scenic Falls Overlook (where the photo below was taken) and its many hiking trails seems to multiply exponentially after a rapid snowmelt or rainstorm, when said volume can increase the awe factor substantially.
The waterfall is part of Taughannock Creek, which flows through a long gorge with cliffs up to 400 feet (120 m) high. In addition to the 215-foot main waterfall, two additional waterfalls are located within the park: a 20-foot (6.1 m) waterfall known as Little or Lower Falls, located downstream of Taughannock Falls, while the 100-foot (30 m) Upper Falls are found upstream.
The 0.75-mile-long (1.21 km) Gorge Trail leads to a viewing area at the base of the falls and also passes by Lower Falls. The 1.5-mile (2.4 km) North Rim Trail and 1.2-mile (1.9 km) South Rim Trail can be connected to form a loop hike which offers views of Upper Falls. Be forewarned: these hiking trails include a bit of an incline - and some stairs!
The campground at Taughannock Falls is less than ten miles from Ithaca, NY. Situated on the southern shore of Cayuga Lake, as of 2020 the city's population was 32,108. Ithaca is a college town, home to Cornell University, an Ivy League university, as well as Ithaca College and a nearby community college.
Ithaca is named after the Greek island of Ithaca; most everything else in this area is named for the Indian tribes that inhabited the area first.
Cayuga Lake is named after the indigenous Cayuga people. Cayuga is the longest of the 11 Finger Lakes, and is the second largest in surface area (marginally smaller than nearby Seneca Lake. It is just under 39 miles (63 km) long, with an average width of 1.7 miles (2.8 km), and is 3.5 mi wide (5.6 km) at its widest point. Cayuga Lake is approximately 435 ft deep (133 m) at its deepest point.
Just eight miles south, on the way to Ithaca, is Allan H. Treman State Marine Park, with a large state marina and boat launch. Several other state parks are nearby, including Buttermilk Falls State Park and Allan H. Treman State Park; both also have campgrounds.
Ithaca is a very liberal city, largely in part due to its proximity to Cornell. Locals sometimes refer to it as “Little Portland”. It was common to see Priuses here before they were popular elsewhere, and a large number of Teslas and other EVs have graced the city’s streets, far more per capita (in my estimation) than other areas of upstate New York. Ithaca is filled with activism, with folks fighting for equality and equity, against food insecurity and hunger, and against climate change. The day we pre-tripped Taughannock Falls “Hands Off” protests were taking place across the country, and we had to drive into the city and visit the Ithaca Commons, where more than 300 people lined the streets holding signs against DOGE and the actions Elon Musk is taken. (I was sure to give some supportive horn honks, which were met by cheers from the crowd, and one man shouting “SELL YOUR TESLA!” repeatedly.
Ithaca is considered by some to be a foodie destination, although I find it to have far more than its fair share of chain restaurants and fast food than other college towns I’ve visited. We’re hoping to find something amazing for Waterfall Weekend. Locals swear by Purity Ice Cream and the Cat Cafe.
WATERFALL WEEKEND?
Ithaca is known for its waterfalls, including Buttermilk Falls - which also boasts a state park and a campground. Ryan and I took a trip over to that park a few weeks ago, but found that the campground was blocked off and, after speaking to the locals and learning that the campground doesn’t offer much in the way of a view, decided to expand our search. Still, it would be on our list for what we’re calling Waterfall Weekend.
Other waterfalls in the area include Ithaca Falls, Triphammer Falls, Potter’s Falls, Frontenac Falls, Lucifer Falls, Ludlowville Falls, Lick Brook Falls, and Businessman’s Lunch. Some are visible from the roadway, and others require a a short steep trek, with varying levels of amazement on the other end of that.
If seeing waterfalls is something you enjoy, Ithaca has more than half a dozen to choose from, as well as several smaller ones that are so far unnamed. We hope to unofficially name a few of them during our visit…
Buttermilk Falls State Park
There is lots to see besides waterfalls within a short drive of the campground, including oddities and roadside attractions where you’d least expect to find them. Having lived in the Finger Lakes region of upstate New York for all but nine years of my life, I’ve long enjoyed drives between the lakes. Drives between Ithaca and Elmira, Ithaca and Watkins Glen, and Ithaca and Geneva have long been among my favorite. In pre-planning this trip we’ve taken a few of those, stopping to snap some photos of Red Rocket at roadside attractions along the way.
Newfield Bridge was originally built in 1853, and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2000. It is the oldest surviving covered bridge still open to daily vehicular traffic. You know we had to stop and snap a pic. I especially liked that the bridge is red. Turns out that the covered portion is much, much newer than the ‘bones’ of the bridge. The bridge was rebuilt in 1972, when a laminated arch was added. It was further rehabilitated in 1998. Covered bridges are rare; this one is one of only 25 remaining in the state, down from 250 at one point. You can read more about the bridge here.
How about a train car just randomly in the woods, for no apparent reason? You’ll find that on Route 89 - the same road Taughannock Falls State Park is on - about 10 miles to the north. (You’ll pass it if you decide to take a day trip to Seneca Falls or Geneva). Had to stop and snap a pic. Would love to know the story behind this caboose curiosity. If I find out anything more on a future trip, I’ll be sure to share it here.
We’ve got six weeks until Two Teslas at Taughannock, aka Waterfall Weekend. I plan to spend some of that time researching Ithaca for places to eat, sites to see, and things to do. Of course, Teslacamping in the woods is enough of a draw to have me looking forward to the weekend, but with this campground in an area of so much natural beauty, I don’t want us to miss anything if we can help it!
If you have any tips to share on Ithaca, or anywhere else in the Finger Lakes, please email me!
I’ll have photos from our trip once it’s complete!
