$12 a Night on Seneca Lake

by Scott Turner

We have done our fair share of road trips, drone flights, and camping setups, but this weekend marks something different. We’re branching out into the new frontier of travel booking, slick online platforms that promise hidden gems and curious stays at the click of a button.

12 dollar campsite

For this trip I had one main goal, find an interesting place.

The criteria were straightforward, a beautiful view, privacy, a drone-friendly launch site, and most importantly… cheap. Not just affordable, but the kind of bargain that makes you double-check the fine print.

Budget

That’s how we wound up with reservations along New York’s Seneca Lake for a grand total of $29 for two nights, all fees included. $12 per night plus fees... Actually 14.50 a night. You could spend more than that on a drive-thru meal these days. I’m not sure anyone could find a cheaper spot, but we’ll certainly try.

The Location

Seneca Lake, a gem of the Finger Lakes
... is already a popular draw for wine tours, summer getaways, and leaf-peepers in the fall. For me, it’s practically a backyard playground, less than two hours from home. But this time, instead of a cozy inn or a pricey campground, it’s a $12-a-night spot, plus fees, that promises a view, privacy, and the chance to take off into the sky, literally.

Budget trip to Seneca Lake

Drone launches are on the weekend’s to-do list. I plan to zip my little whoop around for fun and then send my camera drone soaring hundreds of feet above the treetops to catch the lake in its full late-summer glory. That’s the theory, anyway.

The Mission

The trip is timed perfectly
...the summer heat has finally broken, and while there might be a touch of rain in the forecast, cooler air means better nights by the camp fire, fewer sweaty afternoons, and maybe even that elusive “last hurrah” camping trip before autumn tightens its grip.

Dog is with me.

Along for the ride is my dog, who apparently senses the mission at hand. Tail wagging, he’s ready for cooler temps and lakeside sniffing.

The Spirit
Let’s be honest, $12 a night in one of New York’s most beautiful regions? That’s not just a deal. That’s a Scott-and-Joe special.

Joe is filming.

Part Two: Preparing for the Seneca Lake Budget Camping Trip

This is the first camping trip of the season where I’ve left the tent at home.
Normally, when Joe and I hit the road, there’s a rhythm, hotels for the longer stretches and tents in between. But this time it is different. It’s a quick weekend trip, close to home, and I figured it was the perfect chance to give car camping a proper go.

Scott and Joe on the road.

What Makes a Good Car Camp?

First, you need a decent car with enough room.
My Subaru may not be a luxury RV, but with a bit of planning, it can be plenty comfortable. The real trick is creating a good sleeping surface, and I’ve got that covered with a solid, inflatable single-person mattress. Add a stack of blankets and pillows...
and suddenly the back of a car starts looking less like a cargo space and more like a rolling cabin.

I never skimp on layers. Temperatures around Seneca Lake can dip into the 50s at night this time of year. So, I’m bringing a heavy blanket, a couple of lighter ones, a sheet, and two pillows. All of it goes into a big garbage bag, partly for convenience, mostly for protection… nothing ruins a trip like damp bedding.

The Ventilation Puzzle

Comfort isn’t just about what you sleep on, it’s also about airflow. Without good ventilation, a car turns into a steamy box of condensation, and that’s not my idea of a good time. I’ve got louvers over the front windows, so I can crack them even in the rain, but I’m hoping the wet weather holds off.

For backup, I’ve got elastic window shade screens… a purchase I made with this exact setup in mind. Haven’t tested them yet, so this will be their trial by fire. If they work, it could make for the perfect balance of airflow, privacy, and bug control.

Flying.

The Pup Factor

Of course, it’s not just me I’ve got to think about.
My dog will be along for the ride, same as always. He’s ten now, but he still lights up when he senses we’re about to hit the road. The quarters will be tight, no doubt about it, but seeing him content and cozy beside me is worth every bit of lost elbow room. He’s my travel buddy, my copilot, and truth be told, one of the reasons I love these little trips so much.

Hitting the Road

Tomorrow after lunch we’ll head out. I’m hoping for safe travels, smooth roads, and decent weather — the essentials for any good weekend getaway. No tent poles, no fuss. Just me, the dog, a trunk full of blankets, and the open road leading to Seneca Lake.

Part Three: First Impressions at Seneca Lake

The campsite turned out to be a gem in its own oddball way. Nestled along Seneca Lake, the view is everything I’d hoped for…open water, peaceful grounds, and the sense of space that makes you want to breathe a little deeper. But here’s the twist: the “campground” is actually set in what used to be a schoolyard. The swings and playgrounds are long gone, but the flat grass and old grounds hold a certain charm.

Seneca Lake camping.

Of course, not everything is perfect...

Much to my chagrin, there’s no porta potty on-site.
None. Zero. When I contacted the property owner, her response felt like one of those “my dog ate my homework” excuses… creative, but not convincing. That made for an uncomfortable exchange. Because really… what do you do when you’ve got to go? Do you hold it? Do you improvise? Maybe I should just ask her straight out… “So, where exactly do campers take care of business?”

The dog, on the other hand, is delighted.

He doesn’t worry about that kind of stuff.
This place is paradise in his eyes, open space, freedom to sniff and roam, and plenty of shade to flop down in when he’s had his fill. He camped like a champ in the car last night, curled up in his little sleeper nook beside me.

Tight quarters, sure, but somehow it felt just right… man and dog snoozing side by side, both content in their own way.

Seneca Lake is already proving itself an adventure, quirks and all.

Part Four: Flying High Over Seneca

This has been a pleasant journey so far
and I have to admit, I’m intrigued by the whole idea of using online camping services. The process was simple, the price was unbeatable, and the spot itself is pretty great. Still, I can’t overlook one glaring problem: no one has shown up with a porta-potty. That’s been the trip’s great disappointment. We’ve managed to make do… I’ll leave those details to your imagination… but it’s definitely something I’ll remember when booking the next place.

Beyond that, though, it’s been just about perfect. One of the things I love most about this site is that there’s no one else here. Not another camper in sight. That kind of privacy is rare these days, almost like seclusion, and sometimes that’s all you need to make a trip worthwhile… a simple escape, a pause from responsibility, and a chance to recharge.

The wide-open grounds have made for some great drone flying.

We’ve had the freedom to launch without worrying about anyone else, and when the camera gets up to nearly 400 feet, the view is everything I imagined. Seneca Lake spreads out below, calm and shining, the kind of scene that makes you stop and soak it in. Seneca Lake is the deepest lake in New York State, a neat fact to pair with the footage we’re capturing.

Seneca Lake flying.

The wineries are close by...

just a few minutes’ drive, but the roads are quiet, with little traffic. Out on the water, I imagine there are plenty of folks sailing or cruising in their motorboats, catching the last days of summer before the season slips away. For us, it’s the perfect late-August hurrah, peaceful, scenic, and just enough adventure to make it memorable.

As for the future
I’m looking forward to seeing what other trips we can piece together using this slick little camping app. If this first experiment is any indication, it could open up a lot of interesting and affordable possibilities. But next time, I’ll make sure the spot comes with one very important amenity… a porta-potty.

Part Five: Wrapping Up at Seneca

And just like that, our little budget getaway at Seneca Lake comes to an end.
Two nights, one abandoned schoolyard, a whole lot of fresh air, and a reminder that sometimes the simplest trips leave the best memories.

Seneca Lake sky.

The weather treated us kindly, warm days, cooler nights, and just enough breeze to keep things comfortable in the car. The no-tent experiment worked better than I expected. My mattress held up, the blankets kept me cozy, and the ventilation screens proved themselves useful.

Tight quarters with a dog can be a challenge, but truth be told, he might’ve been the happiest camper of us all. Watching him stretch out in his little sleeper nook, then bounce around the open grassy each morning, made me smile every time.

Of course, the glaring flaw of this trip was the missing porta-potty.

That’s not something you forget. We made do… or rather, dodo…
but it’s one of those details that can turn into a funny story later, maybe not so funny in the moment. Lesson learned, next time I’ll double-check, maybe even triple-check, before booking.

The highlights, though, far outweigh the quirks.

The peace and privacy of having the whole place to ourselves, the uninterrupted drone flights with sweeping views of New York’s deepest lake, and the quiet beauty of the vineyards. Add in the sense of freedom that comes with being off the clock, unplugged from daily responsibilities, and it felt like a real gift. Very healing.

As we packed up and pointed the car toward home, I found myself already thinking ahead.

This online camping service has its kinks, but it also has promise. If I can score a lakeside spot for $12 a night, who knows what other hidden treasures are out there? The adventure is in the searching, the booking, and, most of all, in the going.

So we’ll chalk this one up as a success...

a quirky, porta-potty-less success, and keep the momentum rolling. Here’s to more roads, more drone flights, and more weekends where the world feels wide open.