192 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Camping near Arkville, NY ranges from developed state campgrounds with RV hookups to primitive backcountry campsites deep in the Catskill Forest Preserve. Little Pond Campground in nearby Andes offers both standard and remote lakeside tent sites, while Woodland Valley Campground provides creek-side camping with proximity to challenging hiking trails. Within a 30-minute drive, campers find options ranging from the spacious sites at Kenneth L. Wilson Campground to the more rustic experience at Alder Lake. The region features a mix of tent-only areas, RV-compatible campgrounds with hookups, and walk-in sites that provide greater privacy. Many locations maintain traditional Catskill Mountain character with wooded sites and access to fishing streams, small lakes, and extensive trail networks.
Most campgrounds in the area operate seasonally from mid-May through early October, with limited winter access. Cell service is notably absent throughout much of the region, as multiple campers report: "There is NO cell service and just forget about WiFi. You are unplugged," notes one visitor to North-South Lake Campground. Proper food storage is essential due to black bear activity, with rangers providing specific guidelines at check-in. Weather conditions can change rapidly in the mountains, with summer thunderstorms and occasional tropical storm systems affecting the area. Many campgrounds require advance reservations through ReserveAmerica, particularly for weekend stays during peak summer months. Road access varies significantly, with some locations like Alder Lake requiring navigation on "bumpy" unpaved roads for the final approach.
Waterfront campsites near Arkville consistently receive the highest ratings from visitors, though they often require early booking or walking gear to reach more remote locations. "I had a great time on a one night stay here at site 36. Very private and right on the pond," reports one camper at Little Pond. Proximity to trailheads is another frequently mentioned advantage, with several campgrounds offering direct access to hiking paths. The region's campgrounds vary in privacy levels, with some visitors noting sites can be "very close together" while others praise the spaciousness. Wildlife encounters are common, particularly deer and black bears. Phoenicia Black Bear Campground lives up to its name according to one camper who "woke up to a baby bear walking on our campsite," highlighting the importance of proper food storage throughout the Catskills.
"Pros: Near wonderful, little-used hiking trails - challenging ones, too!
- Close to Catskill town options to explore, e.g."
"You can see a picture here of the water just a 10 foot trail away from our campsite. All in all a great trip."
from $22 / night
Check Availability"water to play in right behind tent. I do prefer fire pits over the brick stove. this had the stove. more advanced hiking in walking distance. no cell service. my gps on phone was able to track though."
"Close to Woodstock, NY, many trails and other attractions. You need to plan for it, there's a lot to explore; some trails are challenging. "
from $20 / night
Check Availability"There are two campsites located right outside of the park where you can park your car next to your tent but we opted to hike in."
"There are several beautiful, secluded hike-in sites along the lake which I would love to return to someday. The hike around the lake is a lovely, easy walk."
"This campground is nestled in the Catskills, New York, with easy access to New Jersey and Connecticut."
"Access to fresh water spouts and clean bathrooms were just a walk away from most sites, theres a beautiful pond on site and beautiful views of the Catskills, Woodstock is a 15 min drive if you’re looking"
from $22 / night
Check Availability"You will see a yellow little circle sign on a tree with a tent on it, a short distance down that side trail there is the site. It has rock benches and a fire pit. Primitive."
"However the descriptions of this place in reviews here and elsewhere provided very little info and once I got out to the trail realized how different it was to what I expected."
"Our first campground was in New York Aug 8th. Unfortunately, Debbie was socking New York hard. North South Lake Campground in the Catskills was our camping home."
"This is a truly beautiful and scenic campground, easily one of the best places we have visited in New York State."
from $22 - $44 / night
Check Availability"A great free spot for dispersed camping tucked right off the road. Had a fire pit and picnic table"
"Short walk to all campsites."
from $130 / night
Check Availability"This campground was so pleasant, very clean and quiet, I loved how close the river was to our campground, only a few steps away."
"Bathrooms were very cleaned and everybody respected COVID-related social distancing. Would come again!"
from $20 - $40 / night
Check Availability"Right outside downtown Phoenicia the black bear campground is perfectly situated for a multitude of activities. They offer creek front and wooded campsites."
"2 minutes walk to town"
from $35 - $65 / night
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GuideStayed at lot #71, loop B! It’s across from the bathrooms, behind there’s a trail that takes you to the lake (about a 5 min walk). No electric, water, or dump station. Firewood is near the entrance, they give you a burlap sack to fill up with!
TravelerWe were looking for a campsite on our way up north and we’re so happy to find this one. While it is a commercial site. It is located in the woods. It has full hook up and portable water at the site. We couldn’t be happier with a warm welcome we received late at night and the cleanliness of the bathrooms and each site. I would highly recommend this campsite.
TravelerThis was the sweetest campground around!! They deliver fire wood right to your site along with anything else you need. Free delivery of amazing pizza on Friday nights(delivered by a 1969 pink beetle!!). There is a giant river, a dog park and the camp ground is close to town, but far enough away so that you still feel like your camping! Amazing bathroom/shower facilities and a clean swimming pool:)
LegendExcellent campground! The forest is beautiful, the Hudson River is super close, there are great trails, and the surrounding area is beautiful. Sites are electric only, so make sure your water pump is working and fresh water tank is full. There are spigots for filling and a nice dump station. The player is excellent. I don't think tetn camping here would be great because the tent sites are closer together and there are trains that pass regularly. We couldn't hear the trains in our camper and our site was large and private with great Forest and hammock trees. The mansion tours at Vanderbilt and Mills were awesome!
TravelerPeople are super friendly and helpful. Campground is well maintained and very secure. RV site was very large and mostly level. Good location. Close to Hudson River and Albany.
GuideStayed for 2 nights in June and it was delightful. Facilities were very clean, had flush toilets and showers, and the trails around the pond were great for my dog. Sites were well maintained, but a little close together for my preference. We stayed at site 146. Would definitely come back and hope to get a site along the pond next time!
TravelerArrived at night on a weekday to find two other vehicles parked in the lot, srilll was able to find a fire ring with a level area relatively easy. Very quiet, just the sounds of owls hooting at night. Very nice mixed forest, seems managed well. It is somewhat buggy. But doesn’t seem to be overly infested with ticks at least.
ScoutGilbert Lake State Park is located about 11 miles north of Oneonta, New York. I have camped here for a number of summers at their Hilltop Section, never dissapointed. There are a few trails that traverse the park for a few miles that are always green and shady. The lake offers swimming and kayaking. There is a concession stand and even a small museum that chronicles the efforts of the national CCC program under Roosevelt that constructed the park in the 1930's. After a long day of hiking, the campgrounds hot showers offer a great reprieve.
ScoutNow that All Star Baseball purchased this Oneonta campground this year, don't expect to stay here if you are not a baseball family. I went there in person yesterday for two nights at their"primitive" tent sites. After Hanna checked her computer, my dates were all cleared...great, then let me pay the $70... but no... she had to check with management first. I thought that was strange since that never happened to me before when getting any campsites elsewhere. I was told I'd be called later that day but nobody called me. I went back the next day only to be told all sites for the summer were rented out. Clearly that was not true based on her computer check the day before. BOTTOMLINE: if you are not a baseball family spending $1000's here, don't expect to even get the time of day. Therefore, they do not deserve anyone's business.
The Catskill Mountains near Arkville sit at elevations ranging from 1,400 to 4,180 feet, creating microclimates that influence camping conditions throughout the year. Spring runoff often leaves trails muddy until late May, while fall temperatures can drop below freezing as early as September. Most campers report limited to non-existent cell service in valleys between the peaks where many of the best places to camp near Arkville, New York are located.
Fishing the Esopus Creek: Multiple campgrounds provide access to the creek known for its brown and rainbow trout. At Little Pond Campground, fishing opportunities extend beyond the namesake pond. One camper notes, "Nice quiet campgrounds close to the Beaver kill and great service staff was supper friendly and helpful."
Hiking Giant Ledge: The trail from Giant Ledge Primitive Camp features challenging rock scrambles leading to multiple panoramic viewpoints. A hiker reports, "It take the average hiker about an hour ish to get to camp/ledge view. This one is one of my favs."
Kayaking and canoeing: Rentals available at several area lakes, often at reasonable rates. At Little Pond, one visitor mentioned, "There is a pond and there's kayaks, canoes, etc for rent. The beach area is clean and the water is clear."
Waterfront sites: Walk-in tent sites at the water's edge consistently earn top ratings. A camper at Woodland Valley Campground explains, "If you like to camp by water, this is the perfect place for you. It has amazing on the water sites you can camp at, plus a stunning view of the Catskills."
Mountain creek sounds: Natural white noise helps create a peaceful sleeping environment. "The mountain creek is like nature singing a lullaby - sleeping next to it was very relaxing," writes a Woodland Valley camper.
Secluded walk-in sites: Though requiring more effort, these sites offer greater privacy. At Alder Lake, a visitor recommends, "There are several beautiful, secluded hike-in sites along the lake which I would love to return to someday."
Bear activity: Black bears are common throughout the region. At Phoenicia Black Bear Campground, the name isn't just for show—one camper reported, "In the morning we woke up to a baby bear walking on our campsite. We kept our distance but that was definitely a thrill."
Road access challenges: Several campgrounds require navigating rough roads. For Alder Lake, a camper advises, "Was not the easiest for my RV van to get up the hill with the ruts, but I have a small lift so it helps, lower clearance vans might not make it."
Bathroom maintenance issues: Facility quality varies widely between campgrounds and often fluctuates during peak season. One visitor to Little Pond reported, "Our first two days there 3/4 of the bathroom stalls were completely clogged and disgusting."
Swimming options: Multiple campgrounds feature lake swimming with varying amenities. At Kenneth L Wilson Campground, "They have a lake on site with swimming. We happened to spend the weekend on a day with free canoe/kayak rentals which was great!"
Firewood availability: Not all campgrounds sell firewood on-site. A camper at Woodland Valley shares, "There was no fire wood available at the campsite so buy before you come (available in Phoenicia and Woodstock, both close)."
Site spacing considerations: Privacy between sites varies significantly. For Little Pond, one camper notes, "It's a nice campground and perfect for single/family camping. I would not choose this location if I were taking a group of people. The sites are on the smaller side and many have slanted entrances."
Limited hookup options: Most campgrounds offer few or no utility connections. At Allaben Campground, RVers can use free primitive sites, with one noting, "A great free spot for dispersed camping tucked right off the road. Had a fire pit and picnic table."
Site leveling challenges: Many sites require leveling blocks. At Little Pond, a visitor mentions, "The site we had was right on the water. The sites are clean and decent size. Very peaceful at night."
Dump station locations: Several campgrounds lack sanitary dumps. Kenneth Wilson Campground provides this amenity, with a camper noting, "When I came I was really impressed with the improvements they made here. They constructed a really nice fishing pier. The sites were well taken of by other campers and almost look brand new."
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Arkville, NY?
According to TheDyrt.com, Arkville, NY offers a wide range of camping options, with 192 campgrounds and RV parks near Arkville, NY and 14 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Arkville, NY?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Arkville, NY is Little Pond Campground with a 4.2-star rating from 21 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Arkville, NY?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 14 free dispersed camping spots near Arkville, NY.
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