Camping near Barryville, New York centers around the Upper Delaware River region where elevations range from 600-1,200 feet. The area's unique geography creates distinct microclimates, with river valleys often 10-15 degrees warmer than surrounding highlands. Fall camping from September through late October offers ideal temperatures between 55-70°F during daytime with minimal rainfall compared to summer months.
What to do
Hiking to waterfalls: Dingmans Campground provides easy access to several waterfall trails. "Tumbling Falls trail (tip: make the trail a loop and visit both the ravine and the nearby old cemetery)" writes one camper who recommends exploring beyond the main attractions.
Stargazing opportunities: High Point State Park Campground offers excellent night sky viewing locations. "The absence of light sources beyond your camp remind you that you are truly alone in the wilderness," notes a visitor who appreciated the dark sky conditions.
Kayaking for all skill levels: Namanock Island offers unique water-accessible camping. "Our recent camping trip to the island was truly remarkable. The serene river provided the perfect backdrop for relaxation and water-based activities. We enjoyed swimming, tubing, and even fishing," shares one paddler who accessed the island by kayak.
Winter camping options: Unlike many seasonal facilities, some campgrounds remain open year-round. "This was my second visit in the cold months. Sites have electric but no water. Spigot close by. Heated cozy bathhouse with clean showers," notes a winter camper who visited Promised Land State Park.
What campers like
Privacy between sites: Pickerel Point Campground receives praise for its spacious layouts. "The bathrooms were clean with nice hot showers. We had site 100 and amazing views of the water from our camper," writes one visitor who appreciated the waterfront positioning.
Tent platforms: Stokes State Forest offers raised camping spaces. "Each large campsite has a picnic table, fire pit, and lantern hook. Some sites also have a tent platform," explains a camper who selected site T219 for its proximity to amenities while maintaining privacy.
Wildlife viewing: Kittatinny Campground provides river access where wildlife spotting is common. "I will give the river a 10, it was beautiful, welcoming and refreshing in the warm sun. Lots of wildlife around," shares a visitor who paddled the Delaware.
Digital detox benefits: Many sites have limited or no cell service. "The lack of phone service was a blessing in disguise, allowing us to disconnect from technology and truly immerse ourselves in nature," notes a camper from Slumberland who enjoyed being unplugged.
What you should know
Weekend noise levels: Several campgrounds experience significant differences between weekday and weekend stays. "Busy campground no quiet time loud music till 3 in the morning. Very clean, workers very friendly and helpful but after dark no one around," warns a Kittatinny visitor.
Reservation timing: For summer weekends, advance planning is essential. "We stayed on a Friday night. Everyone was up pretty late, but was not crazy loud. The rest of the weekend it seemed like everyone's simmered down," explains a visitor to Stokes State Forest.
Bathroom facilities vary widely: Dingmans Campground offers some of the best facilities in the region. "The bathrooms/showers are the cleanest we've ever seen at any campground. They are newly built or refurbished and spotless," reports a camper who was impressed with the infrastructure.
Seasonal operation: Most campgrounds close between October and April. "Open during the winter. Easy on, easy off. Lots of pull through sites. CLEAN bathrooms, showers, laundry. Super nice owners," notes a winter visitor to Tri-State RV Park, one of the few year-round options.
Tips for camping with families
Kid-friendly activities: Stokes State Forest offers multiple recreation options for children. "This place was so fun for the entire family, it wasn't that busy, so we didn't really have to worry all the time about the kids getting ran over! The park ranger person came through and gave the kids cool posters," writes a parent who enjoyed the family atmosphere.
Swimming options: Different water access points suit various age groups. "My kids really loved having a pool to swim in, in addition to the lake," explains a visitor to Keen Lake Resort who appreciated having multiple swimming options for children.
Safety considerations: Park rangers provide security in some locations. "Dingman's is federal property and patrolled by federal park rangers. By day they cruise around in their SUVs and by night on foot. They are no joke so it helped keep the noise down from the larger groups as well as offering some security," shares a parent who felt more comfortable with the oversight.
Weather preparedness: Temperature swings can be significant. "Due to cooler temps there were really no bugs to complain about while camping," notes a family who visited during shoulder season, highlighting how timing affects comfort levels.
Tips from RVers
Hookup availability: Many campsites offer partial hookups only. "Site came with electric, water, fire pit, and picnic table. Had a very cute general store that sold basic needs as well as snacks," reports an RVer who traveled with pets in a teardrop camper.
Site dimensions: Campground layouts vary significantly. "The RV sites for a bigger camper are tight squeezes. If you are not comfortable with lots of tight turns I would not recommend for you," cautions a camper who struggled with maneuvering at Dingmans Campground.
Winter accessibility: Year-round options exist for RVers. "Perfect for the commuting RVers just looking for somewhere safe to sleep for the night. They have a decent laundry facility and full hook ups," writes a visitor to Tri-State RV Park who appreciated the basic amenities during off-season travel.
Pet-friendly RV sites: Jerry's Three River Campground welcomes pets at their rustic campsites. "We have taken our children there often but I wouldn't recommend or call it family friendly. The location is beautiful and about 2 hours from NYC," notes a long-time visitor who returns annually with their pets.
