RV Camping near Preston Hollow, NY

Rv campsites near Preston Hollow, New York provide access to the scenic Catskill region with elevations ranging from 500 to 4,000 feet. Seasonal considerations impact camping logistics, with most campgrounds opening from May through October when temperatures average 70-85°F during summer days and 50-65°F at night. Winter camping is severely limited in this mountainous area, with many facilities closing after peak fall foliage season.

What to do

Waterfall exploration: 15-minute drive from Max V. Shaul State Park Campground to nearby cascades. "There's no pond/lake here but there's several waterfalls nearby and vromans nose," notes camper Brian H.

Fishing: Bass opportunities at Lake Taghkanic State Park Campground. "There is plenty of fishing access from shore and you can rent a boat for the whole day to fish on the water," shares Rosie R., who caught "2 decent-sized largemouth bass" during her stay.

Beach swimming: Family-friendly lake beaches at multiple locations. According to Lizz H., North-South Lake offers "one of my favorite swimming spots. I go there almost every year to go swimming with my family and friends and it's always a good time."

Stargazing: Low light pollution provides excellent night sky viewing. Seth K. recommends Lake Taghkanic for "stargazing over the lake is a great pastime, because the water is calm and the light pollution is low."

Hiking: Access to Catskill Escarpment trails. As Chris D. explains about North-South Lake, "Camping, swimming, hiking, boating, biking, this place has it all," while Jessica W. notes that "a lot of the hiking nearby is also relatively easy and includes the newly opened viewing platform for Kaasterskill falls."

What campers like

Clean facilities: New bathhouses recently completed at several campgrounds. Camper Tom S. notes about Max V. Shaul State Park: "The bath house is clean and modern," while ryan S. adds they found "very clean facilities and incredibly nice staff."

Privacy between sites: Spacious setups at select campgrounds. Tom R. from Country Roads Campground mentions "beautiful campground. Stayed in The Pines section. Spacious sites," while Margaret L. describes Max V. Shaul as a "secret gem" with "new bathrooms/showers and family bathrooms."

Platform tent sites: Elevated camping options useful during wet weather. William R. notes about Country Roads: "They have about 10-15 great tent sites back beyond the RV area...and they are nice and spread out." At Lake Taghkanic, Rosie R. explains that "the platforms kept us off the ground and were helpful in setting up appropriate tarp protection."

Swimming beaches: Clean water access for cooling off. A camper at Lake Taghkanic states that "the lake is beautiful and clean," while Mellisa T. confirms "no complaints. everything is perfect every year we've been. the lake is beautiful and clean."

What you should know

Late season restrictions: Water availability limited during freezing temperatures. At North-South Lake Campground, availability extends through "May 19 to October 22," making it one of the longer-season options in the region.

Weekend crowding: Popular sites fill quickly. Maribeth W. cautions about North-South Lake: "Always packed, but always beautiful." Tara L. advises to "avoid holidays to avoid the crowds."

Electric service variations: Amperage differs between campgrounds. Janly P. from Treetopia recommends "deck sites to people small to moderate sized RVs and for large rigs they have some big sites."

Site terrain: Flat spots limited in this mountainous region. William R. mentions that Country Roads has water spigots near all the tent sites, while Katherine P. observes at Taconic State Park: "Almost all of the sites have platforms to pitch your tent on, although there are a couple of flatter spots without platforms (although they still have a slope.)"

Tips for camping with families

Playground access: Multiple recreation options for children. Margaret L. notes that Max V. Shaul has "a playground, a pavilion, they do fireside jams," while Mary-Kate L. describes Lake Taghkanic as having "big and spacious state park with many camping options...Big lake with swimming and boating as well as many hiking trails."

Swimming areas: Separated sections for different ages. As Lake Taghkanic State Park camper Kurt S. explains, there's a "great beach, 5 minute drive from campgound. Clean facilities, with a rec room for rainy days. A camp store with all the supplies you might have forgotten."

Kid-friendly camping platforms: Elevated sites keep tents dry. Rosie R. mentions that Lake Taghkanic has "platforms great for groups and inclement weather," noting that "the platforms kept us off the ground" during rainy conditions.

Wildlife observation: Stream exploration opportunities. At Thousand Trails Rondout Valley, Kasey M. shared that "the creek that runs by the campground is gorgeous, and my kids had fun finding Crayfish."

Tips from RVers

Pull-through accessibility: Limited options for larger motorhomes. At Country Roads Campground, Philip M. appreciated that "we were escorted to our site upon arrival and I certainly appreciated that as we were very tired after a long day of travel."

Sewer connections: Positioning challenges at some campgrounds. Inez W. at Thousand Trails Rondout Valley notes "the sewer connection in 372 ran uphill for me, but my pipe sits very low," requiring a site change to one without sewer hookups.

Site levelness: Varied terrain throughout rv campgrounds near Preston Hollow, New York. Coffee&Camping T. describes Arrowhead Marina & RV Park as having "well maintained, located on the Mohawk River. Shady, grassy areas."

Deck sites: Enhanced outdoor living at select rv parks. Janly P. from Treetopia Campground shares: "We went in late September and stayed on one of their deck sites with our Class B (Winnebago). I LOVED sitting out on the deck every morning for my coffee while taking in the fall air."