Seasonal RV campgrounds near Chester, New York provide diverse accommodations within the Hudson Valley region. The area sits at the foothills of the Catskill Mountains with elevations ranging from 500 to 1,200 feet, creating varied terrain for campers. Winter temperatures frequently drop below freezing between November and March, affecting water availability at many campgrounds.
What to do
Swimming and water recreation: Fahnestock State Park offers a swimming beach on Canopus Lake with clean facilities. "The beach is closed after Labor Day to the public, but open to people staying at the campsite. Clean and beautiful," notes one visitor to Clarence Fahnestock State Park Campground.
Hiking opportunities: Trail systems connect many campgrounds to regional hiking networks. "The trails in the area are friendly to hikers, bikers, and the non arthritic kneers, as most are rated moderate to challenging. Don't fret, trails that are rated easy and accessible to disabled are equally enjoyable and beautiful," according to a camper at Beaver Pond Campground.
Animal encounters: Some campgrounds feature small farms with animals. At Pleasant Acres Farm RV Resort, "Playground, hayride, animals to feed (goats, chickens, donkey and pony). There were some organized activities which was nice, not as much as a Jellystone Park."
City excursions: Liberty Harbor RV Park allows campers to explore New York City. "This is a prime location for visiting the city or heading down the shore. The light rail is a block away, and the path train is about 8," explains a reviewer.
What campers like
Family activities: Thousand Trails Rondout Valley offers extensive recreation options. "The campgrounds are nice. They have loads of events over the weekend but the weekend hasn't happened yet to check them out," according to a visitor at Thousand Trails Rondout Valley.
Natural water features: Creeks and ponds enhance many campgrounds. "The creek that runs by the campground is gorgeous, and my kids had fun finding Crayfish," states a Thousand Trails Rondout Valley camper.
Seasonal experiences: Fall foliage creates spectacular camping backdrops from late September through October. "We make a habit of going during the end-of-summer/fall when you can watch the leaves change along the hiking trails, go apple and pumpkin picking near the campsites," notes a Fahnestock visitor.
Privacy levels: Site selection significantly impacts camping experience. "The biggest positive about Beaver Pond is how spread out it was. You definitely feel like you have your own space and are not camping on top of your neighbor," shares a camper.
What you should know
Bear awareness: Wildlife encounters require proper precautions in some areas. "The wildlife do roam around your campsite so be mindful of putting food and garbage away before sleeping," warns a Beaver Pond camper.
Noise considerations: Campgrounds vary widely in noise levels. At Tri-State RV Park, "Located just off the highway so lots of vehicle noise 24/7. Sites are on a gravel lot. Restrooms are clean. Not much else to say about this CG, is just a parking lot with hookups."
Bathroom facilities: Quality varies significantly between campgrounds. "Bathroom and showers were clean," reports a Beaver Pond visitor, while another camper at Fahnestock noted, "Bathrooms and dishwashing... UGH. So old and dirty!!!"
Site variations: Many campgrounds feature dramatically different site types. "This park has a nice open beach on Canopus Lake with a concession area and bathhouse, which we found to be quite clean," reports a Fahnestock visitor.
Tips for camping with families
Site selection: Choose sites based on proximity to amenities. At Skyway Camping Resort, "Very nice and clean. Too hot today, will check it out tonight. Nice pool, this is a good family campground for kids. It large with nice size sites."
Playground access: Several campgrounds offer play areas for children. "They have a small playground that would be better suited for older children, and there's also a nice lounge room with games, a pool table, a tv and puzzles/board games," notes a visitor to Mountain Top RV Park.
Wildlife education: Animal sightings create learning opportunities. "Deer running everywhere and surprisingly beautiful and quaint," describes a Beaver Pond visitor.
Seasonal planning: Weekends and summer months become significantly more crowded. "Ranger said that during summer weekends the grounds fill up and can be quite noisy, but mid-week during the off-season it was great," advises a Beaver Pond camper.
Tips from RVers
Hookup variations: Not all RV sites provide full hookups. "The pull-through sites don't offer much in the way of privacy, but that's the trade off for convenience," explains a visitor.
Access considerations: Some RV campgrounds near Chester, New York have challenging entry roads. "Getting in and out of the city is an adventure. Stay right off the highway to avoid the $30 tunnel toll," advises a Liberty Harbor RV Park visitor.
Site levelness: RV sites often require leveling equipment. "Our site 30 is overgrown with weeds as were most of the sites although it had been mowed," notes a Pleasant Acres visitor.
Winter camping: Limited RV campgrounds operate year-round. "We are returning to the south after spending a couple months of fall in New England. We have short driving days and we try stop after every couple hundred miles for one night at a time, just to sleep, shower and eat," explains a Black Bear RV Park visitor.
