The Hudson Valley around Pleasant Valley offers camping options that range from rustic tent sites to full-service RV parks with 4-season availability. The area sits at approximately 340 feet above sea level in a region characterized by rolling hills, small lakes, and mature woodlands. Several campgrounds feature waterfront access on the region's smaller lakes and ponds, with most sites within a 30-minute drive of Pleasant Valley.
What to do
Hiking directly from camp: At Samuel F. Pryor III Shawangunk Gateway Campground, trails connect to the campground. "There are a lot of sweet stuff to see near the park. Close by is the Roosevelt Presidential Library and house, Vanderbilt House, and even further out is Woodstock and plenty of other cool parks," notes one camper who stayed at Fahnestock State Park.
Water activities: Spend time fishing or boating at Interlake RV Park & Campground. The campground offers lake access where "there is a lake for fishing and boating" according to reviews. At Kenneth Wilson Campground, one visitor mentioned, "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!"
Rock climbing: The Shawangunk Mountains provide world-class climbing opportunities. "This is the closest campground to world renowned rock climbing in 'the gunks' and also offers many other outdoor activities including some great hikes and rock scrambles, swimming holes and waterfalls. People travel from all over the world to rock climb here," states a reviewer of Samuel F. Pryor III Shawangunk Gateway Campground.
What campers like
Private sites: Many campsites offer good separation from neighbors. At Kenneth L Wilson Campground, "Site 71 was separated a little bit from other sites as you can see on the map which was so nice and also just a 20-second walk from the bathroom." Another camper noted, "We LOVED our site (site 9). It was absolutely massive! The photo doesn't do it justice. It was set back very far from the main road and was an extremely large site!"
Clean facilities: Campgrounds maintain good bathroom standards. "The bathrooms were fine. They were clean but sometimes ran out of toilet paper," reported a camper at Kenneth L Wilson. Another mentioned, "The bathrooms were very clean and new and the showers were free and temperature controlled to perfectly warm!!"
Wildlife viewing: Multiple campgrounds offer chances to see local fauna. At Kenneth Wilson, one visitor reported, "Got chased off by a bear...the bear was very nice for a bear." Another camper at Taconic Hereford Multiple Use Park noted they could "enjoy Mother Nature's healing love" while experiencing "wildlife to enjoy."
What you should know
Primitive camping conditions: Some dispersed areas have minimal facilities. At Taconic Hereford Multiple Use Park, "This isn't a fancy campsite and has no amenities. There is a small parking lot and a trail that runs through 80 acres of forest. Camping is allowed anywhere 150ft from the trail."
Seasonal operations: Most campgrounds have limited availability during colder months. At Mills Norrie State Park Campground, one camper observed, "Campground is empty during the week, and more crowded on weekends." Clarence Fahnestock State Park Campground typically runs from "April 15 to December 4."
Noise considerations: Some locations have unexpected sound sources. A Mills Norrie visitor noted, "It was situated right across the Hudson River from a highly active nighttime freight train route, and the noise from the horns and then being awake for a few minutes as the train clattered by."
Tips for camping with families
Activity-focused campgrounds: Select sites with built-in entertainment options. At Jellystone Park Gardiner, "This campground is great for kids. It has an event just about every weekend with kid activity." Another review states, "Nice pool that is shallow so you can relax and let the little ones go in the water park section alone or they have a 3 ft pool also."
Campsite selection: Research specific site numbers for better family experiences. At Clarence Fahnestock State Park, "This is one of my favorite campsites I have been to but only because after several visits we have finally found our favorite site." Another camper suggested, "Check out the sites online to get one that is private."
Off-peak benefits: Visit during weekdays for less crowded experiences. At Kenneth Wilson Campground, "Campsite is flat and packed dirt instead of gravel, which was great. There's a standard picnic table and a decent raised fire pit, and a spigot at our site." Another visitor noted weekday visits result in "secluded and quiet" camping experiences.
Tips from RVers
Site access considerations: Large rigs require careful site selection. At Mills Norrie State Park, "There are only a handful of sites with electric hookups and only one (site 51) is level. Some have a steep descent off the road, and there's a lip on the road that can scrape bottom of campers/RVs."
Full-service options: Several campgrounds offer complete hookups. Interlake RV Park provides "clean specious sites" with full hookups. One long-term visitor noted they "stayed there for 3 weeks for work it was quite priced very reasonably for full hook up."
Extended-stay camping: Some locations accommodate longer visits. At Thousand Trails Rondout Valley, "There must be new management because many upgrades have been made over the past year which include all new SWE (full hookups) street lighting, and campground markings/numbering."
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