Clarksville sits within Greene County at the eastern edge of the Catskill Mountains, where elevations range from 600 to 4,000 feet above sea level. The area's humid continental climate brings warm summers with occasional thunderstorms and cold winters, making May through October the primary camping season. Most campgrounds near Clarksville operate seasonally due to the region's winter snowfall patterns.
What to do
Waterfall hiking: 10-minute drive from Max V. Shaul State Park Campground to several nearby waterfalls. According to a visitor, "there's no pond/lake here but there's several waterfalls nearby and vromans nose," making it a perfect base for waterfall enthusiasts.
Farm animal viewing: Adjacent to some campsites at Brookside Campground, where one camper notes, "small farm right next to our site, goats, cow chickens, ducks, geese," providing a unique experience especially for children.
Water recreation: Swimming dock available at Taconic State Park's Copake Falls Area where "swimming there felt really clean and I loved the dock," according to a recent visitor. The park maintains two lifeguarded swimming areas including a deep area with floating dock and a separate kiddie pool section.
What campers like
Private sites: Country Roads Campground offers spacious tent camping away from RVs. "Mainly an RV ground, but they have about 10-15 great tent sites back beyond the RV area... nice and spread out," reports one visitor who appreciated the separation.
Small, quiet atmosphere: Max V. Shaul State Park Campground maintains a cozy environment with just 30 sites. A reviewer described it as "small and quiet - only 30 sites here, which are large, flat and sited well apart from each other," ideal for those seeking solitude.
Modern bathrooms: Multiple campgrounds have updated facilities, with one camper noting about Taconic State Park that "the facilities were just what you needed after a long day of hiking and swimming," while another mentioned Max V. Shaul has "new bathrooms/showers and family bathrooms."
What you should know
Limited hookups at state parks: State parks like Max V. Shaul offer basic amenities. A visitor clarified, "No hookups, just a picnic table, firepit," though water spigots are available throughout the grounds.
Seasonal operations: Most glamping in Clarksville, New York closes for winter. Frosty Acres operates "from May until October," Country Roads runs "May 15 to Columbus Day," and Nickerson Park is available "May 1 to Columbus Day," with most upscale glamping options following similar schedules.
Water quality varies: Nickerson Park Campground has had water quality issues according to some reports. One seasonal camper noted, "The water smelled like raw sewage, loaded with sediment and very discolored. Little to no pressure and a couple times no water at all," recommending visitors bring their own drinking water.
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Multiple family-friendly options at local campgrounds. A visitor to Brookside noted "the playground area was nice" while another mentioned Max V. Shaul has "a children's playground and pavilion."
Swimming options for children: Spacious Skies Woodland Hills offers a pond with designated swimming area. A visitor observed, "it was a pleasure to see the kids fishing, paddling on the lake, swimming in the designated area and sitting/playing on the nice beach."
Weekend activities: Scheduled events at many campgrounds enhance family camping. At Country Roads, "They have special events in a pavilion near the RVs including bingo," while Spacious Skies Woodland Hills organized "corn hole games and several other ways to get physical and have a blast."
Tips from RVers
Site leveling challenges: Spacious Skies Woodland Hills has uneven terrain. One RVer reported, "Terrain is uneven. Hit and miss on how flat or level sites are," while another noted "the site I had was steep grade from steps to picnic table. Flat ground area for camper was very narrow."
Limited sewer hookups: Some campgrounds offer electric and water but lack sewer connections. At Treetopia Campground, "If you have an RV, they have 30/50 amp with electric and water. There is no sewer, but they have a dump-station and on-site Honeywagon truck that you can schedule."
Late arrival accommodations: Some campgrounds allow after-hours check-in, helpful for RVers traveling long distances. A visitor to Spacious Skies Woodland Hills specifically mentioned they "allow late check ins!" making it convenient for those arriving after office hours.
