Best Glamping near Cross River, NY

My family has been camping at Lake Waramaug for over 20 years. I can say most of what’s been said is true or partially so but whether it’s bad or good depends on your point of view. Note that we are a Scout family and my husband and son have camped many days well off the grid with only the gear and food in their backpacks. That skews our point of view. 

First off, Connecticut’s state campgrounds are not KOA’s. 

Do not expect top of the line activities that private campgrounds have.

What it does have are clean, large sites that are partially wooded and not out in the open. 

The lake is great for kayaking, paddle boarding, canoes and for fishing. Bring your own gear but kayak and canoe rentals are available. The swim area is marginal- best for little ones. 

This park is remote from all conveniences- pack it in or expect a drive. There have been several times I’ve driven to the Dunkin Donuts miles down the road for coffee but I find using a French press is more convenient. For takeout there’s the White Horse on 202. It’s ranked a top restaurant in the state - the food is good. 

Never have we had issues with wildlife besides squirrels and ducks. Leave no trace is important - it keeps the unwelcome wildlife out. 

There have been issues with the bathrooms off and on over the decades. It seems like they’ve finally fixed everything. Our trip of 7/27-28 showed everything was fine.

The only on-site services are firewood and ice sales. The little food shack is out of business. 

Yes, cell service is basically non-existent. Our trip this weekend was the first time we received more than 1 bar in 20 years. Actually we were a bit disappointed because this camp ground is a great place to disconnect and relax. Being forced to put away the devices is heaven in my mind. You can drive about 5+ minutes out and get cell service. Regarding rowdiness, of the 20+ times we’ve camped only twice was it a problem. 

Also, this place is not glamping. The area is rural, so cows do moo at 6am, and kids are up even earlier. If you like to sleep in skip and rent a B&B. 

Also if you want a better place to swim go to Mt.Tom state park about 10 minutes up the road. It’s a day use only park-no camping- but the lake is gorgeous and there are very few people there.

This place is kind of a toss up for me. On one hand, I enjoy it because it's a little slice of heaven in the hell of one of the busy areas of New York. I hate this place for the same reason. It's not really camping if you're going to see a play and then go tour the Statue of Liberty. It just doesn't seem right to me. If I HAVE to be in New York, maybe I'd consider staying here again just to get myself out of the city for a bit. But this definitely isn't your "great outdoors/rest and relaxation" kind of place.

We tried this campground without knowing what was safe and where to stay for visit New York City. It is located in Brooklyn and is little removed from everything. The sites are at Floyd Bennett Field which is an old airfield. The atmosphere here is eerily cool at the same time. You basically park and camp on the asphalt by the old hangars. No hookups at all but they do have a camp store and bath house. If you are tent camping, there are some grassy sites.

The campground is located right on Jamaica Bay so there were people fishing all the time from the seawall. At night, you could hear cars doing burnouts right next to us. To get to all the action in the city, we had to take a bus and then the subway. The travel was a headache but better than trying to drive in to New York City in our RV. One way to improve here would be to have some security at night as well as access to clean water and dump station. They remained locked most of the time for some reason.

The best part of this place was the free tour of Hangar B by some guys doing restoration of old planes (HARP). They had some great stories and gave us history of the planes on display.

Camp Gateway in Brooklyn New York is one of my favorite places to visit. I went to college in New York, and loved to get out of the busy city and go camping and be outdoors. Camp Gateway was always a place that I loved to go. It is pretty close to town-which is crazy because you feel like you are miles away. Camp Gateway does offer a lot of different activities for everyone. One thing I love to do is go kayaking and stand up paddle boarding. My girlfriends and I tried to do this once a month to get away from the city and school. Because you are so close to the city, you can plan outdoor activities as well as some activities in the city. My friends and I stayed 1 night in the campground, and the next day went to a recital show that took us 10 minutes to get to. You can also walk, hike or ride your bike along multiple paths- I have done the Fort Tilden trail (I just walked, but there were multiple people that passed us on their bikes). Within the campground they do have some fire pits- which my friends and I always use because we love cooking smores and hot dogs for dinner. A little further away from the campground, about 10-15 miles there is a place where you can do horseback riding, see the Statue of Liberty (which is gorgeous!), and there is a little beach area. This beach area is where I do my kayaking and stand up paddle boarding. Again, its not very far away...you can either drive there, walk or ride your bike. The road is paved, which is nice. I stayed here also with my parents, and I know my dad went golfing one day (I didn't go, but he said it was awesome)- and again that was only a 10 minute drive from our camping spot. This campground like I said, does offer quite a bit. Sometimes it doesn't really feel like you are "camping" because things are pretty close by, but it definitely is worth going to and trying.

The park itself is lovely and close to some other green areas. The nice thing about this campsite is that it’s so close to NYC. The bad thing about this campsite is that it’s so close to NYC. If you live in NYC this is a good, cheap, super quick escape accessible by public transport. If you’re visiting the area I’d recommend staying in Manhattan/Queens in an AirBNB for the full NYC experience or heading to Long Island, Pennsylvania, “Upstate” New York, or New Jersey for a better nature camping experience. For what it is, this site is a nice green little oasis. It’s National Park Service land and they try really hard to keep things clean and working well with so much traffic. Bring earplus for the airport traffic and the noisy neighbors. Tent sites are pretty and wooded, but there is also a TON of concrete from an old WW2 airfield.

Mountain Lakes park is a great place to camp within driving distance from NYC. A fun option available at Mountain lakes is to rent a yurt to camp in. The area, as the name implies, is home to several lakes which can be used for various recreational purposes. There are also many hikes which can be trekked straight from the campgrounds which is always a huge plus in my mind. When we were there it was right after a rain storm and everything was a bit muddy and slippery. We will definitely be planning a trip back to Mountain Lakes when the weather gets nicer though!

Love the proximity to NYC - I always look for areas that are not too far, but not too close to NY. Beautiful but small-ish tent sites. Lots of great hiking in the area in addition to beautiful Cold Spring, NY for the small-town charm.

Unfortunately for me, Round Pond is camping reserved for active and retired military personnel only. We drove through and the whole space is rather large. There are several signs everywhere making it clear that it is only for military. The same is true for Lake Frederick another nearby campsite. Similar to Lake Frederick campsite, Round Pond had a beautiful lake that would be very ideal for a hot summer day. 2 Stars only because I was not able to camp here but the grounds looked nice!

Close enough to NYC area for comfortable and scenic drive. Great setting for a spontaneous camping trip. Plenty of room in tent site area. One challenge was to know there was no clear separation in sites. Small camp ground but easy to move around. Staff was very helpful and concerned with our comfort.

We've been coming here for at least 13 years. We love that its a place specifically for Vets and active Military. everyone is amazingly respectful of each other and the caretakers take such care of the grounds. It has become a home away from home for us and a chance to connect with other Vets. So grateful for a place just for Military and their families and guests. It is a sweet reminder that there are still places that appreciate their service. Beautiful views, clean bathrooms, and nice trails.

Yes, this is a military-only campground but, that doesn't take away from how incredible it is and that is properly advertised. 

This place is incredible.  Being military-only keeps standards high, the campground clean and well maintained.  We've spent years here, with Dan & Janet but, are looking forward to returning this year under new management, as they enjoy retirement after many years of hard work. Boy, does their hard work show! They have poured so much love and attention into the building and maintaining of Lake Frederick! 

Between rustic power-only campsites that give you a true camping experience and upgraded but, still simple cabins which allow campers of all ages and abilities to enjoy the outdoor experience, there is something for everyone.  The new docks around the swimming area create a safer swimming experience for even the most inexperienced swimmers, allowing them safe and obvious perimeters.  The bath house is always well stocked and clean, ready for end of the day cleanup and the laundry facilities are a great bonus for those of us who like to stay longer than a couple days.  

You won't want for anything at Lake Frederick and it will be a great way to unplug, kick back and enjoy God's Creation!

This is an elbow to elbow parking lot of a campground. All their campground rules were unenforced, so it is a dri king party atmosphere. The bathrooms are unclean (with paint pealing off the walls) and the showers were cold in the afternoon. The opulent homes around it make this a surprisingly depressing campground.

The skunk was very friendly and cute.

This campground changed in the last few years, but not for the better. It is apparent that the manager does not like campers. If you have a tent, you are treated ok, until you violate one of their endless rules. Then they have the police escort you out.. If you have a pop-up or anything above the ground on wheels they make your life miserable and prevent you from camping in the front row where the sites are larger, level, and have a lake view. Bathrooms are dirty and uncared for, toilet paper is non-existent in the afternoon. Alcohol is not allowed but is poorly enforced. Quiet hours are not enforced. Two cars per site is not enforced. Loud Boomboxes are the norm. People using the lakeside state park walk through your campsite to go use the campground bathroom and showers - hence the toilet paper issue in the bathroom. Unfortunately, some of those day picnickers think your stuff is free for the taking. NEVER LEAVE YOUR STUFF UNGUARDED. The numerous skunks are an unwelcomed camp amenity. Watch your children, cars go racing through the campground! If you are looking for stress free and peaceful, this is not the place. It is party central on the weekends.The staff leaves at random times, either 3 pm, 5 pm or 9 pm and then you are on your own. But don't worry, there is a sometimes functioning emergency phone outside the camp office. Oh yes, and there is no cell service in that area. Have fun. But I'm not going back. Are you sure you want to camp here?

Pros:

1. You can get a VERY large site that easily fits 3 tents.
2. The area is lovely and the people in the area are really nice too.
3. There is a lake across the street where you can paddle, swim, etc... (free to campers)
4. The showers are free and the water is usually warm.
5. True, there are cows on the farm hill... but I think that's nice.
6. If you go during the week the place is a ghost town.

Cons:

1. True, there are skunks and other animals that are residents and they are prolific.
2. True, the bathrooms are usually unclean, they run out of tissue, there is only 1 shower for the entire bathroom AND they clean them right when people are waking and need to pee (between 7-8).
3. True, people drive too fast on the road between the campground and lake AND in the campground.
4. The recycling and garbage truck will wake you around 6-7 am.
5. I would never camp here on a weekend.... it is a party place then.
6. True, the people who work there have lots of arbitrary rules (like you may not tie ANYTHING to trees) but they don't follow through on the important ones like drinking and quiet times.

Truly, it's a lovely place but I'm not sure that you couldn't find better. I like Lake Waramaug for a large group during the week... otherwise, I'd pass.

One of my favorite so far , went with family , to comply w covid and social distancing, the camp only rent your site and no one on your left or right or across ! Amazing ! If you like lakes and water sports , make sure you target this place . Great for kayaking, canoeing, water skiing and more ! People were fishing and swimming. You can’t tie any thing to trees , so no hammock tied to trees :( , bathrooms were clean , only 2 showers at the camp so you gotta wait your turn.scenery is breathtaking , mesmerizing and you forget yourself looking at the nature ! Have a great camping .

Pros:

Sites are HUGE.

Bathrooms, water, showers are close by.

You will almost always have a view of the water.

There is easy access to the swimming area.

The general area is rural and pretty.

Great brewery nearby.

Good spot for a week-day group to stay.

Cons:

There is ONLY swimming and biking on a somewhat busy road, no playground.

The campground store is likely not going to be open so bring everything you need.

The staff are kind of a pain in the butt.

There are lots of skunks and squirrels that will get into EVERYTHING even in a bin.

Wouldn't even TRY to stay here on a weekend unless you like seeing/hearing your neighbors' every move as there is zero privacy.

Absolutely lovely campground with a beautiful view and all of the amenities you could want from a small campsite. The trail is a nice hile up to a stunning view. We'll definitely be going back.

Great little park. Lots of fishing, swimming, and overall fun. A main road does separate the camp sites from the water so it is important to look after little ones. Great biking in the area as well.

1. Plan on bringing your own food and cooking. It is a 10 mile drive that takes about a half an hour to complete to get any take-out.

2. The Snack Shack is only open on weekends and its future is in doubt as this year's owners said they don't plan to renew contract. Cash only at present.

3. If you have your own paddleboard or canoe or kayak, this would be a good place to use them. If you don't there are very expensive rentals available on site.

4. Ice is $2 a bag and firewood $5 a bundle. Cash only. Good quality.

5. The camp office is only staffed until 5 pm!

6. There is a really great (but very short .65 miles) hiking trail behind the campground and a cool big rock to climb on near the bathrooms further away from the office and a field that would be good for flying kites, model airplanes or drones behind the state park parking lot.

7. It is possible to get a phone signal up at the "lookout" of the hike.

8. Monday apparently is trash day in the area for all the homes around the lake. They start collecting very early and the sound really carries over the lake.

9. Bring scooters or bikes for little kids to use within the camp.

10. There is a lot of good hiking that can be done within a 20 min-1/2 hour 8-12 mile drive. A good one would be the Steep Rock Association's Macricostas Preserve, where you can hike up and see the sun set over the lake.

11. The swimming area is an absolute joke, unless you are 18 months old, and then its probably perfect. (Extremely small, extremely shallow, and some sand to dig in.)

12. You will not feel like you are getting out in nature. The lake area is very built up and all private, except for the nice promenade area of the state park campground, which is not at all rustic, but good for drinking coffee or reading by the lake.

13. Every campsite has deep drainage ditches,  likely roots, and stumps as well, but not too much pine in the immediate vicinity to make a mess of your gear.

14. The roads around the campground are very narrow with a lot of blind curves. Be careful and aware when driving, and I think cyclists are taking a gamble.

15. Fair number of motorcyclists on a sunny Sunday afternoon, but they seemed fairly quiet and aware, so weren't bothersome.

16. A car alarm at a nearby house went off, and didn't turn off until the battery died.

It was not at all what we expected, but we tried to make the best of it. We were disappointed. I don't even know why anyone would go to the regular state park at all. CT has much nicer ones with more to do.

Cabins are always clean and stocked with firewood. Lots of hiking trails. Trading post is well stocked and volunteers are always friendly and able to answer any questions

Ashley here from The Dyrt confirming that this is an official Tentrr site. They’ve been in business since 2015 and a trusted partner of The Dyrt.

Great first tent camping experience for kids. Lots of activities, clean restrooms. One thing to keep in mind is the tent sites on the opposite side of the road from the river has no shade. Site gets pretty hot on a sunny day. Sites by the river have some shade.