J
John C.
Scout
ScoutCherry Ridge Campsites and Lodging
Cozy, quiet, polite staff
Two weeks in and the staff and people are so kind.
Camping near Downsville, NY
181 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Search destinations
Add dates
Camping opportunities near Downsville, New York include established campgrounds situated within the scenic Catskill Mountains region. Bear Spring Mountain DEC Campground, located just north of Downsville, provides tent and RV sites with electric hookups, showers, and picnic tables. Other nearby options include Peaceful Valley Campsite in Downsville proper and Russell Brook Campsites in Roscoe, both offering riverside campsites and cabin accommodations. Most campgrounds in this area maintain traditional amenities including drinking water, electric hookups, and toilet facilities, with several featuring waterfront locations along the Delaware River and its tributaries.
Seasonal operation affects campground availability throughout the Catskill region, with most facilities operating from May through September or early October. Bear Spring Mountain campground typically operates from mid-May through late August, while Russell Brook Campsites extends its season through October. Many campsites require advance reservations, particularly for weekend visits and holiday periods during the peak summer months. The region's terrain features forested mountains with numerous streams and ponds, creating diverse camping environments from riverside settings to more secluded forest sites. As one visitor noted, "Clean, private, and quiet! We had a blast!" when describing their experience at Bear Spring Mountain.
Campers frequently highlight water access as a significant attraction in the area's campgrounds. Russell Brook Campsites features direct stream access that appeals to families and anglers. According to one visitor, "Our site was massive and had direct access to Russell Brook. Couldn't keep my son out of the water." The Beaverkill Campground, known for its covered bridge and trout fishing, provides a quieter experience along the Beaverkill River. Site privacy varies considerably between campgrounds, with some locations offering more secluded settings than others. Visitors to Bear Spring Mountain appreciate the natural surroundings, with one camper noting there is "nothing but woods all around" with "endless hiking and beautiful streams." Weekday visits generally provide a quieter experience compared to weekends when campgrounds tend to be more heavily occupied.
Best Campgrounds near Downsville (181)
1. Little Pond Campground
"Pros: Near wonderful, little-used hiking trails - challenging ones, too!
- Close to Catskill town options to explore, e.g."
"You can see a picture here of the water just a 10 foot trail away from our campsite. All in all a great trip."
from $22 / night
Check Availability2. Bear Spring Mountain — DEC
"Went here with some friends who had never been outside NYC before. They were absolutely blown away. For me, it was a nice site but not exceptional. Bring or rent a kayak!"
"I drove to NYC for a business trip and ended up driving 1 and a half hour to reach this place. I always carry a tent in the back of my trunk and decided to go camping."
from $18 - $40 / night
Check Availability3. Russell Brook Campsites
"We were right next to a small brook, and falling asleep to the sound of the water behind our tent was amazing. Everyone we met was super friendly. We will definitely be back!"
"As close to nature as possible with modern conveniences still nearby. Terri and her gang do a great job of running her Dad's adventure."
4. Peaceful Valley Campsite
"Great location with full hook-ups. Nice riverside spots. Quiet during the week. Nice place to stay"
"Great location with nice riverside spots. Weekdays are quiet, weekends not so much. Full hook-ups. Owners are friendly and great. Reccomended, especially during the week."
5. Beaverkill Campground
"This campground was so pleasant, very clean and quiet, I loved how close the river was to our campground, only a few steps away."
"Bathrooms were very cleaned and everybody respected COVID-related social distancing. Would come again!"
from $20 - $40 / night
Check Availability6. Roscoe Campsites
"Great access to the beaverkill. It’s perfect for a quick getaway."
7. Alder lake
"There are two campsites located right outside of the park where you can park your car next to your tent but we opted to hike in."
"There are several beautiful, secluded hike-in sites along the lake which I would love to return to someday. The hike around the lake is a lovely, easy walk."
8. Soaring Eagle Campground and the Inn at Kellam's Bridge
"great river based location(Delaware River) bathhouse was very clean, very rustic, sites are huge, plenty of room for 2+ family campers… I know this controversial, but having Wi-Fi would be great esp when"
"It is great family camp ground with amenities that are helpful to parents and new campers such as restrooms, showers, camp shop, canoe/kayak/tube rentals and designated drive in sites with fire ring and"
from $20 - $160 / night
Check Availability9. Blue Wind Nature Camp
"They offer 4 private tent sites and 50 acres of scenic hiking trails. Campsites are spaced out, feel private, and offer all of the amenities (grill, chairs, picnic table)."
from $65 / night
Check Availability10. Hunter Lake Campgrounds
"It's a quiet well kept campground right on a lake. Great family friendly campground and the owners are the best. Highly recommend"
from $10 - $50 / night
Check Availability
Drive Time
- 1 hr 1 min from Binghamton, NY
- 1 hr 17 min from Kiryas Joel, NY
- 1 hr 17 min from Kingston, NY
- 1 hr 28 min from Scranton, PA
Recent Camping Photos near Downsville, NY
316 Photos of 181 Downsville Campgrounds
J G.
Bear Spring Mountain — DEC
Guy M.
Beaverkill Campground
Lauren S.
Little Pond Campground
Mike R.
Blue Wind Nature Camp
SJ W.
Alder lake
The Dyrt
Tentrr Signature Site - Bramley Mountain Trail Camp
Eli R.
Callicoon Hills Resort
Guy M.
Mongaup Pond
The Dyrt
Tentrr Signature Site - Adams River Run
Anne B.
Soaring Eagle Campground and the Inn at Kellam's Bridge
Keva N.
Boheme Retreats
Ann F.
Oquaga Creek State Park Campground
Recent Reviews near Downsville, NY
489 Reviews of 181 Downsville Campgrounds
- MMaybe I.
GuideSamuel F. Pryor III Shawangunk Gateway Campground
Quiet place with great location
Good, quiet place to spend the night, but there are a few things to keep in mind. This is primarily a climbers’ campground, so by around 9 PM most people are already asleep and the lights are off. If you’re looking for a peaceful and quiet night, that’s definitely a plus. Sites 8–15 were our favorite because they are away from vehicle traffic. Site #8 is probably the best of them. Site #15 is only about a 2-minute walk from the parking area at a brisk pace, but that’s without carrying gear. If you have a lot of equipment or heavy bags, these sites may not be the most convenient choice. The showers cost $0.25 per minute, and don’t be surprised if you end up sharing the changing area with another person. Overall, this is a simple, quiet place to sleep and rest for the night rather than a destination campground with lots of amenities
- Emily F.Guide
Max V. Shaul State Park Campground
Site 13
Our site had a lot of space. Watched a video on YouTube that was a walk through of each site. So peaceful. Lots of good hiking. Sinks for dishes, clean bathrooms and showers.
Jacob Y.ScoutDevil's Tombstone Campground
Entitled Arrogant Staff
We have camped for years all over the Northeast and have never experienced campground staff as rude, patronizing, and overbearing as we did at Devil’s Tombstone Campground. It felt like our group was constantly being watched and corrected over every minor thing imaginable instead of simply being treated like paying guests trying to enjoy the weekend. The campground itself was disappointing, but the staff attitude was by far the worst part of the experience. Unless you want to be nitpicked every time you do literally anything, then you might not want to camp here.
- Jacob Y.Scout
Devil's Tombstone Campground
Entitled Arrogant Staff
We have camped for years all over the Northeast and have never experienced campground staff as rude, patronizing, and overbearing as we did at Devil’s Tombstone Campground. It felt like our group was constantly being watched and corrected over every minor thing imaginable instead of simply being treated like paying guests trying to enjoy a weekend camping. The campground itself was disappointing, but the staff attitude was by far the worst part of the experience. We do not recommend this campground to anyone, unless you want to have anxiety when they drive by every 5 minutes to check on every minor thing. By the way, the walk from the check in shack to the end of the campground is at most 0.2 miles.
Danielle S.ScoutDevil's Tombstone Campground
Experienced Campers — First Time Ever Leaving a Negative Review
FYI this is my first time ever writing a negative campground review, but this experience deserves one. Our large family group stayed at Devil’s Tombstone Campground over Memorial Day weekend, and despite having camped dozens of times over the years, this was by far the worst campground and staff experience we’ve ever had.
When we arrived there was no caretaker present, no cell service to call the posted number, and we were later condescendingly told we “should have checked in” and “should have knocked”— both of which we did. We were then told the posted number was “only for emergencies,” despite nowhere stating that. The first caretaker who checked us in was pleasant, but after that it felt like staff constantly monitored and corrected our group over extremely minor issues: partially parking on grass, briefly parking near the bathroom walkway, plugging into an outlet near the restroom during 40-degree rainy weather, hanging signs, and even checking our tarp lines on trees. Many of these rules were not posted anywhere.
After someone plugged into the bathroom outlet because they were freezing (there was no sign that said you couldn't and it was not listed in the rules), the bathroom power was shut off entirely, leaving the bathrooms without lights at night, which created an obvious safety issue. Around the same time, a camera suddenly appeared near the outlet area, which felt excessive and uncomfortable.
Meanwhile, staff spent hours mowing, weed-whacking, and chain sawing during the middle of Friday on Memorial Day weekend while simultaneously nitpicking campers over every little thing.
The final straw was being told we could not use a fully enclosed propane fire pit with no embers during cold, windy, rainy weather. After expressing frustration over the constant nitpicking, forest rangers were called on us the next morning. Staff reportedly told them we had garbage and food everywhere, which was completely false. Thankfully the rangers themselves were respectful and seemed to quickly realize we were simply a group trying to enjoy our weekend.
The campground itself was also very misleading compared to online photos. The “lake” is more like a shallow pond unsuitable for meaningful fishing, kayaking, or swimming. The supposedly stocked creek running through the campground was completely dry, there is no running water in the bathrooms, and a main road cuts directly through the campground with traffic flying by at highway speeds.
We still managed to have fun because we enjoy spending time outdoors together, but we would absolutely not return or recommend this campground.
Ryan B.ScoutRussell Brook Campsites
Great campground
Owners are amazing, family oriented, campground has tons for kids to do and is close to Roscoe. Our family goes every year
Emily M.
TravelerLong Pond Campground
Great dispersed camp sites
All the roads are gravel, so it might get a little muddy after a big rain but I had no issue with a low clearance car driving around to explore the sites available. About half the sites are spread out in a large patch of spruce trees, I stayed at one of these. You can hear and sometimes see cars on the main road from your site but overall the spruce trees give you a lot more privacy. Had a neighbor blasting their speaker and didn't even hear it until I was walking by on that stretch of road. You might catch a glimpse of someone's fire at night, but it mostly felt like I had the place to myself. The other half are clustered much closer together among some deciduous trees but all the sites are pretty spacious, with a picnic table, fire pit, and easy access to the water. You might get a visit from day-use visitors looking for water access, especially if you pick a site closer to the water access paths, so if you're looking for more seclusion you may want to look elsewhere, but I didn't mind and the people who did stop near my site were respectful and didn't seem to want to disturb me once they saw the site near the water access was occupied. A free permit is needed for camping during the on-season. I stayed off-season and most of the sites were unoccupied, but I could see this being a popular spot during the warmer months. Port-a-potties are also not available off-season – be prepared to find a good cat hole spot or bring a wag bag if you're not self-contained. Seeing some litter around my site was a bit of a bummer (don't be that guy!), but overall the sites looked pretty clean and well-maintained. I did notice some broken glass at my site, so if you have pets (or shoe-averse children) be mindful of their paw pads (and feet). There's plenty of downed wood for making a fire, and I passed a couple homes selling firewood on the side of the road on the way. Service was spotty (AT&T) but if you wandered around enough you could get a couple bars to send a text, or if you really needed to, drive up the road a couple of minutes. I would easily stay here again, but if I came during the main season I'd probably want to plan a mid-week trip and get my permit and claim my site as soon as possible.
- aarlen K.Scout
Mink Hollow Lean-to
Lean-to and primitive tent sites
Lean-to is just off the Mink Hollow trail near the Devil's Path there is an outhouse near lean-to. A reliable piped spring is a quarter mile away.
Guide to Downsville
Camping sites near Downsville, New York sit within the western Catskills at elevations between 1,200-1,800 feet. The area's forested landscape features numerous tributaries feeding into the Delaware River system, creating diverse ecosystems for outdoor exploration. Summer temperatures typically range from 55-80°F with cooler evenings, while spring and fall camping require extra layers due to temperature fluctuations.
What to do
Fishing access points: The Delaware River watershed offers excellent trout fishing opportunities at Russell Brook Campsites, where campers can fish directly from their sites. According to one visitor, "Our site was massive and had direct access to Russell Brook. Couldn't keep my son out of the water."
Hiking the surrounding mountains: Numerous trails span the region, especially at Little Pond Campground which connects to broader trail networks. A camper notes, "There's also a man made waterfall at the edge with zero signage or stoppage which could be dangerous for young children." The campground features walk-in sites that offer added seclusion.
Water activities: Several campgrounds rent boats and water equipment. At Alder Lake, paddlers enjoy relatively calm waters for kayaking. One visitor commented, "We had a stellar time just hiking down the path and relaxing by the water. There's no noise at night apart from the running water of the stream."
What campers like
Waterfront camping options: Peaceful Valley Campsite provides riverside accommodations along the Delaware. A regular visitor mentioned, "Great location with nice riverside spots. Weekdays are quiet, weekends not so much. Full hook-ups."
Natural surroundings: The densely wooded areas create privacy at many sites. At Soaring Eagle Campground, campers appreciate the natural setting: "The sites are larger than most campgrounds and well spaced out. I have been there on busy holiday weekends where it was full but still peaceful and private."
Secluded sites: Many campgrounds offer walk-in options for added privacy. At Alder Lake, campers note, "The campsites are very spacious with lots of room between you and other campers, and have a fire pit and some have picnic tables."
What you should know
Seasonal operation limitations: Most facilities close by late September or October. Hunter Lake Campgrounds maintains traditional operating seasons, with one guest noting that "Most of the sites are seasonal and there are very nice tent sites as well."
Bathroom maintenance varies: Facilities at campgrounds receive mixed reviews regarding upkeep. Beaverkill Campground receives positive feedback: "Bathrooms were very cleaned and everybody respected COVID-related social distancing. Would come again!"
Reservation systems differ: Several campgrounds have limited online booking capabilities. Hunter Lake Campground requires phone reservations with advance payment. One camper explained, "Yes I did have to mail a check for my reservation. Most of the sites are seasonal and there are very nice tent sites as well."
Tips for camping with families
Look for shallow water access: Sites with gentle water entry points work best for young children. At Russell Brook Campsites, families appreciate the accessibility: "It's clean and well-maintained - even the restrooms. Every site is well-equipped with its own water, electricity, fire pit, and picnic table."
Consider walk-in sites for older children: Some campgrounds offer walk-in options requiring short hikes. At Blue Wind Nature Camp, families find "4 private tent sites and 50 acres of scenic hiking trails. Campsites are spaced out, feel private, and offer all of the amenities."
Pack for temperature fluctuations: Evening temperatures often drop significantly. At Roscoe Campsites, one family noted, "The farm, playground, beach, and shallow river make it a great, easy entry point for new and younger campers."
Tips from RVers
Limited full-hookup availability: Confirm hookup options when booking. At Roscoe Campsites, RVers found, "Clean bathrooms and showers. People working there were more than helpful. Guided us to our site. Helped us set up."
Site sizes vary significantly: Some campgrounds accommodate larger rigs while others have tight turns. Hunter Lake Campground receives good reviews from longer-term RVers: "It's a quiet well kept campground right on a lake. Great family friendly campground and the owners are the best."
Midweek visits recommended: Weekend occupancy rates increase significantly during summer months. A Russell Brook visitor confirmed, "Very peaceful. Felt like we had the place to ourselves. Very clean. Definitely will be going back."
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Downsville, NY?
What camping is available near Downsville, NY?
According to TheDyrt.com, Downsville, NY offers a wide range of camping options, with 181 campgrounds and RV parks near Downsville, NY and 17 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Downsville, NY?
Which is the most popular campground near Downsville, NY?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Downsville, NY is Little Pond Campground with a 4.2-star rating from 21 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Downsville, NY?
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Downsville, NY?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 17 free dispersed camping spots near Downsville, NY.
Keep Exploring