Durham sits at the base of the northern Catskill Mountains, with elevations ranging from 400-1,900 feet throughout the surrounding region. Campgrounds near Durham typically operate from May through mid-October, with temperatures ranging from 45-80°F during camping season. The area features hardwood forests interspersed with creeks and small mountain lakes that support diverse wildlife.
What to do
Hiking near Kaaterskill Falls: North-South Lake Campground provides access to numerous trails, including routes to the newly opened viewing platform at Kaaterskill Falls. "This campsite is by far my favorite in the Catskills! Their staff is friendly and knowledgeable, bathrooms & beach areas are always clean, & the hiking nearby is fantastic. A lot of the hiking nearby is also relatively easy and includes the newly opened (as of 2016) viewing platform for Kaasterskill falls, which is minutes down the road from the campground," notes Jessica W. from North-South Lake Campground.
Swimming and lake recreation: The dual lakes at North-South Lake provide excellent swimming options during summer months. "I go there almost every year to go swimming with my family and friends and it's always a good time," says Lizz H. The campground features designated swimming areas with beach access from late May through early September.
Creek relaxation: Visitors to Rip Van Winkle Campgrounds enjoy wading in Plattekill Creek. "We were over in 'Lover's Lane' so it was isolated on a separate loop. Couples only on this loop, no kids! Pricey--$60 a night. But super nice being right on the creek--we took our chairs and plopped down in the water," shares Kyla B. The creek maintains cool temperatures even during summer heat.
RC car racing: Rip Van Winkle Campgrounds features a dedicated RC car track for enthusiasts. "The creek on the property (Plattekill) is great, the pond is fun to fish in, the RC track is great for those who are into it," mentions Kathy G. Bring your own equipment as rentals aren't available.
What campers like
Terraced camping areas: Nickerson Park Campground features unique terraced design that creates natural separation between camping areas. "Groups of sites sit on level terraces stepped down toward the river. The center area of each grouping of sites had a common use area with tether ball, playgrounds, privies, or additional parking," explains Sarah S. This layout creates natural community spaces while maintaining site privacy.
Spacious tent camping: Country Roads Campground offers tent sites set apart from RV areas. "Mainly an RV ground, but they have about 10-15 great tent sites back beyond the RV area. There are water spigots near all the tent sites and they are nice and spread out," writes William R. The tent area features wider spacing than the main RV section.
Clean facilities: Max V. Shaul State Park Campground maintains exceptional bathroom facilities. "A nice site. Very clean facilities and incredibly nice staff. Just ok distance between camp sites. If we return we might try the more upper loop further from the front," states ryan S. The campground's bathroom facilities are cleaned multiple times daily.
Family programming: Multiple pet-friendly campgrounds near Durham offer structured activities for children. "I'm a native of the Catskills and spent many an afternoon with my family enjoying the facilities at North/South Lake. I've recently started going there again with my own family and it's great to see them take the same enjoyment I did. Camping, swimming, hiking, boating, biking, this place has it all," shares Chris D.
What you should know
Water quality varies: Some campgrounds experience water issues. At Nickerson Park, one camper noted, "THE WATER! ABSOLUTELY DISGUSTING! I'm guessing the new owners didn't do as much as the previous owners as far as water treatments. It smelled like raw sewage, loaded with sediment and very discolored." Consider bringing drinking water for campgrounds with reported water problems.
Cell service limitations: Many campgrounds have limited connectivity. A camper at Devil's Tombstone Campground observed, "There is NO cell service here. You have to drive about 5 minutes towards Hunter to get service." Most campgrounds have better service at higher elevation points.
Permanent residents: Some campgrounds have significant seasonal populations. At Whip O Will Campsites, one visitor mentioned, "Full disclosure, we did not stay here. PLEASE, folks that leave reviews on this app, PLEASE say whether it's a full-timer campsite or a recreational campsite. We arrived after leaving another campsite in the area (that was also 100% full timers) and were disappointed to find that this site was all permanent campers with crap everywhere."
Rabies documentation requirements: New York has strict pet vaccination proof requirements. "Also, NY has some strict requirements about proof of rabies vaccination for dogs, so make sure to read the requirements," advises a Devil's Tombstone Campground visitor. Original vaccination certificates are required, not just tags.
Tips for camping with families
Off-peak camping: For fewer crowds at pet-friendly camping sites near Durham, avoid holiday weekends. "North South lake is one of the larger public camp grounds in New York. The sites are well spaced out. Great for families. The lake is huge. Avoid holidays to avoid the crowds," recommends Tara L.
Water activities: Schodack Island State Park Campground offers multiple water-based recreation options. "The day use and boat ramp on the Hudson River. We saw many larger boats (maybe small yachts?) during the day. The view from the boat ramp area was amazing," notes Kevin C. The park offers canoe and kayak rentals during summer months.
Wildlife observation: Many campgrounds have designated wildlife viewing areas. "Best part was hiking out to a couple of different blinds to look for birds. Did see a juv eagle," shares Patsy E. about Schodack Island. These blinds are positioned strategically for dawn and dusk wildlife viewing.
Secure camp store supplies: Many campgrounds have well-stocked stores for forgotten items. "First trip to ease my way into camping!! Plenty of space, your car is right there next to you, and the camp store has every essential you could ever need if you left anything at home or are just stopping by!!" writes Katie S. about Rip Van Winkle Campgrounds.
Tips from RVers
Site selection for privacy: At pet-friendly RV sites near Durham, corner locations typically offer more separation. "The sites are amongst the most spacious I've ever seen. RV sites offer 30/50 amp electricity. There are several hiking trails, a bike trail, a really awesome playground, boat dock, and lots of picnicking," reports Kara W. at Schodack Island State Park Campground.
Seasonal considerations: Most campgrounds close by mid-October. "Very easy to level and setup on #7. Full connections. Pay showers and laundry onsite. Loved having gated security," shares C O. about Rip Van Winkle. Fall camping offers more site availability but with cooler overnight temperatures dropping to 35-45°F.
Connection options: Electric hookups vary between campgrounds. "Stayed 3 nights with 2 buddies. We had 2 tents set up on the ground (2 man and 6 man capacity tents) and a third specialty tent in the bed my buddy's pick-up truck. Plenty of room for a pop-up canopy over the picnic table and my car with its own attached awning," notes Joseph C. Most campgrounds offering RV sites provide at minimum 30-amp service.
Guide
