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Best Campgrounds near Elka Park, NY

578 Reviews

Camping in the Catskill Mountains surrounding Elka Park offers a mix of established campgrounds and dispersed wilderness sites within a forested mountain landscape. North-South Lake Campground provides tent and RV sites with water proximity, while Devil's Tombstone Campground offers a more rustic experience with smaller, wooded sites. Echo Lake provides dispersed backcountry tent camping for those seeking a more primitive experience. The area includes both drive-in options with amenities and remote sites requiring short hikes from trailheads.

The camping season typically runs from mid-May through early October, with most campgrounds closing after Indigenous Peoples' Day weekend. Temperatures can remain cool even during summer months, particularly at higher elevations. Many campgrounds require reservations through the New York State reservation system, especially during peak weekends. Developed campgrounds provide basic amenities including picnic tables, fire rings, and access to toilets, though amenities vary significantly between locations. Cell service is limited or non-existent in many camping areas, particularly at Echo Lake and Devil's Tombstone. "This campground couldn't be in a better spot. We had a wonderful weekend there. The restrooms were clean and had showers, which we did not expect," noted a camper about North-South Lake.

Waterfront access represents a significant draw for campers in the region, with North-South Lake offering swimming beaches and boat launches. Sites near water tend to book quickly during summer weekends. Several visitors mentioned the excellent hiking opportunities near campgrounds, with trails connecting to popular destinations like Kaaterskill Falls. For those seeking solitude, Echo Lake provides a more remote experience. A reviewer described it as "surrounded by hills with a small lean-to and a few campfire spots. Other campsites are scattered and require navigating through small overgrown trails." Bear activity is common throughout the region, so proper food storage is essential at all campgrounds. Campers consistently rate the scenic beauty, trail access, and swimming opportunities as highlights of the Elka Park camping experience.

Map showing campgrounds near Elka Park, New YorkExplore the Map

Best Camping Sites Near Elka Park, New York (166)

    1. North-South Lake Campground

    43 Reviews
    Palenville, NY
    7 miles
    Website
    +1 (518) 589-5058

    $22 - $44 / night

    "Our first campground was in New York Aug 8th. Unfortunately, Debbie was socking New York hard. North South Lake Campground in the Catskills was our camping home."

    "Had a great time at this campground- surrounded by many returning campers which gave the whole experience a good community vibe. Ice cream truck comes around each evening in the summer."

    2. Catskill/Kenneth L Wilson Campground

    23 Reviews
    Shokan, NY
    10 miles
    Website
    +1 (845) 679-7020

    $22 / night

    "This campground is nestled in the Catskills, New York, with easy access to New Jersey and Connecticut."

    "Access to fresh water spouts and clean bathrooms were just a walk away from most sites, theres a beautiful pond on site and beautiful views of the Catskills, Woodstock is a 15 min drive if you’re looking"

    3. Woodland Valley Campground — DEC

    29 Reviews
    Phoenicia, NY
    14 miles
    Website
    +1 (845) 688-7647

    $20 / night

    "water to play in right behind tent. I do prefer fire pits over the brick stove. this had the stove. more advanced hiking in walking distance. no cell service. my gps on phone was able to track though."

    "Close to Woodstock, NY, many trails and other attractions. You need to plan for it, there's a lot to explore; some trails are challenging. "

    4. Rip Van Winkle Campgrounds

    16 Reviews
    Saugerties, NY
    9 miles
    Website
    +1 (845) 246-8334

    "You’ve got fishing either in 2 private lakes or you can fish in the river but to do the river you’ll need a New York State fishing license."

    "I was a little skeptical that we wouldn’t get to choose our site, but you can’t go wrong, they are all wooded, private and well situated. The campground is centrally located you many things to do."

    5. Devil's Tombstone Campground

    10 Reviews
    Elka Park, NY
    3 miles
    Website
    +1 (845) 688-7160

    $16 / night

    "this is close by to many catskill hiking trails"

    "It was close to trails and town"

    6. Whip O Will Campsites

    7 Reviews
    Round Top, NY
    10 miles
    Website
    +1 (518) 622-3277

    $33 - $113 / night

    "From it bathrooms to its pool to its general store , playground , basketball courts , bocceball, 7 acre lake and 2 miles of walkable runable paths , Ted & Angela do a fantastic job of keeping the place"

    "It had a little arcade, a nice lake, and playground."

    7. Blue Mountain Reservation

    4 Reviews
    Palenville, NY
    8 miles
    Website
    +1 (914) 862-5275

    "I went here with my friend and we were using it as our base camp as we went out in trails in the eastern Catskills notably the Devils Path, echo lake, etc."

    "Nice little campground with lake sites. The Northville Placed Trail comes out in this campground. The showers were clean and plenty of pressure."

    8. Brookside Campground

    6 Reviews
    Palenville, NY
    10 miles
    Website
    +1 (518) 678-9729

    "The bathroom and bathhouse were a bit run down looking from the outside, but inside they were updated and clean."

    9. Phoenicia Black Bear Campground

    4 Reviews
    Phoenicia, NY
    9 miles
    Website
    +1 (845) 688-7405

    $35 - $65 / night

    "Right outside downtown Phoenicia the black bear campground is perfectly situated for a multitude of activities. They offer creek front and wooded campsites."

    "2 minutes walk to town"

    10. Echo Lake

    2 Reviews
    Woodstock, NY
    5 miles
    Website
    +1 (607) 652-7365

    "There are tent sites around the whole lake with fire pits and 1 lean-to site at the end of the trail when you first arrive at the lake.  The sites are relatively flat and well shaded with trees. "

    "Lake is surrounded by hills and there is a small lean two with a few campfire spots."

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Recent Camping Photos near Elka Park, NY

1156 Photos of 166 Elka Park Campgrounds

Recent Reviews near Elka Park, NY

578 Reviews of 166 Elka Park Campgrounds

  • BThe Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 16, 2025

    Sage's Revine

    Not highest recommended

    There was a bunch of signs that said no parking so we parked at the entrance to the trailhead. The area itself is beautiful but I believe it is more for tent camping versus cars, overlanding vehicles and RVs.

  • FThe Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 14, 2025

    Mills Norrie State Park Campground

    Great staff but back-to-back campsite

    We stayed a coupe of days in Oct. This is a beautiful site to camp out. The staffs are friendly and very attentive.
    Bathroom and water pressure was ok. But one shower location for 50 campsites. Three small showers units and three toilet.
    I never stayed a state campsite where the sites are so close each other. If you like a “normal” distance to your neighbors, I'd not recommend this place.

  • Chelsea B.
    Oct. 10, 2025

    New York City North-Newburgh KOA

    Good amenities and fun experience!

    Campsites Great campsites, wooded and cozy, though a little tight for longer rigs as our neighbors found out when they ran over a wooden post backing in. But spaced apart nicely with lots of vegetation between. Nice and level. Amenities Bathrooms are older and need of some repair but let me tell you I was very happy to see a normal shower head with real hot water! So no complaints here. Laundry facilities were clean and open 24/7 with reasonable prices 2.50/2.00 washer/dryer. And the dryers actually worked. Small dog park, communal spaces, and a camp store all made the place feel like a little village. They even have a wine store- cab sav was good. WiFi I work remotely and WiFi is always an issue. We have Starlink but in a wooded campsite, connecting is an issue but luckily their WiFi was great. Had no issues and could stream just fine. Halloween! We visited mid October and folks had sites decorated and the KOA has trick or treating and other activities every weekend in Oct. we were SO bummed to be leaving on a Friday and miss the festivities because it looked really fun. Would definitely go back. Also, staff was super nice.

  • A
    Oct. 7, 2025

    Russell Brook Campsites

    Clean, Friendly, and Right on the Water

    Loved this place! It's clean and well-maintained - even the restrooms. Every site is well-equipped with its own water, electricity, fire pit, and picnic table. The best part is the waterfront sites. 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!

  • Chelsea B.
    Oct. 6, 2025

    Brookside Campground

    Not a recreational campsite

    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 paid for two weeks in advance of arriving at this site based on reviews available on Google and Dyrt. However, when we arrived we were surprised that this was mostly a trailer park. Call me picky, but I really prefer not to camp in an area where folks are living full time. Just not the vibe I’m going for. We decided to leave without staying. We called to see if we could get a refund and they were very kind and it wasn’t a problem. But just be warned… this is not a recreational campsite.

  • Chelsea B.
    Oct. 6, 2025

    Whip O Will Campsites

    Not for recreational campers

    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. One site even had a funeral home sign hanging out front of an entire plywood addition to their camper…like what? Call me picky, but I don’t feel entirely comfortable camping for fun next to folks who live in the campground like this. After driving through the super narrow and rutted out roads to the site they recommend, a man came hauling a** into our site (with a beer in his hand) and was saying “hello hellooooo.” Said he was the owner of the campsite and asked if we were staying, we said we were thinking about it, just checking out the available sites (as the lady up front told us to do). TL;DR- bad vibes. Didn’t stay. Be warned this is a full time campsite with crap everywhere. The lady working the office was super nice though.

  • TThe Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 4, 2025

    Taconic Hereford Multiple Use Park

    Convenient pit stop

    This spot is easy to find and access, and had decent ATT service. There's only a few spots, and the road is narrow with not much turnaround room, I wouldn't recommend for trailers or RVs.

  • CThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 30, 2025

    Mills Norrie State Park Campground

    Average

    We stayed one night in late September without a reservation. Bathhouse is old but was adequate with hot showers. We’re from out of state and paid about $23 for a tent site which was reasonable for the facilities.

  • S
    Sep. 28, 2025

    Sylvan Lake Beach Park

    Great Beach Lake for summer swimming and Boating

    This is an old campground, but is quite quaint. Reminds me of lake camping that I grew up with. Hosts are very nice and helpful. This is more of a seasonal camping site. Do not follow your GPS directions. Get directions from the campground staff.

Guide to Elka Park

Camping near Elka Park, New York, offers a mix of beautiful scenery and outdoor activities. Whether you're looking for a peaceful retreat or a fun family adventure, there are plenty of campgrounds to choose from.

What to do:

  • Hiking: Explore the scenic trails around the area. Campers have enjoyed the hiking opportunities, with one reviewer mentioning, "The Catskills are very scenic & we enjoyed our time there!" at North-South Lake Campground.
  • Fishing: If you love fishing, check out the lakes and rivers nearby. One camper at Rip Van Winkle Campgrounds said, "You’ve got fishing either in 2 private lakes or you can fish in the river."
  • Swimming: Enjoy a refreshing swim in the lakes. A visitor at Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park Gardiner noted, "The swimming there felt really clean and I loved the dock."

What campers like:

  • Natural beauty: Campers appreciate the lush surroundings. One reviewer at Woodland Valley Campground described it as "Gorgeous. There was a brook not far from our campsite."
  • Privacy: Many sites offer a sense of seclusion. A camper at Kenneth L Wilson Campground mentioned, "While some of the spots were fairly close together, they seem more spread out than in other Catskill camping sites."
  • Friendly staff: Campers often highlight the helpfulness of the staff. A visitor at Schodack Island State Park Campground said, "The staff and CAPs they are in the campground were very friendly."

What you should know:

  • Limited cell service: Be prepared to disconnect. A camper at Little Pond - DEC noted, "No Verizon service and Starlink was spotty."
  • Bear activity: Wildlife encounters are common. One camper at North-South Lake Campground shared, "There are bears that visit the campground."
  • Facilities vary: Some campgrounds have older facilities. A reviewer at Woodland Valley Campground mentioned, "Half the bathrooms don’t work, no firewood for sale."

Tips for camping with families:

  • Activities for kids: Look for campgrounds with playgrounds and organized activities. A family at Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park Gardiner said, "This place is so much fun. My whole family loved the activities."
  • Choose quieter times: Weekdays can be less crowded. A visitor at Kenneth L Wilson Campground noted, "Things were pretty quiet (though that could have been because of the rain)."
  • Pack extra supplies: Be ready for anything, especially if facilities are limited. A camper at Margaret Norrie State Park advised, "Bring extra tarps and rope!"

Tips from RVers:

  • Check site sizes: Make sure your RV fits the site. A reviewer at Rip Van Winkle Campgrounds mentioned, "We were assured that it would fit. It did—technically."
  • Be aware of road conditions: Some campgrounds have tight roads. A camper at Copake Falls Area — Taconic State Park said, "The roads... were a bit tight for larger rigs."
  • Look for amenities: Choose campgrounds with full hookups for convenience. A visitor at Schodack Island State Park Campground noted, "The sites are amongst the most spacious I’ve ever seen. RV sites offer 30/50 amp electricity."

Camping near Elka Park, New York, has something for everyone, from families to RV enthusiasts. Just remember to plan ahead and enjoy the great outdoors!

Frequently Asked Questions

What camping is available near Elka Park, NY?

According to TheDyrt.com, Elka Park, NY offers a wide range of camping options, with 166 campgrounds and RV parks near Elka Park, NY and 14 free dispersed camping spots.

Which is the most popular campground near Elka Park, NY?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Elka Park, NY is North-South Lake Campground with a 4.6-star rating from 43 reviews.

Where can I find free dispersed camping near Elka Park, NY?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 14 free dispersed camping spots near Elka Park, NY.

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