170 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
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.
"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."
"This is a truly beautiful and scenic campground, easily one of the best places we have visited in New York State."
from $22 - $44 / night
Check Availability"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"
from $22 / night
Check Availability"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. "
from $20 / night
Check Availability"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."
"this is close by to many catskill hiking trails"
"It was close to trails and town"
from $16 / night
Check Availability"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."
from $33 - $113 / night
Check Availability"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."
"The bathroom and bathhouse were a bit run down looking from the outside, but inside they were updated and clean."
"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"
from $35 - $65 / night
Check Availability"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."
RangerWhat an amazing find! This was a perfect location for the first 2 days of our vacation. Steve and Michelle were incredibly accommodating and wonderful hosts! We truly enjoyed our stay and will definitely return!
ScoutThis is a very pleasant campground just a couple of miles off the interstate. The staff is very friendly and helpful. Full hookups at most sites. Many amenities available. A very quiet setting to rest and repose. Highly recommended!
GuideWe were in campsite 20 with lots of room. The first night we were there we were near very loud groups which was difficult to sleep through. The next night everyone cleared out and we had a peaceful crowd. Bathrooms are nice, the park has great hiking trails and a nice day use area! There is also an area where we can rent canoes. I would definitely return, just wish there was a little more crowd control.
ScoutWe really loved this spot- it was relaxing to listen to the sounds of the creek and not having any camping neighbors. The night sky was filled with stars and we even saw a rocket. I also appreciated having an outhouse on site- i would say the only downside was having to take our bag of poop+pee out with us when we left (site rules). The only other thing that was bothersome was being told that wood is provided at the site and then not realizing until after we got there that we would have to Venmo the owner $10 per bundle (I don’t mind paying, just wouldn’t been nice to know ahead of time that it wasn’t included in the price). I recommend this site for anyone who enjoys privacy and doesn’t mind a detox from WiFi.
ScoutThis campground will not respond to phone calls, email or facebook. It appears no one in charge
ScoutThe RV camp site was spread further apart from the other sites. It felt like you were in a secluded spot all by yourself. The camp staff were very helpful, campfire wood was a phone away and promptly delivered to your site. Nice variety of merchandise for sale. I love a souvenir from the places I visit. Although, it rained 2 of the days, it allowed some quiet time away.
ScoutRip Van Winkle Campground
Catskills NY
The Good:
1. The location
2. The actual campground itself. There are roomy sites with trees.
The Bad:
1. If you are lucky enough to get an assigned campsite away from the busy road, it is a HALF MILE walk to the only showers in the ENTIRE campground. They have nearly 200 campsites and ONE set of showers.
2. The speed bumps are beyond ridiculous. Two humpers and high as Bob Marley.
3. If you call the office for help (our electrical post was out) they record you without your knowledge.
The Ugly:
1. The campground lost power on my electrical post and tried to blame ME for it. I own a Bulldog surge protector, yeah, so it wasn't me. How it was handled was unbelievable. I have never been treated so rudely. A simple apology would have gone a long way.
ScoutWe stay at a lot of Jellystone parks so have become accustomed to the park layouts and activities. This one was well maintained with clean facilities. Some things like the mini golf and fire pits needed maintenance. The pools were nice but get very busy later in the day. The sites up on the hills are nice but beware, it’s a hill! There is little to no WiFi or cell service or it gets easily bogged down, so be ready for that. Food was basic but good. Some activities like bingo were a bit chaotic and there were a lot of ground hornets around the jumping pillows. Would totally go again.
RangerThe campground is on a hillside and we stayed in one of the higher sites, further from the electrical site. The background humming was faint. There are 2 very close sites next to 3 yurts. The first night, our yurt neighbors partied until 1:30 am, and the 2nd night a family stayed and were in bed by 9:30. The closest bathrooms were down the hill a bit and were clean with a nice shower. Amazing hiking trails right from the campground. Our dog encountered a porcupine, and got away with only a couple of quills to the lower lip. If you have a dog, you will need to show a current rabies tag to bring them into the campsite.
Camping sites near Elka Park, New York range from basic backcountry locations to developed facilities with amenities. The Catskill region sits at elevations between 1,500-4,000 feet, creating cooler microclimates even during summer months. Overnight temperatures can drop into the 40s during peak summer camping season, especially at higher elevation campsites.
Tube down the Esopus Creek: Sites at Phoenicia Black Bear Campground provide direct water access. "River access for tubing! Love the owner! 2 minutes walk to town," notes camper Kendra P.
Explore hiking trails: Kenneth Wilson Campground offers access to numerous trails within the region. A camper mentions, "We had a 3-day weekend tent camping at this site from July 24-26 2020, at site 58 on Loop C... The park staff were keeping things really clean as well."
Fish in stocked ponds: Some campgrounds maintain fishing areas for guests. Whip O Will Campsites features a 7-acre lake with "tons to do. We did have a rough first night with some inconsiderate neighbors who partied until 7am keeping us up all night but owner assured us he would handle it and that he did!"
Spacious, private sites: Many campgrounds offer sites set back from main roads. At Kenneth L. Wilson Campground, campers report, "We LOVED our site (site 9). It was absolutely massive! The photo doesn't do it justice. It was set back very far from the main road and was an extremely large site!"
Family-oriented activities: Rip Van Winkle Campgrounds provides numerous recreational options. "Amazing campground with perfectly spaced large sites. There's a few playgrounds a great pool and a lot of amenities can't wait to go back," writes Richard V.
Authentic wilderness experience: For those seeking solitude, primitive sites offer minimal infrastructure. One camper describes Echo Lake as: "Lake is surrounded by hills and there is a small lean two with a few campfire spots. Other campsites are scattered and require navigating through small overgrown trails (wear pants)."
Varying shower facilities: Not all campgrounds provide shower access. At Devil's Tombstone Campground, "For showers you have to head 9 miles to North south lake. There is a playground for kids so you don't have to watch over them while you set up."
Limited or no cell service: Many campgrounds lack connectivity. At Kenneth L. Wilson, "There wasn't a ton of services at the campsite, which was fine. No showers or hookups. The toilets were pit toilets, which could have been cleaner... There is NO cell service here."
Bear activity requires precautions: Wildlife encounters are common. One camper at Kenneth Wilson Campground reported, "It was the wildest weekend I ever had, I'm not being sarcastic. The hiking areas are great, the weather is perfect and the bear was very nice for a bear."
Look for campgrounds with playgrounds: Several sites offer recreational areas specifically for children. At North-South Lake Campground, "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."
Consider sites with swimming access: Water features provide entertainment for kids. One camper shares about North-South Lake: "I go there almost every year to go swimming with my family and friends and it's always a good time."
Book early for holiday weekends: Popular family campgrounds fill quickly, especially sites with water access. "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."
Check site dimensions before booking: Some campgrounds have limited space for larger rigs. At Devil's Tombstone, "We had a VW Westfalia, which we had no trouble pulling into our site. If we had something bigger, it might have been an issue."
Prepare for varying hookup options: Facilities differ widely between campgrounds. One RVer at Brookside Camp Grounds reported: "Stayed here for a few days while on a week long trip. The bathroom and bathhouse were a bit run down looking from the outside, but inside they were updated and clean."
Consider seasonal weather impacts: Shoulder season camping can present challenges. "During the heavy rains water flowed down the roads ways due to the clay based soil and looked like it pooled up in places near the tent areas. We stayed here in a travel trailer."
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 170 campgrounds and RV parks near Elka Park, NY and 16 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 4.5-star rating from 44 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Elka Park, NY?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 16 free dispersed camping spots near Elka Park, NY.
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