Family-friendly glamping options abound near Glenham, New York, where the rolling Hudson Valley terrain offers diverse camping experiences across several state parks and private campgrounds. The region sits between 200-1,800 feet elevation with summer temperatures averaging 75-85°F during peak camping season. Most camping areas remain open from April through October, with limited winter accommodations available at select locations.
What to do
Swimming and water activities: West Point FMWR Round Pond Outdoor Recreation Area offers excellent water recreation. "The campground is beautiful and the staff was wonderful! We were very impressed with the playground on site! Unfortunately, due to our early start in the camping season the weather did not allow us to enjoy fishing or the beach or water hook ups, however all areas looked well maintained," reports Jacey H.
Hiking to viewpoints: High Point State Park Campground features trails leading to panoramic vistas. Justin P. notes, "I spent two nights camping with my niece and this campground was perfect. The site was maybe a 50-yard walk-in and we barely heard anyone around us and had a real wilderness feel. We fit in a hike up to the Appalachian Trail from our campsite, swam at the pond (Lake Marcia), and got in a fishing session at Steeny Kill Lake."
Family activities: Jellystone Park Gardiner offers extensive organized events for children. "This campground is great for kids. It has a event just about every weekend with kid activity," shares Jennifer I. Another visitor, Amanda S., adds, "Nice pool that is shallow so you can relax and let the little ones go in the water park section alone or they have a 3 ft pool also. My older kids preferred a deeper pool but they still had a great time there they have lasertag which they enjoy. And a bounce pillow."
Local attractions: Mountain Lakes Park provides excellent day-trip opportunities. "A gorgeous piece of land that contains lakes, a lookout and Mt. Bailey, the highest point in Westchester County. A dirt road loops through the property with trails off and through it," describes Ben H.
What campers like
Peace and quiet: West Point FMWR Round Pond Outdoor Recreation Area receives praise for its tranquil atmosphere. A veteran camper notes, "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."
Swimming areas: Lake Waramaug State Park Campground offers waterfront access that campers enjoy. One visitor explains, "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."
Convenience to NYC: Mountain Lakes Park gets high marks for accessibility. "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," reports Ethan K.
Spacious sites: Taconic State Park offers ample room for campers. Erin B. describes, "tent sites are available with very large platforms. Bathroom facilities are adequate. There are 2 dog friendly loops at the back. Overall, very quiet and friendly."
What you should know
Site selection matters: Thousand Trails Rondout Valley can have variable site quality. Ian R. advises, "This is what I want for a Catskill campground. It is not a concrete pad haven and yes, there is mud. Our site was even and easy to level on. Lots of locals and summer residents."
Seasonal planning: Campgrounds operate on different schedules. For Lake Waramaug State Park Campground, a visitor cautions, "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."
Bathroom facilities: Facilities vary widely between locations. At Jellystone Park Gardiner, Elizabeth M. notes, "They need to add more bathrooms. They rarely cleaned the bathroom in all the 6 days that I stayed. The showers didn't have enough water pressure, 2 out of 6 had only hot water, some had no paper, hairs everywhere, the toilets didn't work, and super dirty."
Limited cell service: Connectivity can be an issue. At Round Pond, Jacey H. mentions, "Just a note to other campers with T-Moblie, we did not have any service on the campsite, however just a hop in the car or a quick walk down the mountain for 5G service near the entrance off the main road."
Tips for camping with families
Kid-friendly activities: Jellystone Park Gardiner specializes in family entertainment. Stephanie H. shares, "This campground has a lot of activities and has kids of all ages galore. I was worried my 12 year old would be too old for it but he enjoyed making friends there. We got a red carpet site by the Gaga pit and near the water park (Cindy bear lane) and it was a convenient yet noisy site."
Quiet vs. active campgrounds: Consider noise levels when choosing locations. At High Point State Park Campground, a visitor explains, "Drive in but ours had a drive in to a mini trail so it was a pain to load/unload. Camping right along the lake was nice, small trail to walk around river and trails to hike into the mt."
Platform tents: For easier setup with kids, consider glamping close to Glenham, New York at established sites. Christina M. describes Copake Falls Area: "Each of the sites had a large platform (enough room for one very large tent or 2-3 smaller tents), a fire pit, and picnic table. You are very close to your neighbor in this area but when we were there everyone was very respectful."
Swimming options: Look for campgrounds with kid-friendly water access. At Taconic State Park, Emily F. notes, "The swimming there felt really clean and I loved the dock. Close to great hiking."
Tips from RVers
Hookup locations: At Thousand Trails Rondout Valley, consider hookup placement. Inez W. cautions, "The only problem I had was that my Starlink didn't work at the first site (372 - full hookup) but they let me choose another site (435 - no sewer) and I was happy as a clam. Oh yea, the sewer connection in 372 ran uphill for me, but my pipe sits very low."
Off-season availability: Many glamping options near Glenham close seasonally. At Jellystone Park Gardiner, the season runs April 16 to November 1, with Carmine B. noting, "Our 2nd ever camping trip with our RV and it really was amazing. Our first trip to another campground was disastrous due to hurricanes and leaks, and this trip made everything so much better."
Service options: Some campgrounds offer on-site services. Robert M. explains at Thousand Trails Rondout Valley: "Full hookups, tents and cabins to rent. Pleanty to do in and around campground. Grounds has a pool, concession stand, game room, playgrounds, sports feild and more. Sites are well groomed. We had one and a babbling brook was 30 feet behind us. Great spot for morning coffee. Clean restrooms, showers and laundry. Dump stations if need and a service to come to your rig to collect waste if you don't want to move it."
