Camping near Goshen, New York offers year-round opportunities with distinct seasonal advantages. The Hudson Highlands region sits at elevations between 400-1,800 feet, creating varied microclimates across campsites. Winter camping remains available at several locations including Black Bear RV Park, which stays open when most seasonal campgrounds close between November and April.
What to do
Hiking the Appalachian Trail sections: Beaver Pond Campground in Harriman State Park provides direct access to several Appalachian Trail sections. "The trails in the area are friendly to hikers, bikers, and the non arthritic kneers, as most are rated moderate to challenging. Don't fret, trails that are rated easy and accessible to disabled are equally enjoyable and beautiful," notes one visitor to Beaver Pond Campground.
Water recreation on Canopus Lake: Fahnestock State Park offers swimming in a clear, sandy-bottomed lake with rentals available. "The beach is closed after Labor Day to the public, but open to people staying at the campsite. Clean and beautiful," according to a camper at Clarence Fahnestock State Park Campground.
Explore Hudson Valley wineries: Several campgrounds serve as bases for day trips to local wineries. "It was close to good hiking as well as a few wineries. Not a bad weekend! Perfect getaway from fast-paced city living," shared a visitor to Fahnestock State Park.
River activities: Kittatinny Campground offers organized water adventures. "My college friends go here each year to meet up and we have so much fun. The group sites are great and perfect for our 30-50 people. Definitely go for the rafting/tubing package, it was the best part of the trip!" says one reviewer at Kittatinny Campground.
What campers like
Platform tent sites: Many campers appreciate the raised wooden platforms available at some parks. "The biggest positive about Beaver Pond is how spread out it was. You definitely feel like you have your own space and are not camping on top of your neighbor. Many of the camping options were on platforms which is especially nice if it recently rained or if you are expecting rain during your stay," notes a camper.
Riverfront camping spots: Korns Campgrounds offers sites along flowing water. "Site 90 was real nice. Fairly secluded and surrounded by a stream. Electrical and water on every site was a bonus," shared a visitor at Korns Campgrounds.
Off-season solitude: Several campgrounds remain uncrowded in spring and fall. "We were there in late October, towards the end of the season, and there were only a few other campers there, and it was a weekend! So nice to have the whole place feel so quiet and desolate," mentions a camper at Winding Hills Park.
Farm-based camping: Unique options exist beyond traditional campgrounds. "This was one of my favorite trips of 2019. This site was a small tiny home located on an active produce farm. The host was fantastic and catered to all of our needs giving us some firewood, a tour of her farm, and some fresh produce she picked that morning," explains a visitor to Peace and Carrots Farm.
What you should know
Seasonal wildlife considerations: Bears are active in some campgrounds. "Welcome to Bear Mountain' grumbles the park ranger as he sits in complete darkness! He offers us a highlighted map to our site, wishes us a good stay, and gives us the run down on bear activity in the area," shares a Beaver Pond camper.
Cell service variability: Connectivity differs significantly between campgrounds. "We had horrible cell service (we have sprint). Could not make calls or use internet at campgrounds or the park but did see others who were using cellphones," notes a reviewer at Winding Hills Park.
Bathroom quality inconsistency: Facilities vary widely between parks. "Bathrooms for our area looks well kept outside, but, closed due to covid. Other campgrounds have just stepped up the cleaning and remained open for convenience of the campers," explains a visitor to Black Bear RV Park.
Weekend noise levels: Some campgrounds transform on weekends. "Quiet hours at night is laughable as the enjoyment of being in nature rages on into the early morning," explains a Beaver Pond visitor about weekend crowds.
Tips for camping with families
Activities for various ages: Jellystone Park offers structured entertainment. "This campground is great for kids. It has a event just about every weekend with kid activity," shares a visitor to Jellystone Park Gardiner. Another camper 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."
Choose secluded sites: Families often prefer more private locations. "The sites closer to the Playground side/closer to the bathrooms to be more noisy. Also those sites are closer together which would be good for larger groups," explains a Winding Hills Park visitor.
Bathroom proximity: Consider mobility when selecting sites. "There is a bit of a hill to the bathroom if you pick spots 1-7 and 48/9 I think it was. Something to consider if you have mobility issues," notes a camper at Winding Hills Park.
Playground access: Some parks offer child-friendly amenities. "Short distance from the NYC, very organized, clean pond, has a playground, showers, bathroom. Your phone will have signal," mentions a Beaver Pond visitor.
Tips from RVers
Off-season water considerations: Winter camping has limitations. "We are returning to the south after spending a couple months of fall in New England. Unfortunately at this site, the heated water pipe was broken so we had no water for the night," warns a visitor to Black Bear RV Park.
Site leveling challenges: Not all RV sites are equally prepared. "We had to try 2 different spots bc some of them are VERY un level," explains a camper at Neversink River Resort.
Full hookup limitations: Many area campgrounds offer only partial hookups. "There are water spigots around the grounds and attached to the bathroom facilities. But no actual sites with water hookups for RVs," notes a Winding Hills Park visitor.
Sanitary dump access: Some parks restrict dump station use. "Dump is kept locked, but there's a number to call and staff will come unlock for you," explains a Winding Hills Park camper regarding one of the best places to camp near Goshen, New York for RVers.
