Glamping options near Grahamsville, New York sit at elevations between 1,200-2,500 feet in the western Catskills. This region experiences distinct seasons with warm summers averaging 75-85°F and winters that can drop below freezing. Several campgrounds in the area provide bathroom facilities with varying levels of maintenance based on location and seasonal timing.
What to do
River activities: Oakland Valley Campground offers direct river access for fishing and wading. According to a visitor, "We spent most of early spring at Oakland Valley right on the river... They loved to fish and play in the river, explore the woods and ride bikes around. Quiet, family friendly and close to home!"
Hiking trails: Alder Lake features easy to moderate hiking paths around the water. One camper notes, "The hike around the lake is a lovely, easy walk. The hike trail that connects to the far end of the lake is 6+ miles and while there were no real views, it was lovely. We also hiked the balsam lake fire tower which had nice views of the area."
Outdoor games: Jellystone Park Gardiner provides organized activities for families. A reviewer mentions, "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." Another adds they have "lasertag which they enjoy. And a bounce pillow."
What campers like
Mountain views: Osa Trail provides scenic vistas of the surrounding Catskill peaks. A camper reports, "We had a great time staying here. It's a very beautiful campsite. There's lots of great hiking and activities in the area."
Swimming options: Thousand Trails Rondout Valley features a pool for hot weather relief. One visitor notes, "It offers a pool, playground, and activities that include bocce ball, shuffleboard, and horseshoes. We loved our full hookup site." Another mentions, "The creek that runs by the campground is gorgeous, and my kids had fun finding Crayfish."
Quiet atmosphere: Several campgrounds offer peaceful settings away from crowds. A reviewer at Oakland Valley Campground states, "It was Memorial Day Sunday when we stopped in, staff was friendly. Our location was by the river and did not disappoint. It was a rocky location but we didn't mind."
What you should know
Bathroom conditions: Facilities vary widely between glamping sites near Grahamsville. A Jellystone Park Gardiner visitor noted, "The bathrooms needed updating and people at the tent area made a comment that it took a while to get a turn at the showers."
Reservation timing: The most desirable glamping locations book quickly, especially during summer and fall color seasons. An Alder Lake camper advises, "We stayed three nights in late October. Grabbed one of the two vehicle accessible campsites along the road which had some very light traffic."
Site spacing: Roscoe Campsites and other established campgrounds have varying site privacy. According to one review, "The 'tent sites' are VERY close together, and there is nothing separating them. If you're looking for quiet seclusion, don't even remotely consider this spot as an option."
Seasonal considerations: Weather impacts glamping comfort significantly. A Thousand Trails Rondout Valley camper mentioned, "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."
Tips for camping with families
Pool access: Jellystone Park Gardiner offers family-friendly water features. As one parent described, "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."
Animal encounters: Campgrounds with streams provide nature exploration opportunities. A Thousand Trails Rondout Valley visitor shared, "The creek that runs by the campground is gorgeous, and my kids had fun finding Crayfish."
Playground options: Many glamping sites close to Grahamsville provide play areas. A Jellystone Park Gardiner camper noted, "This campground is great for kids. It has events just about every weekend with kid activity." However, another mentioned, "Kids were at the playground 8 am or before and the noise woke us up."
Tips from RVers
Leveling challenges: Some sites require additional equipment for comfortable setup. A Roscoe Campsites visitor warned, "The ground is worn over and very rocky. If you visit, bring incredibly thick sleeping pads or air mattresses if you want to sleep semi-comfortably."
Hookup quality: Skyway Camping Resort provides reliable utilities for RVs. A camper confirmed, "Nice well maintained park, full hookups with cable and wifi." However, they added, "Office forgot to give us wifi info and had closed early."
Site navigation: Many campgrounds have challenging access roads or site configurations. An Oakland Valley reviewer cautioned, "Only reason I didn't give 5 stars was because the sites were a bit difficult to back into and unlevel. Otherwise a very nice place to relax."
