Westchester County campgrounds and surrounding areas offer glamping and rustic accommodations within 30 to 60 minutes of Haverstraw, New York. The region features elevations ranging from 200 to 1,800 feet with deciduous forest terrain. Summer temperatures average 75-85°F with moderate humidity, while fall camping season brings colorful foliage and cooler nights dropping to 40-50°F.
What to do
Hiking trails along the Appalachian Trail: High Point State Park Campground connects directly to several sections of the Appalachian Trail with varying difficulty levels. A camper 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."
Fishing in multiple lakes: West Point FMWR Round Pond Outdoor Recreation Area provides access to stocked fishing areas with catch-and-release options. "The campground is beautiful and the staff was wonderful! We are looking forward to stopping by Round Pond again in the near future," reports one visitor who noted the well-maintained fishing areas.
Water activities for hot weather: Campers at Stokes State Forest appreciate the natural water features. "We stayed at a beautiful mossy bank, next to a river and a lake. The area was quiet and peaceful, and areas with waterfalls and great views were easily accessible," describes one visitor who explored the multiple water recreation spots.
Winter cabin rentals: Some campgrounds maintain year-round cabins with heating systems. A Stokes State Forest visitor explained their off-season experience: "Rented a cabin in November (#009) and again in December (#008) of 2021. The cabins are reasonably priced and well-appointed, if a bit rustic. You need that wood stove to heat up the cabin."
What campers like
Tent platforms at multiple campgrounds: High Point State Park Campground offers raised platforms at many sites, creating level sleeping areas. "Each place comes with a lamp hang, a fire pit, and a picnic table. Camps are secluded from each other and most if not all have an elevated space to put tents or chairs," explains one reviewer who appreciated the setup.
Clean facilities in military campgrounds: West Point FMWR Lake Frederick Outdoor Recreation Area maintains high standards for its facilities. A military camper wrote, "The bath house is always well stocked and clean, ready for end of the day cleanup and the laundry facilities are a great bonus for those of us who like to stay longer than a couple days."
Geodesic dome glamping: The luxury accommodations at Moon Valley Campground feature unique architectural structures. A visitor described it as, "This was a great campsite nestled in the foothills of Northern NJ on the NY border. Small, clean with great views and great location for hiking. Try it you won't be sorry."
Proximity to NYC: Multiple campgrounds market themselves as accessible weekend destinations. One Round Pond visitor mentioned, "Love the proximity to NYC - I always look for areas that are not too far, but not too close to NY. Beautiful but small-ish tent sites. Lots of great hiking in the area."
What you should know
Military-only campgrounds: Several camping options near Haverstraw restrict access to military personnel. A reviewer at Round Pond noted, "Unfortunately for me, Round Pond is camping reserved for active and retired military personnel only. We drove through and the whole space is rather large. There are several signs everywhere making it clear that it is only for military."
Bear safety requirements: Mahlon Dickerson Reservation and other regional campgrounds have strict food storage policies. One visitor observed: "There are a lot of bear warnings here so that gave us a bit of pause with our three little boys. The sites are spaced well and have a nice bonus of large fire rings set back in the woods a bit from the pad that you park on."
Cell service limitations: Some areas have limited connectivity. A Round Pond visitor advised, "Just a note to other campers with T-Mobile, 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."
Tent platform quirks: High Point platforms require specific equipment. One camper warned: "We wanted to setup our large tent on the flat gravel driveway and our hammocks and relaxation area on the platform. The photos did not convey the actual steepness of this site!! The gravel driveway is on a 30-40 degree incline."
Tips for camping with families
Family-focused activities: Jellystone Park™ Gardiner caters specifically to families with children. "This campground is great for kids. It has an event just about every weekend with kid activity," shared one parent. Another added, "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."
Noise considerations: Family campgrounds often have more activity. A Jellystone camper mentioned, "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."
Camping cabins for beginners: Camp Glen Gray offers cabins that reduce equipment needs. "Cabins are always clean and stocked with firewood. Lots of hiking trails. Trading post is well stocked and volunteers are always friendly and able to answer any questions," reported a repeat visitor.
Site selection for privacy: Choose sites away from common areas. A family at Jellystone observed, "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. Kids were at the playground 8 am or before and the noise woke us up."
Tips from RVers
Water hookup distances: Mahlon Dickerson Reservation has an unusual water connection system. A camper explained, "Website lists water hook ups at long distances but they have hose reels to help with that. Our site (15) said 75' however the 50' hose reel made it to our rv connection."
Dump station quality: Look for campgrounds with properly maintained facilities. At Mahlon Dickerson, "Trash dumpster is an easy walk and the dump station has a flush hose point. Nice and easy little campground."
Leveling challenges: Some sites require significant leveling equipment. A High Point visitor noted, "So, we got in with no reservation, which was great. It's in the same park as the high point, also great. The sites are varied, some have tent platforms, it's just off the AT, but we have a trailer and the 'trailer' sites aren't level."
