Beaver Pond Campground in Harriman State Park welcomes pets with designated pet-friendly sites throughout the 52-acre property. Dogs must remain on leash no longer than 6 feet at all times within the campground boundaries. Nearby, Croton Point Park offers pet-friendly tent sites, RV spots, and cabins with water and electric hookups, making it suitable for various camping styles. Ward Pound Ridge Reservation maintains similar pet policies while providing more secluded camping experiences with walk-in tent sites surrounded by wooded areas. Most campgrounds in the region require proof of current rabies vaccination at check-in, though specific documentation requirements vary by location. Campers report that while most sites accommodate pets, the designated pet-friendly areas tend to fill quickly during summer weekends.
Hiking trails throughout Harriman State Park provide excellent exercise opportunities for dogs, with the Appalachian Trail section offering particularly scenic routes. Sebago Cabin Camp features pet-friendly cabins with nearby access to streams where dogs can cool off during summer months. West Point FMWR Round Pond Recreation Area includes a small fenced dog exercise area adjacent to the camping loops. Campers should be aware of wildlife concerns, as black bear sightings have been reported at several campgrounds in the region. The campground at Clarence Fahnestock State Park enforces quiet hours from 10pm to 7am, with specific rules about excessive barking. Multiple reviews mention that while most campgrounds technically allow pets, some have limited designated pet sites that require advance reservation.
$17 - $20 / night
"15 dolares la noche para los que viven en el Estado de New York o New York city .. si es fuera del estado son $5 dolares mas!!"
"Drive-in tent campgrounds. Adequate restroom facilities sprinkled amongst tent sites. Some campsites have raised platforms. All sites have picnic tables and fire ring with flip-top grill."
$30 - $60 / night
"Tent sites are very private with some dirt roads to exit out but thats what make it unique experience! Bathrooms with shower is near by and has plenty porta potties all around."
"Was close to bear mountains state part and the train station is right there!"
$17 / night
"With Covid/social distancing requirements, many sites are closed so it’s extra quiet and spread out. I stayed at site 6 with my seven year-old daughter from Tue-Thur."
"When you are camping with a large group of friends and don't all have access to a car, this is the perfect spot."
$74 - $130 / night
"It is a step up from cabin camping. They also have a beach behind it."
"This place is only an hour away from NYC with so much to do and see. These cabins are VERY rustic, four walls, a cot, and a fridge."
$25 - $40 / night
"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."
"We are looking forward to stopping by Round Pond again in the near future."
$45 - $55 / night
"Pet friendly and kid friendly with a playground available. Our favorite site is #25. Up a hill, totally private and has a lean-to."
"Close to the city and civilization, yet large enough to have nice trails and creeks to feel away from it all. The camping sites are very different so it’s useful to go in person and select the area."
$20 - $150 / night
"Yes, this is a military-only campground but, that doesn't take away from how incredible it is and that is properly advertised.
This place is incredible. "
"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."
"With a new check in area, Gardiner has really stepped up. They expanded the pool area to include another pool plus splash area and water slides."
$82 - $95 / night
"Have stayed here several times - great location and nice, full hook-up sites. Back-in and pull through sites and can accommodate large rigs. A little expensive but everything is included."
GuideI grew up in Long Beach. If you’re looking for a spot to camp so you can surf, this is perfect! It’s basically a parking lot, but it’s steps away from some of the greatest waves on the east coast. Showers are clean, there’s a dog park nearby, and the island is very bikable to get around.
benefits: allows dogs childrens playground beach programs like movie nights throughout the summer
GuideCamp Gateway in Brooklyn New York is one of my favorite places to visit. I went to college in New York, and loved to get out of the busy city and go camping and be outdoors. Camp Gateway was always a place that I loved to go. It is pretty close to town-which is crazy because you feel like you are miles away. Camp Gateway does offer a lot of different activities for everyone. One thing I love to do is go kayaking and stand up paddle boarding. My girlfriends and I tried to do this once a month to get away from the city and school. Because you are so close to the city, you can plan outdoor activities as well as some activities in the city. My friends and I stayed 1 night in the campground, and the next day went to a recital show that took us 10 minutes to get to. You can also walk, hike or ride your bike along multiple paths- I have done the Fort Tilden trail (I just walked, but there were multiple people that passed us on their bikes). Within the campground they do have some fire pits- which my friends and I always use because we love cooking smores and hot dogs for dinner. A little further away from the campground, about 10-15 miles there is a place where you can do horseback riding, see the Statue of Liberty (which is gorgeous!), and there is a little beach area. This beach area is where I do my kayaking and stand up paddle boarding. Again, its not very far away...you can either drive there, walk or ride your bike. The road is paved, which is nice. I stayed here also with my parents, and I know my dad went golfing one day (I didn't go, but he said it was awesome)- and again that was only a 10 minute drive from our camping spot. This campground like I said, does offer quite a bit. Sometimes it doesn't really feel like you are "camping" because things are pretty close by, but it definitely is worth going to and trying.
RangerVery plain & functional, no frills but right on the harbor & on the very edge of Jersey City, close to a ferry & the train that takes u across to New York City. Shopping & restraunts are right next door. We brought scooters & had a great stay! Plus you can see the Statue of Liberty from there!
LegendWe tried this campground without knowing what was safe and where to stay for visit New York City. It is located in Brooklyn and is little removed from everything. The sites are at Floyd Bennett Field which is an old airfield. The atmosphere here is eerily cool at the same time. You basically park and camp on the asphalt by the old hangars. No hookups at all but they do have a camp store and bath house. If you are tent camping, there are some grassy sites.
The campground is located right on Jamaica Bay so there were people fishing all the time from the seawall. At night, you could hear cars doing burnouts right next to us. To get to all the action in the city, we had to take a bus and then the subway. The travel was a headache but better than trying to drive in to New York City in our RV. One way to improve here would be to have some security at night as well as access to clean water and dump station. They remained locked most of the time for some reason.
The best part of this place was the free tour of Hangar B by some guys doing restoration of old planes (HARP). They had some great stories and gave us history of the planes on display.
ScoutRecently, we camped here for a week. We don’t ever post negative reviews like this. The last day, we experienced a violent attack by a very large and aggressive Pit Bull. The Pit Bull did not have a collar or a leash and was accidently let out of the RV to roam free and unsupervised. It immediately ran to our site(4 sites away) and attacked our dog that was tied at the time. The incident was unprovoked. While trying to save our dog, my wife and I were also attacked. The wounds were serious enough to require emergency transport to a hospital for treatment including stitches. All we could think of was what might have happened if our granddaughter had been playing with our dog.
To put it mildly, their existing pet policy is grossly lacking. They never checked what breed of dog or ask to see documentation of shots when we were registering. Yogi Bear Jellystone Park needs to better manage their pet policy to address aggressive dog breeds and ensure the safety of campers. We camped there for seven days and saw multiple sites have more than one large dog, which in many places we’ve camped at would have been banned due to breed type or size. We have RV’ed extensively across the US and have never seen such careless enforcement of a pet policy regarding aggressive dog breeds. Seriously, think about avoiding this park if you have pets or small children.
TravelerGood for skinny dipping and other fun things! Most acidic lake in New York but completely safe.
GuideThis place is kind of a toss up for me. On one hand, I enjoy it because it's a little slice of heaven in the hell of one of the busy areas of New York. I hate this place for the same reason. It's not really camping if you're going to see a play and then go tour the Statue of Liberty. It just doesn't seem right to me. If I HAVE to be in New York, maybe I'd consider staying here again just to get myself out of the city for a bit. But this definitely isn't your "great outdoors/rest and relaxation" kind of place.
TravelerSome things you should be aware of before booking: The office, playground, dog park, pool, laundry are located at the top of the hill. Camping spots are downhill, a good distance from the office and amenities. Trash is located off site in a pullout on the road you drive in on. There are 2 showers for women and 2 for men. Both are old and not well maintained or in our experience clean, either. In general the camping spots are not well maintained, weedy, un-level and picnic tables are weathered and warped. This resort campground is composed of mainly residents, the rules (we observed) apply to the overnight campers, not the residents. Children of the residents run free all day and past curfew in the evenings unsupervised. The setting is quiet, the views from the upper level are lovely. With some updating of bath facilities, cleaning and leveling of campsites, uniform enforcement of rules, Pleasant Acres could become a resort destination.
ScoutThere is only a small place for tents. Mostly people go there with campers. Not your typical campground. Very easy to hop on transit to get to New York City. People were friendly.
Ward Pound Ridge Reservation maintains tent sites spread throughout 52 acres of wooded terrain with most campsites elevated on platforms or in secluded clearings. Sites are available year-round with basic amenities including fire rings, picnic tables, and nearby portable toilets. Winter camping requires advance reservation and permits carrying a $45-65 fee per night depending on site type.
Hiking trails for all skill levels: Clarence Fahnestock State Park Campground offers excellent trail access with many connecting directly to campsites. "The campground offers several different sites, from platform tent spaces to those for 25' trailers. All sites have a standard picnic table and fire ring," according to Steve W. Multiple trails lead to Pelton Pond with a 1.5-mile loop suitable for beginners and families.
Water activities during summer: Lake swimming with designated beach areas remains open through early September at most locations. "The beach is secured with lifeguards and shower and bathroom facilities are available," notes Brian O. at Beaver Pond. Some beaches remain accessible to campers after public closure. "The beach is closed after Labor Day to the public, but open to people staying at the campsite," adds Courtney D.
Stargazing opportunities: Open field areas at Ward Pound Ridge Reservation provide excellent night sky viewing with minimal light pollution. "There's elevation gain, creeks, and open fields for stargazing," mentions Seth K. The reservation's distance from urban centers creates darker skies than other nearby camping options.
Privacy between sites: Croton Point Park offers tent sites with natural barriers. "Tent sites are very private with some dirt roads to exit out but that's what makes it a unique experience," explains Anil S. At Ward Pound Ridge, "The sites can be a bit tight, at times and you may find a few visitors, not necessarily on two legs, but always a delight," according to Elliot G.
Easy access from NYC: Most dog friendly campgrounds near Haverstraw provide quick getaways from urban areas. "A quick 40 minutes north of NYC, Harriman State Park has an eclectic little campground called Beaver Pond," writes Steve W. Another camper notes Croton Point is "a 30-40 minute drive from Western Queens" making it ideal for weekend trips.
Year-round availability: Several campgrounds remain open during winter months with varying services. "Ranger said that during summer weekends the grounds fill up and can be quite noisy, but mid-week during the off-season it was great," explains Rebecca S. about Beaver Pond Campground. Off-season camping offers significantly reduced crowds at most locations.
Reservation requirements: Many campgrounds require advance booking, especially for summer weekends. "Make sure to reserve at least two weeks out. Weekdays? You should be in luck!" advises Shelly B. about Clarence Fahnestock. At Ward Pound Ridge Reservation, "there is no phone or internet reservations and has to be made in person at the office," according to Anil S.
Bathroom facilities vary widely: Comfort stations range from basic to well-maintained. "The bathrooms and dishwashing... UGH. So old and dirty!!!" notes Courtney D. about Clarence Fahnestock. Meanwhile, at Round Pond Recreation Area, "Bath houses are absolutely spotless," according to Mindie C., though military affiliation is required for access.
Wildlife encounters: Bears and other wildlife appear regularly at campgrounds in this region. "Welcome to Bear Mountain" grumbles the park ranger as he sits in complete darkness! He is in his ranger hut, checking in the late evening arrivals to the campground," recounts Steve W. about his experience at Beaver Pond. Regular wildlife sightings require proper food storage at all campgrounds.
Playgrounds and activities: Jellystone Park Gardiner provides extensive family programming. "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," shares Stephanie H. Many campgrounds organize weekend events specifically for children during summer months.
Swimming areas with lifeguards: Multiple pet-friendly campgrounds near Haverstraw feature supervised swimming. "Nice, clean Beach and Lake, Bathroom and showers were clean," reports Stacey R. about her family experience at Clarence Fahnestock. For younger children, "Nice pool that is shallow so you can relax and let the little ones go in the water park section alone," notes Amanda S. at Jellystone Park.
Noise considerations: Family campgrounds experience varying noise levels. "It's a good park/camp for groups. They have cabins and RV sites," says Andrew A. about Croton Point Park, though he warns "there is a train depot right outside and you can hear them shunting trains all night." Weekday camping typically offers quieter conditions at most locations.
Hookup availability: Black Bear RV Park provides full-service RV sites. "Great location and nice, full hook-up sites. Back-in and pull through sites and can accommodate large rigs," reports Dave S. Other campgrounds offer partial hookups with just water and electric service, requiring self-contained units.
Site selection considerations: RV sites vary significantly in privacy and spacing. "The FHU sites were back-to-back and although there were trees separating the sites, they were close together," notes Lee D. about Croton Point Park. Winter camping presents additional challenges as "the heated water pipe was broken so we had no water for the night," reports Gabbie Y. at Black Bear RV Park.
Reservation costs: RV sites typically cost more than tent sites, with prices varying seasonally. "Basic sites with full hookups for about $80 a night," reports one camper about Black Bear RV Park. Another notes it's "a little expensive but everything is included," suggesting the convenience justifies higher rates at some locations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Haverstraw, NY?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Haverstraw, NY is New York City North/Newburgh KOA with a 4.2-star rating from 40 reviews.
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