172 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
The Catskill Mountains surrounding Hensonville, New York feature a range of camping options from developed campgrounds to more primitive sites. North-South Lake Campground in Haines Falls and Devil's Tombstone Campground in Hunter provide established camping areas within state forest preserves. Several private campgrounds like Rip Van Winkle Campgrounds and Whip O Will Campsites offer additional amenities for both tent and RV campers. The region includes multiple accommodation types with most campgrounds supporting both tent and RV camping, while some locations like Brookside Campground and Blue Mountain Reservation also offer cabin rentals and glamping options.
Camping seasons in the Catskills typically run from May through October, with most developed campgrounds closing after Columbus Day weekend. Many sites require advance reservations, particularly during summer months and holiday weekends. The terrain varies throughout the region, with some campgrounds featuring lakefront sites while others are nestled in wooded areas. Cell service can be limited or nonexistent in parts of the region, especially in more remote camping areas. Water access is available at many campgrounds, though drinking water availability varies by location. A camper noted, "North South Lake has no electricity. The sites are almost all beautiful, tucked in under shady trees. Not a good way to try out our solar panel! Some are by a stream. A few are by the lake."
Campers report high satisfaction with waterfront sites, particularly those along creeks and lakes. Several campgrounds feature swimming beaches, fishing opportunities, and boat rentals during the summer season. Wildlife sightings, including black bears, are common in the area, requiring proper food storage and awareness. Hiking trails connect many campgrounds to the broader Catskill Forest Preserve trail system, providing access to scenic viewpoints and natural features. Bathroom and shower facilities vary widely between campgrounds, with state-operated sites generally offering more basic amenities. A visitor commented, "The sites are well spaced out. Great for families. The lake is huge. Avoid holidays to avoid the crowds." Proximity to small Catskill towns provides opportunities for supply runs and exploring local attractions when not at camp.
"Our first campground was in New York Aug 8th. Unfortunately, Debbie was socking New York hard. North South Lake Campground in the Catskills was our camping home."
"This is a truly beautiful and scenic campground, easily one of the best places we have visited in New York State."
from $22 - $44 / night
Check Availability"this is close by to many catskill hiking trails"
"It was close to trails and town"
from $16 / night
Check Availability"This campground is nestled in the Catskills, New York, with easy access to New Jersey and Connecticut."
"Access to fresh water spouts and clean bathrooms were just a walk away from most sites, theres a beautiful pond on site and beautiful views of the Catskills, Woodstock is a 15 min drive if you’re looking"
from $22 / night
Check Availability"water to play in right behind tent. I do prefer fire pits over the brick stove. this had the stove. more advanced hiking in walking distance. no cell service. my gps on phone was able to track though."
"Close to Woodstock, NY, many trails and other attractions. You need to plan for it, there's a lot to explore; some trails are challenging. "
from $20 / night
Check Availability"From it bathrooms to its pool to its general store , playground , basketball courts , bocceball, 7 acre lake and 2 miles of walkable runable paths , Ted & Angela do a fantastic job of keeping the place"
"It had a little arcade, a nice lake, and playground."
from $33 - $113 / night
Check Availability"You’ve got fishing either in 2 private lakes or you can fish in the river but to do the river you’ll need a New York State fishing license."
"I was a little skeptical that we wouldn’t get to choose our site, but you can’t go wrong, they are all wooded, private and well situated. The campground is centrally located you many things to do."
"The bathroom and bathhouse were a bit run down looking from the outside, but inside they were updated and clean."
from $125 - $160 / night
Check Availability"Our site was on top of the creek, close to the path down to the water and close to a hiking trail. During our visit we drove around the nearby towns and didn't find much to see or do with our time."
"We had reservations about being side by side with other RVs but the site we were in was so big and being in a valley with huge trees all around a large open grassy area in the middle made everything feel"
"I went here with my friend and we were using it as our base camp as we went out in trails in the eastern Catskills notably the Devils Path, echo lake, etc."
"Nice little campground with lake sites. The Northville Placed Trail comes out in this campground. The showers were clean and plenty of pressure."
RangerWhat an amazing find! This was a perfect location for the first 2 days of our vacation. Steve and Michelle were incredibly accommodating and wonderful hosts! We truly enjoyed our stay and will definitely return!
ScoutThis is a very pleasant campground just a couple of miles off the interstate. The staff is very friendly and helpful. Full hookups at most sites. Many amenities available. A very quiet setting to rest and repose. Highly recommended!
GuideWe were in campsite 20 with lots of room. The first night we were there we were near very loud groups which was difficult to sleep through. The next night everyone cleared out and we had a peaceful crowd. Bathrooms are nice, the park has great hiking trails and a nice day use area! There is also an area where we can rent canoes. I would definitely return, just wish there was a little more crowd control.
ScoutWe really loved this spot- it was relaxing to listen to the sounds of the creek and not having any camping neighbors. The night sky was filled with stars and we even saw a rocket. I also appreciated having an outhouse on site- i would say the only downside was having to take our bag of poop+pee out with us when we left (site rules). The only other thing that was bothersome was being told that wood is provided at the site and then not realizing until after we got there that we would have to Venmo the owner $10 per bundle (I don’t mind paying, just wouldn’t been nice to know ahead of time that it wasn’t included in the price). I recommend this site for anyone who enjoys privacy and doesn’t mind a detox from WiFi.
ScoutThis campground will not respond to phone calls, email or facebook. It appears no one in charge
ScoutThe RV camp site was spread further apart from the other sites. It felt like you were in a secluded spot all by yourself. The camp staff were very helpful, campfire wood was a phone away and promptly delivered to your site. Nice variety of merchandise for sale. I love a souvenir from the places I visit. Although, it rained 2 of the days, it allowed some quiet time away.
ScoutRip Van Winkle Campground
Catskills NY
The Good:
1. The location
2. The actual campground itself. There are roomy sites with trees.
The Bad:
1. If you are lucky enough to get an assigned campsite away from the busy road, it is a HALF MILE walk to the only showers in the ENTIRE campground. They have nearly 200 campsites and ONE set of showers.
2. The speed bumps are beyond ridiculous. Two humpers and high as Bob Marley.
3. If you call the office for help (our electrical post was out) they record you without your knowledge.
The Ugly:
1. The campground lost power on my electrical post and tried to blame ME for it. I own a Bulldog surge protector, yeah, so it wasn't me. How it was handled was unbelievable. I have never been treated so rudely. A simple apology would have gone a long way.
ScoutWe stay at a lot of Jellystone parks so have become accustomed to the park layouts and activities. This one was well maintained with clean facilities. Some things like the mini golf and fire pits needed maintenance. The pools were nice but get very busy later in the day. The sites up on the hills are nice but beware, it’s a hill! There is little to no WiFi or cell service or it gets easily bogged down, so be ready for that. Food was basic but good. Some activities like bingo were a bit chaotic and there were a lot of ground hornets around the jumping pillows. Would totally go again.
GuideTons of hiking trails here. There are two main camping areas: one is at the base of the mountain with potable water, flush toilets, and showers nearby; the other is 2.5 miles up the mountain with a composting toilet and no potable water nearby.
We stayed at site 29, which is in the lower area. It was in a grassy field with trees on only one side of the site. We were able to position our camper to gain some privacy between it and the trees, but tents would be more exposed. Site 30 (right next door) is labeled as a management site so we didn’t have a neighbor during our stay.
Facilities are clean and well-maintained, and the staff is helpful and friendly.
Views from the top are beautiful and can be accessed by hiking or driving. Campsites in this area have more privacy and tree coverage.
We didn’t experience any noise issues with ATVs as other reviewers mentioned.
Overall, a pleasant stay.
Camping options near Hensonville, New York range from small, rustic sites to more developed campgrounds with full amenities. The area sits at elevations between 1,000-3,000 feet in the northeastern Catskills, creating cooler summer temperatures than surrounding lowlands. Most campgrounds in this region operate seasonally from May through October due to harsh winter conditions.
Hiking access to Kaaterskill Falls: Many campers at Devil's Tombstone Campground appreciate its proximity to popular hiking destinations. "Located just about a mile from Kaaterskill Falls this campground couldn't be in a better spot. We had a wonderful weekend there. The restrooms were clean and had showers, which we did not expect," explains Brittany W.
Fishing opportunities: Local lakes and creeks provide fishing options for campers throughout the season. "If you like to camp by water, this is the perfect place for you. It has amazing on the water sites you can camp at, plus a stunning view of the Catskills. The hikes are just easy enough for anyone in the family," notes Meike W. about Woodland Valley Campground.
Creek relaxation: Several campgrounds feature creeks where visitors can cool off during summer months. A visitor to Rip Van Winkle Campgrounds shares: "We were over in 'Lover's Lane' so it was isolated on a separate loop. Couples only on this loop, no kids! Pricey--$60 a night. But super nice being right on the creek--we took our chairs and plopped down in the water."
Mountain biking trails: The network of trails throughout the region supports mountain biking adventures of various difficulty levels. "I spent many an afternoon with my family enjoying the facilities at North/South Lake. I've recently started going there again with my own family and it's great to see them take the same enjoyment I did. Camping, swimming, hiking, boating, biking, this place has it all," reports Chris D.
Privacy between sites: Many campers appreciate the spacing between sites at Catskill/Kenneth L Wilson Campground. "We had a 3-day weekend tent camping at this site from July 24-26 2020, at site 58 on Loop C. Campsites are fairly close together with a variety of levels of privacy. Ours allowed you to be pretty far back from the road for more privacy, but some of the other sites were literally next to the road," notes Katherine P.
Water features: Creeks and streams running through campgrounds rank highly in reviews. "The mountain creek is like nature singing a lullaby - sleeping next to it was very relaxing; weather was great and we could see the stars through the canopy - very very enjoyable!" shares John N. about his experience at Woodland Valley Campground.
Clean facilities: Well-maintained bathrooms and shower facilities matter to campers visiting the Hensonville area. "This campsite is by far my favorite in the Catskills! Their staff is friendly and knowledgeable, bathrooms & beach areas are always clean, & the hiking nearby is fantastic," explains Jessica W. about her experience at North-South Lake Campground.
Camping store access: On-site stores provide convenience for forgotten items. A camper at Whip O Will Campsites observed: "Good vibes, simple amenities, great camp store and a good location! A good spot for overnight or extended camping especially if you aren't planning on doin extra to go into the Natl Park."
Limited cell service: Many campgrounds in the Hensonville area have poor or no cell coverage. "No mobile signal, but that's the point, isn't it? You get to disconnect from it all for a while," notes John N. about Woodland Valley Campground. Similarly, a visitor to Kenneth L Wilson reported: "There was no cell service in the campground."
Firewood availability: Policies vary regarding firewood at each campsite near Hensonville. "The firewood here for sell is 5 dollars for a bunch. At night there is a lot of mosquitoes so bring deet and long clothing," advises Phillip L. about Devil's Tombstone. Another camper mentioned: "There was no fire wood available at the campsite so buy before you come (available in Phoenicia and Woodstock, both close)."
Wildlife considerations: Black bears are active in the region. "Large campsite, clean facilities, fire pit, friendly and knowledgeable staff. This is an excellent site if you're looking to explore the Slide Mountain Wilderness and a great place to prep if you're planning to go backpacking as well. No/very limited cell service but that's not important. Did not encounter black bears but they do frequent the area," reports Derek W. about Woodland Valley Campground.
Site variations: Campgrounds offer diverse site options with varying levels of privacy. "If you've been keeping up with my ranger reviews, you know I am always very pleasantly surprised by the things I've gotten the opportunity to test out that I never knew I needed. Camping Chairs were actually on my list of things to acquire this year for our trips, so I was psyched (as usual) when I found out GCI Outdoors would be what I got to check out," shares Molly G.
Playground access: Several campgrounds feature play areas for children. A visitor to Whip O Will Campsites noted: "The campground was so huge the grounds were so nice. It had a little arcade, a nice lake, and playground. We like the surrounding area, the mountains and hikes are awesome but we went during October when it was cold and would love to come back when it's warmer."
Swimming options: Look for campgrounds with swimming areas for cooling off in summer heat. "I go there almost every year to go swimming with my family and friends and it's always a good time," shares Lizz H. about North-South Lake Campground.
Group-friendly sites: Some campgrounds cater specifically to larger family gatherings. "Large family friendly campground with all the amenities - boating, showers, great hiking," notes Becky G. about North-South Lake Campground.
Kid-friendly hiking: Trails with manageable difficulty levels keep children engaged. "A lot of the hiking nearby is also relatively easy and includes the newly opened (as of 2016) viewing platform for Kaasterskill falls, which is minutes down the road from the campground," explains Jessica W.
Limited hookup availability: RV campers should research hookup options before arrival. "We ended up at this campground because the family we were traveling with needed to accommodate their 50 foot camper. As a rule of thumb- I try to visit as little RV parks as I can, but we were trying to find somewhere that would accommodate both of our needs," shares Molly G. about Brookside Campground.
Site leveling challenges: Prepare for uneven terrain at some campgrounds. A camper at Kenneth L Wilson notes: "Campsite is flat and packed dirt instead of gravel, which was great. There's a standard picnic table and a decent raised fire pit, and a spigot at our site."
Security considerations: Some campgrounds offer added security for RVers. "Very easy to level and setup on #7. Full connections. Pay showers and laundry onsite. Loved having gated security. My husband went on a work trip (Albany airport isn't too terribly far away) and left me alone for a few days and we left our rig to take the train (about 1 hr away in Poukeepsie) into the city for the weekend and we had no problems," reports C O. about Rip Van Winkle Campgrounds.
Dump station access: Not all campgrounds provide sanitary dump facilities. "Rip Van Winkle is a beautiful campground, it's well run, well maintained, and has a lot to do! I was a little skeptical that we wouldn't get to choose our site, but you can't go wrong, they are all wooded, private and well situated," explains Kathy G.
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Hensonville, NY?
According to TheDyrt.com, Hensonville, NY offers a wide range of camping options, with 172 campgrounds and RV parks near Hensonville, NY and 18 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Hensonville, NY?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Hensonville, NY is North-South Lake Campground with a 4.5-star rating from 44 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Hensonville, NY?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 18 free dispersed camping spots near Hensonville, NY.
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