Best Campgrounds near High Falls, NY

Camping areas near High Falls, New York range from established campgrounds to mixed-use facilities with diverse accommodation options. The Catskill region surrounding High Falls features several developed campgrounds including Rondout Valley RV Campground in Accord and Jellystone Park in Gardiner, both offering tent sites, RV hookups, and cabin rentals. The Shawangunk Gateway Campground provides primitive tent-only camping with proximity to popular climbing areas, while Kenneth L Wilson Campground offers a more traditional camping experience with spacious sites nestled in the Catskill Mountains. Most campgrounds in the area are seasonal, typically operating from May through October.

Access to camping facilities varies by location, with many requiring advance reservations during peak summer months. The developed campgrounds generally feature well-maintained roads suitable for most vehicles, while some of the more remote areas may require careful navigation. "Most sites are very clean and accessible with access to fresh water spouts and clean bathrooms just a walk away from most sites," noted one visitor to Kenneth L Wilson Campground. Weather conditions in the Catskills can change rapidly, particularly at higher elevations, making proper preparation essential. Summer temperatures typically range from comfortable to warm, while spring and fall bring cooler nights that require warmer sleeping gear. Cell phone coverage can be limited throughout the region, especially in campgrounds situated in valleys or remote areas.

Several visitors highlight the natural beauty and recreational opportunities as key features of camping in this region. The campgrounds provide convenient access to hiking trails, swimming areas, and fishing spots throughout the Catskill Mountains. Mixed-use campgrounds in the area often feature amenities like showers, flush toilets, and picnic tables, making them suitable for families and first-time campers. Based on reviews from The Dyrt, campers particularly value the proximity to nature while maintaining reasonable access to towns like Woodstock and Phoenicia for supplies. Wildlife sightings, including black bears, are relatively common, requiring proper food storage at all campgrounds. Weekends tend to be busier, especially during summer months and fall foliage season, with many visitors recommending weekday stays for those seeking a quieter experience.

Best Camping Sites Near High Falls, New York (182)

    1. Jellystone Park Gardiner

    32 Reviews
    Gardiner, NY
    10 miles
    Website
    +1 (845) 255-5193

    "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."

    "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."

    2. Catskill/Kenneth L Wilson Campground

    23 Reviews
    Shokan, NY
    15 miles
    Website
    +1 (845) 679-7020

    $22 / night

    "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"

    3. Thousand Trails Rondout Valley

    13 Reviews
    Accord, NY
    7 miles
    Website
    +1 (888) 707-1477

    "Great place situated in a great area with lots to do all within an hour's drive. Even camping during a pandemic was peaceful & fun!"

    "This is a Thousand trails campground so it was free. I think the regular price is $64. Full hookups, tents and cabins to rent. Pleanty to do in and around campground."

    4. Mills Norrie State Park Campground

    14 Reviews
    Staatsburg, NY
    10 miles
    Website
    +1 (845) 889-4646

    $17 - $102 / night

    "There are great hiking trails on the Hudson River right outside your campsite. Amenities are the great outdoors and an ancient bath house built during the New Deal in the 1930's."

    "Firewood wasn’t available at the camp, had to drive about a mile to grab some. Close to town so easy to grab needed items."

    5. Samuel F. Pryor III Shawangunk Gateway Campground

    8 Reviews
    Accord, NY
    5 miles
    Website
    +1 (303) 951-4571

    "I definitely recommend trying to get the walk-in (meaning you can't drive to them) sites (8-15) because they're just a little bit more set back and kind of wonderfully wooded all around. 8 & 9 seemed"

    "There are drive-up sites and also walk-in sites. No fire pits at individual campsites, though. Only a group fire pit."

    6. Woodland Valley Campground — DEC

    29 Reviews
    Phoenicia, NY
    19 miles
    Website
    +1 (845) 688-7647

    $20 / night

    "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. "

    7. New York City North-Newburgh KOA

    13 Reviews
    Plattekill, NY
    13 miles
    Website
    +1 (845) 564-2836

    "They have the best staff and they are everywhere, if you need someone they are always around and super friendly also."

    "Location- 4 stars- close to NYC but kinda just in the woods and close to homes, not much around.

    Sites- 4 stars- a real mixed bag- the rv/trailer only section is really nice, wooded."

    8. North-South Lake Campground

    43 Reviews
    Palenville, NY
    26 miles
    Website
    +1 (518) 589-5058

    $22 - $44 / night

    "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."

    "Had a great time at this campground- surrounded by many returning campers which gave the whole experience a good community vibe. Ice cream truck comes around each evening in the summer."

    9. Rip Van Winkle Campgrounds

    16 Reviews
    Saugerties, NY
    19 miles
    Website
    +1 (845) 246-8334

    "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."

    10. Sam Pryor III Shawangunk Gateway Campground — Minnewaska State Park Preserve

    3 Reviews
    Gardiner, NY
    7 miles
    Website

    $20 - $42 / night

    "Most acidic lake in New York but completely safe."

    "It’s got good access to Lake Minnewaska (driving), staff was nice and polite. But I thought the sites were on the smaller side and no fire is allowed."

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Recent Reviews near High Falls, NY

732 Reviews of 182 High Falls Campgrounds


  • SThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 28, 2025

    Sylvan Lake Beach Park

    Great Beach Lake for summer swimming and Boating

    This is an old campground, but is quite quaint. Reminds me of lake camping that I grew up with. Hosts are very nice and helpful. This is more of a seasonal camping site. Do not follow your GPS directions. Get directions from the campground staff.

  • Mindie C.
    Sep. 27, 2025

    West Point FMWR Round Pond Outdoor Recreation Area

    West Point

    No frills but beautiful. Bath houses are absolutely spotless. Fire pits, electric and water hook ups only. Will return! Staff is friendly and helpful. Military families should check it out!

  • Tamar W.
    Sep. 22, 2025

    The Peekamoose Valley

    Not all sites open

    Despite current info posted online and even at the Lower Field site, not all sites are open. Only the Lower Field site is open. We walked down the hill, across the bridge, and looked at a few sites in each direction. It was walk-in only and about a 5-10 minute walk to the first site. The setting was nice, close to the creek, with a stone fire ring at each. You can see the folks in the next site but there’s quite a bit of privacy. There wasn’t much wood laying around to make a fire, so plan ahead. The ports potties are in the parking lot so it’s likely that you won’t make the trek up to them. Make sure you know the rules about how far away from the water you should pee and whatnot. I believe it’s on the info sign nearby. We have a roof top tent and we were stopping in the middle of a long drive so we just waited until dark and popped it in the parking lot and then left in the morning but I don’t think you’re supposed to do that. FYI they empty the dumpsters at 4am on Monday and then do the ports potties at 7am. Yay.

  • JThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 10, 2025

    Skyway Camping Resort

    One night stoo

    Nice well maintained park, full hookups with cable and wifi. Office forgot to give us wifi info and had closed early. Very nice staff.

  • Damia F.
    Aug. 29, 2025

    High Point State Park Campground

    Relaxing and Well-Maintained

    Stayed 2 nights and it was really nice. Camping for summer is pretty limited to Sawmill Lake, as the other locations are for groups or winter camping. Camps are secluded from each other and most if not all have an elevated space to put tents or chairs. Each place comes with a lamp hang, a fire pit, and a picnic table. Bathrooms are spaced out. No running water except for pump founded outside of the bathrooms. Toilets are pump flushed. Showers are only located INSIDE High Point State Park, not throughout the campsites, but entry is free for campers. One hiking trail is accessible in Sawmill campground, 3 others are accessible on the road outside of the campground and the rest are located inside the park. When you arrive you have to check in with the park office for your campsite tag. Hours are 8-4. Park officials come through the campsites pretty regularly, a few times a day which is nice. Areas are clean and well maintained.

  • Paul K.
    Aug. 26, 2025

    Croton Point Park

    Not the Best Place to Go in the Northeast By a Longshot

    Croton Point Campground is a modest little campground, located along the Hudson River within Croton Point Park in NY. In addition to camping, the park itself offers many of its own attractions, including swimming, hiking, kayaking, cabin rentals, and a host of other family-oriented activities just along the Hudson. 

    The park, which is honestly probably the largest attraction here, is located just an hour and a half outside of the city. This proximity is both its perk and its downfall, as the park itself, but particularly the campground, has become laden with all sorts of inexplicable and burdensome rules, endless guidelines, and restrictions only a New York State-run bureaucracy could ever make sense of, let alone hope to justify. 

    This includes all manner of restrictions on how you can camp, where you can camp, what equipment can be used, and use in relation to what particular site you may have been lucky enough to reserve. Much of this you can understand while imagining what may have taken place here to bring them to such measures, but it doesn't make it any easier to contend with. 

    In terms of the actual camping conditions Both the tenting section and RV sites are each very clustered together, and quite crowded, with regular patrols🚓(actual patrols) being made day and night, by both the Park Rangers and what appears to be general park staff members, all looking to see if you or your family might be doing something that they might consider outside of the guidelines or not in compliance with the many restrictions. 

    This is not to say you can't possibly have a good time here. It just might mean being a bit more diligent toward reviewing the potential legitimacy of your normal camping routine to ensure it meets with many restrictions and guidelines imposed, while also making yourself comfortable with some fairly regular surveillance during your stay here. These all being things we hoped to get away from while camping ourselves It just turned out to be a bit much for our particular liking.

  • GThe Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 20, 2025

    Little Pond Campground

    Small sites and no service

    I didn’t hate this campground, but I won’t be going back.

    It’s a nice campground and perfect for single/family camping. I would not choose this location if I were taking a group of people. The sites are on the smaller side and many have slanted entrances.

    The campground is kept clean and the bathrooms were tidy. The campground is in bear country so you have to be mindful about leaving food out when you’re not at the site or asleep.

    There is a pond and there’s kayaks, canoes, etc for rent. The beach area is clean and the water is clear. I was there middle of August and the water was not cold and quite comfortable. There are some water front sites that you can use to access the water with a boat or paddle board.

    Cell service is non existent and they have a pay phone near the entrance booth where you can use to make/receive phone calls. It’s a 20 min drive back into town to get cell service. That’s a non- starter for me. It would be beneficial if they had service near the entrance at least for people to check in with Family.

  • Mike W.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 16, 2025

    Cozy Hills Campground

    First time here

    Nice facility, friendly staff. They pack us in pretty tight in some sites.

  • Janine D.
    Aug. 11, 2025

    Kittatinny Campground

    Not worth the money or time

    If we could rate this a 0 we would.  We were expecting a weekend of kayaking and relaxation when in fact we got an overcrowded, noisy and dirty weekend that was overpriced.  I will give the river a 10, it was beautiful, welcoming and refreshing in the warm sun.  We arrived at about 8:00 in the evening with several camps blaring different genre of music, not a problem, considering we still like it as loud as possible sometimes, but it didn't end at quiet time, it continue until well over midnight.  The campsites are so close together it was like being packed into a sardine can.  The campsite across the pathway didn't have their dog on a lead and we woke up with a pile of dog excrement next to our trailer, that was a howdy-do morning for ya.  We were super excited to take our kayaks out on the river, paddle up stream and float down with our pup, but we were told that we couldn't launch from this location.  (What kind of crap is that)  This location was a receiving location only and "absolutely no launching" was allowed.  If you are looking for a party spot to come with your friends, this is definitely the place for you!  If your looking for a chill place to camp next to the river where you can tube, kayak and enjoy your peaceful weekend, this is NOT the place.  The amount of money we spent for 2 nights was outrageous for such a sucky weekend, will not be going back!


Guide to High Falls

Camping near High Falls, New York offers access to the southeastern edge of the Catskill Mountains, with elevations ranging from 600 to 4,000 feet throughout the region. The area experiences relatively mild summers with average highs in the 70s-80s°F, while spring and fall camping requires preparation for nighttime temperatures that can drop into the 40s. Several campgrounds operate seasonally from May through October, with primitive tent camping, RV sites with hookups, and cabin rentals available within a 30-minute drive of High Falls.

What to do

Hiking trails in Minnewaska State Park Preserve: The Samuel F. Pryor III Shawangunk Gateway Campground provides convenient access to this popular destination. "The hiking areas are great, the weather is perfect and the bear was very nice for a bear," notes one camper who stayed at nearby Catskill/Kenneth L Wilson Campground.

Creek exploration and fishing: Multiple campgrounds feature water access. At Thousand Trails Rondout Valley, "The creek that runs by the campground is gorgeous, and my kids had fun finding Crayfish."

Swimming in lakes: North-South Lake Campground offers excellent swimming options. "I go there almost every year to go swimming with my family and friends and it's always a good time," shares one visitor who appreciates the dual lake setup.

Rock climbing for experienced adventurers: The Shawangunk Mountains (known as "the Gunks") are world-renowned for climbing. "Located really close to the Gunks for climbing and also some great hikes around the area," notes a visitor about Samuel F. Pryor III Shawangunk Gateway Campground.

Historical sites exploration: Mills Norrie State Park Campground serves as a good base for visiting historic landmarks. "The park is in perfect proximity to the best attractions in the region. Visit Lake Miniwaska, Dover Church Falls, Rheinbeck Aerodrome, New Paltz."

What campers like

Private wooded sites: Kenneth L Wilson Campground earns high marks for site layout. "Our site (site 9) was absolutely massive! The photo doesn't do it justice. It was set back very far from the main road and was an extremely large site!"

Waterfront camping options: Woodland Valley Campground features creek-side sites. "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."

Organized activities: Jellystone Park Gardiner receives praise for its programming. "This campground has a event just about every weekend with kid activity," and another reviewer notes, "Nice pool that is shallow so you can relax and let the little ones go in the water park section alone."

Hiking accessibility: Several campgrounds offer direct trail access. At Rip Van Winkle Campgrounds, visitors appreciate the location: "The campground is centrally located to many things to do. Minnewaska state park was gorgeous, and the hikes around Kaaterskill as well."

Clean facilities: Campers consistently mention well-maintained bathrooms and showers. At Woodland Valley, visitors note "clean facilities, fire pit, friendly and knowledgeable staff."

What you should know

Bear activity requires proper food storage: Wildlife encounters are part of camping in this region. At Kenneth L Wilson Campground, "There are bears and if you leave food out you will get a warning notice if seen."

Limited cell service: Connectivity varies significantly by location. "No cell service in the campground," notes one Kenneth L Wilson camper, while another mentions, "The Wi-Fi is also bad here" at Jellystone Park.

Weekend crowds vs. weekday quiet: Timing your visit impacts experience. At Mills Norrie State Park Campground, "Deserted during the week but packed on weekends. Sites are large and spread nicely."

Weather preparedness: The region experiences temperature swings. At Minnewaska, "We went in September and the color of the leaves on the trees were stunning," highlighting seasonal considerations.

Reservation requirements: Many campgrounds fill quickly during peak season. North-South Lake Campground requires planning ahead: "Reserve very early for waterfront."

Tips for camping with families

Water features for kids: Multiple campgrounds offer water access that's perfect for families. At New York City North-Newburgh KOA, "They have two pools but both were overcrowded. Playground was large and in decent condition."

Entertainment options: Jellystone Park Gardiner is designed for families: "This campground is great for kids. It has events just about every weekend with kid activities," and "They have lasertag which they enjoy. And a bounce pillow."

Site selection strategies: Consider proximity to facilities when booking with children. At Kenneth L Wilson, "Our site was separated a little bit from other sites as you can see on the map which was so nice and also just a 20-second walk from the bathroom."

Family-friendly hiking: Several areas offer trails suitable for children. Rip Van Winkle visitor noted, "The creek on the property (Plattekill) is great, the pond is fun to fish in."

Noise considerations: Some campgrounds have variable noise levels. At Jellystone Park, one camper observed, "The campers don't respect the quiet time at night and morning too. A lot noises until 2 am and early from 6 am."

Tips from RVers

Site leveling and access: RVers should research specific sites. At Thousand Trails Rondout Valley, "Our site was up front and we didn't venture into the park. We did use the laundry room, which needed some updates."

Hookup variations: Water, electric, and sewer availability varies by campground. At Rip Van Winkle Campgrounds, "Very easy to level and setup on #7. Full connections. Pay showers and laundry onsite."

Maneuvering challenges: Some campgrounds have tight access roads. At Mills Norrie State Park, "Some have a steep descent off the road, and there's a lip on the road that can scrape bottom of campers/RVs. This happened to our neighbor and it took out his RV sewer system."

RV site privacy: Tree coverage impacts the camping experience. At Thousand Trails Rondout Valley, "The RV/trailer only section is really nice, wooded. Has a classic campground feel."

Length restrictions: Be aware of maximum RV sizes. At Samuel F. Pryor III Shawangunk Gateway Campground, sites are described as "No big RVs," making it unsuitable for larger rigs.

Frequently Asked Questions

What camping is available near High Falls, NY?

According to TheDyrt.com, High Falls, NY offers a wide range of camping options, with 182 campgrounds and RV parks near High Falls, NY and 12 free dispersed camping spots.

Which is the most popular campground near High Falls, NY?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near High Falls, NY is Jellystone Park Gardiner with a 4.3-star rating from 32 reviews.

Where can I find free dispersed camping near High Falls, NY?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 12 free dispersed camping spots near High Falls, NY.