Camping near High Falls, NY

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    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 Campgrounds near High Falls (190)

      1. Jellystone Park™ Gardiner

      4.2(33)10mi from High Falls5 sitesRVs, Tents, Cabins, Glamping

      "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. Mills Norrie State Park Campground

      4.1(19)10mi from High Falls54 sitesRVs, Tents, Cabins

      "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."

      from $17 - $102 / night

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      3. Catskill/Kenneth L Wilson Campground

      4.6(24)15mi from High Falls74 sitesRVs, Tents

      "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

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      4. Thousand Trails Rondout Valley

      3.8(13)7mi from High FallsRVs, Tents, Cabins, Glamping

      "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."

      5. Samuel F. Pryor III Shawangunk Gateway Campground

      4.2(9)5mi from High FallsTents

      "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. New York City North-Newburgh KOA

      4.3(15)13mi from High FallsRVs

      "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."

      7. Woodland Valley Campground — DEC

      4.2(29)19mi from High Falls67 sitesRVs, Tents

      "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

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      8. North-South Lake Campground

      4.5(44)26mi from High Falls214 sitesRVs, Tents

      "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

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      9. Rip Van Winkle Campgrounds

      4.4(17)19mi from High FallsRVs, Tents, Cabins

      "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

      4.3(3)7mi from High FallsRVs, Tents

      "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."

      from $20 - $42 / night

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    Recent Reviews near High Falls, NY

    804 Reviews of 190 High Falls Campgrounds

    • fThe Dyrt Pro User
      Oct. 15, 2026

      Alder lake

      October leaves starting to fall makes for a very quiet, peaceful midweek evening in one of the two dispersed car camping sites. Exactly what I was hoping for - private and empty and lovely. Easy to find - two dispersed car sites are to the left at the fork in the road before the trailhead.

    • WThe Dyrt Pro User
      Oct. 15, 2026

      Mills Norrie State Park Campground

      Car camped

      Made a reservation (site44) since I arrived as the sun had set. Office registration was open until 8. Staff was neither friendly nor unfriendly. Bathroom was dated but fine and a short walk from my site. CG was emptier being a Tuesday night in mid-October, so was plenty of space.

      Great trail following the Hudson River. Beautiful fall colors.

    • Jeremy A.
      Oct. 14, 2026

      Allaben Campground

      Great free spot close to Belleayre Mountain

      I stayed here in March 2026 for a night before going snowboarding at Belleayre Mountain. It was in the middle of a snowstorm on a Tuesday night, so I had the whole place to myself, which was nice.

    • RThe Dyrt Pro User
      Oct. 10, 2026

      Copake Falls Area — Taconic State Park

      Taconic SP Copake Falls

      A nice wooded campground that was quiet despite being almost full on our Friday night stay.

      The site we stayed at (64) had some pretty large roots to drive over and may have been an issue for a low clearance vehicle (we have a Subaru Outback).

      The shower / house bathroom combo units weee very clean with hot water and baby changing station.

    • jThe Dyrt Pro User
      Oct. 7, 2026

      Lone Oak Camp Sites

      Too expensive

      I'm sure families would like it here in the summer, but to charge $90 when everything is closed up is ridiculous. Wi-Fi and showers are an additional cost. It does have an ADA shower which is a plus. Lots of permanent RVers and some sites are tight.

    • Leo C.
      Oct. 4, 2026

      Winding Hills Park

      Nice but dated

      Nice campground, bathrooms are clean but dated, first come first serve for the sites.

    • BThe Dyrt Pro User
      Oct. 2, 2026

      Schodack Island State Park Campground

      Home on the Hudson

      The park looks fantastic! Well maintained camp sites and beautiful river sceneries from the boat launch area!

      Bathhouse is one of the best I have seen!

      Check in was smooth. Everyone was courteous!

    • Ari A.The Dyrt Pro User
      Sep. 25, 2026

      Schodack Island State Park Campground

      Mostly peaceful campground

      Mostly peaceful campground with nice spots, most of which offer some privacy. If you are bothered by trains, note that you will hear them in the background quite frequently from the railroad bridge that passes over the Hudson River. It's not loud by any means, but you can hear them.

      The state park staff and the camp hosts were all very friendly, and it has some of the cleanest bathrooms I've ever seen in a state park.

      Site 20 is a pull through site and it's huge, and while it is next to the shower building, it's far enough away that it really isn't a problem. Also, the field between you and the shower building is a fantastic spot to set up a Starlink dish.

    • Roger V.The Dyrt Pro User
      Sep. 21, 2026

      Allaben Primitive Campsites

      only a handful of spots but very nice

      beautiful quiet space, great home base for the Catskills and small towns around here. note there's only a few spots. road conditions were fine.

    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 190 campgrounds and RV parks near High Falls, NY and 14 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 4.2-star rating from 33 reviews.

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

    According to TheDyrt.com, there are 14 free dispersed camping spots near High Falls, NY.