Camping spots near Highland, New York offer diverse outdoor experiences within the Catskill and Shawangunk mountain ranges. The area sits at elevations ranging from 180 feet along the Hudson River to over 2,000 feet in the nearby mountains, creating varied camping microclimates. Summer temperatures typically range from 55-85°F, while spring and fall can bring significant temperature swings between day and night.
What to do
Hiking the trails: Samuel F. Pryor III Shawangunk Gateway Campground provides excellent access to renowned hiking areas. "Bathrooms had pit toilets and were clean. If you're contemplating paying to do any of the Mohonk Preserve hikes DO IT. Especially any of them that include the labyrinth. Coolest hike of my life," notes camper Emily M.
Fishing opportunities: At New York City North-Newburgh KOA, visitors can enjoy fishing at the on-site pond. A camper explains, "They have rental boats for a lake and fishing at the lake too. If is a great place to bring kids and you are never board! Even when it rains they have activities in the tent outside!"
Relaxing at lakeside beaches: Mills Norrie State Park Campground offers swimming access along the Hudson River. One visitor shares, "Great sites and bathroom, friendly staff, right next to the Hudson river. Recommend!" The campground features boat access and a marina with kayak rentals on the river.
Mountain biking: Hemlock Ridge MUA Dispersed camping area connects to nearby trail systems. A visitor notes this is "a quiet peaceful wooded area & although I only seen/stayed at one camping spot which is literally at about the required 150ft from the road, you can set up your own camp anywhere."
What campers like
Private wooded sites: Catskill/Kenneth L Wilson Campground gets high marks for its forested setting. "Large and heavily wooded! Enjoyed our stay even on a busy weekend. They have a lake on site with swimming. We happened to spend the weekend on a day with free canoe/kayak rentals which was great!" reports Kyla B.
Clean facilities: Jellystone Park Gardiner maintains high standards. One camper says, "This is a very nice campground for families. Has a lot of activities and facilities for campers. It is a bit more open and campsite can be a bit close to each other. But the place was very clean a friendly."
Wildlife encounters: Bears are common throughout the Highland area camping destinations. At Catskill/Kenneth L Wilson Campground, camper Kane B. reports an unusual experience: "It was the wildest weekend I ever had, I'm not being sarcastic. The hiking areas are great, the weather is perfect and the bear was very nice for a bear."
Natural swimming areas: Several campgrounds offer swimming options. One visitor to Sam Pryor III Shawangunk Gateway Campground — Minnewaska State Park Preserve notes the lake is the "Most acidic lake in New York but completely safe."
What you should know
Cell service limitations: Cell coverage varies significantly at camping locations near Highland. At Taconic Hereford Multiple Use Park, a dispersed camping area, a visitor notes the unusual combination of remoteness with connectivity: "hiking in and finding a suitable place to make camp has the feeling of the wild, with the safety of having full cell service."
Weekend vs. weekday differences: Clarence Fahnestock State Park Campground experiences significant usage shifts. A ranger reports, "Weekends - this park is FULL! Make sure to reserve at least two weeks out. Weekdays? You should be in luck!"
Bear safety requirements: Bear encounters require proper precautions throughout the Highland area. At Samuel F. Pryor III Shawangunk Gateway Campground, a reviewer noted: "With all the heavy bear traffic signs that were up, I was surprised to see how close bear boxes were to our tents. They seemed to be 1-10 feet away from tents in each campsite."
Limited dispersed options: For primitive camping, options are limited. At Hemlock Ridge MUA, "This isn't a fancy campsite and has no amenities. There is a small(10 car) parking lot and a trail that runs thru 80 acres of forest. Camping is allowed anywhere 150ft from the trail. Normal LNT rules apply."
Tips for camping with families
Pool access: Thousand Trails Rondout Valley offers recreational amenities for children. As one camper shares, "As part of the Thousand Trails group, this campground has many amenities. It offers a pool, playground, and activities that include bocce ball, shuffleboard, and horseshoes... The creek that runs by the campground is gorgeous, and my kids had fun finding Crayfish."
Kid-oriented activities: Scheduled events keep children engaged at many campgrounds. "This campground is great for kids. It has a event just about every weekend with kid activity," notes one Jellystone Park visitor.
Noise considerations: Some campgrounds have significant noise levels. At Samuel F. Pryor III Shawangunk Gateway Campground, a camper noted: "Campsites are CLOSE together. I was relieved to be in a site we had to walk to, because having the car right there combined with other tents would have been a little claustrophobic."
Bathroom accessibility: When camping with children, bathroom proximity matters. At Clarence Fahnestock State Park Campground, a visitor observed: "I do feel the campground bathhouse really needed more attention... while it had clearly been painted this past year, it was very 'buggy' - and did not appear to have been thoroughly cleaned since spring."
Tips from RVers
Site leveling challenges: At New York City North-Newburgh KOA, RV sites vary in quality. A visitor mentions, "They have been working on upgrades and adding more patio sites which does improve the place... Not far from SUNY New Paltz, local wineries and apple orchards and it's a reasonable drive to Walkway over the Hudson."
RV size limitations: Several campgrounds have restrictions on larger rigs. At Mills Norrie State Park Campground, a reviewer noted: "There are only a handful of sites with electric hookups and only one (site 51) is level. Some have a steep descent off the road, abs there's a lip on the road that can scrape bottom of campers/RVs."
Seasonal closure dates: Most camping areas near Highland close by early November. At Thousand Trails Rondout Valley, the season runs "Apr 1 - Nov 1," while Jellystone Park operates from "Apr 16 - Nov 1."
Hookup availability: For those needing full hookups, options are limited but available. As one visitor to Mills Norrie State Park Campground notes, "The campground itself needs some work. There's only one bath house with just a few showers and toilets. It's in pretty bad shape - dirty, bad drainage, and sometimes backed up toilets."
