Camping near Hillsdale, New York ranges from secluded riverside retreats to family-focused resorts with water amenities. Located in the southwestern edge of Columbia County where the Taconic Mountains meet the Hudson Valley, Hillsdale sits at approximately 700 feet elevation and experiences typical Northeast seasonal changes with summer temperatures averaging 75-85°F and occasional evening temperature drops into the 50s even in July.
What to do
Swimming in crystal-clear quarries: Dorset RV Park's location provides easy access to nearby swimming quarries. As one camper noted, "Great location near a fantastic quarry, country store, and Manchester shopping. The camp grounds were family friendly and quiet. They even had rabbits and chickens for the kids to enjoy."
Trout fishing in scenic rivers: Camping on the Battenkill in nearby Arlington, Vermont offers prime fishing opportunities just 30 minutes from Hillsdale. "Small, mostly wooded, quiet campground. Facilities were spotless. The owners are so nice and welcoming. Great river for tubing or hanging out in the swimming hole," reports one visitor.
Exploring trails in state parks: Moreau Lake State Park Campground offers extensive hiking options about 45 minutes from Hillsdale. "Over 20 miles in hiking trails, this is one of the nicest parks, I've visited," says one camper, while another mentions "The park has a large number of hiking trails for every level of outdoorsman and the staff is friendly and helpful."
What campers like
Spacious, private sites: Campers consistently praise the site size at Camping On The Battenkill. "We were at site 17, and it was a massive site. Lots of room would be great for a large family or group," notes one review. Another states, "I stayed right on the river in site 14 with a small popup. The river is beautiful and the site was huge."
Clean, well-maintained facilities: Emerald Lake State Park receives high marks for upkeep. One reviewer mentions, "Clean, well spaced, and paved roads." Another describes it as a "Nice campground with decent amenities. Pay showers so save your quarters."
Lake swimming options: Emerald Lake State Park Campground offers swimming in a distinctive turquoise lake. "Beautiful campground in south central Vermont. On a lovely emerald green small lake with nice beach. Good for fishing and kayaking," says one visitor. Another adds, "Swimmers can swim out the a small island in the middle of the lake and check out the rope swing."
What you should know
Seasonal operation limitations: Most campgrounds in the Hillsdale area operate from May through mid-October, with limited shoulder season availability. At Hearthstone Point Campground, their season runs "May 19 to September 10" according to their listing.
Water access considerations: Not all campsites offer direct water access despite being near lakes or rivers. As one Emerald Lake visitor explains, "While there are trails down to the lake from the campground, none of the sites are waterfront, or even water view. In fact, many of them are perched on a steep ledge."
Site variability: Quality and size of sites can differ dramatically even within the same campground. At Hearthstone Point, "Sites range in size. Some have a slight change in grade. Woods. Our particular site had several small rocks through out. We also notice certain locations would have ponding after heavy rains."
Limited RV sites at smaller campgrounds: Granite Hill Lodge and Campground has just 20 total sites, making advance reservations critical during peak season. A visitor notes they offer "larger sites, and beautiful views from their lookout. They even have flower beds sprinkled around that are well manicured."
Tips for camping with families
Look for campgrounds with organized activities: Lake George RV Park offers extensive programming for children. One family mentioned, "The campground is so clean and nice! Perfect for the dogs with best dog park I ever saw. Pools and hot tubs extremely clean and the grounds looked more like a hotel resort than campground. Free shows every night at the playhouse kids loved. Animal shows kept daytime events going strong."
Choose parks with shallow swimming areas: Safe swimming options matter for families with small children. An Emerald Lake visitor points out, "It's an awesome park for kids, and the turquoise water is a dream to cool off in. There's a small, sandy beach at one end of the lake, with a bath house and changing rooms nearby."
Consider site location carefully: Some campgrounds have challenging terrain not ideal for families with young children. At Emerald Lake, "many of them are perched on a steep ledge, making them a bit sketchy for families with kids. If you have little ones, check out the map before you reserve a site and find one on the opposite side of the ledge."
Tips from RVers
Verify site dimensions before booking: Big rigs may face challenges at some of the best places to camp near Hillsdale. At Dorset RV Park, one RVer cautions, "Larger rigs might want to avoid loop 6-14, especially for sites 8-12. Tree placement and a pretty sharp 110+ degree turn makes it challenging to maneuver."
Expect varying hookup options: Lake George Escape Campground offers full hookups but site quality varies. A reviewer notes, "Campsites in the park are pretty inconsistent– meaning some are long and wide with good privacy but others are not. With over 400 campsites there are a lot to chose from and hard to know which is best for you unless you have been there before."
Budget for additional fees: Many campgrounds near Hillsdale charge premium rates during peak season. At Lake George RV Park, one visitor shared, "We love going to Lake George RV Park. It's got large sites, virtually all blacktop roads, bike trails, dog park, indoor pool, outdoor pool and another (new) water park with zero-entry pool... My only minor issue was with WIFI on one trip, but most of the time it's pretty good for a campground."
