Cabin camping near Hurley, New York offers options within the Hudson Valley and eastern Catskill region. The area sits at elevations between 400-2,000 feet, creating varied terrain for camping experiences. Summer temperatures typically range from 60-85°F, with cooler nights in spring and fall that can drop into the 40s.
What to do
Hiking trails access: Mills Norrie State Park Campground features multiple hiking paths along the Hudson River. "Outdoor lovers dream. Deserted during the week but packed on weekends. Sites are large and spread nicely. There are great hiking trails on the Hudson River right outside your campsite," notes Michael G. at Mills Norrie State Park Campground.
Historical site visits: Several presidential homes and museums are accessible within 30 minutes of cabin accommodations. "Close by is the Roosevelt Presidential Library and house, Vanderbilt House, and even further out is Woodstock and plenty of other cool parks," according to Larissa C., who stayed at Mills Norrie.
Water activities: Many cabins offer proximity to swimming and boating. "The lake is beautiful and clean. Expect to pay $15 fee to use your paddleboards/kyacks etc. Worth every penny," explains Mellisa T. from Lake Taghkanic State Park Campground.
Stargazing opportunities: Areas with minimal light pollution create excellent viewing conditions. "Late night, stargazing over the lake is a great pastime, because the water is calm and the light pollution is low," reports Seth K. from Lake Taghkanic.
What campers like
Woodland setting: Wooded cabin sites provide privacy at several locations. "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," reports Kathy G. from Rip Van Winkle Campgrounds.
Creek access: Several cabin sites offer direct water access. "Our site was on the creek and we went with three little nieces who had a wonderful time. Be sure to put your tent on the woodchips and not the leaves, otherwise you will have chipmunks running under your heads," advises Amanda from Rip Van Winkle.
Historic bathhouse: Some state park facilities maintain original New Deal structures. "Amenities are the great outdoors and an ancient bath house built during the New Deal in the 1930's. Not a resort campground," mentions Michael G. about Mills Norrie.
Clean facilities: Many campers appreciate well-maintained shower buildings. "Showers always clean bathrooms also," notes Frank M. about his cabin camping experience at Mills Norrie State Park.
What you should know
Site terrain variation: Some cabin and tent areas have challenging ground conditions. "The tent site are very richly and uneven, it was very hard to pitch a tent," reports Yolanda T. about Blue Mountain Campground.
Train noise: Some cabin areas experience railway sounds that might affect light sleepers. "It was situated right across the Hudson River from a highly active nighttime freight train route, and the noise from the horns and then being awake for a few minutes as the train clattered by," explains Rebecca Y. from Mills Norrie State Park.
Varying shower quality: Bathhouse conditions can differ significantly between locations. "The bathrooms and showers are clean and the water stayed hot until the last weekend of the season (Oct 12-14, 2018) which was when we were there," writes Seth K. about Lake Taghkanic.
Firewood availability: Not all cabin camping areas sell firewood on-site. "The firewood wasn't available at the camp, had to drive about a mile to grab some," notes Rebecca Y. about her experience at Mills Norrie.
Tips for camping with families
Mid-week visits: For quieter cabin experiences with children, avoid weekends. "Outdoor lovers dream. Deserted during the week but packed on weekends," suggests Michael G. from Mills Norrie State Park.
Water-based activities: Multiple parks offer swimming options ideal for families. "Nice pool that is shallow so you can relax and let the little ones go in the water park section alone or they have a 3 ft pool also. My older kids preferred a deeper pool but they still had a great time," shares Amanda S. about Jellystone Park Gardiner.
Event scheduling: Some campgrounds organize regular family activities. "This campground has a lot of activities and has kids of all ages galore. I was worried my 12 year old would be too old for it but he enjoyed making friends there," explains Stephanie H. from Jellystone Park.
Platform tent alternatives: For families transitioning to cabin camping, consider platform tents. "This was our second time coming to this campground and our second time getting dumped on by the rain, but have no fear!! The platforms kept us off the ground and were helpful in setting up appropriate tarp protection!" shares Rosie R. about Lake Taghkanic.
Tips from RVers
Site selection considerations: Choose cabin locations based on noise preferences. "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," advises Stephanie H. about their stay at Jellystone Park.
Seasonal variations: Consider how different cabin areas function throughout the camping season. "The campground was nicely maintained and space was restricted between sites due to Covid. Rangers running the place were pleasant and informative," reports Rebecca Y. from Thousand Trails Rondout Valley.
Off-site shopping access: Many cabin locations require short drives for supplies. "Close to town so easy to grab needed items," notes Rebecca Y. about the Mills Norrie area.
Cabin utility connections: Connection quality varies significantly between sites. "Nice, quiet place. Our site was up front and we didn't venture into the park. We did use the laundry room, which needed some updates, especially some lighting," explains Jason E. from his visit to Thousand Trails Rondout Valley.
