Catskill region campgrounds near Hurley offer woodland camping at elevations between 500-1,200 feet with moderately cool summer nights. Most sites sit among mixed hardwood forests with seasonal streams and small lakes that often dry up during late summer drought conditions. The camping season typically runs from mid-May through mid-October when temperatures range from 45°F nights to 85°F days.
What to do
Hiking to waterfalls: Access multiple waterfall trails from North-South Lake Campground where you're within minutes of Kaaterskill Falls. "Located just about a mile from Kaaterskill Falls this campground couldn't be in a better spot. We had a wonderful weekend there. The restrooms were clean and had showers, which we did not expect," notes Brittany W.
Mountain biking: Find riding opportunities near New York City North-Newburgh KOA with access to the 22-mile rail trail system. "They have an awesome path called the rail trail that you can ride your bike or walk down it goes for 22 miles, and you can stop on the way in little towns or for a bite to eat," shares Nicole S.
Rock climbing: The Shawangunk Gateway Campground provides direct access to world-class climbing routes. "Love this campground! Have been here several times and have never had a complaint. Located really close to the Gunks for climbing and also some great hikes around the area," notes Jackie B.
What campers like
Private wooded sites: Catskill/Kenneth L Wilson Campground offers secluded spots away from main campground roads. "We LOVED our site (site 9). It 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! Though it was totally private on one side, we could see our neighbors in site 10 on the other," shares C R.
Water activities: Many campers appreciate the swimming and boating options at North-South Lake. "I go there almost every year to go swimming with my family and friends and it's always a good time," says Lizz H. The campground features two connected lakes with swimming areas and boat rentals.
Campground amenities: Rip Van Winkle Campgrounds gets high marks for its facilities. "Amazing campground with perfectly spaced large sites. There's a few playgrounds a great pool and a lot of amenities can't wait to go back," reports Richard V.
What you should know
Bear activity: Black bears are common throughout the Catskills and visit campsites regularly. At Kenneth L Wilson Campground, one camper reports: "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."
Limited cell service: Many Hurley area campgrounds have spotty or no connectivity. At Woodland Valley Campground, this is part of the experience: "No mobile signal, but that's the point, isn't it? You get to disconnect from it all for a while," notes John N.
Bathroom maintenance: Bathroom quality varies widely across campgrounds during peak season. At Jellystone Park Gardiner, one camper noted: "This is my second time I visited the park... They rarely cleaned the bathroom in all the 6 days that I stayed. The showers didn't have enough water pressure, 2 out of 6 had only hot water."
Tips for camping with families
Activity planning: Choose campgrounds with organized children's programs. "This campground is great for kids. It has a event just about every weekend with kid activity," says Jennifer I. about Jellystone Park Gardiner.
Swimming options: Interlake RV Park & Campground offers a heated pool that's particularly good for families. "With that you get free wi-fi, a heated pool, a lake for fishing and boating, a game room and snack bar, movies, other sports," explains Jean C.
Playground access: Many families appreciate designated play areas at campgrounds. The KOA has "a large playground in decent condition. Mini golf looked pretty small and basic. Jumping pad was under construction and closed," notes Greg S.
Tips from RVers
Site selection: For RV camping near Hurley, look for level sites with adequate overhead clearance. At Rip Van Winkle Campgrounds, "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," according to Kathy G.
Hookup availability: Thousand Trails Rondout Valley offers full hookup sites that work well for longer stays. "This was my first stay at any TT campground... The grounds are well-kept and the bathrooms are clean. Th campground itself is pretty quiet, although there is some noise by the playground."
Road conditions: Some access roads to campgrounds are narrow with low-hanging branches. "The roads to the main sites also need some branch trimming," notes one camper about the KOA. When arriving with larger rigs, consider calling ahead about specific site access.
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