Cabin camping near Hyde Park offers access to both Hudson River views and Catskills forest settings. Most cabin facilities are situated on established campgrounds within a 30-minute drive radius. Seasonal availability varies widely, with some locations operating from early April through late November depending on weather conditions and elevation.
What to do
Swimming opportunities: Lake Taghkanic State Park Campground features a lake with clear water for summer recreation. One camper noted the area has "Nice cabins, cottages, beach" and mentioned "the lake is beautiful and clean," though visitors should "expect to pay $15 fee to use your paddleboards/kayaks."
Hiking access: Copake Falls Area at Taconic State Park provides direct trail connections from cabin areas. A reviewer reported: "Had a couple spots right next to each other on a group trip. There are plenty of hiking trails nearby and of course, trails to Bash Bish Falls which is beautiful."
Evening recreation: Rip Van Winkle Campgrounds offers evening activities for cabin guests. A camper stated: "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."
Creek relaxation: When staying at cabin rentals with water features, take advantage of creekside settings. One visitor at Rip Van Winkle mentioned being "right on the creek" and "we took our chairs and plopped down in the water."
What campers like
Cabin variety: Thousand Trails Rondout Valley offers multiple cabin styles beyond basic accommodations. A reviewer described: "This campground is great. Lots of activities a pool access, food court and basketball courts."
Heated swimming: Many cabin guests appreciate extended swimming seasons with heated pools. A visitor to Jellystone Park Gardiner commented: "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."
Security features: Gated access at some cabin locations provides additional peace of mind. A camper at Rip Van Winkle Campgrounds appreciated "having gated security" especially when "we left our rig to take the train into the city for the weekend and we had no problems."
Quiet settings: Select cabins provide peaceful environments away from busier campground areas. At Sylvan Lake Beach Park, a visitor noted the site "is an old campground, but is quite quaint. Reminds me of lake camping that I grew up with."
What you should know
Bathroom situations: Cabin bathroom access varies significantly between locations. At Mills Norrie State Park Campground, one visitor observed there was "One shower location for 50 campsites. Three small shower units and three toilets."
Cabin furnishings: Prepare for variable accommodation quality. A recent visitor to Thousand Trails Rondout Valley described their experience: "The campgrounds are nice. But that's all. They have loads of events over the weekend but the weekend hasn't happened yet to check them out."
Site spacing: Cabin proximity to neighbors differs between parks. At Mills Norrie, one camper mentioned, "I never stayed at a state campsite where the sites are so close to each other. If you like a 'normal' distance to your neighbors, I'd not recommend this place."
Reservation timing: Book well in advance for prime dates. For Brook N Wood Family Campground, management practices during peak season include "spaced out the reservations so people camping together could be together, but then allowed empty sites in between each group."
Tips for camping with families
Water activities: Jellystone Park Gardiner provides structured water recreation for various ages. A parent shared: "This campground is great for kids. It has an event just about every weekend with kid activity."
Age considerations: Assess amenities based on children's specific ages. Regarding Jellystone Park, one parent observed: "I was worried my 12 year old would be too old for it but he enjoyed making friends there."
Equipment rental costs: Budget for additional activity fees beyond cabin rental. At Jellystone, a visitor warned: "Love it here but renting a golf cart is prob not the best option $175 for 2 days and it only goes 5mph I can walk faster than that."
Noise levels: Consider timing and site location for quieter family experiences. A Jellystone visitor reported: "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 selection strategy: At Lake Taghkanic State Park Campground, campers recommend specific areas: "My advice would be to take the sites on the hill, nearest to the bathrooms, as all these sites seemed to be generally very well maintained."
Transportation planning: Cabin camping serves as a good base for regional exploration. A visitor to Rip Van Winkle noted the campground was convenient "to take the train (about 1 hr away in Poukeepsie) into the city for the weekend."
Off-season considerations: Cabin temperature management matters in shoulder seasons. Lake Taghkanic visitors reported "the water stayed hot until the last weekend of the season (Oct 12-14)," making it comfortable for late-season stays.
Supply access: Stock up before arrival as on-site stores vary in inventory. At Blue Mountain Reservation, a visitor noted: "They have a camp store at the front of the property and it's stocked with basically anything you could think of needing including charcoal, ice, firewood among other camp items."
