RV parks near Irvington, New York sit within the Hudson Valley region, characterized by rolling hills and river views at elevations ranging from 30 to 800 feet above sea level. The camping season typically extends from April through October, with some campgrounds remaining open year-round despite winter temperatures that can drop below freezing. Several campgrounds within 30 miles offer seasonal activities tied to the area's colonial history and natural features.
What to do
Hiking trails: Clarence Fahnestock State Park Campground offers access to multiple trails with varied difficulty levels directly from the campground. "There is great hiking and a lake you can get to and swim in right from the campsite. If you are in to apple picking it is a short drive and it is easy to get into town to take the train to and from NYC," notes one camper who visits regularly.
Swimming opportunities: Beaver Pond Campground at Harriman State Park features a lifeguard-monitored sandy beach at nearby Welch Lake, open during summer months. "The grounds are just steps away from Welch Lake, offering a lifeguard monitored sandy beach which is open during the summer season for swimming, fishing, and small boat craft further out," reports a visitor.
Historic sites: Take advantage of the region's Revolutionary War history with a 15-minute drive from Beaver Pond Campground to Bear Mountain State Park's historic trails. "Here you can find some of the Appalachian Trail, with various smaller trail heads for this historic (Revolutionary Times 1770s) part of the region including the one to Doodle Town. Long since the last resident left, the area is a ruins with markers showing where a house was."
What campers like
Wildlife viewing: The natural setting around Croton Point Park offers opportunities to spot local fauna. "Lots of wildlife around. We had a FHU 30/50 amp. Keep your food in the dry bag and away from the tent or benches provided or face the packs of fearless racoons at night," warns one camper who enjoyed the park's natural setting.
Convenient city access: Liberty Harbor RV Park provides unique access to New York City attractions without city accommodation costs. "Location, Location, location. This is all about location. The closest RV park to NYC... minutes walk to the Statue of Liberty, liberty Science center. Two blocks away from NJ Path train into Manhattan or take the ferry to Wall Street!"
Privacy between sites: Many campsites at Clarence Fahnestock State Park offer seclusion even during busy periods. "Almost all of the sites offered privacy.... Even when the campground was full. This place can book up during camping season in the Northeast so make sure to book early in advance," advises a regular visitor.
What you should know
Weather impacts: Camp areas can flood during heavy rains, particularly at lower elevations. At Mountain Top RV Park, one camper advises: "If you're booking, it may be best to book on the upper levels because the lower area where we were did flood pretty bad a couple times when there was a lot of rain."
Bathroom facilities: Bathroom availability and quality varies significantly between campgrounds. At Black Bear RV Park, "Bathrooms for our area looks well kept outside, but, closed due to covid. Other campgrounds have just stepped up the cleaning and remained open for convenience of the campers."
Noise considerations: Several campgrounds experience noise from nearby infrastructure. At Croton Point Park, campers should expect periodic train noise: "Only down side is there is a train depot right outside and you can hear them shunting trains all night."
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Beaver Pond Campground offers family-friendly amenities beyond just camping spaces. "The campground offers several different sties, from platform tent spaces to those for 25' trailers. All sites have a standard picnic table and fire ring. Camp amenities include: a moderately stocked store, public bath houses, a laundry facility, playground for the kids and camp-sinks with access to water."
Animal encounters: Pleasant Acres Farm RV Resort provides unique animal interactions for children. "The farm has goats, a donkey, and a pony within the campground. Very cool. Hayride, animals to feed (goats, chickens, donkey and pony). There were some organized activities which was nice, not as much as a Jellystone Park."
Site selection: Choosing the right site impacts family camping experience at Croton Point Park. "Tent site is after the RV site, so use their LX before you get to site if you can. Dumpster and water near sites. The site was very loud (dance music) until after 11pm. Quiet time at 10pm. Great site for a party, try to stay away from this end of the site."
Tips from RVers
Site leveling: Most RV sites at Tri-State RV Park provide even surfaces for easy setup. "We had a loosely defined gravel pad that was level. All sites appeared level. The FHU sites were back-to-back and although there were trees separating the sites, they were close together."
Parking considerations: When staying at Liberty Harbor RV Park, expect limited space. "Larger rigs will barely have a yard. And don't bet on a private picnic table. On a slow checkout day, you might get lucky enough to not wait in line for the dump station."
Access challenges: Some roads leading to RV parks require careful navigation. At Tri-State RV Park, "Clean park with a place to swim but only within buoys and when a life guard is present. Located just off the highway so lots of vehicle noise 24/7. Sites are on a gravel lot."
