Ward Pound Ridge Reservation provides three-season camping with lean-to shelters and tent sites where pets are welcome on leashes. Croton Point Park offers pet-friendly RV sites, tent camping, and cabin accommodations along the Hudson River, with separate camping areas ensuring privacy between sites. Clarence Fahnestock State Park Campground near Carmel accepts pets at all campsites while providing electric hookups for RVs and traditional tent sites. Each location maintains clean facilities with showers and toilets accessible to campers and their pets. The shelter sites at Ward Pound Ridge are particularly spacious and private with immediate access to hiking trails, making them ideal for campers with dogs who enjoy exploring the outdoors.
Extensive trail networks throughout these campgrounds create excellent opportunities for leashed dog walking, with Ward Pound Ridge featuring over 40 miles of trails through varied terrain. Dogs must remain on leash at all times in all locations, with most parks enforcing a standard six-foot leash policy. Beaver Pond Campground at Harriman State Park allows pets but enforces strict leash rules due to local wildlife. Jellystone Park in Gardiner offers pet-friendly glamping options and cabin accommodations with designated pet exercise areas. Campgrounds typically provide waste disposal stations, though campers should bring their own waste bags. KOA New York City North-Newburgh's pet policy allows multiple pets at their sites without breed restrictions. Wildlife encounters are common in these parks, so keeping dogs secured is essential for both wildlife and pet safety.
$17 / night
"With Covid/social distancing requirements, many sites are closed so it’s extra quiet and spread out. I stayed at site 6 with my seven year-old daughter from Tue-Thur."
"When you are camping with a large group of friends and don't all have access to a car, this is the perfect spot."
$45 - $55 / night
"Pet friendly and kid friendly with a playground available. Our favorite site is #25. Up a hill, totally private and has a lean-to."
"Close to the city and civilization, yet large enough to have nice trails and creeks to feel away from it all. The camping sites are very different so it’s useful to go in person and select the area."
$17 - $20 / night
"15 dolares la noche para los que viven en el Estado de New York o New York city .. si es fuera del estado son $5 dolares mas!!"
"Drive-in tent campgrounds. Adequate restroom facilities sprinkled amongst tent sites. Some campsites have raised platforms. All sites have picnic tables and fire ring with flip-top grill."
$30 - $60 / night
"Tent sites are very private with some dirt roads to exit out but thats what make it unique experience! Bathrooms with shower is near by and has plenty porta potties all around."
"Was close to bear mountains state part and the train station is right there!"
$25 - $40 / night
"Love the proximity to NYC - I always look for areas that are not too far, but not too close to NY. Beautiful but small-ish tent sites."
"We are looking forward to stopping by Round Pond again in the near future."
$17 - $50 / night
"We love this State Park because it's close to our home for a quick getaway. This time we tried one of the sites on the water, and I probably wouldn't choose the same site again. "
"I love kettletown, it’s a favorite that is very close to home. It’s a small camp ground and it’s absolutely beautiful."
$74 - $130 / night
"It is a step up from cabin camping. They also have a beach behind it."
"This place is only an hour away from NYC with so much to do and see. These cabins are VERY rustic, four walls, a cot, and a fridge."
"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."
"With a new check in area, Gardiner has really stepped up. They expanded the pool area to include another pool plus splash area and water slides."
$20 - $150 / night
"Yes, this is a military-only campground but, that doesn't take away from how incredible it is and that is properly advertised.
This place is incredible. "
"Small dog park, communal spaces, and a camp store all made the place feel like a little village. They even have a wine store- cab sav was good. WiFi I work remotely and WiFi is always an issue."
"The staff was nice and they were dog friendly!"
GuideI grew up in Long Beach. If you’re looking for a spot to camp so you can surf, this is perfect! It’s basically a parking lot, but it’s steps away from some of the greatest waves on the east coast. Showers are clean, there’s a dog park nearby, and the island is very bikable to get around.
benefits: allows dogs childrens playground beach programs like movie nights throughout the summer
ScoutWe have enjoyed our stay. Nice campground with lots of activities and things to do. However, we picked this place because it has an enclosed dog park. It does have an enclosed dog park but the fence is only 3 feet high. While this might be fine for some dogs, I have 2 young border collies that will jump that fence like it is not even there.
GuideCamp Gateway in Brooklyn New York is one of my favorite places to visit. I went to college in New York, and loved to get out of the busy city and go camping and be outdoors. Camp Gateway was always a place that I loved to go. It is pretty close to town-which is crazy because you feel like you are miles away. Camp Gateway does offer a lot of different activities for everyone. One thing I love to do is go kayaking and stand up paddle boarding. My girlfriends and I tried to do this once a month to get away from the city and school. Because you are so close to the city, you can plan outdoor activities as well as some activities in the city. My friends and I stayed 1 night in the campground, and the next day went to a recital show that took us 10 minutes to get to. You can also walk, hike or ride your bike along multiple paths- I have done the Fort Tilden trail (I just walked, but there were multiple people that passed us on their bikes). Within the campground they do have some fire pits- which my friends and I always use because we love cooking smores and hot dogs for dinner. A little further away from the campground, about 10-15 miles there is a place where you can do horseback riding, see the Statue of Liberty (which is gorgeous!), and there is a little beach area. This beach area is where I do my kayaking and stand up paddle boarding. Again, its not very far away...you can either drive there, walk or ride your bike. The road is paved, which is nice. I stayed here also with my parents, and I know my dad went golfing one day (I didn't go, but he said it was awesome)- and again that was only a 10 minute drive from our camping spot. This campground like I said, does offer quite a bit. Sometimes it doesn't really feel like you are "camping" because things are pretty close by, but it definitely is worth going to and trying.
RangerVery plain & functional, no frills but right on the harbor & on the very edge of Jersey City, close to a ferry & the train that takes u across to New York City. Shopping & restraunts are right next door. We brought scooters & had a great stay! Plus you can see the Statue of Liberty from there!
LegendWe tried this campground without knowing what was safe and where to stay for visit New York City. It is located in Brooklyn and is little removed from everything. The sites are at Floyd Bennett Field which is an old airfield. The atmosphere here is eerily cool at the same time. You basically park and camp on the asphalt by the old hangars. No hookups at all but they do have a camp store and bath house. If you are tent camping, there are some grassy sites.
The campground is located right on Jamaica Bay so there were people fishing all the time from the seawall. At night, you could hear cars doing burnouts right next to us. To get to all the action in the city, we had to take a bus and then the subway. The travel was a headache but better than trying to drive in to New York City in our RV. One way to improve here would be to have some security at night as well as access to clean water and dump station. They remained locked most of the time for some reason.
The best part of this place was the free tour of Hangar B by some guys doing restoration of old planes (HARP). They had some great stories and gave us history of the planes on display.
ScoutRecently, we camped here for a week. We don’t ever post negative reviews like this. The last day, we experienced a violent attack by a very large and aggressive Pit Bull. The Pit Bull did not have a collar or a leash and was accidently let out of the RV to roam free and unsupervised. It immediately ran to our site(4 sites away) and attacked our dog that was tied at the time. The incident was unprovoked. While trying to save our dog, my wife and I were also attacked. The wounds were serious enough to require emergency transport to a hospital for treatment including stitches. All we could think of was what might have happened if our granddaughter had been playing with our dog.
To put it mildly, their existing pet policy is grossly lacking. They never checked what breed of dog or ask to see documentation of shots when we were registering. Yogi Bear Jellystone Park needs to better manage their pet policy to address aggressive dog breeds and ensure the safety of campers. We camped there for seven days and saw multiple sites have more than one large dog, which in many places we’ve camped at would have been banned due to breed type or size. We have RV’ed extensively across the US and have never seen such careless enforcement of a pet policy regarding aggressive dog breeds. Seriously, think about avoiding this park if you have pets or small children.
TravelerGood for skinny dipping and other fun things! Most acidic lake in New York but completely safe.
GuideThis place is kind of a toss up for me. On one hand, I enjoy it because it's a little slice of heaven in the hell of one of the busy areas of New York. I hate this place for the same reason. It's not really camping if you're going to see a play and then go tour the Statue of Liberty. It just doesn't seem right to me. If I HAVE to be in New York, maybe I'd consider staying here again just to get myself out of the city for a bit. But this definitely isn't your "great outdoors/rest and relaxation" kind of place.
TravelerSome things you should be aware of before booking: The office, playground, dog park, pool, laundry are located at the top of the hill. Camping spots are downhill, a good distance from the office and amenities. Trash is located off site in a pullout on the road you drive in on. There are 2 showers for women and 2 for men. Both are old and not well maintained or in our experience clean, either. In general the camping spots are not well maintained, weedy, un-level and picnic tables are weathered and warped. This resort campground is composed of mainly residents, the rules (we observed) apply to the overnight campers, not the residents. Children of the residents run free all day and past curfew in the evenings unsupervised. The setting is quiet, the views from the upper level are lovely. With some updating of bath facilities, cleaning and leveling of campsites, uniform enforcement of rules, Pleasant Acres could become a resort destination.
Camping near Katonah, New York offers diverse terrain with elevations ranging from 400 to 1,300 feet across the region's parks and forests. The area averages 50 inches of annual rainfall, creating lush woodland environments with seasonal stream flow changes. Weather conditions fluctuate dramatically between seasons, with summer temperatures typically ranging from 65-85°F and frequent afternoon thunderstorms.
Hiking accessible trails: At Ward Pound Ridge Reservation, trails cater to various experience levels with over 40 miles of pathways. "We stayed three nights and had an amazing time, super cozy by the fire in our shelter and our site was minutes from some amazing trails," reports Will L. The reservation features marked routes for day hikes ranging from 1-7 miles.
Swimming in natural settings: Kettletown State Park provides swimming access on a sandy beach area with seasonal lifeguard supervision. "The park has a nice open beach on Canopus Lake with a concession area and bathhouse, which we found to be quite clean! They even have boat rentals," notes Shelly B. Swimming areas typically open Memorial Day through Labor Day, though water quality can affect availability.
Fall foliage viewing: Harriman State Park offers spectacular autumn colors from mid-September through late October. "There is a constant buzz in the air of conversation, music, laughter and shrieking toddlers," writes Steve W. The park's higher elevations provide earlier color changes, with peak foliage usually occurring mid-October.
Private shelter sites: Clarence Fahnestock State Park Campground offers campsites with unique layouts and good separation. "All sites were so different. There was a storm the night before our arrival date, all campers were evacuated and they did a fantastic job clearing all the debris and downed trees before our arrival," shares Erinn N. The park's sites are spread across varied terrain with options for both open and wooded settings.
Campsite diversity: Beaver Pond Campground provides several different camping formats to accommodate various preferences. "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," notes Steve W. The campground features platform tent spaces, trailer sites, and traditional tent areas with fire rings.
Off-season tranquility: Many campgrounds in the Katonah region offer drastically different experiences depending on timing. "Weekends - this park is FULL! Make sure to reserve at least two weeks out. Weekdays? You should be in luck!" explains Shelly B. about Fahnestock State Park. October through April camping provides greater solitude with temperatures between 30-60°F.
Reservation requirements: Croton Point Park and other Westchester County parks have specific booking procedures. "The reservation process is a bit wonky. You need to call (no online reservations) and then wait for an e-mail, but the e-mail does not tell you your assigned site; you have to wait until you check in to find out your site," advises Lee D. Most parks require reservations 1-3 days in advance during peak season.
Wildlife management practices: Some parks conduct active wildlife control programs. "We were told we didn't have to rush, but that the public needed to evacuate, so they wouldn't be present when the wildlife exterminator arrived to get rid of the geese," reports JBird B. at Fahnestock. Wildlife control operations typically occur during evening hours on weekdays.
Bathroom facilities vary widely: Campground bathroom quality differs significantly across the region. "Bath houses are absolutely spotless," says Mindie C. about Round Pond Recreation Area, while at other parks, "Bathrooms and dishwashing... UGH. So old and dirty!!!" warns Courtney D. Most parks clean facilities daily, though weekend usage can overwhelm maintenance efforts.
Kid-focused amenities: Jellystone Park in Gardiner offers extensive child-friendly activities. "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," says Amanda S. The park schedules organized weekend events throughout the camping season.
Nature education opportunities: Several parks near Katonah provide natural learning environments for children. "The Trailside Nature Museum is also fun for the kids," mentions Ming R. about Ward Pound Ridge Reservation. Educational programs typically run weekends from May through October.
Pet friendly camping options: Sites welcoming pets require leashes and proper waste disposal. "Dogs are welcome on a leash," explains Susana M. regarding the pet friendly camping near Katonah, New York at Ward Pound Ridge. Pet exercise areas vary by campground, with most limiting dogs to established trails and campsite areas.
Site selection guidance: New York City North-Newburgh KOA offers various RV site options with different amenities. "If staying here and concerned about branches I'd suggest one of the pull through sites. Specifically 138, 146 and 145 have a nice concrete patio and nicer firepit if you want to spend a little more," advises April L. Most RV sites in the region accommodate units up to 35 feet, with limited availability for larger rigs.
Hookup limitations: Many parks provide only partial hookups or none at all. "Campsites are a bit close together, but if you have a big group you can book several sites near each other and have a great time with family and friends," notes Kelvin about Beaver Pond. Electric service typically ranges from 30-50 amp depending on the specific site and park.
Seasonal access restrictions: RV campers should verify road conditions and park closures, especially during spring and fall shoulder seasons. "We stayed here on a Thursday night in September prior to taking off backpacking. The campground was clean and quiet. RV hook-ups, tent platforms, and rustic tent sites were available," shares Rebecca S. Most parks with RV sites close water systems after mid-October to prevent freezing damage.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Katonah, NY?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Katonah, NY is Clarence Fahnestock State Park Campground with a 4.2-star rating from 33 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Katonah, NY?
TheDyrt.com has all 64 dog-friendly camping locations near Katonah, NY, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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