Best Campgrounds near Kinderhook, NY

About a month ago, with a major haze of FOMO from missing the SNHU tour opener shows, I decided I would just send it and started plotting the trip up from Boston with my 16-year-old brother in tow for the Phish SPAC run. I did a deep dive on this place as all I could find on the internet were many mixed reviews. I am a hardcore planner and this trip forced and allowed me to chill out about that as I had to detach from that mindset and literally surrender to the flow. With little to find online about what the actual inside of the campground looks like and some negative reviews I was skeptical but reassured by some of the good ones and after talking to a friend that has been before. I booked online and communication was efficient and I was able to pay on the portal ahead of time and provide my vehicle information to make check-in smoother. I have absolutely nothing but good things to say about Lee’s after spending my weekend there, the park staff was so awesome, the vibes were great, there was parking along the dirt pathed roads that ran through the park, and a band called The Reality Check Experiment even played pre and post-show sets on the park’s stage and even a little shakedown too. My only two qualms were purely trivial as the phone service specifically at night was difficult (but if you’re with your people you really don’t need your phone at all) and the first shuttle left at 5PM each night, so if you’re looking to hit the lot and have some time to take it slow there or get in to the venue real early, I’d recommend carpooling with a group or taking an Uber and taking the shuttle back. This place rocks so hard, it was a total extension of the shows and I wouldn’t have had it any other way. I hope you ignore all the poor, outdated reviews from people that don’t know how to camp and whose problems with the park were just user error and freaking send it like I did too.

July 2025. We stayed in site #36.  It had plenty of room for our 4 person tent, kitchen tent and car.  The ground was all gravel to took some time to remove the bigger ones from under the tent.  The sites were close to each other but enough vegetation around to have a little privacy.  The bath house was great.  Four private shower rooms (2 for men, 2 for women).  They also had outdoor showers and a dish washing station.  There was also an information area.   Staff cleaned daily.  There were many hiking trails.  The loop took us to the top where there was a beautiful view.  We will be coming back.

We love the VT state parks and try to camp there 3-4 times a summer. We unexpectedly had a free Saturday afternoon and night and 2 borrowed kayaks. This was our first visit to Woodford. Site 13 was the only one available. It’s on the corner of the first loop, but that wasn’t an issue to us at all! There were plenty of trees and brush and space so we didn’t feel we were in the road. We drove down to the second loop and parked on the side of the campground road and carried our kayaks down to the camper’s beach. Our dog loved getting a little swim! (No dogs allowed at the day use area). The reservoir is beautiful- plenty of space to spread out for paddling and swimming. We had no issues with noise from other campers. The bathroom in the first loop is fine (cold water sinks, hand soap, paper towels). Token operated showers that we didn’t use this time. We heard coyotes at night and loons in the morning. We’re going back later this summer for a longer stay.

I don't usually put much stock in reviews about other campers, as you never know who will be there, but as other reviews have mentioned there were a ton of happy noisy kids around, couple of unleashed dogs. It looks like there are 4-5 stunningly beautiful sites in each of the three loops and everything else is jammed in. We were at the end of the middle loop and could clearly see into four neighboring sites. Bathrooms were fine, nothing special but clean. Long waits in the morning- two shower stalls and lots of teenagers. The park has a nice grassy area on the water that's dog-friendly, and a separate little no-dog swimming and paddle boat area. Trails were pretty enough if basic, Park also provided a guide to nearby hiking. Overall a good stop near Bennington but I don't know that I'd make it a destination. This whole region appears to depend on MA and NY tourism, lots of expensive vehicles/campers and price inflation at surrounding stores. Firewood was 30% more per bundle than we're used to, though there were downed trees everywhere.