171 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
The Catskill Mountains surrounding Kingston, New York feature a range of established campgrounds with varying amenities and natural settings. Several developed facilities like Kenneth L Wilson Campground in Mt. Tremper and Mills Norrie State Park Campground in Staatsburg accommodate tent and RV camping, while properties such as Rip Van Winkle Campgrounds and Jellystone Park Gardiner also offer cabin options. Most campgrounds in the region operate seasonally, typically from May through October, with North-South Lake Campground remaining open until late October.
Seasonal considerations affect campground availability throughout the Catskills, with most facilities closing during winter months. Many campgrounds require advance reservations, particularly during summer weekends and fall foliage season. A camper noted, "North South lake is one of the larger public camp grounds in New York. The sites are well spaced out. Great for families. Avoid holidays to avoid the crowds." Cell service can be limited or nonexistent at many locations, especially in more remote areas like Woodland Valley Campground. Elevation changes in the Catskills create varied microclimates, with higher elevations experiencing cooler temperatures even during summer months.
The region's campgrounds receive consistently positive reviews for their natural settings and proximity to hiking trails. Campsites at North-South Lake Campground are described as "spacious and private" with lakeside options available. Kenneth L Wilson Campground earns praise for its "large campsites mostly surrounded by trees" providing "just the right mix of privacy and community." Several visitors mentioned the convenience of nearby hiking trails, with one camper highlighting the Giant Ledge trail as "a 30 min drive and about a 3 mile out and back hike to Giant Ledge for amazing views overlooking the entire area." Wildlife sightings, including black bears, are occasionally reported at campgrounds throughout the region, requiring proper food storage and awareness.
"There are great hiking trails on the Hudson River right outside your campsite. Amenities are the great outdoors and an ancient bath house built during the New Deal in the 1930's."
"Firewood wasn’t available at the camp, had to drive about a mile to grab some. Close to town so easy to grab needed items."
from $21 - $102 / night
Check Availability"This campground is nestled in the Catskills, New York, with easy access to New Jersey and Connecticut."
"Access to fresh water spouts and clean bathrooms were just a walk away from most sites, theres a beautiful pond on site and beautiful views of the Catskills, Woodstock is a 15 min drive if you’re looking"
from $22 / night
Check Availability"Our first campground was in New York Aug 8th. Unfortunately, Debbie was socking New York hard. North South Lake Campground in the Catskills was our camping home."
"This is a truly beautiful and scenic campground, easily one of the best places we have visited in New York State."
from $22 - $44 / night
Check Availability"You’ve got fishing either in 2 private lakes or you can fish in the river but to do the river you’ll need a New York State fishing license."
"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. The campground is centrally located you many things to do."
"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."
"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."
"water to play in right behind tent. I do prefer fire pits over the brick stove. this had the stove. more advanced hiking in walking distance. no cell service. my gps on phone was able to track though."
"Close to Woodstock, NY, many trails and other attractions. You need to plan for it, there's a lot to explore; some trails are challenging. "
from $20 / night
Check Availability"Great place situated in a great area with lots to do all within an hour's drive. Even camping during a pandemic was peaceful & fun!"
"This is a Thousand trails campground so it was free. I think the regular price is $64. Full hookups, tents and cabins to rent. Pleanty to do in and around campground."
"Close to FDR home and library...a must to see. Quaint towns nearby."
"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, and the security of a gated entrance."
from $46 - $60 / night
Check Availability"I definitely recommend trying to get the walk-in (meaning you can't drive to them) sites (8-15) because they're just a little bit more set back and kind of wonderfully wooded all around. 8 & 9 seemed"
"There are drive-up sites and also walk-in sites. No fire pits at individual campsites, though. Only a group fire pit."
"The campground has a lake with boat rentals. Late night, stargazing over the lake is a great pastime, because the water is calm and the light pollution is low."
"We decided on Lake Taghkanic. Lake Taghkanic State Park was not a long drive from NYC, maybe 2 hours. The campsite was very clean and maintained."
from $21 - $195 / night
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ScoutWe visited toward the end of the camping season and loved seeing this part of Connecticut as summer was winding down. The cooler evenings made sitting around the fire especially nice. I would absolutely come back during fall because this area feels made for that kind of trip.
GuideDefinitely a wide variety of sites—look at the site pictures before booking—there are two areas where it’s just an open field with bonfires and picnic tables that I’d avoid. I could see a large group going there or something but personally it doesn’t offer any privacy.
BUT if you book one of the other sites that DOES have privacy you’ll be in camping heaven. The “hike in” sites are more like “walk-in,” I was worried at first but it’s some are as little as a few yards from the road. The most annoying part was lugging the cooler back and forth, but totally worth it
ScoutCame here with a few friends and spent most of the weekend cooking outside and catching up. Exactly what we needed.
GuideWe went the 2nd week of October and seems like we had just missed the foliage peak but it was still beautiful.
Everyone minded their business and most sites were 2-4 people, showers were clean and warm but the kind where you gotta push the button every 30 seconds. Toilets were clean and running smoothly (we were in the southernmost loop, closest to the camp office)
No cellphone reception but we could get satellite signal to text our loved ones that we were alive and well!
We loved the hiking and especially kayaking on the pond
ScoutWe booked White Pines because we wanted to spend a few days exploring northwest Connecticut rather than staying in one place the entire trip. It turned out to be a really good home base for that kind of weekend. We headed out during the day and then came back in the late afternoon to cook at our site and relax. One evening we ended up sitting around the fire talking until we realized how late it had gotten. No television, no plans for the night, and nobody staring at their phone. Those are usually the moments we remember most from camping trips, and we had plenty of them here.
ScoutWe used White Pines as our base while exploring this part of Connecticut and it worked out really well. We spent most of Saturday away from camp and came back tired and ready for an easy evening. Made dinner outside, started a fire, and didn’t move again until bedtime. Sometimes that is exactly what you want from a campsite.
ScoutBrought our dog along and really appreciated having a trail we could walk together. It was nice being able to get out for a walk without even leaving the campground.
ScoutWe came up for two nights with our tent and ended up wishing we had booked another. Nothing fancy about our weekend, just cooking outside, sleeping under the trees, and enjoying some time away.
GuideWe were in campsite 20 with lots of room. The first night we were there we were near very loud groups which was difficult to sleep through. The next night everyone cleared out and we had a peaceful crowd. Bathrooms are nice, the park has great hiking trails and a nice day use area! There is also an area where we can rent canoes. I would definitely return, just wish there was a little more crowd control.
Camping near Kingston, New York offers diverse options between the Catskill Mountains and the Hudson River. At elevations ranging from 200 feet near the river to over 3,000 feet in the western mountains, campers experience varying microclimates throughout the camping season. Night temperatures can drop 15-20 degrees from daytime highs even during summer months, requiring campers to pack accordingly.
Creek exploration: Plattekill Creek at Rip Van Winkle Campgrounds provides natural water recreation just steps from campsites. "We were over in 'Lover's Lane' so it was isolated on a separate loop. Couples only on this loop, no kids! Pricey--$60 a night. But super nice being right on the creek--we took our chairs and plopped down in the water," notes one camper.
Scenic walking trails: The campground at Woodland Valley connects directly to numerous hiking paths. A visitor shares, "Large campsite, clean facilities, fire pit, friendly and knowledgeable staff. This is an excellent site if you're looking to explore the Slide Mountain Wilderness and a great place to prep if you're planning to go backpacking as well."
Historical exploration: Campsites at Thousand Trails Rondout Valley position visitors within day-trip distance of regional landmarks. A camper notes, "Scenic Willride on 44-55 to Mohonk House and trails. Local shops just minutes from campgrounds. Walmart and other bigger shops just a short drive away!"
Secluded tent sites: Samuel F. Pryor III Shawangunk Gateway Campground offers walk-in sites preferred by many visitors. "I definitely recommend trying to get the walk-in (meaning you can't drive to them) sites (8-15) because they're just a little bit more set back and kind of wonderfully wooded all around. 8 & 9 seemed like the star sites, because they're up and away a little bit more than 10-15," advises one reviewer.
Hot showers year-round: Many campgrounds maintain shower facilities until closing date. At Lake Taghkanic State Park Campground, "The bathrooms and showers are clean and the water stayed hot until the last weekend of the season (Oct 12-14, 2018) which was when we were there."
Proximity to climbing areas: Established campgrounds position visitors near popular rock climbing destinations. "This is the closest legal camping option to the trapps/mohonk preserve. There are discounts for being a member of the aac or mohonk preserve," explains a camper about Samuel F. Pryor III Shawangunk Gateway Campground.
Weekend capacity variations: Campgrounds fill differently throughout the week. At Mills Norrie State Park Campground, "Deserted during the week but packed on weekends. Sites are large and spread nicely. There are great hiking trails on the Hudson River right outside your campsite."
Train noise affects some sites: Campers sensitive to sound should choose locations carefully. "It was situated right across the Hudson River from a highly active nighttime freight train route, and the noise from the horns and then being awake for a few minutes as the train clattered by," reports a visitor at Mills Norrie State Park Campground.
Bear safety protocols: Proper food storage is essential at most Catskill campgrounds. "With all the heavy bear traffic signs that were up, I was surprised to see how close bear boxes were to our tents. They seemed to be 1-10 feet away from tents in each campsite," notes a camper at Samuel F. Pryor III Shawangunk Gateway Campground.
Look for kid-focused programming: Jellystone Park Gardiner designs activities specifically for children. "This campground is great for kids. It has a event just about every weekend with kid activity," reports one visitor.
Consider water feature access: Swimming areas accommodate various ages. "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," notes a visitor to Jellystone Park Gardiner.
Check bathroom proximity: Some campgrounds offer sites strategically positioned near facilities. At Catskill/Kenneth L Wilson Campground, "Site 71 was separated a little bit from other sites as you can see on the map which was so nice and also just a 20-second walk from the bathroom."
Cell reception varies widely: Mobile connectivity impacts working campers. At Catskill/Kenneth L Wilson Campground, visitors report "No cell service in the campground," while Interlake RV Park has "free wi-fi" throughout the property.
Dump station availability: Not all campgrounds offer sewer connections at sites. At Rip Van Winkle Campgrounds, "Full connections. Pay showers and laundry onsite," provides convenience for longer stays.
Site selection matters: Specific site knowledge helps larger vehicles. "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," shares a camper at Catskill/Kenneth L Wilson Campground.
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Kingston, NY?
According to TheDyrt.com, Kingston, NY offers a wide range of camping options, with 171 campgrounds and RV parks near Kingston, NY and 15 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Kingston, NY?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Kingston, NY is Mills Norrie State Park Campground with a 4.1-star rating from 18 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Kingston, NY?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 15 free dispersed camping spots near Kingston, NY.
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