Best Campgrounds near Lake Katrine, NY

The Catskill region surrounding Lake Katrine, New York provides multiple developed campgrounds for outdoor enthusiasts seeking varied camping experiences. Several established facilities like North-South Lake Campground and Rip Van Winkle Campgrounds offer tent and RV sites with essential amenities. Campers can choose from a range of accommodation options including standard tent sites, RV hookups, and cabin rentals at locations such as Mills Norrie State Park Campground and Interlake RV Park. Most campgrounds in this region maintain operational seasons typically running from May through October, with the majority closing by mid-October before colder weather arrives.

The camping season in the Catskills generally runs from late spring through early fall, with most facilities open from mid-May to early or mid-October. Road access to campgrounds is generally well-maintained, though some areas have narrow roads that may challenge larger recreational vehicles. Many reviews mention tight navigation for big rigs, particularly at certain campgrounds like Rip Van Winkle. Reservations are strongly recommended, especially for weekend stays during peak summer months when campgrounds frequently reach capacity. Most developed campgrounds provide hookups, showers, and restroom facilities, though amenities vary considerably between locations. A camper noted, "We have a large 5th wheel RV, and we were within 2 inches or less of trees on 4 or 5 instances getting in and out of our site, and I had to drive off of the road on several occasions to make it through."

Campground reviews highlight the natural settings and recreational opportunities throughout the region. The eastern Catskills provide scenic backdrops for many camping areas, with opportunities for hiking, fishing, and water activities. Several campgrounds feature waterfront locations or proximity to lakes and rivers, adding to their appeal. Family-friendly facilities are common, with many reviews mentioning playgrounds, pools, and organized activities for children. A visitor remarked that Rip Van Winkle Campgrounds has "perfectly spaced large sites" and is "centrally located to many things to do." However, experiences vary considerably between campgrounds, with some reviews mentioning aging facilities or maintenance issues at certain locations. Most reviewers appreciate the wooded, private sites available at campgrounds throughout the region, particularly those offering a balance of natural setting with convenient amenities.

Best Camping Sites Near Lake Katrine, New York (165)

    1. North-South Lake Campground

    43 Reviews
    Palenville, NY
    15 miles
    Website
    +1 (518) 589-5058

    $22 - $44 / night

    "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."

    "Had a great time at this campground- surrounded by many returning campers which gave the whole experience a good community vibe. Ice cream truck comes around each evening in the summer."

    2. Catskill/Kenneth L Wilson Campground

    23 Reviews
    Shokan, NY
    12 miles
    Website
    +1 (845) 679-7020

    $22 / night

    "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"

    3. Rip Van Winkle Campgrounds

    16 Reviews
    Saugerties, NY
    7 miles
    Website
    +1 (845) 246-8334

    "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."

    4. Mills Norrie State Park Campground

    14 Reviews
    Staatsburg, NY
    11 miles
    Website
    +1 (845) 889-4646

    $17 - $102 / night

    "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."

    5. Woodland Valley Campground — DEC

    29 Reviews
    Phoenicia, NY
    20 miles
    Website
    +1 (845) 688-7647

    $20 / night

    "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. "

    6. Lake Taghkanic State Park Campground

    12 Reviews
    Ancramdale, NY
    16 miles
    Website
    +1 (518) 851-3631

    $17 - $195 / night

    "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."

    7. Jellystone Park Gardiner

    32 Reviews
    Gardiner, NY
    23 miles
    Website
    +1 (845) 255-5193

    "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."

    8. Interlake RV Park & Campground

    5 Reviews
    Rhinebeck, NY
    11 miles
    Website
    +1 (888) 584-3729

    $46 - $60 / night

    "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."

    9. Blue Mountain Reservation

    4 Reviews
    Palenville, NY
    11 miles
    Website
    +1 (914) 862-5275

    "I went here with my friend and we were using it as our base camp as we went out in trails in the eastern Catskills notably the Devils Path, echo lake, etc."

    "Nice little campground with lake sites. The Northville Placed Trail comes out in this campground. The showers were clean and plenty of pressure."

    10. Devil's Tombstone Campground

    10 Reviews
    Elka Park, NY
    16 miles
    Website
    +1 (845) 688-7160

    $16 / night

    "this is close by to many catskill hiking trails"

    "It was close to trails and town"

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Recent Reviews near Lake Katrine, NY

631 Reviews of 165 Lake Katrine Campgrounds


  • JThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 10, 2025

    Skyway Camping Resort

    One night stoo

    Nice well maintained park, full hookups with cable and wifi. Office forgot to give us wifi info and had closed early. Very nice staff.

  • Nicole G.
    Aug. 24, 2025

    Tolland State Forest Campground

    Great Lakeside Campground

    This was only my second camping trip ever (and first tent camping) so grain of salt here - We had a great time at Tolland. The site was spacious and equipped with a bear box, fire ring, and picnic table. The ground at the site was large gravel which was not great in the tent, but walking around it looks like most sites are more dirt and pine needles.

    The swimming area is small but sandy, great for kids, and my daughter loved thethe campfire and nature talk given on Saturday night by park staff.

  • GThe Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 20, 2025

    Little Pond Campground

    Small sites and no service

    I didn’t hate this campground, but I won’t be going back.

    It’s a nice campground and perfect for single/family camping. I would not choose this location if I were taking a group of people. The sites are on the smaller side and many have slanted entrances.

    The campground is kept clean and the bathrooms were tidy. The campground is in bear country so you have to be mindful about leaving food out when you’re not at the site or asleep.

    There is a pond and there’s kayaks, canoes, etc for rent. The beach area is clean and the water is clear. I was there middle of August and the water was not cold and quite comfortable. There are some water front sites that you can use to access the water with a boat or paddle board.

    Cell service is non existent and they have a pay phone near the entrance booth where you can use to make/receive phone calls. It’s a 20 min drive back into town to get cell service. That’s a non- starter for me. It would be beneficial if they had service near the entrance at least for people to check in with Family.

  • Mike W.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 16, 2025

    Cozy Hills Campground

    First time here

    Nice facility, friendly staff. They pack us in pretty tight in some sites.

  • Olivia K.
    Aug. 1, 2025

    Never Sink Hideaway

    Full of Trash

    I just arrived at this location and it is filled with trash. Do NOT book here. There are houses right behind and it’s just off the side of a dirt road. The river isn’t even visible.

  • LThe Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 29, 2025

    Pittsfield State Forest Campground

    A lovely park and campground

    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.

  • B
    Jul. 21, 2025

    Foothills

    Nice place

    Foothills is a great choice for families or groups of friends who want to immerse themselves in nature with many gentle amenities and relaxing spaces.

  • Elizabeth M.
    Jul. 20, 2025

    Jellystone Park Gardiner

    Dirty bathrooms

    This is my second time I visited the park, the first time was 4 years ago and we stayed in a cabin, but a few weeks ago we decided to stay in a tent side and it was a nice experience except for some things, the campers don't respect the quiet time at night and morning too. A lot noises until 2 am and early from 6 am. But the worst experience was bathrooms, very few for the number of sites and people it covers. They need to add more bathrooms. They rarely cleaned the bathroom in all the 6 days that I stayed. The showers didn't have enough water pressure, 2 out of 6 had only hot water, some had no paper, hairs everywhere, the toilets didn't work, and super dirty, the truth was a disgusting thing that didn't encourage to use them but there was no other option. For the price you pay is not for having the bathrooms under those conditions. I hope you get better because the truth is a park that has many things to have a good time but with the bathrooms with that condition, is not encouraged to reserve again. And please add more shadows in the areas of the tents and MORE BATHROOMS, is not enough to cover all the tents area.

  • sdwalter@bellsouth.net
    Jul. 10, 2025

    Interlake RV Park & Campground

    Great campsite.

    Great Campsite. Well maintained. Lots of pretty lots under the shade. Good for Families. Pool. Recreation Barn. Recycling. Some people stay here all summer. Close to FDR home and library...a must to see. Quaint towns nearby.


Guide to Lake Katrine

Camping near Lake Katrine, New York, offers a mix of beautiful scenery and outdoor activities. Whether you're pitching a tent or parking an RV, there are plenty of campgrounds to explore.

What to do:

  • Hiking: The area is known for its scenic trails. Many campers enjoy the nearby hiking options, with one reviewer mentioning, "The Catskills are very scenic & we enjoyed our time there!" at North-South Lake Campground.
  • Fishing: If you love fishing, you’re in luck! Campers have noted that the nearby Beaverkill stream is great for fly fishing, with one saying, "Close to the Beaverkill and lots of great fly fishing" at Little Pond - DEC.
  • Swimming: Many campgrounds have access to lakes or ponds for swimming. A visitor at Taconic State Park shared, "The swimming there felt really clean and I loved the dock."

What campers like:

  • Clean Facilities: Campers appreciate well-maintained restrooms and showers. One reviewer at Kenneth L Wilson Campground said, "The bathrooms were very clean and new and the showers were free and temperature controlled to perfectly warm!!"
  • Friendly Staff: Many campgrounds have friendly staff who are eager to help. A camper at Mt. Greylock Campsite Park mentioned, "Pat and Gordon are incredibly welcoming hosts."
  • Privacy: Campers enjoy sites that offer some space from neighbors. A visitor at Clarence Fahnestock State Park noted, "Each of the campsites in our loop has a lot of foliage around it, creating privacy."

What you should know:

  • Limited Cell Service: Many campgrounds have poor cell reception. One camper at Little Pond - DEC remarked, "No Verizon service and Starlink was spotty."
  • Wildlife Encounters: Be prepared for wildlife, especially bears. A reviewer at North-South Lake Campground shared, "There are bears that visit the campground."
  • Noise Levels: Some campgrounds can get noisy, especially on weekends. A visitor at Beaver Pond Campground expressed frustration with loud music, saying, "It sounded like a rave throughout the night."

Tips for camping with families:

  • Choose the Right Campground: Look for family-friendly campgrounds with activities for kids. One parent at Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park Gardiner said, "This place is so much fun. My whole family loved the activities."
  • Plan for Quiet Hours: Be mindful of noise, especially if you have young kids. A camper at High Point State Park mentioned, "They are strict about noise and such."
  • Pack Snacks: Having snacks on hand can keep kids happy. A reviewer at Woodland Valley Campground noted, "There’s a lot of bear activity here, so constantly cleaning up your food is very important."

Tips from RVers:

  • Check Site Sizes: Make sure your RV fits the site. A camper at Clarence Fahnestock State Park advised, "Careful which site you choose."
  • Be Prepared for Limited Hookups: Some campgrounds don’t have electric hookups. A visitor at Beaver Pond Campground noted, "No electric hookups."
  • Bring Extra Supplies: Stock up on essentials before arriving, as some campgrounds lack markets. A camper at Woodland Valley Campground mentioned, "No firewood for sale."

Camping near Lake Katrine, New York, offers a variety of experiences for everyone. From hiking and fishing to family-friendly activities, there’s something for every outdoor enthusiast.

Frequently Asked Questions

What camping is available near Lake Katrine, NY?

According to TheDyrt.com, Lake Katrine, NY offers a wide range of camping options, with 165 campgrounds and RV parks near Lake Katrine, NY and 13 free dispersed camping spots.

Which is the most popular campground near Lake Katrine, NY?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Lake Katrine, NY is North-South Lake Campground with a 4.6-star rating from 43 reviews.

Where can I find free dispersed camping near Lake Katrine, NY?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 13 free dispersed camping spots near Lake Katrine, NY.