Dispersed camping options near Marlboro, New York range from primitive backcountry sites to established campgrounds with basic amenities. The Hudson Valley terrain features rolling hills at elevations between 100-500 feet, with seasonal temperature fluctuations from 20°F winters to humid 85°F summer days. Campers should prepare for frequent afternoon thunderstorms during summer months, particularly from June through August.
What to do
Hiking trails access: Samuel F. Pryor III Shawangunk Gateway Campground offers direct access to world-class climbing and hiking. According to a camper, "The campground was extremely manicured. There is no eating at the campsite, they would prefer you cook and eat by the showers... The setting is beautiful, it just feels more like glamping."
Fishing opportunities: Winding Hills Park provides multiple fishing spots throughout the grounds. A visitor notes, "There is a large lake to kayak and fish in. NO SWIMMING. The lake is a nice size and has a trail so you walk the entire length with benches around a good portion to sit and/or fish. There is a nice sized pond at the park to fish which also has benches around it."
Water activities: Jellystone Park Gardiner features pools and water play areas for hot summer days. One guest shared, "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 there."
Nature exploration: Hemlock Ridge MUA offers undeveloped terrain for those seeking solitude. A camper explained, "This isn't a fancy campsite and has no amenities. There is a small (10 car) parking lot and a trail that runs thru 80 acres of forest. Camping is allowed anywhere 150ft from the trail. Normal LNT rules apply."
What campers like
Privacy between sites: At Clarence Fahnestock State Park Campground, campers appreciate the secluded settings. A reviewer stated, "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. The camp areas were secluded if you wanted more private camping (also super unique layouts)."
Communal spaces: Samuel F. Pryor III Shawangunk Gateway Campground offers group gathering areas. One camper mentioned, "Communal fire pit and supplied wood. Covered communal pavilion with picnic tables, big sinks for washing dishes, and lighting (which shuts off at 9:47PM)."
Affordable options: Beaver Pond Campground at Harriman State Park provides economical camping. As a visitor noted, "Camping for just $15. This is an off-grid camping experience. You can use your generator at certain hours. They have a beach. Their staff is friendly."
Access to water features: Mills Norrie State Park Campground offers Hudson River views. A camper observed, "The campground was nicely maintained and space was restricted between sites due to Covid. 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."
What you should know
Bear activity: Beaver Pond Campground has frequent wildlife encounters. One visitor warned, "'Welcome to Bear Mountain' grumbles the park ranger as he sits in complete darkness! He is in his ranger hut, checking in the late evening arrivals to the campground... He offers us a highlighted map to our site, wishes us a good stay, and gives us the run down on bear activity in the area."
Cell service limitations: Winding Hills Park has spotty connectivity. A camper reported, "One thing to also consider is we had horrible cell service (we have sprint). Could not make calls or use internet at campgrounds or the park but did see others who were using cellphones...so if you have sprint don't plan on making calls."
Noise levels: During peak season, expect higher noise levels at popular sites. A Beaver Pond visitor observed, "There is a constant buzz in the air of conversation, music, laughter and shrieking toddlers. Quiet time at night is laughable as the enjoyment of being in nature rages on into the early morning."
Seasonal considerations: Most campgrounds operate from April through October, with occasional weather disruptions. A Clarence Fahnestock camper noted, "Please be aware that, although the website says they are open in March, they will not open if there is snow on the ground. We found out the hard way on a previous trip."
Tips for camping with families
Activity planning: New York City North-Newburgh KOA offers numerous family-friendly amenities. A visitor shared, "I love this campground they have counselors who lead activities with kids in the summer and two pools plus a rock climbing tower, manifold, basketball and a bounce pillow and more... they have rental boats for a lake and fishing at the lake too."
Playground access: Winding Hills Park includes play areas near some campsites. A camper noted, "We found the sites closer to the Playground side/closer to the bathrooms to be more noisy. Also those sites are closer together which would be good for larger groups."
Water features: Jellystone Park Gardiner offers water activities specifically designed for children. A parent mentioned, "This campground is great for kids. It has a event just about every weekend with kid activity."
Site selection for families: Choose sites away from main pathways for more privacy with children. At Samuel F. Pryor III Shawangunk Gateway Campground, a reviewer advised, "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."
Tips from RVers
Hookup options: Thousand Trails Rondout Valley offers full hookup sites for RVs. A visitor explained, "As part of the Thousand Trails group, this campground has many amenities. It offers a pool, playground, and activities that include bocce ball, shuffleboard, and horseshoes. We loved our full hookup site minus the neighbors' weekend ragers."
Site levelness: At Mills Norrie State Park Campground, RV campers should note the limited level sites. One RVer cautioned, "There are only a handful of sites with electric hookups and only one (site 51) is level. Some have a steep descent off the road, and there's a lip on the road that can scrape bottom of campers/RVs."
Road conditions: Pay attention to campground roads and overhead clearances. A New York City North-Newburgh KOA visitor mentioned, "The roads to the main sites also need some branch trimming."
Water access: Not all sites offer water hookups. A Winding Hills Park camper noted, "There are water spigots around the grounds and attached to the bathroom facilities. But no actual sites with water hookups for RVs."
