The Middleburgh, New York area offers camping experiences within the foothills of the Catskill Mountains at elevations ranging from 600 to 2,000 feet. Campers should prepare for temperature variations that can be 10-15 degrees cooler than surrounding lowlands, particularly during spring and fall months. The region's mixed hardwood forests create natural barriers between many campsites, enhancing privacy.
What to do
Swimming access: Thompson's Lake Campground offers a designated beach area with swimming opportunities during summer months. As one camper notes, "They have a great beach with swimming, kayak and boat rentals, a nature center next door you can walk too and the bathrooms are refurbished!"
Waterfall exploration: Max V. Shaul State Park Campground provides access to nearby waterfall hikes. A visitor mentioned, "there's no pond/lake here but there's several waterfalls nearby and vromans nose."
Hiking trails: Multiple trail options exist within a 15-minute drive of most campgrounds. At North-South Lake Campground, "the hiking nearby is fantastic. A lot of the hiking nearby is also relatively easy and includes the newly opened (as of 2016) viewing platform for Kaasterskill falls, which is minutes down the road from the campground."
What campers like
Spacious sites: Nickerson Park Campground offers larger-than-average sites. One camper described, "Groups of sites sit on level terraces stepped down toward the river. The center area of each grouping of sites had a common use area with tether ball, playgrounds, privies, or additional parking."
Clean facilities: Many campgrounds maintain well-kept amenities. At Max V. Shaul State Park, campers appreciate that "The bath house is clean and modern" and another noted it has "cleanest facilities ever! Good adjustable campfire cooking rack."
Privacy between sites: Several campgrounds offer natural separation. At Betty Brook Camp, visitors enjoy the remote feel: "Love to camp here all year long have been coming to the area for a couple of decades now. Remote. Sometimes you never see anyone. Sometimes you see some people. You camp on the stream."
What you should know
Cell service limitations: Many camping areas have limited connectivity. At Duck Pond Campsite, a camper reported "Intermittent cell service which was frightening while driving on these rough roads."
Road conditions: Access to primitive sites can be challenging. One camper at Burnt Rossman State Forest - Westkill Camp noted it's "right off the road" but "parking across the street if it's wet. Entrance is soft."
Seasonal availability: While some dispersed sites remain accessible year-round, facilities vary. A visitor to Burnt Rossman State Forest shared it "Was a great location for winter camping. Site easily accessible from road."
Reservation requirements: Some of the best places to camp near Middleburgh require advance planning. At Thompson's Lake Campground, lakefront sites book quickly: "Reserve very early for waterfront."
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Several campgrounds feature designated play areas. At Thompson's Lake Campground, a parent appreciated that "This campground has always been my go to. Now that I have kids, I appreciate the playground area near the beach more."
Water recreation: Country Roads Campground offers family-friendly activities. A visitor described it as a "Great family spot" with "special events in a pavilion near the RVs including bingo."
Wildlife awareness: Animals frequent the area, requiring proper food storage. At Nickerson Park, they "have a pool and water slides for the kids" making it especially appealing for families.
Family bathrooms: Some campgrounds offer dedicated family facilities. One visitor to Thompson's Lake noted "Nice bathroom facilities and dish washing station!" which simplifies camping with children.
Tips from RVers
Site leveling: Many RV sites require adjustment. At Country Roads Campground, "We were escorted to our site upon arrival and I certainly appreciated that as we were very tired after a long day of travel."
Hookup options: The best camping options near Middleburgh for RVs include varying levels of service. At Hide-A-Way Campsites, RVers found "Gravel unlevel pad full hookups."
Size limitations: Larger rigs won't fit at all locations. At Betty Brook Camp, a local advised "I would not recommend this for large trailers. The site is fairly small, but it's in state park, and there's tons of walking that can be done."
RV-specific loops: Some campgrounds have dedicated RV areas. Country Roads Campground has "Mainly an RV ground, but they have about 10-15 great tent sites back beyond the RV area. There are water spigots near all the tent sites and they are nice and spread out."
