Camping areas near Millerton, New York sit at elevations between 600-1,200 feet within the Taconic Mountain range along the New York-Massachusetts border. The region's rocky, wooded terrain creates varied camping environments with temperature fluctuations of 15-20 degrees between day and night, even in summer months. Camping facilities range from state parks with platform tent sites to full-service RV parks with hookups and seasonal activities operating primarily from May through October.
What to do
Fishing opportunities: Rudd Pond at Taconic State Park offers shoreline fishing and boat rentals for anglers seeking largemouth bass. "The sites were a little close together, but being able to fish and catching 2 decent-sized largemouth bass made everything all ok!! There is plenty of fishing access from shore and you can rent a boat for the whole day to fish on the water," notes one visitor to Rudd Pond Area — Taconic State Park.
Waterfall hiking: Access Bash Bish Falls via trails directly from several campgrounds in the area. A camper at Copake Falls Area — Taconic State Park reports, "There's a swimming beach and during non-covid times, boat rentals. There is also a trailhead at the end of the campground that connects to the other trails in Taconic State Park."
Swimming and lake activities: Multiple parks feature swimming areas with varied facilities. "No complaints. everything is perfect every year we've been. the lake is beautiful and clean. expect to pay $15 fee (I think) to use your paddleboards / kyacks etc. Worth every penny," writes a visitor to Lake Taghkanic State Park Campground.
What campers like
Platform tent sites: Several campgrounds offer elevated wooden platforms that improve camping during wet weather. "This was our second time coming to this campground and our second time getting dumped on by the rain, but have no fear!! The platforms kept us off the ground and were helpful in setting up appropriate tarp protection!" shares a camper at Lake Taghkanic State Park Campground.
Cleanliness of facilities: Campground maintenance varies by season and occupancy. "Showers are hot and there's great water pressure. The cleanliness of the bathrooms depends on how busy the campground is," notes a Lake Taghkanic visitor.
Stargazing opportunities: The area's distance from urban centers provides darker skies. "Late night, stargazing over the lake is a great pastime, because the water is calm and the light pollution is low," comments a camper at Lake Taghkanic.
What you should know
Site privacy considerations: Proximity between sites varies significantly by campground and loop selection. A visitor to Brook N Wood Family Campground observed, "The C section (30 amp) has some shade trees and all grassy sites. Shared hook ups (two sites on one pole) at the rear of the sites with the exception of sewer. Sites were sized well and management spaced out the reservations so people camping together could be together."
Seasonal operation schedule: Most campgrounds operate May through October with varying closing dates. Taconic State Park's Copake Falls Area extends later than others, with a season from "May 6 to November 27" according to their information.
Weekend crowds: Proximity to New York City means weekends see higher occupancy and noise levels. "This was a truly great campground, but its proximity to NYC draws large crowds on weekends," notes a Copake Falls Area camper.
Tips for camping with families
Activity options: Some campgrounds provide structured recreation for children. At Thousand Trails Rondout Valley, "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. The creek that runs by the campground is gorgeous, and my kids had fun finding Crayfish."
Swimming areas: Look for designated children's swimming sections. "Big lake with swimming and boating as well as many hiking trails. Bathrooms on site as well as showers," mentions a visitor to Lake Taghkanic State Park.
Playground access: Several campgrounds maintain playground equipment for younger visitors. One camper at Prospect Mountain Campground notes, "Prospects mountain is a great campground for families with younger kids. They have activities every weekend such as dances, bingo, hayrides. They also have a great pool, playground and pond for fishing."
Tips from RVers
RV site types: For RV sites near Millerton, New York, options range from basic to full-service. At Prospect Mountain Campground and RV Park, "We had a nice quite spot even though we where in the road to the lake," notes a camper who stayed in a camper van.
Hookup variations: Electric service ranges from 30-50 amp depending on the campground. At Brook N Wood, a visitor mentioned "The C section (30 amp) has some shade trees and all grassy sites. Shared hook ups (two sites on one pole) at the rear of the sites with the exception of sewer."
Leveling considerations: Terrain at some campgrounds requires additional preparation. "Our site was even and easy to level on," reports an RVer at Thousand Trails Rondout Valley, though reviews indicate this varies by campground and specific site location.
