Camping opportunities near Montgomery, NY encompass both public and private facilities within the Hudson Valley region. Located at an elevation of around 420 feet in Orange County, the Montgomery area experiences seasonal camping conditions with typical summer highs in the 80s and winter temperatures frequently below freezing. Most campgrounds offer varying levels of shade protection, from densely wooded sites at Winding Hills Park to more open areas at other facilities.
What to do
Fishing at local lakes: Winding Hills Park features fishing in both its main lake and pond. A visitor noted, "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."
Swimming at lake beaches: Jellystone Park Gardiner offers swimming options for families with small children. According to a camper, "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."
Hiking nearby trails: The Montgomery area connects to various trails, including some at Beaver Pond Campground, where one visitor shared, "It terminates at Iona Island Bird Sanctuary, a lovely long grassed marshland. The trails in the area are friendly to hikers, bikers, and the non arthritic kneers, as most are rated moderate to challenging."
Boating on local waterways: Several campgrounds permit non-motorized boats. "They have rental boats for a lake and fishing at the lake too," mentioned one visitor about the New York City North-Newburgh KOA.
What campers like
Wooded campsites: Montgomery area campgrounds often feature tree coverage. At Winding Hills Park, a camper observed, "It's deep in the woods of the park so there is good shade which is nice on the hotter days."
Clean facilities: Many visitors praise maintenance standards at local campgrounds. One camper at Winding Hills Park noted, "The bathrooms are kept very clean as well. The trails to walk on are perfect to get out of the campsite for a few hours."
Affordable camping options: Harriman State Park offers budget-friendly camping experiences. A visitor reported, "This is an off-grid camping experience. You can use your generator at certain hours. They have a beach. Their staff is friendly. I love going here."
Family-oriented activities: Jellystone Park Gardiner provides extensive children's programming. As one reviewer stated, "This campground is great for kids. It has a event just about every weekend with kid activity."
What you should know
First-come-first-served availability: Outside major holidays, some campgrounds don't require advance booking. At Winding Hills Park, "When not going on a holiday it is first come first serve spots which is good if you just need to spend one night here. Pull into whichever site you want and at some point the groundskeepers will come to collect your money."
Off-season differences: Many facilities modify operations after Labor Day. At Clarence Fahnestock State Park Campground, "The beach is closed after Labor Day to the public, but open to people staying at the campsite."
Cell service variations: Connectivity differs across campgrounds. A Winding Hills Park visitor warned, "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."
Cash payment requirements: Some campgrounds have specific payment policies. For Winding Hills Park, "For non-residents the non-electric sites are $40 and the power sites are $45. Residents are $10 less. Cash only!"
Tips for camping with families
Water activities for different ages: Campgrounds offer varied swimming experiences. At New York City North-Newburgh KOA, "They have 2 pools which require signing up ahead of time for 1 hour slots."
Playground access: Several campgrounds feature play areas for children. A camper at Beaver Pond Campground noted, "The campground offers several different sties, from platform tent spaces to those for 25' trailers. All sites have a standard picnic table and fire ring. Camp amenities include: a moderately stocked store, public bath houses, a laundry facility, playground for the kids and camp-sinks with access to water."
Organized activities: Some campgrounds provide scheduled programming. A New York City North-Newburgh KOA visitor shared, "They had a free pancake breakfast on the weekend days, and a band Saturday night."
Tips from RVers
Site selection importance: Not all sites accommodate larger vehicles. At Korns Campgrounds, one visitor advised checking site sizes: "We parked right next to our camp site and had water, fire pit, outlets, and our car all in one area."
Hookup variations: Water and electric options differ between campgrounds. A visitor at Winding Hills Park explained, "There are water spigots around the grounds and attached to the bathroom facilities. But no actual sites with water hookups for RVs."
Dump station access: Some parks restrict dump station access. At Winding Hills Park, a camper noted, "Dump is kept locked, but there's a number to call and staff will come unlock for you."
