Jellystone Park Gardiner welcomes pets throughout their expansive property with camping options including tent sites, RV spots, cabins, yurts, and glamping accommodations. Dogs must be leashed while on campground property and are permitted at most sites with standard pet policies. Samuel F. Pryor III Shawangunk Gateway Campground, located near the renowned Mohonk Preserve, provides both drive-up and walk-in tent sites that accommodate pets. This campground features large, flat tent pads, picnic tables at each site, and clean bathroom facilities with showers. Bear boxes are positioned near tent sites for food storage, as the area has significant bear activity. Campers browse The Dyrt when exploring the best sites near New Paltz, New York.
The Shawangunk Ridge area offers excellent hiking opportunities with dogs at nearby Minnewaska State Park Preserve, though owners should note the acidic nature of Lake Minnewaska when allowing pets near water. Mills Norrie State Park Campground, open May through October, provides pet-friendly cabin options along with tent and RV sites. KOA New York City North-Newburgh in Plattekill allows pets at both tent and RV sites with full hookups available. Thousand Trails Rondout Valley in Accord features pet-friendly yurts alongside traditional camping options. The Mohonk Preserve trails adjacent to the Shawangunk Gateway Campground are particularly dog-friendly, with the Labyrinth trail noted as an exceptional hiking experience. Campgrounds in this area typically enforce leash requirements to manage wildlife interactions, particularly given the bear activity in the region.
"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."
"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."
"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."
"We stayed in lot 109, which was perfect because going through the really faint trail through the trees you can come to a ledge overlooking the Hudson River."
from $17 - $102 / night
"Lots to do around like New Paltz, Mohonk Preserve, Lake Minnewaska and my favorite hike Bonticou Crag…"
"Small dog park, communal spaces, and a camp store all made the place feel like a little village. They even have a wine store- cab sav was good. WiFi I work remotely and WiFi is always an issue."
"Great place situated in a great area with lots to do all within an hour's drive. Even camping during a pandemic was peaceful & fun!"
"This is a Thousand trails campground so it was free. I think the regular price is $64. Full hookups, tents and cabins to rent. Pleanty to do in and around campground."
"The second night, we stayed at site 31(drive up) and I recommend that as it is near the comfort station and back enough from the road and other sites that you have some space to yourself.The view of "the"
"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"
"We had planned on driving to hiking but there was so much to do around the camp site we just walked around and did the hiking near by. The dog park is wonderful. Our dog loved it."
"Only one shower area that was a bit of a trek from our site, a bike would have been nice to get around."
from $22 / night
"With Covid/social distancing requirements, many sites are closed so it’s extra quiet and spread out. I stayed at site 6 with my seven year-old daughter from Tue-Thur."
"When you are camping with a large group of friends and don't all have access to a car, this is the perfect spot."
from $21 / night
"Most acidic lake in New York but completely safe."
"It’s got good access to Lake Minnewaska (driving), staff was nice and polite. But I thought the sites were on the smaller side and no fire is allowed."
from $20 - $42 / night
"There are absolutely no amenities whatsoever & barely even a signal here, but it’s quiet & off the beaten path. The parking lot only holds about 4-5 cars, 6 if you park real tight."
"This campground had easy access to excellent hiking trails. Woodstock, NY was about 30 min away and we enjoyed exploring the area on our non-hiking day. Very dog friendly."
"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."
from $20 / night
TravelerFree site ran by Peekemoose forest. There are supposed to be 12 along throughout the valley, this is the only one we were able to locate. Was able to access easily with a minivan and has a nice flat area. Can see the highway from the site.
ScoutOctober leaves starting to fall makes for a very quiet, peaceful midweek evening in one of the two dispersed car camping sites. Exactly what I was hoping for - private and empty and lovely. Easy to find - two dispersed car sites are to the left at the fork in the road before the trailhead.
GuideMade a reservation (site44) since I arrived as the sun had set. Office registration was open until 8. Staff was neither friendly nor unfriendly. Bathroom was dated but fine and a short walk from my site. CG was emptier being a Tuesday night in mid-October, so was plenty of space.
Great trail following the Hudson River. Beautiful fall colors.
ScoutI stayed here in March 2026 for a night before going snowboarding at Belleayre Mountain. It was in the middle of a snowstorm on a Tuesday night, so I had the whole place to myself, which was nice.
TravelerA nice wooded campground that was quiet despite being almost full on our Friday night stay.
The site we stayed at (64) had some pretty large roots to drive over and may have been an issue for a low clearance vehicle (we have a Subaru Outback).
The shower / house bathroom combo units weee very clean with hot water and baby changing station.
GuideI'm sure families would like it here in the summer, but to charge $90 when everything is closed up is ridiculous. Wi-Fi and showers are an additional cost. It does have an ADA shower which is a plus. Lots of permanent RVers and some sites are tight.
ScoutNice campground, bathrooms are clean but dated, first come first serve for the sites.
Travelerbeautiful quiet space, great home base for the Catskills and small towns around here. note there's only a few spots. road conditions were fine.
RangerI'll start by saying this is a site-specific review (C20). I booked using Campspot and didn't select my own site but put in the criteria for my rig (30ft TT plus truck) and got a 50A back-in spot. The site was big but abnormal. Between the picnic table placement and the trees, I ended up right around 50ft from the electric and water, and the water spigot was so low I could barely put on my camco filter. With the uneven dirt roads, I had to unhitch with my truck in a gigantic puddle (lol). The site was otherwise fine aside from my gate code not working on Day 2. As for the campground as a whole, I thought it was pretty unique place by the river that offered several good amenities and activities, like downstream river tubing, an arcade, bathroom/shower facilities, a small store, little trails, and more. I would say this place borders the more primitive side.
Camping sites in the Shawangunk Ridge region of New York range in elevation from 400 to 2,200 feet above sea level, offering varied terrain for pet-friendly camping near New Paltz. This Hudson Valley destination features a temperate climate with distinct seasons, making spring and fall particularly popular for campers. Average summer temperatures hover around 80°F during day and 60°F at night, ideal for tent and RV camping alike.
Hiking with four-legged friends: Kenneth L Wilson Campground provides access to numerous wooded trails where dogs can join the adventure. As one visitor noted, "Large and heavily wooded! Enjoyed our stay even on a busy weekend. They have a lake on site with swimming. We happened to spend the weekend on a day with free canoe/kayak rentals which was great!"
Fishing opportunities: Winding Hills Park offers multiple fishing spots with benches positioned around the lake and pond. A camper explains, "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." Remember that fishing licenses are required.
Rock climbing experiences: Samuel F. Pryor III Shawangunk Gateway Campground serves as base camp for world-class climbing. "Love this campground! Have been here several times and have never had a complaint... Located really close to the Gunks for climbing and also some great hikes around the area," writes one climbing enthusiast.
Well-maintained facilities: Kenneth L Wilson Campground receives high marks for cleanliness. "The bathrooms were very clean and new and the showers were free and temperature controlled to perfectly warm!! The ladies that run this campground are absolute queens and were so nice and helpful," reports a satisfied camper.
Creek-side camping: Woodland Valley Campground offers sites alongside a mountain stream. One camper shares, "The mountain creek is like nature singing a lullaby - sleeping next to it was very relaxing; weather was great and we could see the stars through the canopy - very very enjoyable!"
Bear safety measures: Campsites at Samuel F. Pryor III Shawangunk Gateway Campground include bear boxes for food storage. A visitor observed, "A 'comfort station' for the campsites farther from the main pavilion with bathrooms and big sinks for dish washing" makes this campground particularly practical for longer stays.
Limited cell service: Many campgrounds in the area have spotty coverage. At Woodland Valley Campground, a guest noted, "No mobile signal, but that's the point, isn't it? You get to disconnect from it all for a while."
Varying site privacy levels: Clarence Fahnestock State Park Campground has significant differences between sites. A frequent visitor advises, "This is one of my favorite campsites I have been to but only because after several visits we have finally found our favorite site. This place can book up during camping season in the Northeast so make sure to book early in advance."
Water quality considerations: Some campers mention mineral content in the water. At Winding Hills Park, a camper reported, "The water smells a little like sulfur, so you may want to bring your own." This is common in the region's natural water sources.
Kid-focused activities: Jellystone Park Gardiner specializes in family entertainment. According to one parent, "This campground is great for kids. It has a event just about every weekend with kid activity." Another family reported, "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."
Off-peak timing: For quieter family experiences, visit during weekdays. A Kenneth Wilson visitor shared, "We didn't really see much wildlife and barely any bugs/mosquitos which was maybe the time of year (early/mid-June). The campground has some great hiking trails and a cozy vibe in a beautiful part of NY."
Playground access: Winding Hills Park includes play areas for children. "The playground has a volleyball net and other Normal playground equipment that I saw driving past it," notes one camper, making it ideal for families looking for pet-friendly camping near New Paltz with recreation options.
Site selection advice: At New York City North-Newburgh KOA, site types vary significantly. An experienced RVer recommends, "If staying here and concerned about branches I'd suggest one of the pull through sites. Specifically 138, 146 and 145 have a nice concrete patio and nicer firepit if you want to spend a little more."
Utility considerations: Power options differ between campgrounds. At Winding Hills Park, "For non-residents the non-electric sites are $40 and the power sites are $45. Residents are $10 less. Cash only!" No sewer hookups are available at most sites, but "they have a dumping area."
Access challenges: Some campgrounds have narrow roads. A visitor to Woodland Valley noted, "The long, narrow, and winding road from Route 28 to Woodland Valley campground should not keep you from camping there!" This advice is particularly important for larger RVs and trailers seeking accommodations for pet-friendly camping in the New Paltz region.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near New Paltz, NY?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near New Paltz, NY is Jellystone Park™ Gardiner with a 4.2-star rating from 33 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near New Paltz, NY?
TheDyrt.com has all 136 dog-friendly camping locations near New Paltz, NY, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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