The Newburgh area straddles the Hudson River Valley approximately 60 miles north of New York City, with elevations ranging from 200 to 1,000 feet in the surrounding parks. Summer temperatures typically average 75-85°F, while fall camping season brings cooler 45-65°F temperatures with colorful foliage. Winter camping opportunities remain available at select year-round campgrounds including Black Bear RV Park, which maintains heated water pipes for RV sites near Newburgh, New York.
What to do
Hiking trail access: Lake Taghkanic State Park Campground offers multiple hiking options directly from campsites. "The campground has a lake with boat rentals. Late night, stargazing over the lake is a great pastime, because the water is calm and the light pollution is low," notes one camper who visited in October.
Swimming beaches: Clarence Fahnestock State Park Campground provides lake swimming access across from the campground. "We walked 20 min from our site to the beach across the 2-lane highway. The lake is clear and sandy (some rocks in sand on shore, but standard for imported sand), and many families seemed to have traveled up for a day trip," explains a visitor who stayed in June.
Wildlife viewing: Nearby wetlands and forests offer wildlife observation opportunities. A camper at Tri-State RV Park reported, "They are also located right on a river that you can easily access by foot. The gem is the beautiful grounds, river, and parklike setting. Lots of wildlife around."
What campers like
Clean bathroom facilities: Lake Taghkanic State Park Campground receives consistent praise for maintenance. "Quiet, clean enough and well worth the price. Showers are hot and there's great water pressure. The cleanliness of the bathrooms depends on how busy the campground is," notes one camper.
Platform tent sites: Beaver Pond Campground at Harriman State Park provides elevated camping platforms. "The biggest positive about Beaver Pond is how spread out it was. You definitely feel like you have your own space and are not camping on top of your neighbor. Many of the camping options were on platforms which is especially nice if it recently rained," reports a satisfied visitor.
Waterfront camping: Several campgrounds offer water access and activities. "This is what I want for a Catskill campground. It is not a concrete pad haven and yes, there is mud. Our site was even and easy to level on," writes a camper about their experience at Thousand Trails Rondout Valley.
What you should know
Site selection matters: Rudd Pond Area — Taconic State Park has varied camping experiences depending on site location. "This is a really interesting campground that's situated on a hill overlooking Rudd Pond in Taconic State Park. Almost all of the sites have platforms to pitch your tent on, although there are a couple of flatter spots without platforms (although they still have a slope.)"
Bear awareness: Active wildlife requires proper food storage. At Beaver Pond, "The wildlife do roam around your campsite so be mindful of putting food and garbage away before sleeping," cautions one visitor who enjoyed the campground despite this consideration.
Seasonal variations: Fall brings dramatic changes to camping conditions. "We stayed here in August 2020. The beach is closed after Labor Day to the public, but open to people staying at the campsite. Clean and beautiful. Great hikes," writes a Fahnestock camper about off-season benefits.
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Beaver Pond Campground — Harriman State Park offers dedicated children's play areas. "Great location and quick to get to from NYC. 45 minute drive and location has a lot of amenities. Full bathrooms and slop sinks throughout the campsite. Hike trails are all over the place and the lake is nearby," shares a family visitor.
Recreation options: Skyway Camping Resort provides dedicated family recreation facilities. "Very nice and clean. Nice pool, this is a good family campground for kids. It's large with nice size sites," mentions a visitor who stayed in August.
Educational opportunities: The region offers historical sites for family learning. A camper at Interlake RV Park noted, "Close to FDR home and library...a must to see. Quaint towns nearby," highlighting opportunities to combine camping with educational day trips.
Tips from RVers
Seasonal RV considerations: Mountain Top RV Park provides upgraded facilities for RVers year-round. "If you're booking, it may be best to book on the upper levels because the lower area where we were did flood pretty bad a couple times when there was a lot of rain," advises one RV camper who stayed during winter months.
Transit RV locations: Some RV sites near Newburgh provide convenient travel stopover points. "Right off the interstate. If you have the generator going and ear plugs it shouldn't bother you. The couple who runs the park is super helpful and patient. You can tell they love what they do," notes a visitor to Tri-State RV Park.
Uneven hookup locations: Site topography can affect hookup usability. "The sewer connection in 372 ran uphill for me, but my pipe sits very low," reports a camper about Thousand Trails Rondout Valley, demonstrating the importance of site selection for RV hookup functionality.
