Glamping close to North Castle, New York offers diverse accommodation options within convenient distances of both wilderness areas and urban amenities. Most sites sit at elevations between 400-1,200 feet, creating varied terrain for exploration. Many campgrounds in this region maintain seasonal operations from April through October, with limited winter availability at specific locations.
What to do
Hiking trails nearby: Mountain Lakes Park features numerous hiking paths directly accessible from camping areas, with Mt. Bailey marking the highest point in Westchester County. "A gorgeous piece of land that contains lakes, a lookout and Mt. Bailey, the highest point in Westchester County. A dirt road loops through the property with trails off and through it," notes Ben H. about Mountain Lakes Park.
Water recreation options: Lake Waramaug State Park provides kayaking, paddle boarding and fishing opportunities with rentals available on-site for those without personal equipment. "The lake is great for kayaking, paddle boarding, canoes and for fishing. Bring your own gear but kayak and canoe rentals are available. The swim area is marginal- best for little ones," explains G Y. about Lake Waramaug State Park Campground.
Military-exclusive facilities: West Point FMWR Round Pond Outdoor Recreation Area offers dedicated recreation spaces for active and retired military personnel with beach access and well-maintained grounds. "We've been coming here for at least 13 years. We love that its a place specifically for Vets and active Military. everyone is amazingly respectful of each other and the caretakers take such care of the grounds," shares a camper at Round Pond Recreation Area.
What campers like
Large, uncrowded sites: Mahlon Dickerson Reservation features spacious, wooded campsites with concrete platforms for tent setup. "The campsites are paved and mostly level. They are wooded and large. Water and electric hookups and a dump station," explains Jeff W. about Mahlon Dickerson Reservation.
Family-friendly amenities: Jellystone Park in Gardiner offers extensive children's activities with scheduled events throughout the season. "This campground is great for kids. It has a event just about every weekend with kid activity," notes Jennifer I. about Jellystone Park Gardiner.
Convenient NYC access: Several campgrounds maintain locations within 60-90 minutes of Manhattan while offering natural settings. "Love the proximity to NYC - I always look for areas that are not too far, but not too close to NY. Beautiful but small-ish tent sites. Lots of great hiking in the area in addition to beautiful Cold Spring, NY for the small-town charm," shares Becky G. about Round Pond.
What you should know
Bathroom availability varies: Some glamping sites near North Castle have limited facilities or seasonally maintained restrooms. "The bathrooms are usually unclean, they run out of tissue, there is only 1 shower for the entire bathroom AND they clean them right when people are waking and need to pee (between 7-8)," warns katrina M. about Lake Waramaug State Park.
Reservation requirements: Most premium glamping accommodations near North Castle require advance booking, especially for dome structures and yurts. "This campground is beautiful and the staff was wonderful! We started our camping season off right with a quick weekend stay at Round Pound," mentions Jacey H.
Wildlife encounters: Several campgrounds report regular wildlife sightings including skunks and squirrels. "There are lots of skunks and squirrels that will get into EVERYTHING even in a bin," cautions a reviewer about Lake Waramaug, suggesting secure food storage is essential.
Tips for camping with families
Activity scheduling: Jellystone Park offers structured programming for children throughout the summer months. "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. My older kids preferred a deeper pool but they still had a great time there they have lasertag which they enjoy. And a bounce pillow," reports Amanda S.
Beginner-friendly locations: Camp Glen Gray provides maintained facilities with varying accommodation types suitable for first-time campers. "Great Camp !!! One rustic place with many hiking trails to choose from. Camp also provides trucking of gear weather permitting. No vehicles allowed to drive through camp," explains Jose N. about Camp Glen Gray.
Swimming considerations: Swimming areas at Lake Waramaug are best suited for younger children due to shallow depths. "The swimming area is an absolute joke, unless you are 18 months old, and then its probably perfect. (Extremely small, extremely shallow, and some sand to dig in)," notes Mo S.
Tips from RVers
Site accessibility: Mahlon Dickerson Reservation offers paved, level sites with full hookups though some navigation challenges exist for larger rigs. "Easy to navigate our 38 ft. RV. Easy to dump and fill. Peaceful. Close to train to N. Y. City," shares Nancymike K.
Limited cell service: Several glamping locations near North Castle have spotty or non-existent cellular coverage. "Just a note to other campers with T-Moblie, we did not have any service on the campsite, however just a hop in the car or a quick walk down the mountain for 5G service near the entrance off the main road," advises Jacey H. about Round Pond.
Electric availability: While glamping tents and structures typically include electricity, standard tent sites rarely offer electrical hookups. "This campground changed in the last few years, but not for the better. It is apparent that the manager does not like campers. If you have a tent, you are treated ok, until you violate one of their endless rules," observes Tom J.
