Mountain Lakes Park sits at one of the highest elevations in Westchester County, with tent sites positioned 500-800 feet above sea level. The surrounding North Salem region features dense northeastern hardwood forests with hiking trails connecting to various campgrounds. Fall camping near North Salem brings temperature swings of 30-40 degrees between day and night, requiring appropriate gear.
What to do
Explore Mohonk trails: Round Pond Recreation Area provides access to hiking paths with routes suitable for various skill levels. "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," notes Becky G.
Bird watching at high elevations: Mountain Lakes Park offers excellent vantage points for spotting migratory birds during spring and fall seasons. "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," shares Ben H.
Water activities on Long Island Sound: Wildwood State Park Campground provides beachfront access for swimming and paddleboarding from late May through September. "The North Shore and South Shore are pretty different. This site gives you the North Shore experience with high bluffs, sandy calm beaches along the Long Island Sound, and views of CT across the water," explains Amber A.
What campers like
Clean facilities: Wildwood State Park Campground maintains well-kept bathroom facilities according to multiple reviewers. "Among the most modern bathrooms I've seen at a State Park campground. Nice clean campground with the usual NY State Park quality. Some accessible facilities, including swimming and camping," notes Amber A.
Yurt camping options: For those seeking yurt camping near North Salem, New York, Jellystone Park Gardiner offers options with electricity and comfortable beds. "This is a very nice campground for families. Has a lot of activities and facilities for campers. It is a bit more open and campsite can be a bit close to each other. But the place was very clean and friendly," says Jenna S.
Family-focused amenities: Lake Compounce Campground provides extensive recreational facilities alongside yurt camping options. "Very well maintained and friendly staff will stay again when in the area. Does not have sewer hookups, but does have a dump station," shares Ray B.
What you should know
Military-only access: West Point FMWR Round Pond Outdoor Recreation Area restricts camping to active duty and retired military personnel. "Unfortunately for me, Round Pond is camping reserved for active and retired military personnel only. We drove through and the whole space is rather large. There are several signs everywhere making it clear that it is only for military," explains Ethan K.
Bathroom availability: Many campgrounds have limited bathroom facilities relative to site capacity. "They rarely cleaned the bathroom in all the 6 days that I stayed. The showers didn't have enough water pressure, 2 out of 6 had only hot water, some had no paper, hairs everywhere," reports Elizabeth M. about Jellystone Park Gardiner.
Morning noise levels: Several sites experience early activity, particularly during summer weekends. "The campers don't respect the quiet time at night and morning too. A lot noises until 2 am and early from 6 am," notes Elizabeth M.
Tips for camping with families
Water parks and play areas: Jellystone Park Gardiner offers extensive water facilities suitable for children of various ages. "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," reports Amanda S.
Activity schedules: Family-oriented campgrounds often organize events throughout the day and evening. "This campground has a lot of activities and has kids of all ages galore. I was worried my 12 year old would be too old for it but he enjoyed making friends there," explains Stephanie H.
Site selection considerations: Choose sites away from common areas if planning early bedtimes. "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," cautions Stephanie H.
Tips from RVers
Hookup availability: Lone Oak Camp Sites provides full-service sites with specific power requirements. "This campground is large and has a variety of sites to choose from. It has a large field for seasonal and large rv's to small wooded sites for tents. Be careful on the map for what site has what amenities, and make sure to double check power requirements because it's not labeled on the sites and it varies," advises Natalie N.
Cell service considerations: Some areas have limited or no cellular connectivity. "Just a note to other campers with T-Mobile, 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," explains Jacey H.
Wi-Fi access points: Many campgrounds offer limited wireless internet access. "The Wi-Fi is also bad here. My kids enjoyed themselves a lot, and that is what matters, but I don't consider this a 5 star resort," notes Stephanie H. about Jellystone Park Gardiner.
