Winding Hills Park
Nice but dated
Nice campground, bathrooms are clean but dated, first come first serve for the sites.
60 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Beaver Pond Campground in Harriman State Park welcomes pets throughout its more than 100 camping sites ranging from secluded spots to raised platform areas. Campers with dogs appreciate the clean, free hot showers and lake access, though the campground strictly prohibits alcohol. Croton Point Park offers pet-friendly accommodations including RV sites, tent camping areas, and cabins located on a scenic peninsula along the Hudson River. Weekend visitors with pets should expect more crowded, potentially noisy conditions, while midweek stays often provide a quieter experience with fewer fellow campers. The park features picnic tables at most sites, and pets must be leashed at all times. West Point FMWR Lake Frederick Outdoor Recreation Area and Round Pond Recreation Area both provide pet-friendly cabin options with varying amenities, though specific pet policies should be confirmed before booking.
Harriman State Park's extensive trail system offers numerous opportunities for dog walks with deer frequently spotted throughout the natural areas. Dog owners note the abundance of hiking options with varying difficulty levels, including a short but rewarding climb to a fire tower with expansive views. The proximity to urban areas makes these campgrounds particularly valuable for quick weekend getaways with pets - just an hour from Manhattan and approximately 45 minutes from Sleepy Hollow and Tarrytown. Campgaw Mountain Reservation in nearby New Jersey provides a free alternative for pet owners seeking budget-friendly camping options, with toilets, picnic tables and water hookups available on site. During summer months, pet owners should bring water purification methods as water sources may be limited, and ticks carrying Lyme disease are present in the area, requiring appropriate repellent for both humans and pets.
"Tent sites are very private with some dirt roads to exit out but thats what make it unique experience! Bathrooms with shower is near by and has plenty porta potties all around."
"Was close to bear mountains state part and the train station is right there!"
from $30 - $60 / night
Check Availability"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 $17 / night
Check Availability"Pet friendly and kid friendly with a playground available. Our favorite site is #25. Up a hill, totally private and has a lean-to."
"Close to the city and civilization, yet large enough to have nice trails and creeks to feel away from it all. The camping sites are very different so it’s useful to go in person and select the area."
from $45 - $55 / night
Check Availability"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."
"We are looking forward to stopping by Round Pond again in the near future."
from $25 - $40 / night
Check Availability"Very plain & functional, no frills but right on the harbor & on the very edge of Jersey City, close to a ferry & the train that takes u across to New York City."
"Very easy to hop on transit to get to New York City. People were friendly."
from $145 - $180 / night
Check Availability"Yes, this is a military-only campground but, that doesn't take away from how incredible it is and that is properly advertised.
This place is incredible. "
from $20 - $150 / night
Check Availability"Police patrolled, and dog friendly."
"My fiancé, dog, and I have been going here for over 2 years and we love it. The campground is small but also secluded. We always hike to the lake here, it’s a very easy hike and also very peaceful."
"Stonetown Circular trail is a 11 mile medium/high difficulty loop trail. This is the second of two primitive sites along the trail. The trailhead is across the street from a large parking lot."
"Stonetown Circular trail is a 11 mile medium/high difficulty loop trail. This is the first of two primitive sites along the trail. The trailhead is across the street from a large parking lot."












Nice campground, bathrooms are clean but dated, first come first serve for the sites.
I'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.
On Friday, September 4, 2026, I rented a trailer and brought my family to Cheesequake State Park to celebrate our 10th wedding anniversary over the extended Labor Day weekend. Around 9:20 PM—well before the park's designated 10:00 PM quiet hours—we were sitting inside our canopy, playing Jenga, and listening to low background music. Two officers from the Matawan Police Department approached our campsite. They were polite and courteous, simply offering a standard reminder to wrap things up by 10:00 PM. Before they could leave, however, a third, senior officer intervened. Wanting to"show them how it's done," he made the two polite officers return and stand by to watch as he demonstrated how to aggressively harass campers. Flashlight in hand, the senior officer approached with an immediate hostile attitude, treating us like criminals as he demanded to know who rented the site. He began reiterating rules and claimed we had too many vehicles. We had three cars, one belonging to my brother-in-law's girlfriend, who was visiting with her daughter. She had paid the$10 visitor fee at the main office and was instructed by staff to obtain the gate access code from us, the primary renters, if she got locked in. No staff member ever informed her of an 8:00 PM visitor departure deadline, leading us to reasonably assume visitors were permitted until quiet hours began at 10:00 PM. The officer rudely snapped that she had been given wrong information. The senior officer then used profanity in front of three small children, aggressively telling her to ("get her shit and get the fuck out!") in that manner or use profanity, the officer went from hostile to furious. He angrily declared that these were official violations and threatened that he could be issuing us tickets instead. Desperately searching for anything and everything to throw at us, he demanded that we turn off our idling car—which was supplying power to our campsite—and instructed us to make sure the campfire was doused before shutting down for the night. He then proceeded to shine his flashlight into our private setup—including our canopy, tents, and the inside of our trailer—searching for any other possible violation while the two polite officers were forced to watch. What was supposed to be a special 10th wedding anniversary celebration with my family was completely ruined by a senior officer misusing his authority to put on an unnecessary display of intimidation. Worse than just ruining our night, he spent that evening teaching those two police officers how to be bad cops. He corrupted two officers in real time, demonstrating firsthand exactly why most people have lost faith in the police force. The next day we was ready for them. We turned off our lights and quietly by the fire while they went next door to harass an asian family that had just set up camp and had their leds lights on.
Past reviews has mentioned that the office seems to be closed often, while I found that to be true I had no reason to contact anyone. This is definitely one of the cleanest quiets site I’ve ever visited
Definitely a wide variety of sites—look at the site pictures before booking—there are two areas where it’s just an open field with bonfires and picnic tables that I’d avoid. I could see a large group going there or something but personally it doesn’t offer any privacy.
BUT if you book one of the other sites that DOES have privacy you’ll be in camping heaven. The “hike in” sites are more like “walk-in,” I was worried at first but it’s some are as little as a few yards from the road. The most annoying part was lugging the cooler back and forth, but totally worth it
Booked the day before—even on the holiday weekend! Just 1.5 hours outside of NYC, site was a bit close to the neighbors (fire pit was very far back and basically in the neighbors’ campsite, but we put up a “privacy clothesline” and hung a tarp over it for a bit of extra coverage.
The staff was friendly and helpful, they said it was the busiest they’ve seen the campground all year (there were lots of large groups but everyone seemed to settle down by 9:30pm
Poison ivy was EVERYWHERE at our site so make sure to stick to the open areas and the paths. Lots of families around, we felt very safe Bathrooms were fine—it was my impression they’re usually cleaner but the high traffic of the weekend left a bit to be desired, (lots of families around=dirty diapers in the bathroom trash bin) but it’s camping! I’m not gonna argue w a flushing toilet!
This area seems to be devoid of campgrounds except for this one. It’s basically just a large parking lot with hook ups. Completely open, which is great for Starlink. Bathrooms were slightly above average; fairly clean and places to hang clothes for your shower. Has a laundry but be sure to bring quarters. It is about 100 yards from the interstate so you’ll get a lot of noise and diesel exhaust fumes.
No hookups. It was wooded, quiet and dark at night. I used the dump station on my way out. The first time I ever saw a poop fountain. The sewer opening sticks up above ground level. The cover swivels away, so I couldn't put it on top of my hose. And then, when I tried to rinse it, there was nowhere for it to go, because the inlet is elevated.
We reserved for a day. Very bad service. The river is super dirty and they did not even clean the trash cans. Besides, the fire ring has no grill cooking grate, so if you don’t bring your own NO GRILLING. Ryan was the person in front that took care of us, he was rude, my kids felt weird because he was not welcoming at all. Also, we try to ask for a partial refund since we did not felt comfortable since the beginning, and they said NO. We have experience camping, but this one was simply THE WORST. We lost the money but we won’t put our kids in a difficult situation. Thanks.
Camping in the Hudson Highlands region near Nyack provides diverse topography with elevations ranging from 100 to 1,400 feet. The area's climate features warm summers with average temperatures of 82°F in July and cooler falls with temperatures dropping to around 55°F in October. Tick activity increases in warmer months, requiring appropriate repellent and regular checks when hiking with dogs.
Swimming access: Sebago Cabin Camp in Harriman State Park offers lake swimming with a dedicated beach area. "The cabins are 'rustic' - but there's what you need: cots, electricity, a fridge. Ignore the hotplate and just cook on a fire or other outdoor set up. Don't expect to swim on site - go to Lake Welch nearby," shares Katharine T.
Disk golf courses: Campgaw Mountain Reservation provides free camping with access to on-site disk golf courses. This budget-friendly option includes toilets and water hookups for campers.
Wildlife viewing: Beaver Pond Campground provides opportunities to observe local wildlife. "Deer running everywhere and surprisingly beautiful and quaint. Free Hot showers in the bathrooms, with plenty of room to change," notes Megan B.
Waterfront activities: Croton Point Park offers a private beach with seasonal lifeguards. "Short 5 minute drive to nearby supermarket to pick up food or firewood. I would highly recommend it. Oh...and did i say, gorgeous scenery along the river and a private beach which is opened from Wednesday to the weekend with life guards on duty," reports Anil S.
Platform tent sites: Clarence Fahnestock State Park offers elevated camping platforms that provide comfort during wet conditions. "Many of the camping options were on platforms which is especially nice if it recently rained or if you are expecting rain during your stay," explains Ethan K.
Quiet weekday stays: Less crowded conditions and quieter surroundings are available midweek. "Ranger said that during summer weekends the grounds fill up and can be quite noisy, but mid-week during the off-season it was great," shares Rebecca S.
Year-round availability: Ward Pound Ridge Reservation stays open throughout all seasons. "They have great sights and are open all year round. I've stayed in hammocks, tents, lean-tos, and even did a good share of car camping," explains Paul R.
Lean-to options: Several campgrounds offer lean-to structures for a different camping experience. "The shelter sites are large and private with access to hiking trails and make for a unique experience. The staff is friendly as well," writes Jeremy S.
Pet policies vary: Most dog friendly campgrounds near Nyack require leashing pets at all times. "All sites had a standard picnic table and fire ring. Although no site offers electric or water hook up, camp amenities include: a moderately stocked store, public bath houses, a laundry facility, playground for the kids and camp-sinks with access to water," notes Steve W.
Booking requirements: Some campgrounds require in-person reservations. "There is no phone or internet reservations and has to be made in person at the office. I would recommend call earlier and come in few minutes earlier to 9 am when the office opens to find the best spots," advises Anil S.
Noise levels: Campgrounds closer to urban areas may experience more noise, especially on weekends. "The site was very loud (dance music) until after 11pm. Quiet time at 10pm. Great site for a party, try to stay away from this end of the site or choose a site away from other bookings if you'd like quiet," suggests Jonathan C.
Wildlife precautions: West Point FMWR Round Pond Outdoor Recreation Area and other campgrounds require proper food storage. "The wildlife do roam around your campsite so be mindful of putting food and garbage away before sleeping," warns Kelvin.
Playground access: Several pet-friendly campgrounds include playground facilities. "Short distance from the NYC, very organized, clean pond, has a playground, showers, bathroom. Your phone will have signal," mentions Zorina N.
Off-season beach access: Some beaches remain open to campers after the public season ends. "The beach is closed after Labor Day to the public, but open to people staying at the campsite. Clean and beautiful," notes Courtney D.
First-time camper friendly: The area accommodates those new to outdoor overnight experiences. "I took my 5 year old-son and wife, all of us first time campers. this place was great. The site was very nice, all the people friendly and area beautiful," says Kevin G.
Seasonal activities: Fall camping provides distinctive experiences in the region. "We came in October to celebrate Halloween in sleepy hollow! This is a great campsite and reasonably priced. Was close to bear mountains state part and the train station is right there!" reports Wendy C.
Limited full hookup options: Few campgrounds offer complete RV connections. "We had a loosely defined gravel pad that was level. All sites appeared level. The FHU sites were back-to-back and although there were trees separating the sites, they were close together," explains Lee D.
Site selection strategies: Liberty Harbor RV Park offers urban access with varying site privacy. "Pick one of the larger end row sites to get a little extra elbow room. If it's packed, your neighbor with be within inches of your rig," advises Keith and Tia S.
Generator restrictions: Most dog-friendly campgrounds near Nyack prohibit generator use. "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," shares Adaly.
Seasonal considerations: Spring access may limit water hookups or facility availability. "Unfortunately, due to our early start in the camping season the weather did not allow us to enjoy fishing or the beach or water hook ups, however all areas looked well maintained," notes Jacey H.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Nyack, NY?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Nyack, NY is Croton Point Park with a 3.7-star rating from 10 reviews.
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TheDyrt.com has all 60 dog-friendly camping locations near Nyack, NY, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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