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The Catskill Mountains surrounding Palenville, New York provide a range of camping options from developed campgrounds to dispersed sites. North-South Lake Campground, one of the largest and most popular facilities in the area, offers spacious tent and RV sites with access to two lakes and numerous hiking trails. Several other established campgrounds dot the region, including Devil's Tombstone Campground, Woodland Valley Campground, and Rip Van Winkle Campgrounds, which also offers cabin accommodations. Echo Lake represents one of the few dispersed camping opportunities, accessible only by hiking trail.
Most campgrounds in the Catskills operate seasonally, typically from mid-May through mid-October, with North-South Lake and others closing by late October. Many sites require advance reservations, particularly for summer weekends and fall foliage season. The region has active black bear populations, requiring proper food storage and waste management at all camping areas. Cell service is limited or non-existent throughout much of the camping region, particularly at North-South Lake. A camper noted, "There is NO cell service and just forget about WiFi. You are unplugged."
Waterfront camping spots at North-South Lake command particular attention from visitors seeking recreation opportunities. The campground provides beach access, kayak rentals, and swimming during peak season when lifeguards are present. Proximity to notable hiking destinations represents another major draw, with trails to Kaaterskill Falls, Mountain House site, and Newman's Ledge accessible directly from some campgrounds. Several visitors mentioned the family-friendly atmosphere at many campgrounds, with one review highlighting that "This is a great spot for young kids" despite the strict enforcement of quiet hours from 10pm to 7am. Tent campers particularly appreciate the shaded, private sites available throughout the region's campgrounds, though some note that RV sites with hookups can be more limited and closer together.
"Our first campground was in New York Aug 8th. Unfortunately, Debbie was socking New York hard. North South Lake Campground in the Catskills was our camping home."
"This is a truly beautiful and scenic campground, easily one of the best places we have visited in New York State."
from $22 - $44 / night
Check Availability"You’ve got fishing either in 2 private lakes or you can fish in the river but to do the river you’ll need a New York State fishing license."
"I was a little skeptical that we wouldn’t get to choose our site, but you can’t go wrong, they are all wooded, private and well situated. The campground is centrally located you many things to do."
"This campground is nestled in the Catskills, New York, with easy access to New Jersey and Connecticut."
"Access to fresh water spouts and clean bathrooms were just a walk away from most sites, theres a beautiful pond on site and beautiful views of the Catskills, Woodstock is a 15 min drive if you’re looking"
from $22 / night
Check Availability"this is close by to many catskill hiking trails"
"It was close to trails and town"
from $16 / night
Check Availability"From it bathrooms to its pool to its general store , playground , basketball courts , bocceball, 7 acre lake and 2 miles of walkable runable paths , Ted & Angela do a fantastic job of keeping the place"
"It had a little arcade, a nice lake, and playground."
from $33 - $113 / night
Check Availability"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."
"Close to Woodstock, NY, many trails and other attractions. You need to plan for it, there's a lot to explore; some trails are challenging. "
from $20 / night
Check Availability"The bathroom and bathhouse were a bit run down looking from the outside, but inside they were updated and clean."
"I went here with my friend and we were using it as our base camp as we went out in trails in the eastern Catskills notably the Devils Path, echo lake, etc."
"Nice little campground with lake sites. The Northville Placed Trail comes out in this campground. The showers were clean and plenty of pressure."
"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."
"We decided on Lake Taghkanic. Lake Taghkanic State Park was not a long drive from NYC, maybe 2 hours. The campsite was very clean and maintained."
from $17 - $195 / night
Check Availability"There are tent sites around the whole lake with fire pits and 1 lean-to site at the end of the trail when you first arrive at the lake. The sites are relatively flat and well shaded with trees. "
"Lake is surrounded by hills and there is a small lean two with a few campfire spots."
RangerWhat an amazing find! This was a perfect location for the first 2 days of our vacation. Steve and Michelle were incredibly accommodating and wonderful hosts! We truly enjoyed our stay and will definitely return!
ScoutThis is a very pleasant campground just a couple of miles off the interstate. The staff is very friendly and helpful. Full hookups at most sites. Many amenities available. A very quiet setting to rest and repose. Highly recommended!
GuideWe were in campsite 20 with lots of room. The first night we were there we were near very loud groups which was difficult to sleep through. The next night everyone cleared out and we had a peaceful crowd. Bathrooms are nice, the park has great hiking trails and a nice day use area! There is also an area where we can rent canoes. I would definitely return, just wish there was a little more crowd control.
TravelerIt’s super cute here, there’s a rec room for older kids and playground for younger kids. It’s a short walk to a fishing spot and it’s very clean. Our site had a plug, there’s a laundry machine on site and the owner is super sweet.
ScoutWe really loved this spot- it was relaxing to listen to the sounds of the creek and not having any camping neighbors. The night sky was filled with stars and we even saw a rocket. I also appreciated having an outhouse on site- i would say the only downside was having to take our bag of poop+pee out with us when we left (site rules). The only other thing that was bothersome was being told that wood is provided at the site and then not realizing until after we got there that we would have to Venmo the owner $10 per bundle (I don’t mind paying, just wouldn’t been nice to know ahead of time that it wasn’t included in the price). I recommend this site for anyone who enjoys privacy and doesn’t mind a detox from WiFi.
ScoutThis campground will not respond to phone calls, email or facebook. It appears no one in charge
ScoutThe RV camp site was spread further apart from the other sites. It felt like you were in a secluded spot all by yourself. The camp staff were very helpful, campfire wood was a phone away and promptly delivered to your site. Nice variety of merchandise for sale. I love a souvenir from the places I visit. Although, it rained 2 of the days, it allowed some quiet time away.
ScoutRip Van Winkle Campground
Catskills NY
The Good:
1. The location
2. The actual campground itself. There are roomy sites with trees.
The Bad:
1. If you are lucky enough to get an assigned campsite away from the busy road, it is a HALF MILE walk to the only showers in the ENTIRE campground. They have nearly 200 campsites and ONE set of showers.
2. The speed bumps are beyond ridiculous. Two humpers and high as Bob Marley.
3. If you call the office for help (our electrical post was out) they record you without your knowledge.
The Ugly:
1. The campground lost power on my electrical post and tried to blame ME for it. I own a Bulldog surge protector, yeah, so it wasn't me. How it was handled was unbelievable. I have never been treated so rudely. A simple apology would have gone a long way.
ScoutWe stay at a lot of Jellystone parks so have become accustomed to the park layouts and activities. This one was well maintained with clean facilities. Some things like the mini golf and fire pits needed maintenance. The pools were nice but get very busy later in the day. The sites up on the hills are nice but beware, it’s a hill! There is little to no WiFi or cell service or it gets easily bogged down, so be ready for that. Food was basic but good. Some activities like bingo were a bit chaotic and there were a lot of ground hornets around the jumping pillows. Would totally go again.
Dispersed camping options near Palenville, New York are primarily found at Echo Lake, requiring a hike-in approach through the eastern Catskills. The area sits at elevations ranging from 700 to 3,500 feet across the region, with summer temperatures typically 10-15 degrees cooler than nearby urban areas. Tent camping dominates the region with platforms available at select campgrounds like Lake Taghkanic State Park, which offers "platforms great for groups and inclement weather."
Fishing the waters: Echo Lake provides primitive camping combined with fishing opportunities. A camper noted: "Lake is surrounded by hills and there is a small lean two with a few campfire spots. Other campsites are scattered and require navigating through small overgrown trails (wear pants)."
Swimming at established campgrounds: Swimming remains a popular activity at Kenneth L. Wilson Campground with its designated lake area. A visitor mentioned: "They have a lake on site with swimming. We had a great time and definitely seemed family friendly. Great price and lots of good hiking near!"
Hiking nearby mountains: Access numerous trails from Devil's Tombstone Campground, which serves as a gateway to Catskills hiking. One visitor commented: "This site is one of the oldest I've been to. This site has a lot of history and at night is very beautiful."
Wildlife observation: Watch for local fauna in designated camping areas. At Kenneth L. Wilson Campground, one camper had an unexpected encounter: "It was the wildest weekend I ever had, I'm not being sarcastic. The hiking areas are great, the weather is perfect and the bear was very nice for a bear."
Privacy at forested sites: Tent campers appreciate secluded spots at Woodland Valley Campground where creekside sites provide natural sound barriers. A camper reported: "We got rained out. but it was still an awesome campground. private and just secluded enough. everyone was friendly. water to play in right behind tent."
Creek access for cooling off: Water features enhance camping experiences during summer months. At Woodland Valley, one visitor shared: "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!"
Digital disconnection: Many campgrounds offer limited connectivity. A Kenneth L. Wilson camper noted: "No cell service in the campground," while another at Woodland Valley appreciated that there's "no mobile signal, but that's the point, isn't it? You get to disconnect from it all for a while."
Rustic amenities: Lake Taghkanic State Park provides more developed facilities. A visitor commented: "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."
Seasonal operation: Most camping sites near Palenville, New York close by mid-October, with Lake Taghkanic open "May 6 to October 15" according to their listing.
Varying amenity levels: Facilities range from primitive to developed. At Whip O Will Campsites, amenities include: "Extremely nice staff, even helped us check in late. Campground has lots to do with a rec center, playground, and pool. There's a great view of a lake and surrounding hills."
Weather preparedness: Mountain weather can change rapidly. A Whip O Will visitor reported: "We forgot to check the weather, and came in right before a thunderstorm. After the storm, the staff came out to check on us individually to make sure we were okay!"
Site selection considerations: At Devil's Tombstone, a visitor warned: "Don't understand how anyone would like to camp here... Small sites 10ft off main road." Another noted: "Most of the sites are gravel so being extra pad for the tent."
Pool access for kids: Rip Van Winkle Campgrounds provides dedicated swimming facilities. A visitor reported: "Amazing campground with perfectly spaced large sites. There's a few playgrounds a great pool and a lot of amenities can't wait to go back."
Youth activities: Organized programming keeps children engaged. At Rip Van Winkle, a camper noted: "We don't have kids, but they seemed to offer a lot of programming for them. We enjoyed taking long walks through the campground."
Educational opportunities: Lake Taghkanic offers natural learning environments. A repeat visitor shared: "My school friends decided on a camping trip since 1970's. We decided on Lake Taghkanic. The park offered many activities or just sit around the campsite drinking beers and reminiscing our youth days."
Rainy day options: Some campgrounds provide indoor facilities when weather doesn't cooperate. A Lake Taghkanic visitor mentioned: "Clean facilities, with a rec room for rainy days. A camp store with all the supplies you might have forgotten."
Hookup availability: Full-service sites exist but may require advance booking. At Rip Van Winkle, a camper mentioned: "Very easy to level and setup on #7. Full connections. Pay showers and laundry onsite. Loved having gated security."
Site privacy factors: RV sites vary in seclusion levels. A Rip Van Winkle visitor noted: "Wooded and private with full hook ups! Rip Van Winkle is a beautiful campground, it's well run, well maintained, and has a lot to do!"
Security considerations: Some campgrounds offer additional safety features. At Rip Van Winkle, one RVer appreciated: "We left our rig to take the train (about 1 hr away in Poukeepsie) into the city for the weekend and we had no problems."
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best camping options near Palenville, NY?
Palenville offers excellent camping options in the heart of the Catskills. North-South Lake Campground is one of the largest public campgrounds in the area with well-spaced sites perfect for families, featuring a huge lake and an ice cream truck that visits during summer evenings. For a unique experience, Treetopia Campground provides a mix of RV sites, yurts, and custom accommodations for a special glamping experience. Other notable options include Rip Van Winkle Campgrounds with private lakes for fishing, and Devil's Tombstone for a more rustic experience. Most campgrounds in the area offer fire rings and picnic tables at each site.
When is the best season to camp in Palenville?
Late spring through early fall offers the best camping experience in Palenville, with summer being the peak season. For fewer crowds, consider camping in May or September. Phoenicia Black Bear Campground is ideally situated for various activities throughout the warmer months, with their creek-front sites being particularly popular. Spacious Skies Woodland Hills can provide a wonderful experience even in early May, before the summer crowds arrive. Weather can be unpredictable, as seen with occasional storms, so check forecasts before your trip. Avoid holiday weekends if possible, as campgrounds like North-South Lake tend to get crowded during these times.
What hiking trails are accessible from Palenville campgrounds?
The Palenville area is a hiker's paradise with numerous trails accessible from nearby campgrounds. Little Pond Campground provides access to wonderful, challenging, and relatively uncrowded hiking trails while also being close to Catskill town options like Livingston Manor. Devil's Tombstone Campground serves as an excellent base for exploring trails in the Hunter-West Kill Wilderness. The region offers everything from gentle nature walks around lakes to challenging mountain ascents with spectacular views of the Catskills. Many trails connect to the extensive network of paths in the Catskill Forest Preserve, providing options for day hikes or longer backpacking adventures.
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