Cabin camping near Palenville, New York offers diverse accommodation options within the Hudson Valley region, approximately 100 miles north of New York City at elevations ranging from 500-1,500 feet. The area experiences distinct seasons with summer temperatures averaging 75-85°F and winter temperatures often dropping below freezing, making season selection crucial for planning yurt or cabin stays.
What to do
Hiking to waterfalls: Access Bash Bish Falls with a short hike from Copake Falls Area — Taconic State Park, crossing state lines into Massachusetts. One camper noted, "Trails to Bash Bish Falls which is beautiful. It was low the first time we visited and we were able to make it to the top of the falls to go swimming and the views were incredible."
Farm animal interactions: Brookside Campground features a small farm where children can observe various animals. A visitor shared, "Small farm right next to our site, goats, cow chickens, ducks, geese."
Swimming options: Lake Taghkanic State Park Campground provides a clean swimming beach with two lifeguarded areas. A camper mentioned, "The lake is beautiful and clean. Expect to pay $15 fee (I think) to use your paddleboards/kayaks etc. Worth every penny."
What campers like
Platform tent sites: Many campgrounds offer raised wooden platforms that keep tents dry during rain. At Taconic State Park, one camper explained, "The platforms kept us off the ground and were helpful in setting up appropriate tarp protection!"
Winter yurt camping options: Whispering Timbers Glamping maintains yurt accommodations year-round near Palenville, offering electric hookups, fire rings, picnic tables, and access to showers and toilets.
Clean bathroom facilities: Several campers praised the bathroom maintenance at Lake Taghkanic State Park Campground, with one noting, "Showers are hot and there's great water pressure. The cleanliness of the bathrooms depends on how busy the campground is."
Recreation halls: During inclement weather, camp recreation facilities provide indoor activities. A camper at Lake Taghkanic mentioned, "Clean facilities, with a rec room for rainy days. A camp store with all the supplies you might have forgotten."
What you should know
Site selection importance: Some campgrounds have significant variation between sites. At Blue Mountain Campground, a camper warned, "The tent site are very richly and uneven, it was very hard to pitch a tent. When it rains theres a horrible smell across the campground."
Seasonal water levels: Stream and waterfall conditions vary significantly by season. In Taconic State Park, one visitor commented, "The brook that the campground is named after is mostly stagnant. So prepare for an abundance of mosquitos!"
Occupancy patterns: Some campgrounds serve both recreational campers and long-term residents. One potential visitor at Brookside noted, "When we arrived we were surprised that this was mostly a trailer park. Call me picky, but I really prefer not to camp in an area where folks are living full time."
Weekend crowds: Proximity to NYC means weekends bring higher occupancy. A camper advised, "This was a truly great campground, but it's proximity to NYC draws large crowds on weekends."
Tips for camping with families
Age-appropriate activities: Jellystone Park Gardiner offers extensive family programming with activities for various age groups. A parent reported, "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."
Swimming depth options: Choose campgrounds with varied swimming areas for different skill levels. A visitor mentioned, "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."
Site location consideration: Select sites based on proximity to amenities versus noise levels. One family shared, "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."
Off-season school trips: For families with school-age children, consider weekday camping outside peak seasons. A camper noted, "We went on weekdays which is not crowded. Wal-Mart was 25 minutes from the campsite which make making meals lots simpler."
Tips from RVers
Leveling challenges: RVers should prepare for uneven terrain at some campgrounds. At Thousand Trails Rondout Valley, a camper mentioned, "Our site was up front and we didn't venture into the park. Our site was even and easy to level on."
Sewer connection issues: Check the position of sewer connections before setting up. One RVer noted, "The sewer connection in 372 ran uphill for me, but my pipe sits very low."
Satellite internet variability: Signal reception varies by site location and surrounding trees. A camper reported, "The only problem I had was that my Starlink didn't work at the first site (372 - full hookup) but they let me choose another site (435 - no sewer) and I was happy as a clam."
Service options: Some campgrounds offer waste collection without moving your RV. One camper explained, "Dump stations if need and a service to come to your rig to collect waste if you don't want to move it."
