128 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
State parks and forests surrounding Peekskill, New York feature campgrounds ranging from waterfront tent and RV sites to primitive backcountry options, all within an hour's drive of the city. Harriman State Park's Beaver Pond Campground, located about 20 miles west of Peekskill, offers tent and RV sites with amenities including picnic tables, fire rings, and access to Lake Welch for swimming and fishing. Clarence Fahnestock State Park Campground, situated northeast of Peekskill, provides both drive-in and hike-in sites operational from April through early December. Croton Point Park, just south along the Hudson River, maintains year-round camping with tent, RV, and cabin options. Peekskill campgrounds provide excellent access to the natural beauty of the Hudson Valley, with options ranging from waterfront sites to forested retreats. The region also includes primitive backcountry sites along the Appalachian Trail corridor and more developed facilities at Ward Pound Ridge Reservation, which operates throughout the year.
Campground reservations are essential during summer weekends when facilities often reach capacity. According to campers at Fahnestock State Park, "Weekends this park is FULL! Make sure to reserve at least two weeks out. Weekdays? You should be in luck!" Most established campgrounds in the area provide basic amenities like picnic tables, fire rings, and access to restrooms, though amenity quality varies by location. Wildlife considerations include proper food storage, as bears are present in the Harriman State Park area. One camper noted, "Never keep food or anything with scent inside tents because bears come for food. Store everything in your car." The camping season generally runs April through October for most facilities, though some sites remain open year-round with reduced services during winter months.
Lakeside and riverside sites receive particular praise from visitors to the area. At Croton Point Park, campers highlight "gorgeous scenery along the river and a private beach which is opened from Wednesday to the weekend with lifeguards on duty." Many campgrounds feature hiking trail access, with Harriman State Park offering connections to the Appalachian Trail and numerous day hiking options. Site privacy varies considerably across the region, with some campers noting proximity issues at busier locations. One Beaver Pond visitor observed, "The campsites are a bit close to one another, but if you have a big group you can book several sites near each other." For those seeking quieter experiences, campers recommend requesting sites further from main roads and choosing weekday visits when possible.
"15 dolares la noche para los que viven en el Estado de New York o New York city .. si es fuera del estado son $5 dolares mas!!"
"Drive-in tent campgrounds. Adequate restroom facilities sprinkled amongst tent sites. Some campsites have raised platforms. All sites have picnic tables and fire ring with flip-top grill."
from $21 - $24 / night
Check Availability"When you are camping with a large group of friends and don't all have access to a car, this is the perfect spot."
"We were right next to the entrance for hiking trails which was convenient. The facilities are a bit of a walk, but that means it is spread out and there's plenty of room to relax and have fun."
from $21 / night
Check Availability"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"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"This was beautiful campground with an even nicer lake. You are able to do a hike around the lake."
"Great trails to hike for novices looking to branch out but not too large that you'll be lost forever lol highly recommend and can't do so enough 👍🏽"
"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."
"The shelter sites are large and private with access to hiking trails and make for a unique experience. The staff is friendly as well"
from $45 - $55 / night
Check Availability"It is a step up from cabin camping. They also have a beach behind it."
"This place is only an hour away from NYC with so much to do and see. These cabins are VERY rustic, four walls, a cot, and a fridge."
from $74 - $130 / night
Check Availability"Suffern-Bear Mountain from Gate Hill Road is a high difficulty 15 mile out and back trail. At one point of the trail is a very difficult, but doable, rock scramble up the side of the mountain."
"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"With a new check in area, Gardiner has really stepped up. They expanded the pool area to include another pool plus splash area and water slides."
"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."
ScoutThis is not the place to come if what you are looking for is a nice quiet, peaceful nature retreat. The "full shade" sites really aren't, it's crowded with kids yelling and running everywhere, and honestly, you're better off camping in your backyard.
RangerThis is an A.T. shelter and campsite. First come, first served. Privy was nice. Flat tentsites for 6 or more. Good for Hammocking also.
LegendExcellent campground! The forest is beautiful, the Hudson River is super close, there are great trails, and the surrounding area is beautiful. Sites are electric only, so make sure your water pump is working and fresh water tank is full. There are spigots for filling and a nice dump station. The player is excellent. I don't think tetn camping here would be great because the tent sites are closer together and there are trains that pass regularly. We couldn't hear the trains in our camper and our site was large and private with great Forest and hammock trees. The mansion tours at Vanderbilt and Mills were awesome!
ScoutThe main issue with the sites was that they were primitive -- no water. The campsites were basically just wooden platforms, with a picnic table and fire pit. There were also a lot of bugs, though this may be due to the rain. The location itself was fairly pretty and there were a number of hiking trails of not-overly-serious difficulty. The particular site we picked left is a little farther from our car than we would have liked, but for other sites you can bring your car closer.
TravelerThe campground was closed in 2024 for renovations. It is now open. I did a tour of the campgrounds but did not stay there. FYI, generators are NOT allowed at all at this campground. I did not see electric or water hookups. There are three loops. Each has it pros/cons. Sites 30-33 are near the bathroom facilities, sites 34-50 are more secluded, sites 52-65 are closer to the lake.
GuideThe park was open but camping was not. After a little extra digging they do have a few sites, but hike in only.
GuideTall pines, the sound of the mighty housatonic river, and some car noise on the nearby 2 lane. The campground is landscaped and maintained beautifully. the highlight is the river, ever-present in sound. The primo sites are on the northern end , where most sites are right on the water, and just a small descent. Bathrooms are good, not great. Showers are push button automatic, water was warm. We have a small RV, the dump site is up the main road about a 1/2 mile in a turnout. Free for campers, on your honor. At office were college aged young men and women in very casual street clothes all very nice, and mannerly, but not very knowledgeable, and hard to believe they could handle an adverse situation. I asked for the soap to be filled in the mens room on Thursday afternoon at 4 and it was still not done at noon the next day. -it’s a 2 minute walk from the office. I asked about a hike, they told me a trail head was a mile up the road. We found a spur directly across the street. I miss real docents, with knowledge, and wearing the garb. All sites not directly on the river side have paths down to get there. Did a nice little moderate hike just across the street called Pine Knob. Nice vista, quick 760ft ascent, combines withe AT for a length, then back down total 3 miles the way we did it. Some nice restaurants in Kent. Found a good breakfast in Goshen. We’ll be going back.
TravelerWe’re here for the Rock, Ribs, and Ridges festival and what a great experience! Make sure to bring a 50’ power cord as the hook ups are grouped together on telephone poles rather than at each individual site. As far as I know camping is only available during select events.
TravelerNot an NPS location as was described. Now a campsite and canoe rental at $77 a night
The camping areas surrounding Peekskill, New York span across nearly 46,000 acres of forested land within the Hudson Highlands region. Most campgrounds in this area sit at elevations between 200-1,300 feet, creating varied microclimates that typically remain 5-10 degrees cooler than New York City during summer months. Primitive camping along the Appalachian Trail corridor requires campers to follow strict 'pack it in, pack it out' protocols, with no trash receptacles available at most backcountry sites.
Swimming at Lake Welch: Harriman State Park offers swimming at Lake Welch beach with lifeguard supervision during summer months. A camper at Beaver Pond Campground noted, "The grounds are just steps away from Welch Lake, offering a lifeguard monitored sandy beach which is open during the summer season for swimming, fishing, and small boat craft further out."
Hiking the Appalachian Trail: Multiple trailheads within a 20-minute drive of Peekskill connect to the historic Appalachian Trail. According to a visitor at The Stephen & Betsy Corman AMC Harriman Outdoor Center, "Great trails to hike for novices looking to branch out but not too large that you'll be lost forever."
Off-season lakeside access: Fall and spring visitors can enjoy private beach access at several campgrounds. One camper at Clarence Fahnestock State Park Campground mentioned, "The beach is closed after Labor Day to the public, but open to people staying at the campsite. Clean and beautiful."
Tent platforms: Many campsites in the region offer raised wooden platforms for tent setup. A camper at Beaver Pond Campground shared, "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."
Community amenities: Some campgrounds offer unexpected social features. A visitor to The Stephen & Betsy Corman AMC Harriman Outdoor Center highlighted, "One highlight was having meals cooked by the stellar chef. The lake is very peaceful, and home to beavers we watched from the dining hall patio."
Site variety: The region offers dramatic differences between individual campsites. A camper at Ward Pound Ridge Reservation explained, "I've been coming here for years. 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."
Military-only options: Some campgrounds in the region restrict access to military personnel. A visitor to West Point FMWR Round Pond Outdoor Recreation Area noted, "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."
Bathroom quality varies: Bathroom facilities range widely across campgrounds. At Clarence Fahnestock State Park, one camper reported, "Bathrooms and dishwashing... UGH. So old and dirty!!! The bath house really needed more attention... while it had clearly been painted this past year, it was very 'buggy' - and did not appear to have been thoroughly cleaned since spring."
Wildlife management practices: Some parks implement wildlife control measures that might impact visitor experience. A visitor at Clarence Fahnestock State Park shared, "We were told we didn't have to rush, but that the public needed to evacuate, so they wouldn't be present when the wildlife exterminator arrived."
Playground proximity: Several campgrounds feature playgrounds visible from campsites. At Croton Point Park, a family noted, "Peaceful and gorgeous campsite, with plenty of space between sites. Great view of the Hudson, and playground within sight of our camper."
Phone connectivity: Cell service varies significantly across campgrounds. A camper at Round Pond Recreation Area advised, "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."
Weekend crowding: Family-oriented campgrounds become significantly more crowded on weekends. A visitor at Clarence Fahnestock State Park warned, "Weekends - this park is FULL! Make sure to reserve at least two weeks out. Weekdays? You should be in luck!"
Limited hookup options: Full-hookup RV sites are limited in the region. A visitor to Croton Point Park explained, "A county park with a mix of w/e (6 sites) and FHU sites plus about a dozen tent sites near a capped dump! The FHU sites were back-to-back and although there were trees separating the sites, they were close together."
Off-grid camping requirements: Some campgrounds require self-sufficiency. A visitor to Croton Point Park noted, "This is an off-grid camping experience. You can use your generator at certain hours. Their staff is friendly. I love going here."
Site access challenges: Several campgrounds have specific parking arrangements. At the Stephen & Betsy Corman AMC Harriman Outdoor Center, a camper noted, "No RV and campers allowed. The parking for your car is 1/4 mile away but they allow you to unload and give you a wagon to take stuff to your site."
Frequently Asked Questions
What RV camping options are available near Peekskill?
For RV camping near Peekskill, Liberty Harbor RV Park offers a convenient option with easy access to public transit for NYC exploration. Though primarily designed for RVs with limited tent space, it features friendly staff and basic amenities. Another option is Croton Point Park, located directly on the Hudson River just south of Peekskill. This park provides RV sites with access to swimming, hiking, and kayaking opportunities. For those willing to drive a bit further, West Point FMWR Round Pond Outdoor Recreation Area offers big-rig-friendly sites with water and toilet facilities. Most RV campgrounds in the area require reservations, especially during peak summer months.
Where are the best campgrounds near Peekskill, NY?
The best campgrounds near Peekskill include Clarence Fahnestock State Park Campground, which features a beautiful beach on Canopus Lake with concessions and bathhouse facilities. Though busy on weekends, it offers a peaceful escape with various recreational activities. Beaver Pond Campground in Harriman State Park is another excellent option, offering affordable rates ($15/night for New York residents, slightly more for out-of-state visitors) and diverse camping areas. For a unique experience closer to Peekskill, The Stephen & Betsy Corman AMC Harriman Outdoor Center provides a mix of cabins and tent sites in a scenic setting. Most campgrounds in the region require reservations, especially during summer months, and offer amenities like water access, hiking trails, and toilet facilities.
Are there any primitive tent camping sites around Peekskill?
Yes, several primitive tent camping options exist near Peekskill. The Suffern-Bear Mountain from Gate Hill Road Primitive site offers free, hike-in tent camping for those seeking a more rugged experience. For a slightly more developed but still primitive option, Sam Pryor III Shawangunk Gateway Campground near Minnewaska State Park Preserve provides basic tent sites in a beautiful setting with access to the park's acidic lake (which is safe for swimming despite its unique chemistry). Ward Pound Ridge Reservation also offers primitive tent sites not far from Peekskill. These primitive sites typically have minimal amenities—expect vault toilets at best, and you'll need to bring your own water. Reservations are recommended, especially during peak season.
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