Beaver Pond Campground in Harriman State Park offers family-friendly camping experiences across multiple site types, including raised platforms especially useful during rainy conditions. The campground welcomes pets throughout its spacious, well-separated sites that provide campers with a sense of privacy despite being only 40 minutes north of New York City. Croton Point Park permits pets at both its tent sites and RV camping areas, with spacious grounds spread across a peninsula on the Hudson River. Many visitors appreciate the private feel of the tent camping section with dedicated picnic tables. Pet owners should note that raccoons are active at Croton Point, necessitating proper food storage in secure containers away from tents and tables. Both campgrounds maintain standard pet policies requiring leashes and proper waste disposal.
Harriman State Park provides extensive hiking opportunities on pet-friendly trails surrounding Beaver Pond Campground, with quick access to portions of the Appalachian Trail and historically significant paths dating to the Revolutionary period. Wildlife sightings are common, with deer frequently seen throughout the camping areas and warnings about bears posted at check-in. The proximity to Welch Lake gives dogs water access during appropriate seasons, though swimming is restricted to designated areas with lifeguards present. Croton Point's location along the Hudson offers scenic walking paths and beach access, with the campground situated on a scenic peninsula with river views. Both campgrounds maintain clean bathroom and shower facilities, though facilities at Croton Point can be limited with campers sometimes needing to walk significant distances to reach them. During summer weekends, both locations become quite busy, with most campers reporting a friendly, social atmosphere rather than isolated wilderness camping.
$17 - $20 / night
"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."
$17 / night
"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."
$30 - $60 / night
"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!"
$25 - $40 / night
"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."
$45 - $55 / night
"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."
$74 - $130 / night
"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."
$20 - $150 / night
"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. "
"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."
"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."
"Small dog park, communal spaces, and a camp store all made the place feel like a little village. They even have a wine store- cab sav was good. WiFi I work remotely and WiFi is always an issue."
"The staff was nice and they were dog friendly!"
$25 - $30 / night
"We have stayed here multiple times since it’s so close to home. Reservations are needed only for major holidays during camping season; Memorial Day, Fourth of July and Labor Day."
"The trails to walk on are perfect to get out of the campsite for a few hours. There are no spots with sewer hookup but they have a dumping area."
ScoutWe have enjoyed our stay. Nice campground with lots of activities and things to do. However, we picked this place because it has an enclosed dog park. It does have an enclosed dog park but the fence is only 3 feet high. While this might be fine for some dogs, I have 2 young border collies that will jump that fence like it is not even there.
GuideCamp Gateway in Brooklyn New York is one of my favorite places to visit. I went to college in New York, and loved to get out of the busy city and go camping and be outdoors. Camp Gateway was always a place that I loved to go. It is pretty close to town-which is crazy because you feel like you are miles away. Camp Gateway does offer a lot of different activities for everyone. One thing I love to do is go kayaking and stand up paddle boarding. My girlfriends and I tried to do this once a month to get away from the city and school. Because you are so close to the city, you can plan outdoor activities as well as some activities in the city. My friends and I stayed 1 night in the campground, and the next day went to a recital show that took us 10 minutes to get to. You can also walk, hike or ride your bike along multiple paths- I have done the Fort Tilden trail (I just walked, but there were multiple people that passed us on their bikes). Within the campground they do have some fire pits- which my friends and I always use because we love cooking smores and hot dogs for dinner. A little further away from the campground, about 10-15 miles there is a place where you can do horseback riding, see the Statue of Liberty (which is gorgeous!), and there is a little beach area. This beach area is where I do my kayaking and stand up paddle boarding. Again, its not very far away...you can either drive there, walk or ride your bike. The road is paved, which is nice. I stayed here also with my parents, and I know my dad went golfing one day (I didn't go, but he said it was awesome)- and again that was only a 10 minute drive from our camping spot. This campground like I said, does offer quite a bit. Sometimes it doesn't really feel like you are "camping" because things are pretty close by, but it definitely is worth going to and trying.
RangerVery 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. Shopping & restraunts are right next door. We brought scooters & had a great stay! Plus you can see the Statue of Liberty from there!
LegendWe tried this campground without knowing what was safe and where to stay for visit New York City. It is located in Brooklyn and is little removed from everything. The sites are at Floyd Bennett Field which is an old airfield. The atmosphere here is eerily cool at the same time. You basically park and camp on the asphalt by the old hangars. No hookups at all but they do have a camp store and bath house. If you are tent camping, there are some grassy sites.
The campground is located right on Jamaica Bay so there were people fishing all the time from the seawall. At night, you could hear cars doing burnouts right next to us. To get to all the action in the city, we had to take a bus and then the subway. The travel was a headache but better than trying to drive in to New York City in our RV. One way to improve here would be to have some security at night as well as access to clean water and dump station. They remained locked most of the time for some reason.
The best part of this place was the free tour of Hangar B by some guys doing restoration of old planes (HARP). They had some great stories and gave us history of the planes on display.
ScoutRecently, we camped here for a week. We don’t ever post negative reviews like this. The last day, we experienced a violent attack by a very large and aggressive Pit Bull. The Pit Bull did not have a collar or a leash and was accidently let out of the RV to roam free and unsupervised. It immediately ran to our site(4 sites away) and attacked our dog that was tied at the time. The incident was unprovoked. While trying to save our dog, my wife and I were also attacked. The wounds were serious enough to require emergency transport to a hospital for treatment including stitches. All we could think of was what might have happened if our granddaughter had been playing with our dog.
To put it mildly, their existing pet policy is grossly lacking. They never checked what breed of dog or ask to see documentation of shots when we were registering. Yogi Bear Jellystone Park needs to better manage their pet policy to address aggressive dog breeds and ensure the safety of campers. We camped there for seven days and saw multiple sites have more than one large dog, which in many places we’ve camped at would have been banned due to breed type or size. We have RV’ed extensively across the US and have never seen such careless enforcement of a pet policy regarding aggressive dog breeds. Seriously, think about avoiding this park if you have pets or small children.
TravelerGood for skinny dipping and other fun things! Most acidic lake in New York but completely safe.
TravelerSome things you should be aware of before booking: The office, playground, dog park, pool, laundry are located at the top of the hill. Camping spots are downhill, a good distance from the office and amenities. Trash is located off site in a pullout on the road you drive in on. There are 2 showers for women and 2 for men. Both are old and not well maintained or in our experience clean, either. In general the camping spots are not well maintained, weedy, un-level and picnic tables are weathered and warped. This resort campground is composed of mainly residents, the rules (we observed) apply to the overnight campers, not the residents. Children of the residents run free all day and past curfew in the evenings unsupervised. The setting is quiet, the views from the upper level are lovely. With some updating of bath facilities, cleaning and leveling of campsites, uniform enforcement of rules, Pleasant Acres could become a resort destination.
GuideThis place is kind of a toss up for me. On one hand, I enjoy it because it's a little slice of heaven in the hell of one of the busy areas of New York. I hate this place for the same reason. It's not really camping if you're going to see a play and then go tour the Statue of Liberty. It just doesn't seem right to me. If I HAVE to be in New York, maybe I'd consider staying here again just to get myself out of the city for a bit. But this definitely isn't your "great outdoors/rest and relaxation" kind of place.
ScoutThere is only a small place for tents. Mostly people go there with campers. Not your typical campground. Very easy to hop on transit to get to New York City. People were friendly.
Camping options near Peekskill position visitors within the Hudson Valley's terrain of rolling hills and forested landscapes, typically at elevations between 400-1,000 feet. The region experiences all four seasons distinctly, with camping season generally running from April through October when temperatures range from 50-85°F. Mid-week camping during off-season months often provides much quieter experiences with significantly reduced crowds compared to summer weekends.
Explore the Appalachian Trail connections: Access multiple trailheads from Clarence Fahnestock State Park, where hikers can connect to historic paths dating to the 1700s. "There is great hiking and a lake you can get to and swim in right from the campsite. If you are in to apple picking it is a short drive and it's easy to get into town to take the train to and from NYC," notes reviewer Asher K.
Visit nearby historic towns: Several campgrounds offer easy access to charming Hudson Valley communities. "MetroNorth takes you right into Cold Spring, a charming, quaint town with antique shops and beautiful views of the Hudson. From there, it is a short drive to the campgrounds," shares Robyn S., highlighting the day-trip potential of the area.
Fishing opportunities: Multiple parks in the region permit fishing with proper licenses. At Winding Hills Park, "There is a large lake to kayak and fish in. NO SWIMMING. The lake is a nice size and has a trail so you walk the entire length with benches around a good portion to sit and/or fish," explains Amanda B., who adds that "fishing license is required to fish here and they do come around to check licenses."
Off-peak camping experiences: Many campgrounds transform during less busy periods. "We stayed here on a Thursday night in September prior to taking off backpacking. The campground was clean and quiet. 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," reports Rebecca S. about Beaver Pond Campground.
Private sites with nature access: Ward Pound Ridge Reservation provides secluded spots for quieter camping. "The shelter sites are large and private with access to hiking trails and make for a unique experience," says Jeremy S., while Will L. adds, "stayed three nights and had an amazing time, super cozy by the fire in our shelter and our site was minutes from some amazing trails."
Beach and swimming areas: Several parks feature water access with seasonal lifeguards. At Lake Welch near Sebago Cabin Camp, visitors find "phenomenal swimming. 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," recommends Katharine T.
Reservation systems vary widely: Some campgrounds require advance booking while others operate first-come, first-served. At Winding Hills Park, "Reservations are needed only for major holidays during camping season; Memorial Day, Fourth of July and Labor Day. When not going on a holiday it is first come first serve spots which is good if you just need to spend one night here," explains Amanda B.
Cell service limitations: Connectivity varies significantly throughout the region. "Absolutely zero phone service (for T-Mobile) which was AMAZING," notes Sara P. about Sebago Cabins, while Amanda B. reports at Winding Hills Park, "we had horrible cell service (we have sprint). Could not make calls or use internet at campgrounds or the park."
Variable bathroom facilities: Quality and proximity of facilities differs between campgrounds. Laura E. describes Winding Hills Park: "Clean bath house, hot showers in a quiet and wooded campground. The water smells a little like sulfur, so you may want to bring your own." At Croton Point Park, "Only one or two bathrooms in the whole place so be prepared to go for a walk when you have to go," warns Isabel L.
Wildlife awareness with kids: Multiple dog-friendly campgrounds near Peekskill feature wildlife that children should be taught to respect from a distance. "Keep your food in the dry bag and away from the tent or benches provided or face the packs of fearless raccoons at night," warns Anil S. about Croton Point Park.
Off-season family visits: Many families find better experiences outside peak periods. "The beach is closed after Labor Day to the public, but open to people staying at the campsite. Clean and beautiful," shares Courtney D. about Clarence Fahnestock State Park.
Multiple campground amenities: Jellystone Park Gardiner provides extensive activities for families. "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 there they have lasertag which they enjoy. And a bounce pillow," describes Amanda S.
Site selection matters: Many campgrounds offer varied RV site options. At the New York City North-Newburgh KOA, "I would suggest one of the pull through sites. Specifically 138, 146 and 145 have a nice concrete patio and nicer firepit if you want to spend a little more. Also be cautious of the 'R' and 'S' sites...its just a large gravel parking area with little to no shade," advises April L.
Limited hookup options: Only certain dog-friendly campgrounds near Peekskill offer full hookups. At Winding Hills Park, "There are no spots with sewer hookup but they have a dumping area," notes Valen K., while Laura M. adds, "Dump and potable water fill available here. Dump is kept locked, but there's a number to call and staff will come unlock for you. Water spigots available throughout campground."
RV accessibility considerations: Campground roads and site access vary in quality. Chelsea B. describes Newburgh KOA: "Great campsites, wooded and cozy, though a little tight for longer rigs as our neighbors found out when they ran over a wooden post backing in. But spaced apart nicely with lots of vegetation between. Nice and level."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Peekskill, NY?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Peekskill, NY is New York City North/Newburgh KOA with a 4.2-star rating from 40 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Peekskill, NY?
TheDyrt.com has all 91 dog-friendly camping locations near Peekskill, NY, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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