RV camping near Pelham, New York offers access to both natural settings and urban amenities with campsites within 30-60 minutes of the metropolitan area. The terrain varies from forested state parks in the Hudson River Valley to more developed private RV parks near urbanized areas. Winter camping is available at select locations like Croton Point Park, which maintains year-round operations with 30-amp electric hookups.
What to Do
Hiking at Harriman State Park: Access numerous trails directly from Beaver Pond Campground, which connects to miles of pathways including portions of the Appalachian Trail. "Great location and quick to get to from NYC. 45 minute drive and location has a lot of amenities. Full bathrooms and slop sinks throughout the campsite. Hike trails are all over the place and the lake is nearby," noted a camper.
Swimming at Clarence Fahnestock: The park features a beach area on Canopus Lake with boat rentals available during summer months. "They have a nice open beach on Canopus Lake with a concession area and bathhouse, which we found to be quite clean! They even have boat rentals - or you can bring your own boat to launch!" shared one visitor.
Fishing opportunities: Multiple water bodies at Clarence Fahnestock State Park provide fishing access. "If you are into fishing, there is another lake and two ponds that our neighbor campers said were great for catching panfish - one fisherman said he had caught several bass weighing over 3 pounds!!"
What Campers Like
Privacy between sites: At Mahlon Dickerson Reservation, sites are well-spaced and designed for solitude. "The campsites are paved and mostly level. They are wooded and large. Water and electric hookups and a dump station. Convenient for hiking and exploring," reported one camper.
Wildlife viewing: Mahlon Dickerson Reservation offers chances to see local fauna. "The site is surrounded by forest, and is at the top of a small ridge above Pelton Pond, so there was a pretty consistent breeze (few bugs!) and the soft sounds of bullfrogs at night," noted a visitor.
Off-season tranquility: Campgrounds are less crowded outside summer months. "The beach is closed after Labor Day to the public, but open to people staying at the campsite. Clean and beautiful," reports a camper about fall visits to Fahnestock.
What You Should Know
Bear activity: Wildlife precautions are necessary at several parks near Pelham. "Welcome to Bear Mountain" grumbles the park ranger as he sits in complete darkness! He is in his ranger hut, checking in the late evening arrivals to the campground... He offers us a highlighted map to our site, wishes us a good stay, and gives us the run down on bear activity in the area," explained a camper at Beaver Pond Campground.
Train noise at some locations: Croton Point Park experiences occasional railroad sounds. "Only down side is there is a train depot right outside and you can hear them shunting trains all night," mentioned one reviewer.
Site variations at same campground: At Fahnestock State Park, site quality differs significantly. "All sites were so different. There was a storm the night before our arrival date, all campers were evacuated and they did a fantastic job clearing all the debris and downed trees before our arrival. The camp areas were secluded if you wanted more private camping (also super unique layouts)."
Tips for Camping with Families
Playground access: Pleasant Acres Farm RV Resort offers children's activities. "Lots of seasonals and lots of cabins, many RV sites I think all with full hookups. A bit pricey. Plenty to occupy the kids. Playground, hayride, animals to feed (goats, chickens, donkey and pony)."
Animal interactions: Farm animals provide entertainment for children. "The farm has goats, a donkey, and a pony within the campground. Very cool. Weekend was busy as usual but during the week it seems to be seasonal that stay," noted a visitor.
Weekday visits recommended: Many campgrounds are quieter mid-week. "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," according to a Beaver Pond camper.
Tips from RVers
Site selection strategy: At Black Bear RV Park, certain sites provide more advantages. "Have stayed here several times - great location and nice, full hook-up sites. Back-in and pull through sites and can accommodate large rigs. A little expensive but everything is included."
Transportation planning: Skyline RV Camp offers proximity to public transit. "It's essentially a spacious parking lot with electrical pedestals but the view of the skyline across the water is spectacular and there's a metro station within a 10-minute walk. The area feels safe and is pedestrian friendly, even at night."
Winterizing considerations: When visiting during colder months, verify amenities. "We are returning to the south after spending a couple months of fall in New England. This was our first stop and primarily chosen because it was one of the few places along our route that was open for RVs in the off season. Unfortunately at this site, the heated water pipe was broken so we had no water for the night."
