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Tent Camping near Pine Plains, NY

1 campground with availability this weekend

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    Public lands surrounding Pine Plains, New York offer diverse tent camping options within the Taconic Mountains and Hudson Valley region. Rustic Lean-To provides tent campers with basic amenities including drinking water, fire pits, and toilets just a few miles from Pine Plains. For more secluded backcountry tent camping, Echo Lake in the Catskills features tent sites circling the water with fire pits and a lean-to shelter. The Appalachian Trail corridor, approximately 20 miles east of Pine Plains, provides primitive tent camping at Brassie Brook Shelter and Riga Lean-To in Connecticut.

    Most tent-only sites in the region feature natural, ungraded surfaces that may be uneven or rocky. Bear boxes are available at several backcountry locations including Alander Trail Campground in Mount Washington State Forest, where campers must hike 1.5-2 miles to reach tent sites. Portable toilets or vault toilets are present at most established campgrounds but absent at dispersed sites. Campers should be prepared for variable weather conditions, especially at higher elevations where temperatures can drop significantly at night even in summer. Fire regulations vary by location, with some areas like Samuel F. Pryor III Shawangunk Gateway Campground offering only communal fire pits rather than individual site fire rings.

    Tent campers frequently note the privacy and natural setting as highlights of their experience. According to reviews, Echo Lake sites are "relatively flat and well shaded with trees" though they "can get swampy near the edge of the lake." At Alander Trail Campground, one visitor reported that "each site offers quite a bit of privacy" and the area "isn't too busy since most people don't like having to carry all their stuff in that far." Walk-in tent sites at Samuel F. Pryor III Shawangunk Gateway Campground are particularly valued by campers seeking separation from vehicles and road noise. The Peekamoose Valley offers primitive tent camping with "soft ground for staking a tent" and "good water access with the river," making it popular for backcountry tent camping experiences despite the 200+ foot walk from parking areas.

    Best Tent Campgrounds near Pine Plains (36)

      1. Rustic Lean-To

      5.0(1)7mi from Pine Plains1 siteTents

      "We're happy to have this property on our platform. This site feature a fire-pit, wooded platform and picnic table. Check them out and leave them some love."

      from $43 - $45 / night

      Check Availability

      2. Alander Trail Camground — Mount Washington State Forest

      4.3(3)12mi from Pine PlainsTents

      "Absolutely love this spot and highly recommend if you’re looking for a super private, true primitive camping experience."

      "Each spot is easy to find off the trail. They also have bear boxes at each site!"

      3. Brassie Brook Shelter - Bear Mountain — Appalachian National Scenic Trail

      5.0(2)11mi from Pine PlainsTents

      "We started our hike at the under-mountain trailhead, located right off route 41, and climbed up the mountain. Be prepared for steep inclines, and lots of rocks."

      "The lean-to fit our small tens, and there is a picnic table. There's also a bear box near by. Room to camp your tent on the ground too if you wanted to or had more ppl along."

      4. Laurel Ridge — Mount Everett State Reservation

      4.5(2)12mi from Pine PlainsTents

      "We actually started this hike in by Race Brook Falls area, and ended it where the GPS coordinates are noted. See the map in my photos marked with yellow lines."

      "We packed on our backpacks early in the morning and arrived there mid-afternoon. Very beautiful view, and an awesome spot! No fires allowed, however."

      5. Riga Lean-To

      5.0(1)12mi from Pine PlainsTents

      "We absolutely loved this little lean-to next to Bear Mountain. I'll make this review short, as we also stayed at the Brassie Brook lean-to which is located only about a mile apart from each other."

      6. Jug End Dispersed — Appalachian National Scenic Trail

      4.5(2)16mi from Pine PlainsTents

      "Between Sage's Ravine and Jug End Road there are five backcountry campsites on the Appalachian Trail."

      "Trash cans, but carry out is preferable."

      7. Echo Lake

      5.0(2)24mi from Pine PlainsTents

      "This campground was my first backpacking trip and it was perfect! "

      "Lake is surrounded by hills and there is a small lean two with a few campfire spots."

      8. Samuel F. Pryor III Shawangunk Gateway Campground

      4.2(9)31mi from Pine PlainsTents

      "I definitely recommend trying to get the walk-in (meaning you can't drive to them) sites (8-15) because they're just a little bit more set back and kind of wonderfully wooded all around. 8 & 9 seemed"

      "This is a very nice modern campground with great access to amazing hiking and climbing in the area! About half the sites are walk-in and half the sites are drive-up."

      9. Creek View Campground

      2.5(2)23mi from Pine PlainsTents

      from $15 - $45 / night

      Check Availability

      10. Gatherwild Ranch

      Be the first to review15mi from Pine Plains2 sitesTents, Cabins, Glamping

      from $50 - $315 / night

      Check Availability

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    Tent Camping Reviews near Pine Plains, NY

    669 Reviews of 36 Pine Plains Campgrounds

    • Nancy W.The Dyrt Pro User
      Oct. 28, 2026

      Lake Compounce Campground

      Amusement Park Camping

      This campground is associated with a large amusement park. We were there in the fall when the amusement park was closed so the campground was not very busy but image it would have a very crowded feel if you were there during the summer. The RV sites are buddy sites which is never our favorite set-up (unless we are traveling with friends). Luckily, there was no one in the site next to us during our stay. The campground is big rig-friendly with roads and sites wide and long enough to accommodate any size RV; however, the road and roundabout you encounter when entering the campground is tight. There was very little traffic when we entered so navigating the entrance booth and roundabout was doable. The RV slots you pull into to check in at registration are far too short to accommodate large RVs with their tow vehicles and we ended up taking up four spaces. The tent sites are set away from the cabins and RV sites. Some are nicely tucked up against the tree line while others are in a grassy area and others are sandy nestled under some scrubby pine trees. One of the problems with the location of the tent sites is that they are far away from the bathrooms. Garbage cans are scattered throughout the campground so you don’t have to walk very far to dump your trash. There is no sewer but the electric (50-amp) worked well. There is cable but the channels were not HD so we switched to our over-the-air antenna and got great HD reception with about 60 channels. There is wifi but we could not get it at our site so we just used our Verizon hotspot (which had great reception). The water pressure is very high so we dialed our regulator back to around 45.  Roads and sites are gravel. All the sites are level and have a picnic table and fire pit.  We noticed that some of the fire pits needed to be cleaned out because rude campers littered them with water bottles, cans, and other garbage in the fire pits. One of the downsides is the noise from local recycling/transfer station. There is a dump station set to the side as you enter/exit. It was a little tight for us getting our 45’ RV in there but it was doable. There is only one sewer dump so we can image that it can be pretty backed up on Sundays when everybody checks out.

    • WThe Dyrt Pro User
      Oct. 28, 2026

      Schodack Island State Park Campground

      Camp is pretty close together but most spots have a thick tree line between them which is nice. You still get a bit of road noise off the bridge and surrounding areas but it’s not to bad and the views at the boat launch on the Hudson are gorgeous

    • Kai F.
      Oct. 27, 2026

      White Pines Campsites

      Did Some Fishing

      After a busy few weeks, this was exactly the break we needed. The kids went swimming, we did some fishing, and everyone came home tired in a good way lol.

    • T
      Oct. 23, 2026

      White Pines Campsites

      Bunch Of Extra Trips

      White Pines made a really good home base for our trip. We spent most of the days checking out different spots around northwest Connecticut and came back here in the evenings. Made dinner outside, had a fire, and just relaxed. The campground itself had everything we needed without having to make a bunch of extra trips into town.

    • H
      Oct. 21, 2026

      White Pines Campsites

      Some Actual Downtime

      We brought our camper up for the weekend and the kids immediately wanted to go to the pool.😂 They also loved the fishing pond and exploring around the campground. There was plenty to keep them busy while we got some actual downtime.

    • E
      Oct. 17, 2026

      White Pines Campsites

      Rest Of The Day

      One thing I really liked was having wifi when we needed it. Nice to be able to check in on work and then put the phone away and enjoy the rest of the day.

    • D
      Oct. 15, 2026

      White Pines Campsites

      Perfect Camping Day

      Nice campground with a good mix of activities. We went fishing one morning, spent the afternoon at the pool and had a fire that night. Pretty much a perfect camping day.

    • WThe Dyrt Pro User
      Oct. 15, 2026

      Mills Norrie State Park Campground

      Car camped

      Made a reservation (site44) since I arrived as the sun had set. Office registration was open until 8. Staff was neither friendly nor unfriendly. Bathroom was dated but fine and a short walk from my site. CG was emptier being a Tuesday night in mid-October, so was plenty of space.

      Great trail following the Hudson River. Beautiful fall colors.

    • Jeremy A.
      Oct. 14, 2026

      Allaben Campground

      Great free spot close to Belleayre Mountain

      I stayed here in March 2026 for a night before going snowboarding at Belleayre Mountain. It was in the middle of a snowstorm on a Tuesday night, so I had the whole place to myself, which was nice.

    Guide to Pine Plains

    Tent campers near Pine Plains, New York can access pristine wilderness at elevations ranging from 500 to 2,200 feet throughout the Hudson Valley and nearby Catskill Mountains. The region experiences distinct seasons with summer temperatures averaging 75-85°F during the day and dropping to 55-65°F at night. Many dispersed camping areas require hikers to trek 1-2 miles from parking areas to reach remote campsites.

    What to Do

    Hiking the Appalachian Trail: Access points near Brassie Brook Shelter provide challenging terrain with significant elevation changes. "We started our hike at the under-mountain trailhead, located right off route 41, and climbed up the mountain. Be prepared for steep inclines, and lots of rocks," notes camper Nora S.

    Rock climbing: The Shawangunk Mountains offer world-class climbing opportunities near Samuel F. Pryor III Shawangunk Gateway Campground. "This is the closest campground to world renowned rock climbing in 'the gunks' and also offers many other outdoor activities including some great hikes and rock scrambles, swimming holes and waterfalls," explains Cory D.

    Swimming and fishing: Several backcountry lakes provide refreshing swimming spots during summer months. James A. mentions that Echo Lake is "surrounded by hills and there is a small lean to with a few campfire spots."

    What Campers Like

    Privacy in backcountry sites: The walk-in tent sites at Samuel F. Pryor III Shawangunk Gateway Campground receive high praise. Kelsey R. recommends "trying to get the walk-in sites (8-15) because they're just a little bit more set back and kind of wonderfully wooded all around. 8 & 9 seemed like the star sites."

    Bear safety measures: Alander Trail Campground provides secure storage for food. "They also have bear boxes at each site! Although we were the only campers at the time the area was emmaculate and not one piece of trash on the ground anywhere!" reports Liz P.

    Scenic water access: Lakeside camping creates memorable experiences. At Echo Lake, Kate notes the sites are "relatively flat and well shaded with trees," though she warns "it can get swampy near the edge of the lake."

    What You Should Know

    Distance considerations: Many of the best tent camping sites near Pine Plains require significant hiking. Kay D. shares that at Alander Trail Campground "you have to park at the entrance and hike in about 1.5-2 miles with everything on your back to get to the spots."

    Fire restrictions: Rules vary significantly between locations. At Riga Lean-To, no fires are permitted despite the excellent location. Nora S. notes, "We absolutely loved this little lean-to next to Bear Mountain... There's no picnic tables at the other spots but there is one for the lean-to."

    Weather preparedness: Mountain elevations experience rapid temperature changes. When camping at Laurel Ridge, Tina D. reported that "it was pretty cold in the 50s and down to 40s late at night (this was OCT)."

    Tips for Camping with Families

    Choose accessible sites: For families with young children, look for campgrounds with shorter walks from parking. At Laurel Ridge, Nora S. advises, "It's quite a hike to get to this dispersed campground, so be prepared! We packed on our backpacks early in the morning and arrived there mid-afternoon."

    Pack for variable temperatures: Mountain camping requires layered clothing, especially in spring and fall. Tina D. shares from Brassie Brook: "Our trip was sadly cut short because we were freezing and it was raining a lot LOL but hey it's part of the experience."

    Consider bug protection: Low-lying areas near water often have insect issues. Kelsey R. warns that at Samuel F. Pryor III Shawangunk Gateway Campground, sites "11-15 are within 50 feet of a wet area, and the bugs in late May were pretty annoying."

    Tips from RVers

    Limited RV options: Most camping near Pine Plains caters to tent campers with few dedicated RV sites. At Creek View Campground, campers note the facilities are "low-frills" with just "an electrical outlet sticking up out of the ground here and there."

    Research access roads: Mountain roads to the best tent camping sites near Pine Plains can be steep and narrow. Judith S. advises arriving early at Creek View Campground: "Park by the entrance, go in and say hello & confirm it is cool to go ahead and set up."

    Consider alternative accommodations: For those seeking more comfort, some properties offer cabin options. At Getaway Catskill Campground, Ashley F. notes, "Each site has a private bathroom and hot shower, as well as a kitchenette."

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Which is the most popular tent campsite near Pine Plains, NY?

    According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Pine Plains, NY is Rustic Lean-To with a 5-star rating from 1 review.

    What is the best site to find tent camping near Pine Plains, NY?

    TheDyrt.com has all 36 tent camping locations near Pine Plains, NY, with real photos and reviews from campers.