Dog-Friendly Camping near Port Jervis, NY

Camping options near Port Jervis span across three states at the tri-state border of New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. The region sits at elevations between 400-1,800 feet, creating varied terrain along the Delaware River valley and surrounding mountains. Summer temperatures typically range from 60°F nights to 85°F days, while spring and fall camping means greater temperature fluctuations requiring layered clothing.

What to do

Waterfall hiking: 5-mile round trip. At Stokes State Forest, hikers can access multiple waterfall trails within minutes of camp. "We hiked Tumbling Falls which was a beautiful shady hike with water falls," notes one camper. The forest contains over 63 miles of marked trails including access to the Appalachian Trail.

Kayaking the Delaware: 4-8 mile routes. The Delaware River offers multiple put-in spots for paddlers, with Namanock Island providing a unique camping destination. "Namanock Island is only accessible by water and is roughly 4 miles down the Delaware River if you put in at Milford, Pa," explains a visitor. Many paddlers combine overnight camping with multi-day river trips.

Sunset viewing: 1,803 feet elevation. The monument at High Point State Park offers panoramic views across three states. "You can drive to High Point monument that is 1803 feet above sea level and you get a spectacular panorama view," writes a camper. The observation platform requires a short climb up stairs inside the monument.

What campers like

Natural swimming holes: no entry fee. The Delaware River provides free swimming opportunities at multiple access points. At Dingmans Campground, "The river is beautiful and was so nice to jump into! Some people even made little pools made of rocks!" Several campgrounds offer direct river access for cooling off during summer months.

Riverside camping: premium sites. Many campers prefer sites directly adjacent to water. "We stayed at site #T007 is was a short walk from the car to the site, but so worth it for many reasons. The site itself is huge and we were able to position our tent facing the lake, it was beautiful!" describes a visitor at Ocquittunk campground.

Wildlife watching: bald eagles. The Delaware River corridor supports diverse wildlife including bald eagles. One paddler reported, "Saw tons of bald eagles flying near the site and while paddles birds playing and baby geese with their mommas!" Morning and evening hours offer the best wildlife viewing opportunities.

What you should know

Campground noise levels vary significantly. Some campgrounds enforce quiet hours strictly while others have a more relaxed approach. At High Point State Park, "Camps are secluded from each other and most if not all have an elevated space to put tents or chairs. Each place comes with a lamp hang, a fire pit, and a picnic table."

Tent platforms: bring extra stakes. Many campsites in the area feature wooden platforms for tents. "Each large campsite has a picnic table, fire pit, and lantern hook. Some sites also have a tent platform. Many sites are a bit rocky," notes a camper. Platform camping requires specific tie-down techniques rather than traditional stakes.

Limited cell coverage. Most campgrounds have minimal or no cell service. "No cell or WiFi service anywhere on the campground but you can find it about 10 min or less away," reports a visitor. Download maps and information before arrival as navigation apps may not function in the area.

Tips for camping with families

Animal encounters: farm experiences. Pleasant Acres Farm RV Resort offers unique agricultural experiences. "The farm has goats, a donkey, and a pony within the campground. Very cool," writes one camper. Children can observe farm animals up close at certain campgrounds in the region.

Recreation options: varied by age. Families appreciate campgrounds with multiple activity options. "Plenty to occupy the kids. Playground, hayride, animals to feed (goats, chickens, donkey and pony). There were some organized activities which was nice," reports a parent. Many campgrounds offer weekend activity schedules during peak season.

Kid-friendly hiking: under 2 miles. Several short trails suitable for children exist throughout the region. "This place was so fun for the entire family, it wasn't that busy, so we didn't really have to worry all the time about the kids getting ran over! The park ranger person came through and gave the kids cool posters," describes a visitor at Kittatinny Campground.

Tips from RVers

Hookup availability: varies by campground. Many dog friendly campgrounds near Port Jervis offer different levels of RV services. At Tri-State RV Park, "They have an onsite buffet with live entertainment if your timing is right. They are also located right on a river that you can easily access by foot. They have a decent laundry facility and full hook ups."

Site levelness: bring blocks. RV sites throughout the region vary significantly in levelness. "While I did not have high expectations of the campground, I was very disappointed with how close it was to the interstate (you could actually feel the heavier trucks go by) and how close together the sites were," notes one RVer about Tri-State RV Park.

Big rig accessibility: limited options. Larger RVs face challenges at some area campgrounds. "The RV sites for a bigger camper are tight squeezes. If you are not comfortable with lots of tight turns I would not recommend for you!" warns a camper at Dingmans Campground. Call ahead to confirm turning radius and pad size for larger vehicles.