144 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
The camping landscape surrounding Poughquag, New York encompasses several established campgrounds and natural areas within an hour's drive. Clarence Fahnestock State Park Campground, located about 20 miles northeast of Poughquag, provides tent and RV sites with both drive-in and walk-in options. Taconic Hereford Multiple Use Park offers free dispersed camping on over 900 acres with hike-in access for those seeking more primitive experiences. The region includes a mix of state parks and private campgrounds accommodating various camping styles, from basic tent sites to cabins and glamping options at places like Jellystone Park in Gardiner, which features amenities such as electric hookups, water, and shower facilities.
Reservations are highly recommended during the peak camping season from May through October, when most campgrounds in the area operate at full capacity. Many campgrounds near Poughquag have seasonal operations, with Clarence Fahnestock running from April 15 to December 4 and Jellystone Park Gardiner open from April 16 to November 1. The terrain varies from relatively flat, accessible areas to more rugged woodland settings requiring moderate hiking to reach campsites. Weather considerations include warm, humid summers and increasingly cool temperatures in fall, with potential for rain throughout the camping season. "99% of people don't even know this area exists. If you want a quiet piece of beautiful forest to truly rough it and go camping for a few days, then this is what you have been looking for," noted one review of Taconic Hereford Multiple Use Park.
Campers consistently highlight the region's accessibility from New York City as a major advantage. Several visitors mentioned appreciating the forested setting and relative seclusion of certain campsites despite their proximity to urban areas. Clarence Fahnestock State Park receives particular attention for its hiking opportunities, with trails surrounding Canopus Lake and connecting to the Appalachian Trail. According to feedback on The Dyrt, "This is one of my favorite places to go camping with friends. It is so close to the city and has easy access to all the wonderful things in the area." Site privacy varies considerably, with some campgrounds offering well-spaced sites while others feature more communal layouts. Mosquitoes can be problematic during summer months, and campers should be prepared for varying levels of bathroom cleanliness and maintenance at different facilities throughout the region.
"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 $17 / 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."
"There are great hiking trails on the Hudson River right outside your campsite. Amenities are the great outdoors and an ancient bath house built during the New Deal in the 1930's."
"Firewood wasn’t available at the camp, had to drive about a mile to grab some. Close to town so easy to grab needed items."
from $17 - $102 / night
Check Availability"Our camp spot was right above the river the flows behind this spot. You can go sit down by the water. But be careful!"
"We camped next to the brook and one couldn't have had a much better experience! Had supper in nearby Kent which is a fantastic small village."
from $14 / night
Check Availability"Less then 10 min drive from town, but hiking in and finding a suitable place to make camp has the feeling of the wild, with the safety of having full cell service."
"Reminds me of lake camping that I grew up with. Hosts are very nice and helpful. This is more of a seasonal camping site. Do not follow your GPS directions. Get directions from the campground staff."
"They have the best staff and they are everywhere, if you need someone they are always around and super friendly also."
"Location- 4 stars- close to NYC but kinda just in the woods and close to homes, not much around. Sites- 4 stars- a real mixed bag- the rv/trailer only section is really nice, wooded."
"One of my favorite so far , went with family , to comply w covid and social distancing, the camp only rent your site and no one on your left or right or across ! Amazing !"
"My family has been camping at Lake Waramaug for over 20 years. I can say most of what’s been said is true or partially so but whether it’s bad or good depends on your point of view."
from $17 - $50 / night
Check Availability"While there are no rules about who can camp there, during thru-hiking season, consideration should be made for folks who rely on places like this during a long distance hike."
GuideSpent one night here. The park is quiet. The facilities are a little outdated, although they said that newer ones had been built by the marina. I wasn’t up for the 15 minute walk, having just hiked up a mountain. My spot included electrical and water hook ups.
TravelerCampground: fairly secluded, forested, breezy with some wildlife. Small camp store. Ingress/Egress: Tight approach with multiple switchbacks and steep grades - if you’re coming in a towable rig over 36’ you might want to take a solo look first. Sites are oddly arranged and there aren’t any FHU sites. Cell: Verizon in spot C9 had 1-bar; we used Starlink for connectivity. Laundry: 3 washers & 3 dryers: $2.50 each. Dump Station: was close by (across the street) but we didn’t need it for our 3 day stay. Bathhouse: across the street, clean and we used it almost exclusively. Noise: Quiet with some small arms fire, but barely noticeable from our site. Site C9: can be viewed from Google street view site is north of the lake in the horseshoe road- some cabins are viewable as well. Site is gravel with composite picnic table, post metal grill and truck rim fire ring. Water pressure- fluctuated 30psi-50psi: hunted constantly. Cabins: available and in good order. They appear to be older, but still functional- mini log cabins $65/night (primitive-no bathroom)
GuideWe've only stayed overnight at this campground. Roads are all paved, and some sites as well. They stagger the campers so that you don't look right into another camper, which makes it feel like you are camping in the woods.
Lots of trees so watch DVD or OTA television as you likely won't get satellite TV in your rig. Large swimming pool and playground for kids. There is an activity center where you can get something to eat, and sit on the deck to enjoy the scenery.
Sites are level. Staff are friendly. The camp store is large and well stocked in just about anything that you could need.
Enough trees that if you have a large rig and are towing you need to use some care leaving your RV site.
GuideThis is a truly beautiful and scenic campground, easily one of the best places we have visited in New York State. The campsites are well laid out, the surroundings are stunning, and the entire campground is very clean and well maintained. We visited in October, and it was pleasantly uncrowded, which made the experience even more enjoyable. The peaceful atmosphere and beautiful fall scenery made for a perfect camping trip. I'm not sure how busy it gets during the peak summer season, but our autumn visit was fantastic. We had a wonderful time and will definitely be coming back.
GuideThis was by far the worst campground we have ever stayed at. First of all, the campground is basically just a large open field where everyone is on display. There is absolutely no privacy. If that's not enough and you want even more attention, choose a site near the playground, where you'll have a constant audience. The bathrooms were also extremely dirty and poorly maintained, which only added to the overall disappointing experience. The biggest issue, however, is the complete lack of quiet hours enforcement. Until at least 1:00 AM, there were screaming children, loud groups of intoxicated adults, and nonstop noise. It felt more like a chaotic party zone than a campground. There seemed to be no rules, no supervision, and no consideration for people who actually came to relax. The sites farther back in the woods offer a little more privacy, but don't expect peace and quiet there either. This campground may be fine if your goal is to drink and party outdoors, but if you're looking for a relaxing camping experience, I would strongly recommend staying elsewhere. The only positive part of our stay was seeing a few baby deer wandering through the campground. They were adorable and ended up being the highlight of our trip.
GuideGood, quiet place to spend the night, but there are a few things to keep in mind. This is primarily a climbers’ campground, so by around 9 PM most people are already asleep and the lights are off. If you’re looking for a peaceful and quiet night, that’s definitely a plus. Sites 8–15 were our favorite because they are away from vehicle traffic. Site #8 is probably the best of them. Site #15 is only about a 2-minute walk from the parking area at a brisk pace, but that’s without carrying gear. If you have a lot of equipment or heavy bags, these sites may not be the most convenient choice. The showers cost $0.25 per minute, and don’t be surprised if you end up sharing the changing area with another person. Overall, this is a simple, quiet place to sleep and rest for the night rather than a destination campground with lots of amenities
ScoutI was a solo female tent-camper and I stayed at the Austin Hawes campground for 2 nights. I had an excellent experience. The office is open daily from 9-5 and 2 young women were staffing it during my stay. They welcomed me with a smile, answered all my questions and sold me two bundles of firewood for$7 each. I camped in site#22 which overlooked the Farmington River. You could hear the river running by all night long. It was very peaceful. I did not know that this portion of the river offers excellent fly fishing, so it looked like something out of an Orvis Catalog as men(they were all men) in waders with serious fly fishing gear often passed by or were standing in the shallow river doing their thing. It is important to know that BLACK BEARS ran through the campsite at night.(The young women in the office had warned me to be careful with my food, and that bears were often sighted). I am an experienced camper and left no trace of food anywhere near my tent, fire or picnic table. The bears did not bother me. I heard they spooked one family who blew some airhorns, then packed up and left in the middle of the night. There are 2 bathhouses, but one was locked because it is currently under construction. I had no trouble using the 1 that was open for campers. There are 2 female(private) showers, 2 male(private) showers, 2 bathroom sinks and 3 toilets in each house. I had no trouble using them and the facilities were clean. All-in-all, it's a beautiful, but very rustic(no electricity) campsite. I look forward to returning in the future.
ScoutWe have camped for years all over the Northeast and have never experienced campground staff as rude, patronizing, and overbearing as we did at Devil’s Tombstone Campground. It felt like our group was constantly being watched and corrected over every minor thing imaginable instead of simply being treated like paying guests trying to enjoy the weekend. The campground itself was disappointing, but the staff attitude was by far the worst part of the experience. Unless you want to be nitpicked every time you do literally anything, then you might not want to camp here.
ScoutWe have camped for years all over the Northeast and have never experienced campground staff as rude, patronizing, and overbearing as we did at Devil’s Tombstone Campground. It felt like our group was constantly being watched and corrected over every minor thing imaginable instead of simply being treated like paying guests trying to enjoy a weekend camping. The campground itself was disappointing, but the staff attitude was by far the worst part of the experience. We do not recommend this campground to anyone, unless you want to have anxiety when they drive by every 5 minutes to check on every minor thing. By the way, the walk from the check in shack to the end of the campground is at most 0.2 miles.
Camping sites near Poughquag, New York range from primitive wilderness experiences to family-friendly facilities with amenities. The area sits at elevations between 500-1,200 feet with hardwood forests typical of the Hudson Valley region. Summer temperatures average 75-85°F while fall camping season brings cooler 50-70°F days with chilly nights that often drop into the 40s.
**Hiking the Appalachian Trail: From Fahnestock State Park, take the 1.5 mile Pelton Pond loop trail that connects to the Appalachian Trail network. "The campsite (#040) was private, but was located next to the Nature Center and a water spigot, so it was not a super quiet place... A tree with a couple medium-size dead limbs was above the ideal place to pitch the tent," notes Jess M. about Clarence Fahnestock State Park Campground.
**Swimming and beach activities: Access Canopus Lake beach from the campground at Fahnestock. "The beach is closed after Labor Day to the public, but open to people staying at the campsite. Clean and beautiful," reports Courtney D.
**Apple and pumpkin picking: Fall campers can find orchards near Newburgh KOA. "We make a habit of going during the end-of-summer/fall when you can watch the leaves change along the hiking trails, go apple and pumpkin picking near the campsites, and eat some scrumptious apple cinnamon doughnuts and drink pumpkin hot chocolate," writes Robyn S. about New York City North-Newburgh KOA.
**Boating: Multiple campgrounds offer water access. At Lake Waramaug, "The lake is great for kayaking, paddle boarding, canoes and for fishing. Bring your own gear but kayak and canoe rentals are available," says G Y. about Lake Waramaug State Park Campground.
Privacy between sites: Site selection makes a big difference in the camping experience. "This is one of my favorite campsites I have been to but only because after several visits we have finally found our favorite site... I highly recommend this place but check out the sites online to get one that is private," advises Asher K. about Fahnestock State Park.
Family-friendly activities: Many campgrounds offer scheduled events. "This campground is great for kids. It has a event just about every weekend with kid activity," notes Jennifer I. about Jellystone Park™ Gardiner.
Natural water sounds: Creekside camping spots provide ambient sounds. "We stayed there for a night and it was very quiet and very safe. Our camp spot was right above the river the flows behind this spot. You can go sit down by the water," shares Catina C. about Macedonia Brook State Park Campground.
Quiet weekday camping: For those seeking solitude, timing is key. "Weekdays - this park is FULL! Make sure to reserve at least two weeks out. Weekdays? You should be in luck! We stayed in site number 1, and I found it to be just wooded enough. Almost all of the sites offered privacy.... Even when the campground was full," reports Shelly B.
Bathroom facilities vary widely: Cleanliness and amenities differ significantly between locations. "The bathrooms are older and need of some repair but let me tell you I was very happy to see a normal shower head with real hot water! So no complaints here. Laundry facilities were clean and open 24/7 with reasonable prices 2.50/2.00 washer/dryer," shares Chelsea B.
Primitive camping options: For those seeking more rugged experiences, Taconic Hereford Multiple Use Park offers true backcountry camping. "This spot is easy to find and access, and had decent ATT service. There's only a few spots, and the road is narrow with not much turnaround room, I wouldn't recommend for trailers or RVs," notes Tim M.
Wildlife encounters: Be prepared for local wildlife. "Every campsite has deep drainage ditches, likely roots, and stumps as well, but not too much pine in the immediate vicinity to make a mess of your gear," warns Mo S. about Lake Waramaug.
Cell service limitations: Connectivity varies by location. "This camp ground is a great place to disconnect and relax. Being forced to put away the devices is heaven in my mind. You can drive about 5+ minutes out and get cell service," mentions G Y.
Site selection for kids: Choose campsites based on proximity to amenities. "Beautiful State Park, Nice clean Beach and Lake, Bathroom and showers were clean. We had a family camping trip with lots of kids of all ages, the walk in sites are not too far off the road so it was easily manageable," advises Stacey R.
Age-appropriate activities: Different facilities cater to various age groups. "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," shares Amanda S.
Off-peak camping benefits: Consider timing your visit to avoid crowds. "The camp office is only staffed until 5 pm! There is a really great (but very short .65 miles) hiking trail behind the campground and a cool big rock to climb on near the bathrooms further away from the office and a field that would be good for flying kites, model airplanes or drones behind the state park parking lot," suggests Mo S.
Site access considerations: Some campgrounds have challenging access roads. "Some sites are hard to get into and others are in more of a large parking lot, but I think that is for workers for local pipeline companies. They have been working on upgrades and adding more patio sites which does improve the place," notes April L. about Newburgh KOA.
Hookup availability: Electric, water and sewer connections vary by campground. "The rv/trailer only section is really nice, wooded. Has a classic campground feel. The other tent/cabin side was loud and not private," reports Greg S.
Site size limitations: Large RVs may struggle at some locations. "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," observes Chelsea B.
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Poughquag, NY?
According to TheDyrt.com, Poughquag, NY offers a wide range of camping options, with 144 campgrounds and RV parks near Poughquag, NY and 9 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Poughquag, NY?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Poughquag, NY is Clarence Fahnestock State Park Campground with a 4.2-star rating from 33 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Poughquag, NY?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 9 free dispersed camping spots near Poughquag, NY.
What parks are near Poughquag, NY?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 17 parks near Poughquag, NY that allow camping, notably Northfield Brook Lake and Hop Brook Lake.
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