Best Campgrounds near Preston Hollow, NY

Preston Hollow, New York is surrounded by diverse camping areas in the Catskills region, with options ranging from established campgrounds to more rustic experiences. North-South Lake Campground provides tent and RV camping with sites tucked under shady trees, while facilities like Country Roads Campground offer more developed options with full hookups and cabin rentals. Smaller, more intimate camping experiences can be found at places like Whispering Timbers, which focuses on glamping, or Devil's Tombstone Campground, which provides a more basic car camping experience. Most locations are open seasonally, typically from May through October.

The camping season in this area generally runs from mid-May to mid-October, with most campgrounds closing after Columbus Day weekend. Several facilities offer electric hookups, drinking water, and shower facilities, though amenities vary significantly between locations. Most campgrounds require reservations, especially during peak summer months and holiday weekends. The area experiences typical Northeast seasonal conditions, with warm summers and cool, colorful autumns making fall a particularly scenic time to visit. Cell service can be limited or non-existent in many camping areas throughout the region, particularly in more remote locations. A visitor to North-South Lake noted, "There is NO cell service and just forget about WiFi. You are unplugged."

Campers particularly value waterfront sites at many of the region's campgrounds. Locations near lakes and streams tend to receive higher ratings, offering opportunities for fishing, swimming, and paddling. Wildlife sightings, including black bears, are relatively common throughout the area, requiring proper food storage and awareness. The region's mixed-use campgrounds provide access to numerous hiking trails, with many campgrounds serving as convenient basepamps for exploring the Catskill Mountains. Proximity to small towns like Phoenicia allows for supply runs and dining options. Several visitors mentioned the privacy factor varies between campgrounds, with some offering well-spaced, secluded sites and others providing a more community-oriented experience. One camper described their experience at Little Pond: "Go for a site on the lake, even if you have to carry your stuff to set up, it was breathtaking in the morning to see the mist rising off the lake."

Best Camping Sites Near Preston Hollow, New York (170)

    1. North-South Lake Campground

    43 Reviews
    Palenville, NY
    19 miles
    Website
    +1 (518) 589-5058

    $22 - $44 / night

    "Our first campground was in New York Aug 8th. Unfortunately, Debbie was socking New York hard. North South Lake Campground in the Catskills was our camping home."

    "Had a great time at this campground- surrounded by many returning campers which gave the whole experience a good community vibe. Ice cream truck comes around each evening in the summer."

    2. Max V. Shaul State Park Campground

    7 Reviews
    Fultonham, NY
    13 miles
    Website
    +1 (518) 827-4711

    $17 - $50 / night

    "Just ok distance between camp sites. If we return we might try the more upper loop further from the front"

    "there's no pond/lake here but there's several waterfalls nearby and vromans nose"

    3. Nickerson Park Campground

    8 Reviews
    Gilboa, NY
    13 miles
    Website
    +1 (607) 588-7327

    "Our site was on top of the creek, close to the path down to the water and close to a hiking trail. During our visit we drove around the nearby towns and didn't find much to see or do with our time."

    "We had reservations about being side by side with other RVs but the site we were in was so big and being in a valley with huge trees all around a large open grassy area in the middle made everything feel"

    4. Whip O Will Campsites

    6 Reviews
    Round Top, NY
    14 miles
    Website
    +1 (518) 622-3277

    $33 - $113 / night

    "From it bathrooms to its pool to its general store , playground , basketball courts , bocceball, 7 acre lake and 2 miles of walkable runable paths , Ted & Angela do a fantastic job of keeping the place"

    "It had a little arcade, a nice lake, and playground."

    5. Country Roads Campground

    3 Reviews
    North Blenheim, NY
    11 miles
    Website
    +1 (518) 827-6397

    $34 - $55 / night

    "There are water spigots near all the tent sites and they are nice and spread out. They have special events in a pavilion near the RVs including bingo"

    6. A Promise to Gaia/Garden of One

    1 Review
    Rensselaerville, NY
    5 miles
    Website
    +1 (518) 797-3373

    $75 - $239 / night

    7. Thompson's Lake Campground — Thacher State Park

    7 Reviews
    Altamont, NY
    16 miles
    Website
    +1 (518) 872-1674

    $17 / night

    "Some of the lakeside sites have private foot trails down to the water which was very nice."

    "Hiking was near by and also the beach and if you wanted to drive to where the falls are and the overlook it wasn't too far! We had an amazing time!"

    8. Schodack Island State Park Campground

    17 Reviews
    Selkirk, NY
    23 miles
    Website
    +1 (518) 732-0187

    $17 - $26 / night

    "The park ensures you’ll have what you need with stores within close proximity and the staff even offers ice and firewood delivery to your site."

    "Wonderful hikes and beautiful walks. Boat docks looked pretty easy for ins and outs, and the pavilions were huge!"

    9. Whispering Timbers Glamping

    1 Review
    Hensonville, NY
    9 miles
    +1 (516) 729-6558

    $125 - $160 / night

    10. Devil's Tombstone Campground

    10 Reviews
    Elka Park, NY
    20 miles
    Website
    +1 (845) 688-7160

    $16 / night

    "this is close by to many catskill hiking trails"

    "It was close to trails and town"

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Recent Reviews near Preston Hollow, NY

543 Reviews of 170 Preston Hollow Campgrounds


  • JThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 6, 2025

    Hide-A-Way Campsites

    Quaint and truly hid away

    Well maintained clean campground. Friendly attendants guided us to site and directed in spot. Gravel unlevel pad full hookups.

  • Lorraine H.
    Sep. 2, 2025

    Aqua Vista Valley Campgrounds

    2 month stay started July

    It's ok great water views stuff for kids to do every weekend it's the seasonal campers that make it not fun at times u have some very friendly then others that are noisy judging ,parting witch parting really ain't problem until ur not watching ur kids or being loud at times I give it a 7 out of 10

  • M
    Aug. 26, 2025

    Aqua Vista Valley Campgrounds

    kids always have a blast!

    We went for the Halloween event, and the kids had a great day and evening! They really enjoyed trick or treating!!!

  • GThe Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 20, 2025

    Little Pond Campground

    Small sites and no service

    I didn’t hate this campground, but I won’t be going back.

    It’s a nice campground and perfect for single/family camping. I would not choose this location if I were taking a group of people. The sites are on the smaller side and many have slanted entrances.

    The campground is kept clean and the bathrooms were tidy. The campground is in bear country so you have to be mindful about leaving food out when you’re not at the site or asleep.

    There is a pond and there’s kayaks, canoes, etc for rent. The beach area is clean and the water is clear. I was there middle of August and the water was not cold and quite comfortable. There are some water front sites that you can use to access the water with a boat or paddle board.

    Cell service is non existent and they have a pay phone near the entrance booth where you can use to make/receive phone calls. It’s a 20 min drive back into town to get cell service. That’s a non- starter for me. It would be beneficial if they had service near the entrance at least for people to check in with Family.

  • Jennifer H.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 10, 2025

    Hartwick Highlands Campground

    Closest campground to Dreams Park

    Great campground very well kept and closest to Dreams Park. We drove around to the three closest RV parks to Dreams Park and would definitely stay here with the team and / or on your own. Security gate to enter and exit, pool, store, arcade, wide open where the RV’s are.

  • Jennifer H.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 10, 2025

    Cooperstown Beaver Valley Campground

    Great proximity to Dreams Park

    Cute cabins, lots of great amenities, pools, corn hole, volleyball net, nicely kept baseball fields , store, areas for group picnics. You could have the whole team stay here in the cabins and bring RV’s too. Only 10min or so to dreams park. Wooded area where RV’s are and separate area where the cabins are. Great spot. Festive and well kept.

  • Jennifer H.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 10, 2025

    Cooperstown Family Campground

    Great spot for a week at Dreams Park

    Peaceful, quiet, spread out. We had a big grass baseball field almost all to ourselves. Showers, bathrooms, efficient store, 24 hours laundry, 12 or so arcade machines in a cute barn they’ll open up for you when you want to play. Fire circles great for evening campfires. A pool across the street that seemed well cared for. A couple ponds that have Canadian geese. You feel like you’re in the middle of nowhere. Tons of trees and wide open space. Healthy grass sites to park on with water, electric and sewer hook ups.

  • k
    Aug. 6, 2025

    Aqua Vista Valley Campgrounds

    Aqua Vista Campground

    I have been camping at Aqua Vista for 2 seasons and have been having a great time.Each year gets better and better.They have hayrides, many activities, themed weekends. Activities going on all the time.Great place for family and kids.


Guide to Preston Hollow

Camping near Preston Hollow, New York, offers a mix of beautiful nature and fun activities. Whether you're pitching a tent or rolling in with an RV, there are plenty of campgrounds to explore.

What to do:

  • Hiking: The area is known for its scenic trails. Many campers enjoy the nearby hiking options, like Kaaterskill Falls, which is described as "short, easy trail" but can get crowded quickly.
  • Fishing: If you’re into fishing, check out the lakes at Rip Van Winkle Campgrounds. One reviewer mentioned, "You’ve got fishing either in 2 private lakes or you can fish in the river."
  • Swimming: Enjoy a refreshing dip at the lakes. Campers at North-South Lake Campground appreciate the "two nice lakes with beaches."

What campers like:

  • Clean Facilities: Campers often rave about the cleanliness of the bathrooms and showers. One visitor at Kenneth L Wilson Campground noted, "The bathrooms were very clean and new."
  • Friendly Staff: Many campgrounds have helpful staff. A camper at Max V Shaul State Park said, "The staff is friendly and helpful, and check the campground regularly."
  • Spacious Sites: Campers appreciate the space between sites. A review for Schodack Island State Park Campground highlighted, "The sites are amongst the most spacious I’ve ever seen."

What you should know:

  • Limited Cell Service: Many campgrounds have poor cell reception. A visitor at Devil's Tombstone Campground mentioned, "There is NO cell service here."
  • Bear Activity: Be cautious of wildlife, especially bears. Campers at North-South Lake Campground reported, "There are bears that visit the campground."
  • No Electric Hookups: Some campgrounds, like Woodland Valley Campground, do not offer electric hookups, so plan accordingly.

Tips for camping with families:

  • Playgrounds: Look for campgrounds with kid-friendly amenities. Kenneth L Wilson Campground has a "really nice looking playground."
  • Quiet Hours: Respect the quiet hours to ensure everyone has a good time. A camper at Lake Taghkanic State Park Campground mentioned, "The 10 pm quiet policy was well followed by everyone."
  • Activities for Kids: Choose campgrounds that offer activities. One reviewer at Rip Van Winkle Campgrounds said, "There are playgrounds for the kids, basketball, pool and a remote control car track."

Tips from RVers:

  • Check Site Size: Make sure your RV fits the site. A camper at Nickerson Park Campground noted, "The lots are large and nicely wooded with working full hookups."
  • Road Conditions: Be aware of road conditions when driving in. One RV owner at Rip Van Winkle Campgrounds mentioned, "I had to drive off of the road on several occasions to make it through."
  • Dump Station Availability: Check for dump stations before you arrive. Campers at Schodack Island State Park Campground appreciated the "dump station on the way out."

Camping near Preston Hollow, New York, has something for everyone, from families to RV enthusiasts. Just remember to plan ahead and enjoy the great outdoors!

Frequently Asked Questions

What camping is available near Preston Hollow, NY?

According to TheDyrt.com, Preston Hollow, NY offers a wide range of camping options, with 170 campgrounds and RV parks near Preston Hollow, NY and 15 free dispersed camping spots.

Which is the most popular campground near Preston Hollow, NY?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Preston Hollow, NY is North-South Lake Campground with a 4.6-star rating from 43 reviews.

Where can I find free dispersed camping near Preston Hollow, NY?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 15 free dispersed camping spots near Preston Hollow, NY.