Camping options near Ravena, New York include primitive sites and cabins throughout the Catskills region. During summer, temperatures average 75-85°F with nighttime lows of 55-65°F, creating comfortable camping conditions. Fall brings cooler temperatures and colorful foliage, while humidity levels remain moderate compared to other Northeastern camping destinations.
What to do
Fishing opportunities: Lake Taghkanic State Park Campground offers fishing for largemouth bass. According to a visitor at Rudd Pond Area — Taconic State Park: "The sites were a little close together, but being able to fish and catching 2 decent-sized largemouth bass made everything all ok!! There is plenty of fishing access from shore and you can rent a boat for the whole day to fish on the water."
Hiking trails: The region features interconnected trail systems with varying difficulty levels. At North-South Lake Campground, "A lot of the hiking nearby is also relatively easy and includes the newly opened (as of 2016) viewing platform for Kaasterskill falls, which is minutes down the road from the campground."
Swimming facilities: Many campgrounds maintain designated swimming areas with beaches. One camper noted at Lake Taghkanic: "Great beach, 5 minute drive from campground. Clean facilities, with a rec room for rainy days. A camp store with all the supplies you might have forgotten."
What campers like
Stargazing conditions: The region offers good night sky viewing due to reduced light pollution. A camper at Lake Taghkanic shared: "Late night, stargazing over the lake is a great pastime, because the water is calm and the light pollution is low."
Site privacy: Treetopia Campground provides secluded camping spots. A visitor wrote: "If you have an RV, they have 30/50 amp with electric and water. There is no sewer, but they have a dump-station and on-site Honeywagon truck that you can schedule. They staff was wonderful and went out of their way to make our stay perfect!"
Wildlife viewing: Many campers report seeing diverse wildlife. A reviewer at Schodack Island noted: "Lots of bunnies, weasels, chipmunks, birds, and butterflies. Plenty of space to walk the dog."
What you should know
Bathroom facilities: Facilities vary significantly between campgrounds. A camper at Mt. Greylock Campsite Park observed: "There are two bathrooms for the whole camp, but the bathrooms never ran out of toilet paper or soap and stayed pretty clean. The showers are free, but I did encounter a line once or twice."
Site terrain: Many campgrounds feature uneven terrain. One reviewer noted: "The site was slightly slanted but that did help with drainage when we had torrential downpours the last 24 hours we were there."
Weekend crowding: Most campgrounds experience significant differences between weekday and weekend occupancy. A visitor commented: "It was a very quiet campground during the week. However, I have it only 4 stars because when Friday came and the weekend campers arrived, it got loud and rowdy."
Tips for camping with families
Recreation facilities: Interlake RV Park & Campground offers structured activities for children. A visitor noted: "It was Christmas in July while I was there, with decorations and planned activities to accompany it. All these amenities do come at a price."
Family-friendly campsites: Some parks have designated family camping areas. According to a review: "Great campground was one of the best I've been to. They have both platform and dirt tent sites, all sites come equipped with fire pits."
Playground access: Several parks maintain children's play areas. A camper mentioned: "Great place to camp. The view from the town to the campground was amazing!!! Will be back!!"
Tips from RVers
Electric service: Most RV sites near Ravena offer 30/50 amp electrical service but limited sewer connections. As one RVer at Arrowhead Marina & RV Park noted: "Our site was back-in and had plenty of space. There's a lot of green space in this campground and it's right on the river. We were next to a little fenced in area for dogs that our dog loved."
Site grading challenges: Many RV campers report challenges with unlevel sites. According to one review: "Some of the sites are up hills and might be difficult for some to park their trailers. We watched a fifth wheel try to back up a hill and then turn into a site and couldn't get a grip because of the incline and the loose gravel."
Winter storage options: RV camping near Ravena, New York generally requires seasonal planning. A camper mentioned: "Winter camping options are limited, with most facilities closing by mid-October."
