Best Campgrounds near Red Hook, NY

Campgrounds in the Catskill region near Red Hook, New York range from developed state parks to private camping facilities with varied amenities. The area includes established sites like Mills Norrie State Park Campground and Lake Taghkanic State Park, which accommodate tents, RVs, and cabin camping. North-South Lake Campground in the Catskills provides tent-focused camping with access to hiking trails, while Rip Van Winkle Campgrounds offers a mix of tent, RV, and cabin options with additional amenities like private lakes and recreational facilities.

Most campgrounds in the region operate seasonally from May through October, with peak visitation during summer months. Lake Taghkanic State Park Campground welcomes visitors from early May to mid-October, while North-South Lake runs from mid-May to late October. Reservation requirements vary by location, with state park campgrounds generally requiring advance bookings through New York's reservation system. Private campgrounds like Interlake RV Park accept reservations from mid-April through October. Many locations have limited or no cell service, particularly those in more remote Catskill settings. According to one visitor to North-South Lake, "There is NO cell service and just forget about WiFi. You are unplugged."

Waterfront camping receives consistently positive reviews, with several campgrounds offering lake access or riverside locations. Campers mention the peaceful setting at Mills Norrie State Park with its proximity to the Hudson River and available hiking trails. Forest-surrounded sites at North-South Lake Campground provide privacy with "sites tucked away in the trees," as noted by one camper. Wildlife sightings, including black bears, are reported at several Catskill campgrounds, particularly North-South Lake. Facilities range from basic to more developed, with many state park campgrounds offering showers and flush toilets. Private campgrounds typically feature additional amenities such as camp stores, playgrounds, and organized activities. Proximity to towns like Rhinebeck, Saugerties, and the larger Catskill region provides opportunities for exploring local attractions when not at camp.

Best Camping Sites Near Red Hook, New York (174)

    1. North-South Lake Campground

    43 Reviews
    Palenville, NY
    17 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. Rip Van Winkle Campgrounds

    16 Reviews
    Saugerties, NY
    10 miles
    Website
    +1 (845) 246-8334

    "You’ve got fishing either in 2 private lakes or you can fish in the river but to do the river you’ll need a New York State fishing license."

    "I was a little skeptical that we wouldn’t get to choose our site, but you can’t go wrong, they are all wooded, private and well situated. The campground is centrally located you many things to do."

    3. Mills Norrie State Park Campground

    14 Reviews
    Staatsburg, NY
    11 miles
    Website
    +1 (845) 889-4646

    $17 - $102 / night

    "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."

    4. Lake Taghkanic State Park Campground

    12 Reviews
    Ancramdale, NY
    11 miles
    Website
    +1 (518) 851-3631

    $17 - $195 / night

    "The campground has a lake with boat rentals. Late night, stargazing over the lake is a great pastime, because the water is calm and the light pollution is low."

    "We decided on Lake Taghkanic. Lake Taghkanic State Park was not a long drive from NYC, maybe 2 hours. The campsite was very clean and maintained."

    5. Catskill/Kenneth L Wilson Campground

    23 Reviews
    Shokan, NY
    18 miles
    Website
    +1 (845) 679-7020

    $22 / night

    "This campground is nestled in the Catskills, New York, with easy access to New Jersey and Connecticut."

    "Access to fresh water spouts and clean bathrooms were just a walk away from most sites, theres a beautiful pond on site and beautiful views of the Catskills, Woodstock is a 15 min drive if you’re looking"

    6. Interlake RV Park & Campground

    5 Reviews
    Rhinebeck, NY
    7 miles
    Website
    +1 (888) 584-3729

    $46 - $60 / night

    "Close to FDR home and library...a must to see. Quaint towns nearby."

    "With that you get free wi-fi, a heated pool, a lake for fishing and boating, a game room and snack bar, movies, other sports, and the security of a gated entrance."

    7. Copake Falls Area — Taconic State Park

    20 Reviews
    Copake Falls, NY
    20 miles
    Website
    +1 (518) 329-3993

    $17 - $175 / night

    "I'm use to the rough and tough it of backpacking the AT Trail so this place had quite a few amenities I am not use to! Haha."

    "It wasn't too busy when we went- we got there on a Friday night around 6pm and were able to get a spot. There are also some fun activities within the campground, and things nearby."

    8. Brook N Wood Family Campground

    3 Reviews
    Germantown, NY
    8 miles
    Website
    +1 (518) 537-6896

    $50 - $195 / night

    "Management keep social distancing easy by keeping the store closed and allowing firewood or store orders via text message with delivery to your site."

    "Lots of space to run around and a cute mini golf area. We would definitely visit this campground again."

    9. Blue Mountain Reservation

    4 Reviews
    Palenville, NY
    12 miles
    Website
    +1 (914) 862-5275

    "I went here with my friend and we were using it as our base camp as we went out in trails in the eastern Catskills notably the Devils Path, echo lake, etc."

    "Nice little campground with lake sites. The Northville Placed Trail comes out in this campground. The showers were clean and plenty of pressure."

    10. Woodland Valley Campground — DEC

    29 Reviews
    Phoenicia, NY
    25 miles
    Website
    +1 (845) 688-7647

    $20 / night

    "water to play in right behind tent. I do prefer fire pits over the brick stove. this had the stove. more advanced hiking in walking distance. no cell service. my gps on phone was able to track though."

    "Close to Woodstock, NY, many trails and other attractions. You need to plan for it, there's a lot to explore; some trails are challenging. "

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Recent Reviews near Red Hook, NY

669 Reviews of 174 Red Hook Campgrounds


  • JThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 10, 2025

    Skyway Camping Resort

    One night stoo

    Nice well maintained park, full hookups with cable and wifi. Office forgot to give us wifi info and had closed early. Very nice staff.

  • MThe Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 29, 2025

    Gentiles Campground

    Nice place to stay

    Quiet CG near Waterbury CT. Close to major stores for resupply. CG has lots of friendly seasonal campers and lots of other sites. Most sites seem pretty level, but there are some steep roads in the CG. There is an airport next to CG, but it is for single engine private planes only so not a problem. Not by a major road so little traffic noise. I would stay here again.

  • Nicole G.
    Aug. 24, 2025

    Tolland State Forest Campground

    Great Lakeside Campground

    This was only my second camping trip ever (and first tent camping) so grain of salt here - We had a great time at Tolland. The site was spacious and equipped with a bear box, fire ring, and picnic table. The ground at the site was large gravel which was not great in the tent, but walking around it looks like most sites are more dirt and pine needles.

    The swimming area is small but sandy, great for kids, and my daughter loved thethe campfire and nature talk given on Saturday night by park staff.

  • 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.

  • Mike W.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 16, 2025

    Cozy Hills Campground

    First time here

    Nice facility, friendly staff. They pack us in pretty tight in some sites.

  • Olivia K.
    Aug. 1, 2025

    Never Sink Hideaway

    Full of Trash

    I just arrived at this location and it is filled with trash. Do NOT book here. There are houses right behind and it’s just off the side of a dirt road. The river isn’t even visible.

  • LThe Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 29, 2025

    Pittsfield State Forest Campground

    A lovely park and campground

    July 2025. We stayed in site #36.  It had plenty of room for our 4 person tent, kitchen tent and car.  The ground was all gravel to took some time to remove the bigger ones from under the tent.  The sites were close to each other but enough vegetation around to have a little privacy.  The bath house was great.  Four private shower rooms (2 for men, 2 for women).  They also had outdoor showers and a dish washing station.  There was also an information area.   Staff cleaned daily.  There were many hiking trails.  The loop took us to the top where there was a beautiful view.  We will be coming back.

  • B
    Jul. 21, 2025

    Foothills

    Nice place

    Foothills is a great choice for families or groups of friends who want to immerse themselves in nature with many gentle amenities and relaxing spaces.

  • Elizabeth M.
    Jul. 20, 2025

    Jellystone Park Gardiner

    Dirty bathrooms

    This is my second time I visited the park, the first time was 4 years ago and we stayed in a cabin, but a few weeks ago we decided to stay in a tent side and it was a nice experience except for some things, the campers don't respect the quiet time at night and morning too. A lot noises until 2 am and early from 6 am. But the worst experience was bathrooms, very few for the number of sites and people it covers. They need to add more bathrooms. They rarely cleaned the bathroom in all the 6 days that I stayed. The showers didn't have enough water pressure, 2 out of 6 had only hot water, some had no paper, hairs everywhere, the toilets didn't work, and super dirty, the truth was a disgusting thing that didn't encourage to use them but there was no other option. For the price you pay is not for having the bathrooms under those conditions. I hope you get better because the truth is a park that has many things to have a good time but with the bathrooms with that condition, is not encouraged to reserve again. And please add more shadows in the areas of the tents and MORE BATHROOMS, is not enough to cover all the tents area.


Guide to Red Hook

Camping near Red Hook, New York, offers a mix of beautiful scenery and outdoor activities. Whether you're looking for a peaceful retreat or a fun family adventure, there are plenty of campgrounds to choose from.

What to do:

  • Hiking: Explore the scenic trails around the area. Campers have enjoyed the hiking options, with one reviewer mentioning, "The Catskills are very scenic, and we enjoyed our time there!" at North-South Lake Campground.
  • Fishing: Many campgrounds, like Rip Van Winkle Campgrounds, offer fishing in private lakes and rivers. A visitor shared, "You’ve got fishing either in 2 private lakes or you can fish in the river."
  • Swimming: Enjoy a refreshing swim at campgrounds with water access. One camper at Taconic State Park said, "The swimming there felt really clean and I loved the dock."

What campers like:

  • Natural Beauty: Campers appreciate the stunning landscapes. A reviewer at Little Pond - DEC noted, "Nice quiet campground close to the Beaverkill and great service staff was super friendly and helpful."
  • Privacy: Many sites are well-spaced, providing a sense of seclusion. At Kenneth L Wilson Campground, a camper mentioned, "While some of the spots were fairly close together, they seem more spread out than in other Catskill camping sites."
  • Family-Friendly Activities: Campgrounds like Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park Gardiner are packed with activities. One parent said, "This place is so much fun. My whole family loved the activities."

What you should know:

  • Limited Cell Service: Many campgrounds have poor cell reception. A visitor at Woodland Valley Campground mentioned, "No cell service anywhere close so you may be stuck driving around for a while looking for some."
  • Restroom Conditions: Some campgrounds have outdated facilities. A reviewer at Beaver Pond Campground expressed disappointment, stating, "The bathrooms are very outdated and not cleaned often enough."
  • Noise Levels: Campers should be aware that some sites can be noisy, especially on weekends. One camper at Copake Falls Area - Taconic State Park noted, "There is a lot of noise, a lot of people, and not much enforcement of the rules."

Tips for camping with families:

  • Choose the Right Campground: Look for family-friendly options like Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park Gardiner, where one parent said, "Tons of activities on location. Beautiful view of the river!"
  • Plan for Activities: Make sure to check what activities are available. A camper at Rip Van Winkle Campgrounds mentioned, "There are playgrounds for the kids, basketball, pool, and a remote control car track."
  • Pack Essentials: Bring bug spray and sunscreen, as some areas can have insects. A visitor at Clarence Fahnestock State Park advised, "Bring your inter tubes, bug spray!"

Tips from RVers:

  • Check Site Sizes: Make sure your RV fits the site. A reviewer at Rip Van Winkle Campgrounds cautioned, "We were within 2 inches or less of trees on 4 or 5 instances getting in and out of our site."
  • Look for Full Hookups: Many campgrounds offer full hookups, which can make your stay more comfortable. One camper at Mt. Greylock Campsite Park appreciated the amenities, saying, "The campground has great amenities and great feel to it."
  • Be Prepared for Limited Connectivity: Many campgrounds have poor Wi-Fi. A visitor at Woodland Valley Campground noted, "The showers definitely weren't. Bring your shower sandals!"

Camping near Red Hook, New York, has something for everyone, from families to solo adventurers. Just be sure to plan ahead and enjoy the great outdoors!

Frequently Asked Questions

Is camping allowed at Red Hook?

Yes, camping is allowed near Red Hook, New York, though not directly in the town itself. Several excellent campgrounds are located within a short drive. Lake Taghkanic State Park Campground offers drive-in, hike-in, and walk-in access with reservable sites, water, and toilets. Another nearby option is Interlake RV Park & Campground in Rhinebeck, which provides boat-in and drive-in access with facilities that accommodate RVs and traditional camping.

When is the best season for camping in Red Hook?

The best season for camping near Red Hook is late spring through early fall (May to October), with summer offering warm days perfect for swimming and outdoor activities. Early May can be pleasant but cooler, as noted by visitors to Spacious Skies Woodland Hills. For smaller crowds, consider avoiding holidays as recommended by campers at North-South Lake Campground. September offers beautiful weather with fewer crowds - an ideal time to enjoy the changing colors of the Catskills region while temperatures remain comfortable for outdoor activities.

What camping facilities are available in Red Hook?

The camping facilities near Red Hook offer diverse amenities to suit various camping preferences. Brook N Wood Family Campground in Elizaville provides water, toilets, and is big-rig friendly with drive-in access. For a more unique experience, Treetopia Campground offers both traditional camping and glamping options including RV sites and custom yurts in a beautiful Catskills setting. Many campgrounds in the area feature shower facilities, picnic tables, fire rings, and access to recreational activities like fishing, hiking, and swimming.