Dog-Friendly Camping near Rhinebeck, NY

Margaret Norrie State Park, also known as Mills Norrie State Park Campground, offers diverse camping options along the Hudson River shore at 200-300 feet elevation. The park's woodland environment supports typical northeastern wildlife including white-tailed deer and wild turkey, with summer temperatures typically ranging from 65-85°F and cooler nights. The campground terrain includes both flat riverfront areas and more secluded wooded sections with varying levels of shade.

What to do

Hiking with river views: Access the Catskill Escarpment trail system from Woodland Valley Campground for moderate to challenging terrain. "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," notes Michael G. about the Mills Norrie State Park Campground.

Water activities: Enjoy kayaking, swimming, and fishing at North-South Lake Campground. "I go there almost every year to go swimming with my family and friends and it's always a good time," says Lizz H. about the North-South Lake Campground. The dual lakes provide calm waters suitable for beginners and families.

Historic site exploration: Visit the nearby Roosevelt Presidential Library within 30 minutes of most Rhinebeck area campgrounds. "Close by is the Roosevelt Presidential Library and house, Vanderbilt House, and even further out is Woodstock and plenty of other cool parks," shares Larissa C. about day trips from the area.

What campers like

Spacious wooded sites: Many campers appreciate the privacy and natural setting of Catskill/Kenneth L Wilson Campground. "The campground was nicely maintained and space was restricted between sites due to Covid. The sites were spacious enough to allow for two cars each and probably 3 tents each," shares Rebecca Y. about Mills Norrie State Park Campground.

Clean facilities: Lake Taghkanic State Park Campground maintains high standards for bathrooms and showers. "Showers are hot and there's great water pressure. The cleanliness of the bathrooms depends on how busy the campground is," reports Perrin M. about the Lake Taghkanic State Park Campground.

Seasonal beauty: Fall camping offers spectacular foliage views. "We spent two separate weekends at this campground; one during October and the other during early May. Camping here during October was, by far, better. The foliage was turned to all hues of orange, yellow, green, and red," shares Larissa C.

What you should know

Train noise: Some campsites near the Hudson River experience train noise at night. "When the park clears out during the week you sleep to the sounds of nature and the occasional freight train in the distance," mentions Michael G., while Rebecca Y. notes, "It was situated right across the Hudson River from a highly active nighttime freight train route, and the noise from the horns and then being awake for a few minutes as the train clattered by."

Limited cell service: Many campgrounds in the area have poor or no cell reception. "No mobile signal, but that's the point, isn't it? You get to disconnect from it all for a while," says John N. about Woodland Valley Campground.

Firewood availability: Not all campgrounds sell firewood on-site. "Firewood wasn't available at the camp, had to drive about a mile to grab some," notes Rebecca Y., while Denise S. states, "Would like to see them sell real firewood."

Tips for camping with families

Kid-friendly activities: Jellystone Park Gardiner offers organized events specifically for children. "This campground is great for kids. It has an event just about every weekend with kid activity," shares Jennifer I. about the Jellystone Park Gardiner.

Swimming options: Multiple campgrounds offer swimming areas with varying depths for different ages. "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," reports Amanda S.

Wildlife watching: Keep food properly stored as bears are present in the region. "There are bears and if you leave food out you will get a warning notice if seen," warns Phillip L. about Kenneth L Wilson Campground.

Tips for RVers

Hookup availability: Interlake RV Park provides various hookup options at different price points. "This year the most basic site with water costs $46; add electric on up to sewer and cable tv and you'll pay as much as $60/night," notes Jean C. about the Interlake RV Park & Campground.

Site leveling considerations: Some campgrounds have uneven terrain that may require additional equipment. "Some have a steep descent off the road, and there's a lip on the road that can scrape bottom of campers/RVs. This happened to our neighbor and it took out his RV sewer system," warns Kathy L.

Security features: Gated entrances provide added security for RVs and belongings. "Loved having gated security. My husband went on a work trip and left me alone for a few days and we left our rig to take the train into the city for the weekend and we had no problems," shares C O. about Rip Van Winkle Campgrounds.