170 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Ulster Park, New York sits within a region abundant with established campgrounds offering varied accommodations. Mills Norrie State Park Campground provides tent, RV, and cabin options along the Hudson River, while Rip Van Winkle Campgrounds near Saugerties features similar amenities in a wooded setting. The area contains multiple state parks and private facilities throughout the Catskill Mountains, with locations ranging from lakeside settings to forest environments. Many campgrounds offer fire rings, picnic tables, and access to hiking trails, with some providing more developed amenities like electric hookups, showers, and sanitary dump stations.
Camping is typically available from May through October, with most facilities closing during winter months. Reservations are strongly recommended, especially for summer weekends and holiday periods when campgrounds frequently reach capacity. Many campgrounds require advance booking through ReserveAmerica or similar reservation systems. Facilities vary significantly between locations, with some offering full hookups for RVs while others maintain more primitive tent sites. Cell service can be limited throughout the region, particularly in campgrounds located in valleys or densely forested areas. A review noted, "There is NO cell service and just forget about WiFi. You are unplugged."
Campers highlight the natural beauty and recreational opportunities throughout the Ulster Park region. North-South Lake Campground receives consistent praise for its hiking access and spacious sites. As one visitor described, "The sites are spacious and private and there are lake side sites available too. Perfect for groups!" Wildlife sightings, including black bears, are relatively common at many campgrounds in the area, requiring proper food storage. Several campgrounds feature water access, with swimming beaches and boat rentals available during summer months. Families appreciate the playgrounds and organized activities at some of the private campgrounds, while those seeking more solitude can find quieter options at state-operated facilities, particularly during weekdays when visitor numbers typically decrease.
"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"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."
"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"
from $22 / night
Check Availability"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."
"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."
"This is a truly beautiful and scenic campground, easily one of the best places we have visited in New York State."
from $22 - $44 / night
Check Availability"Great place situated in a great area with lots to do all within an hour's drive. Even camping during a pandemic was peaceful & fun!"
"This is a Thousand trails campground so it was free. I think the regular price is $64. Full hookups, tents and cabins to rent. Pleanty to do in and around campground."
"I definitely recommend trying to get the walk-in (meaning you can't drive to them) sites (8-15) because they're just a little bit more set back and kind of wonderfully wooded all around. 8 & 9 seemed"
"There are drive-up sites and also walk-in sites. No fire pits at individual campsites, though. Only a group fire pit."
"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."
"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."
from $46 - $60 / night
Check Availability"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. "
from $20 / night
Check Availability
ScoutWe’ve spent several seasons camping here and have made so many great memories along the way. We have gotten to know some of the campers around us, and the campground has a nice community atmosphere. The kids always have something to do, and we enjoy sitting outside, cooking dinner, and spending evenings around the fire.
ScoutThis is our first season keeping our camper at White Pines, and we have really enjoyed it so far. It is great being able to show up on a Friday, open the camper, and start relaxing without having to tow and set everything up each weekend. Some weekends are a little busier than others, but everything still feels comfortable and easygoing. It has quickly become one of our favorite places to spend time during the summer.
ScoutWe really loved this spot- it was relaxing to listen to the sounds of the creek and not having any camping neighbors. The night sky was filled with stars and we even saw a rocket. I also appreciated having an outhouse on site- i would say the only downside was having to take our bag of poop+pee out with us when we left (site rules). The only other thing that was bothersome was being told that wood is provided at the site and then not realizing until after we got there that we would have to Venmo the owner $10 per bundle (I don’t mind paying, just wouldn’t been nice to know ahead of time that it wasn’t included in the price). I recommend this site for anyone who enjoys privacy and doesn’t mind a detox from WiFi.
ScoutWe camped with a group of friends and had a great time. It was easy to spend the day together, cook outside, and hang around the campfire at night. The campground worked really well for our group.
ScoutWhite Pines is a comfortable place to spend the summer. We like having the campground store nearby, reliable Wi-Fi when we need it, and plenty of outdoor activities when we want to unplug. It’s become one of our favorite places to get away.
ScoutThe RV camp site was spread further apart from the other sites. It felt like you were in a secluded spot all by yourself. The camp staff were very helpful, campfire wood was a phone away and promptly delivered to your site. Nice variety of merchandise for sale. I love a souvenir from the places I visit. Although, it rained 2 of the days, it allowed some quiet time away.
ScoutRip Van Winkle Campground
Catskills NY
The Good:
1. The location
2. The actual campground itself. There are roomy sites with trees.
The Bad:
1. If you are lucky enough to get an assigned campsite away from the busy road, it is a HALF MILE walk to the only showers in the ENTIRE campground. They have nearly 200 campsites and ONE set of showers.
2. The speed bumps are beyond ridiculous. Two humpers and high as Bob Marley.
3. If you call the office for help (our electrical post was out) they record you without your knowledge.
The Ugly:
1. The campground lost power on my electrical post and tried to blame ME for it. I own a Bulldog surge protector, yeah, so it wasn't me. How it was handled was unbelievable. I have never been treated so rudely. A simple apology would have gone a long way.
ScoutOur family brought our camper to White Pines for the whole summer, and it has been a great home base for us. We love having everything ready whenever we have a free weekend, and the kids are always excited to come back and see the friends they’ve made around the campground. There is a nice mix of activities and downtime. Some days we spend time at the pool or go fishing, while other days we barely leave the campsite. The staff has always been friendly and approachable, and everyone around us has made us feel welcome.
ScoutNo hookups. It was wooded, quiet and dark at night. I used the dump station on my way out. The first time I ever saw a poop fountain. The sewer opening sticks up above ground level. The cover swivels away, so I couldn't put it on top of my hose. And then, when I tried to rinse it, there was nowhere for it to go, because the inlet is elevated.
The Ulster Park area sits in the Hudson River Valley at approximately 200 feet elevation with nearby Catskill peaks reaching over 4,000 feet. The camping season typically runs April through November, with average summer temperatures ranging between 65-85°F. Many campgrounds near Ulster Park offer creek and riverside sites, with several providing hiking access to the Catskill Forest Preserve's 700,000 acres of protected wilderness.
Hiking to waterfalls: Minnewaska State Park, accessible from campgrounds like Samuel F. Pryor III Shawangunk Gateway Campground, offers numerous waterfall trails. "We stopped in Woodstock, NY on the way back which was a cute town. I would definitely come back to this campground," notes a visitor who appreciated the location's proximity to outdoor attractions.
Fishing in stocked ponds: Several campgrounds maintain stocked fishing areas for guests. At Thousand Trails Rondout Valley, "The creek that runs by the campground is gorgeous, and my kids had fun finding Crayfish," explains a camper who enjoyed the water features.
Rock climbing access: The Shawangunk Mountains (known as "the Gunks") offer world-class rock climbing opportunities. "Located really close to the Gunks for climbing and also some great hikes around the area," notes a reviewer who stayed at the Samuel F. Pryor III campground.
Historical sites exploration: Presidential homes and estates are within driving distance of many campgrounds. A visitor to Interlake RV Park & Campground noted it was "Close to FDR home and library...a must to see. Quaint towns nearby."
Private wooded sites: Many campers praise the natural settings at Catskill/Kenneth L Wilson Campground. "Site 71 was separated a little bit from other sites as you can see on the map which was so nice and also just a 20-second walk from the bathroom," writes a recent visitor.
Creek-side camping spots: Sites along creeks provide natural cooling and ambient sounds. At Woodland Valley Campground, "the mountain creek is like nature singing a lullaby - sleeping next to it was very relaxing; weather was great and we could see the stars through the canopy."
Community atmosphere: Several campgrounds foster community connections through shared facilities. The Samuel F. Pryor III campground "eliminated fire rings at each site and opted for one, communal fire pit to encourage more social interaction," according to a reviewer who appreciated the setup.
Clean facilities: Bathroom quality matters to campers. A Kenneth L Wilson Campground visitor noted, "The bathrooms were fine. They were clean but sometimes ran out of toilet paper." Another mentioned, "The ladies that run this campground are absolute queens and were so nice and helpful."
Black bear encounters: Bears are active throughout the region, requiring proper food storage. At Kenneth L Wilson Campground, one camper reported, "It was the wildest weekend I ever had, I'm not being sarcastic. The hiking areas are great, the weather is perfect and the bear was very nice for a bear."
Limited cell service: Many campgrounds have minimal or no connectivity. "There is no cell service in the campground," notes a visitor to Kenneth L Wilson Campground. Similarly, at Woodland Valley, a camper mentioned, "No mobile signal, but that's the point, isn't it? You get to disconnect from it all for a while."
Reservation requirements: Most campgrounds fill quickly, especially on weekends. "Reserve very early for waterfront," advises a visitor to North-South Lake Campground.
Firewood restrictions: Some campgrounds don't sell firewood on-site. "The campground does not sell wood, but rangers will direct you to a gas station close by where you can buy some," explains a Kenneth L Wilson Campground visitor.
Kid-focused campgrounds: Some locations specialize in family activities. At Jellystone Park Gardiner, "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."
Swimming options: Lakes and pools offer cooling opportunities in summer heat. "I go there almost every year to go swimming with my family and friends and it's always a good time," says a North-South Lake Campground visitor.
Nature-based learning: Several campgrounds offer educational programs. "Campgrounds are fairly close together with a variety of levels of privacy. Ours allowed you to be pretty far back from the road for more privacy, but some of the other sites were literally next to the road," notes a Kenneth L Wilson Campground visitor describing site options for families.
Playground access: Many campgrounds maintain play equipment. North-South Lake Campground offers "many different size sites big enough for groups and small for just single. Great place to camp," according to a visitor who enjoyed the family-friendly setup.
Leveling considerations: Some campgrounds have uneven terrain. At Thousand Trails Rondout Valley, a visitor warned about "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."
Hookup availability: Electric and water connections vary widely between campgrounds. Mills Norrie State Park Campground offers "tent, RV, and cabin options along the Hudson River," while Woodland Valley Campground provides "public toilets, showers, public phone, picnic tables, grills, firewood (for sale), dump station."
Site privacy: RV sites may offer varying levels of seclusion. At Rip Van Winkle Campgrounds, "sites are wooded, private and well situated. The campground is centrally located to many things to do," according to a visitor who appreciated the setup.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best campgrounds in Ulster Park?
The Ulster Park area offers several excellent camping options. Rip Van Winkle Campgrounds stands out with two private lakes for fishing, playgrounds, basketball courts, a swimming pool, and even a remote control car track. Another top choice is Sam Pryor III Shawangunk Gateway Campground near Minnewaska State Park Preserve, which receives excellent reviews and offers a unique experience with access to the most acidic lake in New York (which is completely safe for swimming). The area also features several other quality options like Thousand Trails Rondout Valley and Jellystone Park Gardiner for those seeking amenity-rich experiences.
What amenities are available at Ulster Park campgrounds?
Ulster Park campgrounds offer a wide range of amenities. Spacious Skies Woodland Hills provides pull-through sites that accommodate RVs, making it ideal for travelers with larger vehicles. Treetopia Campground offers unique glamping options including yurts and custom accommodations along with standard RV sites. Many area campgrounds provide water access, clean restrooms, and showers. For those seeking additional recreational amenities, local campgrounds typically feature playgrounds, swimming facilities, hiking trails, and fishing opportunities. Several campgrounds in the region also offer full hookup sites for RVs with electric, water, and sewer connections.
When is the best time to camp in Ulster Park?
The optimal camping season in Ulster Park runs from late spring through early fall (May-October). North-South Lake Campground is particularly beautiful in summer but can get crowded during holiday weekends - visitors recommend avoiding holidays if you prefer a quieter experience. Early fall brings spectacular foliage to the Catskills region while offering more comfortable temperatures. Catskill/Kenneth L Wilson Campground provides large, tree-surrounded sites that are especially appealing in late summer and early autumn when the weather is mild and the surrounding forest shows early color changes. Most campgrounds in the area are seasonal and close during winter months, typically opening in May and closing in October.
Keep Exploring
