Catskill camping near Round Top offers a mix of wilderness experiences within a 2,000-foot elevation landscape dominated by mixed hardwood forests. Summer temperatures typically range from 55-80°F, while spring and fall camping can see overnight temperatures drop into the 30s. Most campgrounds in this region remain open from May through mid-October, with limited winter options.
What to do
Hiking trails access: Woodland Valley Campground serves as an excellent base camp for exploring the Slide Mountain Wilderness. "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," notes Jessica W. about North-South Lake Campground.
Water activities: Swimming options vary across the best places to camp near Round Top. "I go there almost every year to go swimming with my family and friends and it's always a good time," shares Lizz H. about North-South Lake. For fishing enthusiasts, Rip Van Winkle Campgrounds offers creek access. "We were over in 'Lover's Lane' so it was isolated on a separate loop... But super nice being right on the creek—we took our chairs and plopped down in the water," explains Kyla B.
Family recreation: Beyond natural attractions, several Round Top camping options include built amenities. "The campground has a little arcade, a nice lake, and playground," writes Nicole S. about Whip O Will Campsites. Rip Van Winkle Campgrounds offers "a few playgrounds, a great pool and a lot of amenities," according to Richard V.
What campers like
Privacy levels: Site spacing varies significantly among Round Top area campgrounds. Kenneth Wilson Campground features "large and heavily wooded" sites according to Kyla B., who adds it "seemed family friendly" despite being busy. At Catskill/Kenneth L Wilson Campground, Katherine P. notes, "Campsites 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."
Facility maintenance: Clean bathrooms and shower access matter to many campers. "The bathrooms were very clean and had showers, which we did not expect," reports Brittany W. about North-South Lake Campground. At Whip O Will, Ted and Angela "do a fantastic job of keeping the place running like a top. Always clean and always improving services," according to Michael M.
Unique accommodations: Beyond traditional campsites, some properties offer alternative lodging. "They have RV sites, yurts, custom furnished treehouses with electricity, beautiful tiny homes with outdoor living spaces, completely remodeled vintage airstreams, and gorgeous private cabins!" says Jeff & Steff about Treetopia Campground.
What you should know
Reservation requirements: During peak seasons, securing a campsite requires planning. For Devil's Tombstone Campground, "for reservation you have to book 2 days ahead. Do not come during the summer because it is swamped here and it the busiest time," advises Phillip L.
Cell service limitations: Connectivity varies widely across Round Top camping areas. At Kenneth Wilson Campground, Sam L. warns "there is NO cell service here. You have to drive about 5 minutes towards Hunter to get service." Similarly, Erica H. notes about Woodland Valley: "no cell service. My GPS on phone was able to track though."
Access road conditions: Some campgrounds have challenging approaches. Woodland Valley Campground has a "long, narrow, and winding road from Route 28" according to Gary G., though he emphasizes this "should not keep you from camping there!" Devil's Tombstone has sites "10ft off main road," according to Zane, who cautions about traffic noise.
Tips for camping with families
Playground options: Multiple campgrounds feature dedicated play areas. "There's a few playgrounds, a great pool and a lot of amenities," notes Richard V. about Rip Van Winkle Campgrounds. At Brookside Campground, Michael A. reports, "I went last year with my kids they loved the arcade small but it's a camp ground the playground area was nice."
Child-friendly swimming: Swimming access varies in accessibility and features. Lizz H. calls North-South Lake "one of my favorite swimming spots." Kenneth Wilson Campground has "a lake on site with swimming," according to Kyla B., who adds, "We happened to spend the weekend on a day with free canoe/kayak rentals which was great!"
Animal encounters: Some properties offer unique farm animal interactions. At Brookside Campground, David R. mentions a "small farm right next to our site, goats, cow chickens, ducks, geese." These interactions can provide educational opportunities for children while camping near Round Top.
Tips from RVers
Hookup availability: Full-service sites are limited in the Round Top area. At Rip Van Winkle, Janly P. recommends: "I highly recommend the deck sites to people small to moderate sized RVs and for large rigs they have some big sites." For Kenneth Wilson Campground, Katherine P. notes, "We had a 3-day weekend tent camping at this site from July 24-26 2020, at site 58 on Loop C."
Site levelness: Terrain varies significantly among Round Top camping areas. C O. shared about Rip Van Winkle: "Very easy to level and setup on #7. Full connections. Pay showers and laundry onsite." Consider requesting specific site numbers when making reservations.
RV size restrictions: Devil's Tombstone accommodates smaller units only. Sam L. explains, "We had a VW Westfalia, which we had no trouble pulling into our site. If we had something bigger, it might have been an issue." Always call ahead to confirm your specific RV length can be accommodated at your chosen campground.
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