176 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
The Catskill region surrounding Shandaken, New York features a mix of established campgrounds and primitive sites across forested mountain terrain. Woodland Valley Campground and Kenneth L. Wilson Campground provide developed camping options with amenities like picnic tables, fire rings, and shower facilities. Most campgrounds in the area accommodate both tent and RV camping, though site sizes and hookup availability vary significantly. Several locations like Giant Ledge Primitive Camp offer more remote experiences for those seeking solitude in the Catskill Forest Preserve.
Camping seasons typically run from mid-May through early October, with most facilities closing by mid-autumn. Many campgrounds require advance reservations, particularly for summer weekends and holiday periods. "North South Lake has no electricity. The sites are almost all beautiful, tucked in under shady trees. Not a good way to try out our solar panel! Some are by a stream. A few are by the lake. This is a tent campers paradise," noted one visitor. Cell service is limited or nonexistent throughout much of the region, particularly in valley locations. Bear activity is common, and proper food storage is essential at all campgrounds. Elevation changes affect temperatures, with cooler conditions persisting even during summer months.
Waterfront sites consistently rank among the most popular camping options, with several campgrounds offering access to lakes, ponds, or streams. According to one camper, "We stayed at one of the creek front campsites and highly recommend doing so. They're slightly more expensive but the view is so worth it." Hiking trails connect directly to many campgrounds, providing immediate access to the extensive trail network throughout the Catskills. Privacy between sites varies considerably across campgrounds, with some offering secluded, wooded settings while others feature more open layouts. The region's mixed-use campgrounds balance accessibility with natural settings, making them suitable for families and solo adventurers alike. Winter camping is limited, though some areas permit year-round use for experienced cold-weather campers.
"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"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"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"this is close by to many catskill hiking trails"
"It was close to trails and town"
from $16 / night
Check Availability"You will see a yellow little circle sign on a tree with a tent on it, a short distance down that side trail there is the site. It has rock benches and a fire pit. Primitive."
"However the descriptions of this place in reviews here and elsewhere provided very little info and once I got out to the trail realized how different it was to what I expected."
"Pros: Near wonderful, little-used hiking trails - challenging ones, too!
- Close to Catskill town options to explore, e.g."
"You can see a picture here of the water just a 10 foot trail away from our campsite. All in all a great trip."
from $22 / night
Check Availability"Right outside downtown Phoenicia the black bear campground is perfectly situated for a multitude of activities. They offer creek front and wooded campsites."
"2 minutes walk to town"
from $35 - $65 / night
Check Availability"A great free spot for dispersed camping tucked right off the road. Had a fire pit and picnic table"
"Short walk to all campsites."
"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."
"Cool spot next to a pond. There are a few others that aren’t next to a pond, and therefore not as cool… but still pretty cool bc it’s free and you can walk up a little to a pond."
"Nice spot right off the main road and close to town. Small pond-don’t think there are any fish. Picnic table. Fire pit with cooking griddle. Trails to the fishing access across the road."
RangerWhat an amazing find! This was a perfect location for the first 2 days of our vacation. Steve and Michelle were incredibly accommodating and wonderful hosts! We truly enjoyed our stay and will definitely return!
ScoutThis is a very pleasant campground just a couple of miles off the interstate. The staff is very friendly and helpful. Full hookups at most sites. Many amenities available. A very quiet setting to rest and repose. Highly recommended!
GuideWe were in campsite 20 with lots of room. The first night we were there we were near very loud groups which was difficult to sleep through. The next night everyone cleared out and we had a peaceful crowd. Bathrooms are nice, the park has great hiking trails and a nice day use area! There is also an area where we can rent canoes. I would definitely return, just wish there was a little more crowd control.
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.
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.
ScoutWe stay at a lot of Jellystone parks so have become accustomed to the park layouts and activities. This one was well maintained with clean facilities. Some things like the mini golf and fire pits needed maintenance. The pools were nice but get very busy later in the day. The sites up on the hills are nice but beware, it’s a hill! There is little to no WiFi or cell service or it gets easily bogged down, so be ready for that. Food was basic but good. Some activities like bingo were a bit chaotic and there were a lot of ground hornets around the jumping pillows. Would totally go again.
ScoutThe neighbor cry about a dog that barks and then we are no good
GuideStayed at lot #71, loop B! It’s across from the bathrooms, behind there’s a trail that takes you to the lake (about a 5 min walk). No electric, water, or dump station. Firewood is near the entrance, they give you a burlap sack to fill up with!
Campgrounds near Shandaken, New York range in elevation from 1,000 to 2,500 feet, creating varied microclimates throughout the camping season. The region experiences temperature drops of 10-15°F at night compared to daytime highs, even during summer months. Many campgrounds remain open from mid-May through October, with peak season running July through August when daytime temperatures average 75-85°F.
Hiking access from campsites: Woodland Valley Campground offers immediate access to several Catskill high peaks including Slide Mountain. According to camper Derek W., "This is an excellent site if you're looking to explore the Slide Mountain Wilderness and a great place to prep if you're planning to go backpacking as well." The trailhead for Giant Ledge is accessible from Giant Ledge Primitive Camp, which requires about "an hour ish to get to camp/ledge view" for average hikers according to Ryan.
Water activities on calmer waters: North-South Lake provides swimming and boating opportunities with equipment rentals available. "We happened to spend the weekend on a day with free canoe/kayak rentals which was great!" notes Kyla B. about her experience at Kenneth L Wilson Campground, which includes a lake with swimming.
Stargazing opportunities: Light pollution is minimal at most Catskill campsites, especially at higher elevations. As John N. describes his experience at Woodland Valley: "Weather was great and we could see the stars through the canopy - very very enjoyable!" Bring red-filtered headlamps to preserve night vision while moving around camp after dark.
Creek-front sites: Several campgrounds offer premium spots adjacent to running water. Derek W. from Phoenicia Black Bear Campground shares, "I stayed at one of the creek front campsites and highly recommend doing so. They're slightly more expensive but the view is so worth it. The creek was perfect for dipping your feet and just hanging out."
Privacy between sites: Campground layouts vary significantly in how much separation exists between neighbors. At Little Pond Campground, Mike C. notes, "I had a great time on a one night stay here at site 36. Very private and right on the pond. All sites are fairly private. The site next to mine (37) is possibly the most private of the pond side sites."
Wildlife viewing: Bear sightings are common throughout the region but can be managed with proper precautions. Kane B. from Kenneth L Wilson Campground explains, "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." Woodland Valley campers report seeing "black bears but they do frequent the area."
Cell service limitations: Digital connectivity is unreliable or nonexistent at most campsites. Daniel L. from Kenneth L Wilson Campground reports: "Although no cell service site was nice. Was our first shakedown camping trip." At Alder Lake, reviews confirm "no cell service" throughout the camping area.
Road conditions vary: Some campgrounds require navigating unpaved roads. At Alder Lake, one camper notes the access is "pretty easy to access with paved road the whole way there except for the last 1/2 mile where it is very bumpy. Some might say 4*4 but we made it just fine in our little Camry."
Site size considerations: Campsite dimensions vary significantly even within the same campground. C R. describes their site at Kenneth L Wilson: "We LOVED our site (site 9). It was absolutely massive! The photo doesn't do it justice. It was set back very far from the main road and was an extremely large site!" However, at other campgrounds like Devil's Tombstone, some sites are described as "small" with limited space.
Best swimming spots: North-South Lake ranks highly for family swimming. According to Lizz H., "I go there almost every year to go swimming with my family and friends and it's always a good time." The area features designated swimming beaches with gradual entry points suitable for younger children.
Camp activity options: Some campgrounds offer structured recreation for younger visitors. Richard V. notes that Rip Van Winkle Campground is an "Amazing campground with perfectly spaced large sites. There's a few playgrounds a great pool and a lot of amenities." Many families report this campground as particularly kid-friendly.
Accessibility factors: Consider hiking distances when planning with young children. At Giant Ledge Primitive Camp, Caleb J. warns, "It is a near vertical hike the first mile with 90% or more being over rock gardens. Not some rocks littering the trail. I think the trail used to be a stream or creek." Always research trail difficulty ratings before attempting with children.
Limited hookup availability: Many campgrounds offer limited or no hookups for RVs. Katherine P. from Kenneth L Wilson Campground shares details about their setup: "Campsite is flat and packed dirt instead of gravel, which was great. There's a standard picnic table and a decent raised fire pit, and a spigot at our site."
Campground navigation: Internal roads at some campgrounds can be challenging for larger rigs. Kathy G. notes about Rip Van Winkle Campground: "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... full hookups are the cherry on top."
Leveling challenges: The mountainous terrain means many sites require careful leveling. At Kenneth L Wilson, one reviewer notes, "We had a 3-day weekend tent camping at this site from July 24-26 2020, at site 58 on Loop C... Campsite is flat and packed dirt instead of gravel, which was great." Research individual site dimensions and levelness when making reservations.
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Shandaken, NY?
According to TheDyrt.com, Shandaken, NY offers a wide range of camping options, with 176 campgrounds and RV parks near Shandaken, NY and 17 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Shandaken, NY?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Shandaken, NY is Woodland Valley Campground — DEC with a 4.2-star rating from 29 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Shandaken, NY?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 17 free dispersed camping spots near Shandaken, NY.
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