Best RV Parks & Resorts near South Salem, NY

Pelton Pond - Clarence Fahnestock State Park Campground: (Scale 1- bad, 5-Very good (70 yr olds in 17’ trailer). I rate based on desire for at least a moderate wilderness type experience w at least some camp site privacy. Overall Rating: Some spots: 4 , Some grouped spots: 2 Price 2023: $23 Usage during visit: Light Site Privacy: Some sites good. Some very poor. Site Spacing: Some sites good. Some very poor. Site surface: Grass/dirt/mud Reservations: Required Campground Noise: Quiet at our spot. Road Noise: Pretty load at our spot Through Traffic in campground: None Electric Hookup: No Sewer Hookup: No Dump Station: No Potable Water Available: Yes. At bathrooms and hand pumps Generators: Allowed Bathroom: Very old and very clean. Flush toilets. Heated. Showers: Very old and very clean. Heated Pull Throughs: Some Cell Service (AT&T): 3to 4 bars Setting: Spread out through a deciduous forest Weather: 50s high Bugs: None Solar: Food in some sites. Host: Did not see a host Rig size: 40’ max. Careful which site you choose. Sites: Pictures are of some of the more private sites which can have a trailer. Some sites are grouped in open areas. These lack privacy.

We stayed at Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park Camp-Resort along the Walllkill River in Gardiner, NY, for a four-night chill-out vacation. We’re so glad we did! 

Our site was called Riverfront Red Carpet. It was spacious, level, waterfront, and partially shaded thanks to some mature trees. Site#22 included a large concrete pad, picnic table, charcoal grill, and large fire ring. Everything was in great condition. It was nice having plenty of space to not be on top of our neighbors. We had full hookups with 50-amp electrical service- which all worked fine. 

The entire park seemed to be well maintained and clean. There’s a small waterpark which seemed good for younger kids, an eatery, and ice cream shop. The camp store was well-stocked with food, camping supplies, and souvenirs. There is a game room and multiple bath houses(which we didn’t use). The park’s roadways are all paved and easy to navigate. Despite being nearly filled to capacity including tons of young children, the park was quiet each night with no noisy ‘bad campers.’ 

We found our interactions with the staff to be helpful and attentive. We really appreciate friendly staff. 

Overall, this was a great stay at a great RV park. I’d only mention two negatives, neither was a big deal. It took 45-minutes to check-in. In fairness, we arrived at check-in time(3:00 PM) on a Sunday. There were a dozen other RVs checking in at the same time and they just weren’t equipped for that. Also, our Verizon cell service was practically non-existent and the park’s wifi service was just as horrible. If we needed connectivity, this would have been a major problem. I reduced a star in my review simply because it’s 2021 and wifi has become an expectation. 

We booked on campspot.com and paid$196 per night+$35 to lock our site+$2 booking fee less a 20% promo discount.

This was a last-minute booking for us and we were delighted with the beachside cottage, with enough amenities that mom and dad did not worry we had their cutie with us for "camping". She's too little for backpacking into the woods but finally got to stay overnight and help with the campfire!

Pros

• Modern facility with full kitchen accessories (coffee maker, plates, wine opener, can opener, silverware, pots, pans, cooking utensils, toaster, oven), sponge/dish liquid. Microwave.1
• Clean interior, clean campground
• modern cottage with propane fireplace, WiFi access, bathroom with shower, large screened in porch with bar height table and 4 chairs, deck with chaise lounges, two bedrooms (1 with 2 twin beds, 1 with full), coach, chairs, plenty of clean storage places and hooks. You have everything but bedding, food, drinks, and personal items.
• cottages far enough away from each other
• fire ring with Adirondack chairs
• dumpster and recycling within walking distance
• lots of bone dry firewood around for campfire
• walkable beach
• beautiful
• wildlife: deer, rabbits, turtles

Cons

• a bit pricey
• playground is driving distance not walking

We stayed here on a Thursday night in September prior to taking off backpacking. The campground was clean and quiet. RV hook-ups, tent platforms, and rustic tent sites were available. Our rustic tent site had a few good options for pitching a tent, as well as picnic table and fire ring.

Ranger said that during summer weekends the grounds fill up and can be quite noisy, but mid-week during the off-season it was great. Expect to purchase firewood, although scrounging for kindling was possible. Facilities were clean and what you'd expect from a campground.

Would definitely return!!

Love this place. We have stayed here multiple times since it’s so close to home. Reservations are needed only for major holidays during camping season; Memorial Day, Fourth of July and Labor Day. Must book the entire holiday weekend 3 days (90$ for non electric sites add $5 each day for electric). I believe it’s 51 camp sites which vary in size and majority has electric hookups. When not going on a holiday it is first come first serve spots which is good if you just need to spend one night here. Pull into whichever site you want and at some point the groundskeepers will come to collect your money.

It’s deep in the woods of the park so there is good shade which is nice on the hotter days. The campgrounds have two bathroom facilities which have showers. No complaints with the bathrooms from me but I didn’t use the shower part. The bathrooms are cleaned daily or every other day it seemed. Some spots are more secluded than others..and there is a bit of a hill to the bathroom if you pick spots 1-7 and 48/9 I think it was. Something to consider if you have mobility issues. There are water spigots around the grounds and attached to the bathroom facilities. But no actual sites with water hookups for RVs.

The workers drive around the campsite every few hours and each time we have been there (maybe 4 or 5 times) the local police have made their presence known. Our recent trip around 11pm some drunk (alcohol isn’t allowed on campgrounds) was drunk screaming, 3 cop cars drove through. The screaming stopped. One thing to also consider is we had horrible cell service (we have sprint). Could not make calls or use internet at campgrounds or the park but did see others who were using cellphones...so if you have sprint don’t plan on making calls.

Each site has a picnic table & fire ring. The sites are gravel/dirt & grass. Quiet hours are from 10pm-7am. We found the sites closer to the Playground side/closer to the bathrooms to be more noisy. Also those sites are closer together which would be good for larger groups. Have never had a problem with noise though we have only stayed further away from those areas. The playground has a volleyball net and other Normal playground equipment that I saw driving past it.

Each time we have been there there was an ice cream truck that goes through each day..some days it’s multiple times.

There is no longer Boat Rentals at this park.. but there is a large lake to kayak and fish in. NO SWIMMING. The lake is a nice size and has a trail so you walk the entire length with benches around a good portion to sit and/or fish. There is a nice sized pond at the park to fish which also has benches around it. By the pond there is a nice picnic area with many picnic tables and grills. Another playground and a large pavilion. This picnic area also has a bathroom.

There is a pond when you first turn into the park. The pond also has benches around it but not all the way around.

Fishing license is require to fish here and they do come around to check licenses.

This place is great if you want to just get away into the woods. Check the parks website to see site sizes before going or stop and take your pick of what’s available.