Best Campgrounds near West Kill, NY

Camping options near West Kill, New York span from primitive backcountry sites to developed campgrounds throughout the Catskill region. Giant Ledge Primitive Camp offers free tent camping accessible by hiking trails, while established facilities like Devil's Tombstone Campground and Woodland Valley Campground provide more amenities for both tent and RV campers. North-South Lake Campground, about 15 miles northeast of West Kill, ranks among the most popular developed campgrounds in the area with higher ratings and more extensive facilities, including electric hookups and showers.

Most campgrounds in the Catskill region operate seasonally, typically from mid-May through early October, with North-South Lake extending slightly later into fall until October 22nd. Winter camping opportunities are limited as most facilities close during colder months. Several campgrounds require reservations, especially during peak summer weekends and fall foliage season. Allaben Campground offers free dispersed camping with basic amenities like picnic tables and fire pits. Cell service varies significantly throughout the area, with some locations having no coverage. "There is NO cell service here. You have to drive about 5 minutes towards Hunter to get service," noted one camper about Devil's Tombstone.

The Catskill camping experience varies significantly by location and elevation. Waterfront sites at Phoenicia Black Bear Campground receive consistently positive reviews, with one visitor noting it's "perfectly situated for a multitude of activities" with "creek front and wooded campsites" available. Higher elevation sites like Giant Ledge provide spectacular views but require more strenuous hiking to access. "This was a fairly decent and semi challenging hike. We took our dog too. Bring a bear bell and bear mace can to be safe," advised one camper. For those seeking primitive experiences, Allaben Campground offers a middle ground - accessible by car but with minimal facilities. Several reviews mention the area's proximity to hiking trails, particularly around Hunter Mountain and the Devil's Path, making the region ideal for combining camping with day hikes or backpacking adventures.

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Best Camping Sites Near West Kill, New York (172)

    1. Woodland Valley Campground — DEC

    29 Reviews
    Phoenicia, NY
    12 miles
    Website
    +1 (845) 688-7647

    $20 / night

    "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. "

    2. North-South Lake Campground

    43 Reviews
    Palenville, NY
    18 miles
    Website
    +1 (518) 589-5058

    $22 - $44 / night

    "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."

    "Had a great time at this campground- surrounded by many returning campers which gave the whole experience a good community vibe. Ice cream truck comes around each evening in the summer."

    3. Catskill/Kenneth L Wilson Campground

    23 Reviews
    Shokan, NY
    15 miles
    Website
    +1 (845) 679-7020

    $22 / night

    "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"

    4. Devil's Tombstone Campground

    10 Reviews
    Elka Park, NY
    10 miles
    Website
    +1 (845) 688-7160

    $16 / night

    "this is close by to many catskill hiking trails"

    "It was close to trails and town"

    5. Giant Ledge Primitive Camp

    6 Reviews
    Big Indian, NY
    11 miles

    "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."

    6. Phoenicia Black Bear Campground

    4 Reviews
    Phoenicia, NY
    10 miles
    Website
    +1 (845) 688-7405

    $35 - $65 / night

    "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"

    7. Allaben Campground

    3 Reviews
    Shandaken, NY
    7 miles
    Website
    +1 (845) 256-3076

    "A great free spot for dispersed camping tucked right off the road. Had a fire pit and picnic table"

    "Short walk to all campsites."

    8. Little Pond Campground

    21 Reviews
    Margaretville, NY
    22 miles
    Website
    +1 (845) 439-5480

    $22 / night

    "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."

    9. Rip Van Winkle Campgrounds

    16 Reviews
    Saugerties, NY
    21 miles
    Website
    +1 (845) 246-8334

    "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."

    10. Nickerson Park Campground

    8 Reviews
    Gilboa, NY
    15 miles
    Website
    +1 (607) 588-7327

    "Our site was on top of the creek, close to the path down to the water and close to a hiking trail. During our visit we drove around the nearby towns and didn't find much to see or do with our time."

    "We had reservations about being side by side with other RVs but the site we were in was so big and being in a valley with huge trees all around a large open grassy area in the middle made everything feel"

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Recent Reviews near West Kill, NY

568 Reviews of 172 West Kill Campgrounds


  • JThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 6, 2025

    Hide-A-Way Campsites

    Quaint and truly hid away

    Well maintained clean campground. Friendly attendants guided us to site and directed in spot. Gravel unlevel pad full hookups.

  • GThe Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 20, 2025

    Little Pond Campground

    Small sites and no service

    I didn’t hate this campground, but I won’t be going back.

    It’s a nice campground and perfect for single/family camping. I would not choose this location if I were taking a group of people. The sites are on the smaller side and many have slanted entrances.

    The campground is kept clean and the bathrooms were tidy. The campground is in bear country so you have to be mindful about leaving food out when you’re not at the site or asleep.

    There is a pond and there’s kayaks, canoes, etc for rent. The beach area is clean and the water is clear. I was there middle of August and the water was not cold and quite comfortable. There are some water front sites that you can use to access the water with a boat or paddle board.

    Cell service is non existent and they have a pay phone near the entrance booth where you can use to make/receive phone calls. It’s a 20 min drive back into town to get cell service. That’s a non- starter for me. It would be beneficial if they had service near the entrance at least for people to check in with Family.

  • Joe M.
    Aug. 13, 2025

    Peaceful Valley Campsite

    STAY FAR AWAY!!!

    Stay clear!  Owner is a rude, nasty, vile human being!  He doesn’t care about paying costumers, they are a nuisance to him!  He overcharges customers constantly.  Cabins and bathrooms are filthy.  0 stars

  • Jennifer H.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 10, 2025

    Hartwick Highlands Campground

    Closest campground to Dreams Park

    Great campground very well kept and closest to Dreams Park. We drove around to the three closest RV parks to Dreams Park and would definitely stay here with the team and / or on your own. Security gate to enter and exit, pool, store, arcade, wide open where the RV’s are.

  • Jennifer H.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 10, 2025

    Cooperstown Beaver Valley Campground

    Great proximity to Dreams Park

    Cute cabins, lots of great amenities, pools, corn hole, volleyball net, nicely kept baseball fields , store, areas for group picnics. You could have the whole team stay here in the cabins and bring RV’s too. Only 10min or so to dreams park. Wooded area where RV’s are and separate area where the cabins are. Great spot. Festive and well kept.

  • Jennifer H.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 10, 2025

    Cooperstown Family Campground

    Great spot for a week at Dreams Park

    Peaceful, quiet, spread out. We had a big grass baseball field almost all to ourselves. Showers, bathrooms, efficient store, 24 hours laundry, 12 or so arcade machines in a cute barn they’ll open up for you when you want to play. Fire circles great for evening campfires. A pool across the street that seemed well cared for. A couple ponds that have Canadian geese. You feel like you’re in the middle of nowhere. Tons of trees and wide open space. Healthy grass sites to park on with water, electric and sewer hook ups.

  • Olivia K.
    Aug. 1, 2025

    Never Sink Hideaway

    Full of Trash

    I just arrived at this location and it is filled with trash. Do NOT book here. There are houses right behind and it’s just off the side of a dirt road. The river isn’t even visible.

  • B
    Jul. 21, 2025

    Foothills

    Nice place

    Foothills is a great choice for families or groups of friends who want to immerse themselves in nature with many gentle amenities and relaxing spaces.

  • HThe Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 20, 2025

    Glimmerglass State Park Campground

    Nice small campground close to Cooperstown

    Very quiet small campground - friendly staff - large spots/mainly bigger setups. Only downside is there is not a hiking/walking path down to the lake from the campground. Very nice bathrooms w shower and wash station. Electricity and water available at or near each campsite.


Guide to West Kill

Camping near West Kill, New York, offers a mix of beautiful scenery and outdoor activities. Whether you're looking to hike, fish, or just relax in nature, there are plenty of campgrounds to choose from.

What to do:

  • Hiking: The area is known for its trails. Many campers enjoy the nearby Kaaterskill Falls, which has a short and easy trail. One visitor mentioned, "The trail to the Mountain House Site is also pretty easy, with more of an incline," making it accessible for various skill levels.
  • Fishing: If you love fishing, check out the Beaverkill stream, which is close to campgrounds like Little Pond - DEC. A reviewer noted, "Close to the Beaverkill and lots of great fly fishing."
  • Swimming: Some campgrounds, like Lake Taghkanic State Park Campground, have swimming areas. One camper shared, "The lake is quite nice and the swimming area is well-protected."

What campers like:

  • Scenic Views: Campers rave about the beautiful surroundings. A visitor at North-South Lake Campground said, "The Catskills are very scenic, and we enjoyed our time there!"
  • Privacy: Many sites offer a good amount of space between them. One camper at Woodland Valley Campground - DEC appreciated the foliage, stating, "Each of the campsites in our loop has a lot of foliage around it, creating privacy."
  • Clean Facilities: Campers often mention the cleanliness of the facilities. A reviewer at Kenneth L. Wilson Campground noted, "The bathrooms were very clean and new, and the showers were free and temperature controlled."

What you should know:

  • Limited Cell Service: Many campgrounds have little to no cell service. A visitor at Devil's Tombstone Campground pointed out, "There is NO cell service here. You have to drive about 5 minutes towards Hunter to get service."
  • Bear Activity: Bears are known to visit some campgrounds. A camper at North-South Lake Campground mentioned, "There are bears that visit the campground, and one came one of the nights."
  • No Electric Hookups: Many campgrounds, like Woodland Valley Campground - DEC, do not offer electric hookups. A reviewer noted, "This place is all in all a fantastic place for camping... the facilities are ok."

Tips for camping with families:

  • Activities for Kids: Look for campgrounds with playgrounds and activities. One camper at Rip Van Winkle Campgrounds said, "There are playgrounds for the kids, basketball, pool, and a remote control car track."
  • Choose Weekdays: If you want a quieter experience, consider camping during the week. A visitor at Woodland Valley Campground - DEC mentioned, "It was really peaceful when we visited in the middle of the week."
  • Pack Extra Supplies: Be prepared for limited amenities. A camper at Lake Taghkanic State Park Campground advised, "Bring extra tarps and rope!"

Tips from RVers:

  • Check Site Sizes: Make sure to check the size of the sites before booking. A reviewer at Rip Van Winkle Campgrounds noted, "We were assured that it would fit... but we were within 2 inches or less of trees on 4 or 5 instances."
  • Road Conditions: Be aware of road conditions when driving in. A camper at Rondout Valley RV Campground mentioned, "The roads are worn dirt and look more like a refugee camp to me."
  • Book Early: Popular campgrounds can fill up quickly, especially on weekends. A visitor at Kenneth L. Wilson Campground suggested, "It can get a little busy on the weekends, so worth reserving in advance."

Camping near West Kill, New York, has something for everyone. Whether you're a family looking for fun or an RVer seeking adventure, this area is worth exploring!

Frequently Asked Questions

What camping is available near West Kill, NY?

According to TheDyrt.com, West Kill, NY offers a wide range of camping options, with 172 campgrounds and RV parks near West Kill, NY and 14 free dispersed camping spots.

Which is the most popular campground near West Kill, NY?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near West Kill, NY is Woodland Valley Campground — DEC with a 4.2-star rating from 29 reviews.

Where can I find free dispersed camping near West Kill, NY?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 14 free dispersed camping spots near West Kill, NY.