Camping sites around West Nyack accommodate seasonal patterns with most facilities operating from April through October. During summer weekends, temperature swings can range up to 25 degrees between day and night at higher elevations. Wooded areas often receive 5-10 inches more annual rainfall than surrounding lowlands, creating varied camping conditions throughout the region.
What to do
Lake swimming: 15-minute walk from Beaver Pond Campground with a lifeguard-monitored beach during summer months. "The beach is closed after Labor Day to the public, but open to people staying at the campsite. Clean and beautiful. Great hikes," notes a visitor.
Wildlife viewing: Dawn or dusk offer best viewing times with various animal sightings. "The best part was at dusk when the animals came out!" reports one camper at Black Bear RV Park.
Farm animal interaction: Available year-round at Pleasant Acres Farm RV Resort where children can feed goats, chickens, and horses. "The farm has goats, a donkey, and a pony within the campground. Very cool," says one reviewer.
Hiking on Appalachian Trail sections: Access points within 10-20 minute drive of most campgrounds. "It terminates at Iona Island Bird Sanctuary, a lovely long grassed marshland. The trails in the area are friendly to hikers, bikers, and the non arthritic kneers."
What campers like
Spacious sites: Fahnestock State Park offers more private camping options. "Almost all of the sites offered privacy.... Even when the campground was full," according to one camper, while another mentions that "This place can book up during camping season in the Northeast so make sure to book early in advance."
Clean facilities: Many campgrounds maintain well-kept bathrooms and shower areas. "Bathrooms for our area looks well kept outside," notes a visitor at Black Bear RV Park, while another mentions that showers at Fahnestock had "been painted this past year."
Convenience to NYC: Most campgrounds provide relatively easy access to public transportation. At Liberty Harbor RV Park, "the light rail is a block away, and the path train is about 8" blocks away. Another camper reports that "from here you can pretty much easily get anywhere in NYC."
Diverse camping accommodations: Options range from tent platforms to full hookup RV sites. "We have gone from tent platform, tent camping, tarp, and now hammock camping," shares a Beaver Pond visitor. "The sites can be a bit tight, at times and you may find a few visitors, not necessarily on two legs, but always a delight."
What you should know
Variable weather conditions: Pack for temperature fluctuations, especially in spring and fall. "We stayed here on a Thursday night in September prior to taking off backpacking. The campground was clean and quiet."
Reservation requirements: Most popular campgrounds fill quickly. "Fall and summer weekends fill quickly at most RV parks in the region, with several facilities closing for winter between October and April."
Wildlife encounters: Tri-State RV Park and surrounding areas have active wildlife. "Safe, clean, and right on the Delaware River. Groceries and Home Depot close buy if you need to restock," notes one camper, while another mentions, "The gem is the beautiful grounds, river, and parklike setting. Lots of wildlife around."
Road access limitations: Some campgrounds have challenging entry roads. As one camper at Skyline RV Camp warned, "The campground was pretty hard to find. We almost gave up before we found someone local who could point us to the right place. One of the reasons is that their sign is half gone, small, and very hard to read."
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Look for campgrounds with updated play areas. "They have a nice open beach on Canopus Lake with a concession area and bathhouse, which we found to be quite clean! They even have boat rentals."
Quiet time enforcement: Policies vary by campground. "Quiet time at night is laughable as the enjoyment of being in nature rages on into the early morning."
Educational opportunities: Woodland Trails Campground and others provide nature learning experiences. "There are lots of trees and the sites had the potential to be spacious and secluded," notes a visitor, making it suitable for nature exploration with children.
Off-season family benefits: Less crowded conditions from September-May. "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."
Tips from RVers
Leveling challenges: Some RV sites require substantial adjustment. "Sites kind of level and very close. Power and water, and convenient dump station if staying and needing to dump."
Electric service variations: Different amperage options exist across campgrounds. "They have an onsite buffet with live entertainment if your timing is right. They are also located right on a river that you can easily access by foot. They have a decent laundry facility and full hook ups."
Navigation hazards: Several routes have low clearance or tight turns. "Getting in and out of the city is an adventure. Stay right off the highway to avoid the $30 tunnel toll. Follow RV life pro and not Waze."
Winter camping limitations: Few campgrounds provide full services year-round. "We are returning to the south after spending a couple months of fall in New England. We have short driving days and we try stop after every couple hundred miles for one night at a time, just to sleep, shower and eat."
