Palenville is the perfect place for adventurous campers and RVers. There are tons of hikes and other fun activities to partake in, as well as sights to see and explore. Find the best campgrounds near Palenville, plus reviews and photos from other campers like you.
$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."
"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."
$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"
$16 / night
"this is close by to many catskill hiking trails"
"It was close to trails and town"
$33 - $113 / night
"From it bathrooms to its pool to its general store , playground , basketball courts , bocceball, 7 acre lake and 2 miles of walkable runable paths , Ted & Angela do a fantastic job of keeping the place"
"It had a little arcade, a nice lake, and playground."
$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. "
"The bathroom and bathhouse were a bit run down looking from the outside, but inside they were updated and clean."
"I went here with my friend and we were using it as our base camp as we went out in trails in the eastern Catskills notably the Devils Path, echo lake, etc."
"Nice little campground with lake sites. The Northville Placed Trail comes out in this campground. The showers were clean and plenty of pressure."
$17 - $195 / night
"The campground has a lake with boat rentals. Late night, stargazing over the lake is a great pastime, because the water is calm and the light pollution is low."
"We decided on Lake Taghkanic. Lake Taghkanic State Park was not a long drive from NYC, maybe 2 hours. The campsite was very clean and maintained."
"There are tent sites around the whole lake with fire pits and 1 lean-to site at the end of the trail when you first arrive at the lake. The sites are relatively flat and well shaded with trees. "
"Lake is surrounded by hills and there is a small lean two with a few campfire spots."
GuideFull disclosure, we did not stay here. PLEASE, folks that leave reviews on this app, PLEASE say whether it’s a full-timer campsite or a recreational campsite. We paid for two weeks in advance of arriving at this site based on reviews available on Google and Dyrt. However, when we arrived we were surprised that this was mostly a trailer park. Call me picky, but I really prefer not to camp in an area where folks are living full time. Just not the vibe I’m going for. We decided to leave without staying. We called to see if we could get a refund and they were very kind and it wasn’t a problem. But just be warned… this is not a recreational campsite.
GuideFull disclosure, we did not stay here. PLEASE, folks that leave reviews on this app, PLEASE say whether it’s a full-timer campsite or a recreational campsite. We arrived after leaving another campsite in the area (that was also 100% full timers) and were disappointed to find that this site was all permanent campers with crap everywhere. One site even had a funeral home sign hanging out front of an entire plywood addition to their camper…like what? Call me picky, but I don’t feel entirely comfortable camping for fun next to folks who live in the campground like this. After driving through the super narrow and rutted out roads to the site they recommend, a man came hauling a** into our site (with a beer in his hand) and was saying “hello hellooooo.” Said he was the owner of the campsite and asked if we were staying, we said we were thinking about it, just checking out the available sites (as the lady up front told us to do). TL;DR- bad vibes. Didn’t stay. Be warned this is a full time campsite with crap everywhere. The lady working the office was super nice though.
GuideThis spot is easy to find and access, and had decent ATT service. There's only a few spots, and the road is narrow with not much turnaround room, I wouldn't recommend for trailers or RVs.
GuideWe stayed one night in late September without a reservation. Bathhouse is old but was adequate with hot showers. We’re from out of state and paid about $23 for a tent site which was reasonable for the facilities.
RangerThis is an old campground, but is quite quaint. Reminds me of lake camping that I grew up with. Hosts are very nice and helpful. This is more of a seasonal camping site. Do not follow your GPS directions. Get directions from the campground staff.
TravelerDespite current info posted online and even at the Lower Field site, not all sites are open. Only the Lower Field site is open. We walked down the hill, across the bridge, and looked at a few sites in each direction. It was walk-in only and about a 5-10 minute walk to the first site. The setting was nice, close to the creek, with a stone fire ring at each. You can see the folks in the next site but there’s quite a bit of privacy. There wasn’t much wood laying around to make a fire, so plan ahead. The ports potties are in the parking lot so it’s likely that you won’t make the trek up to them. Make sure you know the rules about how far away from the water you should pee and whatnot. I believe it’s on the info sign nearby. We have a roof top tent and we were stopping in the middle of a long drive so we just waited until dark and popped it in the parking lot and then left in the morning but I don’t think you’re supposed to do that. FYI they empty the dumpsters at 4am on Monday and then do the ports potties at 7am. Yay.
TravelerNice well maintained park, full hookups with cable and wifi. Office forgot to give us wifi info and had closed early. Very nice staff.
TravelerWell maintained clean campground. Friendly attendants guided us to site and directed in spot. Gravel unlevel pad full hookups.
TravelerThis was only my second camping trip ever (and first tent camping) so grain of salt here - We had a great time at Tolland. The site was spacious and equipped with a bear box, fire ring, and picnic table. The ground at the site was large gravel which was not great in the tent, but walking around it looks like most sites are more dirt and pine needles.
The swimming area is small but sandy, great for kids, and my daughter loved thethe campfire and nature talk given on Saturday night by park staff.
Camping near Palenville, New York, offers a mix of beautiful scenery and outdoor activities. Whether you're a tent camper or an RVer, there are plenty of campgrounds to choose from that cater to different needs and preferences.
Camping near Palenville, New York, has something for everyone, whether you're looking for adventure or relaxation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best camping options near Palenville, NY?
Palenville offers excellent camping options in the heart of the Catskills. North-South Lake Campground is one of the largest public campgrounds in the area with well-spaced sites perfect for families, featuring a huge lake and an ice cream truck that visits during summer evenings. For a unique experience, Treetopia Campground provides a mix of RV sites, yurts, and custom accommodations for a special glamping experience. Other notable options include Rip Van Winkle Campgrounds with private lakes for fishing, and Devil's Tombstone for a more rustic experience. Most campgrounds in the area offer fire rings and picnic tables at each site.
When is the best season to camp in Palenville?
Late spring through early fall offers the best camping experience in Palenville, with summer being the peak season. For fewer crowds, consider camping in May or September. Phoenicia Black Bear Campground is ideally situated for various activities throughout the warmer months, with their creek-front sites being particularly popular. Spacious Skies Woodland Hills can provide a wonderful experience even in early May, before the summer crowds arrive. Weather can be unpredictable, as seen with occasional storms, so check forecasts before your trip. Avoid holiday weekends if possible, as campgrounds like North-South Lake tend to get crowded during these times.
What hiking trails are accessible from Palenville campgrounds?
The Palenville area is a hiker's paradise with numerous trails accessible from nearby campgrounds. Little Pond Campground provides access to wonderful, challenging, and relatively uncrowded hiking trails while also being close to Catskill town options like Livingston Manor. Devil's Tombstone Campground serves as an excellent base for exploring trails in the Hunter-West Kill Wilderness. The region offers everything from gentle nature walks around lakes to challenging mountain ascents with spectacular views of the Catskills. Many trails connect to the extensive network of paths in the Catskill Forest Preserve, providing options for day hikes or longer backpacking adventures.
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