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Best Campgrounds near West Shokan, NY

640 Reviews

The Catskill Mountains around West Shokan, New York provide multiple camping environments ranging from primitive tent sites to full-service RV campgrounds. Kenneth L. Wilson Campground, located near Mt. Tremper, offers wooded sites with electric hookups, showers, and boat access. Other developed campgrounds in the region include Woodland Valley near Phoenicia and North-South Lake near Haines Falls. The area contains a mix of state-operated facilities and private campgrounds, with accommodations for tents, RVs, and in some locations, cabins or glamping options.

Seasonal operation is standard throughout the region, with most developed campgrounds open from May through early October. Campgrounds typically require reservations, especially during peak summer weekends and fall foliage season. Water access varies between locations, with some campgrounds offering lake activities like kayaking and canoeing. Bathroom facilities range from basic vault toilets to shower houses with running water. Cell service can be limited or nonexistent at most campgrounds. A camper noted, "No cell service in the campground. We camped in September and the campground was pretty empty = nice and peaceful."

Wildlife encounters, including bears, are possible throughout the area, with many campgrounds requiring proper food storage. Campers report spacious, wooded sites at Kenneth L. Wilson Campground, with good privacy between most sites. Several visitors mentioned the proximity to hiking trails as a key highlight, with Giant Ledge and other popular Catskill trails accessible within a short drive. The region provides access to nearby towns including Woodstock and Phoenicia for supplies or dining options. Based on reviews from The Dyrt, quieter camping experiences are generally available on weekdays, while weekends see higher occupancy rates. "Large and heavily wooded! Enjoyed our stay even on a busy weekend. They have a lake on site with swimming. We happened to spend the weekend on a day with free canoe/kayak rentals which was great!"

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Best Camping Sites Near West Shokan, New York (176)

    1. Woodland Valley Campground — DEC

    29 Reviews
    Phoenicia, NY
    6 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. Catskill/Kenneth L Wilson Campground

    23 Reviews
    Shokan, NY
    5 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"

    3. North-South Lake Campground

    43 Reviews
    Palenville, NY
    21 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."

    4. Thousand Trails Rondout Valley

    13 Reviews
    Accord, NY
    12 miles
    Website
    +1 (888) 707-1477

    "Great place situated in a great area with lots to do all within an hour's drive. Even camping during a pandemic was peaceful & fun!"

    "This is a Thousand trails campground so it was free. I think the regular price is $64. Full hookups, tents and cabins to rent. Pleanty to do in and around campground."

    5. Jellystone Park Gardiner

    32 Reviews
    Gardiner, NY
    21 miles
    Website
    +1 (845) 255-5193

    "With a new check in area, Gardiner has really stepped up. They expanded the pool area to include another pool plus splash area and water slides."

    "We got a red carpet site by the Gaga pit and near the water park (Cindy bear lane) and it was a convenient yet noisy site. Kids were at the playground 8 am or before and the noise woke us up."

    6. Rip Van Winkle Campgrounds

    16 Reviews
    Saugerties, NY
    16 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."

    7. Giant Ledge Primitive Camp

    6 Reviews
    Big Indian, NY
    8 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."

    8. The Peekamoose Valley

    7 Reviews
    Claryville, NY
    9 miles
    Website
    +1 (845) 256-3076

    "We got to the spot at around 4pm, and choose a spot in the “upper field”, although we didn’t see anyone at the lower spots on the road."

    "This was a good campground for a base point for hiking around the peekamoose area. I stayed in the middle field campground site #6 (which is the worst spot on that field)."

    9. Phoenicia Black Bear Campground

    4 Reviews
    Phoenicia, NY
    8 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"

    10. Devil's Tombstone Campground

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

    $16 / night

    "this is close by to many catskill hiking trails"

    "It was close to trails and town"

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Recent Camping Photos near West Shokan, NY

1281 Photos of 176 West Shokan Campgrounds

Recent Reviews near West Shokan, NY

640 Reviews of 176 West Shokan Campgrounds

  • Tamar W.
    Sep. 22, 2025

    The Peekamoose Valley

    Not all sites open

    Despite 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.

  • JThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 10, 2025

    Skyway Camping Resort

    One night stoo

    Nice well maintained park, full hookups with cable and wifi. Office forgot to give us wifi info and had closed early. Very nice staff.

  • 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

  • Janine D.
    Aug. 11, 2025

    Kittatinny Campground

    Not worth the money or time

    If we could rate this a 0 we would.  We were expecting a weekend of kayaking and relaxation when in fact we got an overcrowded, noisy and dirty weekend that was overpriced.  I will give the river a 10, it was beautiful, welcoming and refreshing in the warm sun.  We arrived at about 8:00 in the evening with several camps blaring different genre of music, not a problem, considering we still like it as loud as possible sometimes, but it didn't end at quiet time, it continue until well over midnight.  The campsites are so close together it was like being packed into a sardine can.  The campsite across the pathway didn't have their dog on a lead and we woke up with a pile of dog excrement next to our trailer, that was a howdy-do morning for ya.  We were super excited to take our kayaks out on the river, paddle up stream and float down with our pup, but we were told that we couldn't launch from this location.  (What kind of crap is that)  This location was a receiving location only and "absolutely no launching" was allowed.  If you are looking for a party spot to come with your friends, this is definitely the place for you!  If your looking for a chill place to camp next to the river where you can tube, kayak and enjoy your peaceful weekend, this is NOT the place.  The amount of money we spent for 2 nights was outrageous for such a sucky weekend, will not be going back!

  • 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.

  • Elizabeth M.
    Jul. 20, 2025

    Jellystone Park Gardiner

    Dirty bathrooms

    This is my second time I visited the park, the first time was 4 years ago and we stayed in a cabin, but a few weeks ago we decided to stay in a tent side and it was a nice experience except for some things, the campers don't respect the quiet time at night and morning too. A lot noises until 2 am and early from 6 am. But the worst experience was bathrooms, very few for the number of sites and people it covers. They need to add more bathrooms. They rarely cleaned the bathroom in all the 6 days that I stayed. The showers didn't have enough water pressure, 2 out of 6 had only hot water, some had no paper, hairs everywhere, the toilets didn't work, and super dirty, the truth was a disgusting thing that didn't encourage to use them but there was no other option. For the price you pay is not for having the bathrooms under those conditions. I hope you get better because the truth is a park that has many things to have a good time but with the bathrooms with that condition, is not encouraged to reserve again. And please add more shadows in the areas of the tents and MORE BATHROOMS, is not enough to cover all the tents area.

  • sdwalter@bellsouth.net
    Jul. 10, 2025

    Interlake RV Park & Campground

    Great campsite.

    Great Campsite. Well maintained. Lots of pretty lots under the shade. Good for Families. Pool. Recreation Barn. Recycling. Some people stay here all summer. Close to FDR home and library...a must to see. Quaint towns nearby.

Guide to West Shokan

Camping near West Shokan, New York, offers a mix of beautiful scenery and outdoor activities. Whether you're looking for a peaceful retreat or a fun-filled family adventure, there are plenty of campgrounds to choose from.

What to do:

  • Hiking: The Catskills are known for their stunning trails. Many campers enjoy the nearby Kaaterskill Falls, which is an easy hike with beautiful views. One camper mentioned, "The trail to the Mountain House Site is also pretty easy, with more of an incline," highlighting the variety of trails available.
  • Fishing: If you love fishing, you can cast your line in the local lakes and rivers. One reviewer at Rip Van Winkle Campgrounds said, "You’ve got fishing either in 2 private lakes or you can fish in the river."
  • Swimming: Many campgrounds have swimming areas. Campers at Lake Taghkanic State Park Campground enjoy the beach, with one saying, "The lake is quite nice and the swimming area is well-protected."

What campers like:

  • Natural beauty: Campers rave about the scenic views. A visitor at North-South Lake Campground noted, "The Catskills are very scenic, and we enjoyed our time there!"
  • Privacy: Many sites are well-spaced, allowing for a more secluded experience. One camper at Woodland Valley Campground appreciated the foliage, saying, "Each of the campsites in our loop has a lot of foliage around it, creating privacy between you and the site next to you."
  • Friendly staff: Campers often mention the helpfulness of campground staff. A reviewer at Kenneth L. Wilson Campground said, "The staff was friendly and helpful."

What you should know:

  • Limited cell service: Many campgrounds have poor or no cell service. A camper at Little Pond - DEC mentioned, "No Verizon service and Starlink was spotty."
  • Basic facilities: Some campgrounds may have older facilities. A visitor at Mills Norrie State Park Campground noted, "The restrooms are small but pretty clean by state park standards."
  • Wildlife encounters: Be prepared for wildlife, including bears. One camper at North-South Lake Campground shared, "There are bears that visit the campground."

Tips for camping with families:

  • Activities for kids: Look for campgrounds with playgrounds and organized activities. A family at Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park Gardiner said, "This place is so much fun. My whole family loved the activities."
  • Choose quieter times: Weekdays tend to be less crowded. A visitor at Woodland Valley Campground mentioned, "It was really peaceful when we visited in the middle of the week."
  • Pack extra supplies: Some campgrounds may not have firewood or other essentials for sale. A camper at Kenneth L. Wilson Campground noted, "They sell wood (kiln dried) but not ice."

Tips from RVers:

  • Check site sizes: Make sure your RV fits the site. A reviewer at Rip Van Winkle Campgrounds said, "The lots are large and nicely wooded with working full hookups."
  • Be cautious of tight spaces: Some campgrounds have narrow roads. A camper at Rondout Valley RV Campground mentioned, "The roads are worn and look more like a refugee camp to me."
  • Plan for limited amenities: Some campgrounds may not have all the amenities you expect. A visitor at New York City North-Newburgh KOA said, "The mini-golf course was being redone."

Camping near West Shokan, New York, has something for everyone. Whether you're hiking, fishing, or just enjoying nature, you'll find plenty of options to make your trip memorable.

Frequently Asked Questions

What camping is available near West Shokan, NY?

According to TheDyrt.com, West Shokan, NY offers a wide range of camping options, with 176 campgrounds and RV parks near West Shokan, NY and 14 free dispersed camping spots.

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

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

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

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

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