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The Catskill region surrounding Willow, New York features a mix of developed campgrounds and primitive sites across forested mountains and river valleys. North-South Lake Campground in Haines Falls provides tent and RV camping with lake access, while Woodland Valley Campground near Phoenicia offers a more secluded experience along mountain streams. Several campgrounds in the area accommodate both tent and RV camping, with some like Rip Van Winkle Campgrounds also offering cabin rentals. The region's camping options range from state-operated facilities with basic amenities to private campgrounds with full hookups and recreational facilities.
Camping season in the Catskills typically runs from mid-May through mid-October, with most developed campgrounds closing during winter months. Many campgrounds require advance reservations, particularly for summer weekends and holiday periods. Cell service varies significantly throughout the region, with many campgrounds having limited or no coverage. "There is NO cell service and just forget about WiFi. You are unplugged," noted one visitor to North-South Lake Campground. The mountainous terrain creates microclimates where weather can change rapidly, and higher elevation sites often experience cooler temperatures even during summer months.
Waterfront camping receives consistently positive reviews, with sites along creeks and lakes being particularly sought after. Phoenicia Black Bear Campground offers creek-front sites that visitors praise for their scenic value. Wildlife sightings, including black bears, are relatively common throughout the region, requiring proper food storage at all campgrounds. According to one camper at North-South Lake, "There are bears that visit the campground & one came one of the nights & visited our camping neighbor's site." Hiking trails connect many campgrounds to the broader Catskill trail network, providing access to notable viewpoints like Giant Ledge. Campgrounds closer to towns like Phoenicia or Woodstock offer convenient access to dining and shopping options, while more remote sites provide greater solitude and immersion in nature.
"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."
"This is a truly beautiful and scenic campground, easily one of the best places we have visited in New York State."
from $22 - $44 / night
Check Availability"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"
from $22 / night
Check Availability"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. "
from $20 / night
Check Availability"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."
"this is close by to many catskill hiking trails"
"It was close to trails and town"
from $16 / night
Check Availability"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."
"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"
from $35 - $65 / night
Check Availability"A great free spot for dispersed camping tucked right off the road. Had a fire pit and picnic table"
"Short walk to all campsites."
"Cool spot next to a pond. There are a few others that aren’t next to a pond, and therefore not as cool… but still pretty cool bc it’s free and you can walk up a little to a pond."
"Nice spot right off the main road and close to town. Small pond-don’t think there are any fish. Picnic table. Fire pit with cooking griddle. Trails to the fishing access across the road."
"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."
GuideI'm sure families would like it here in the summer, but to charge $90 when everything is closed up is ridiculous. Wi-Fi and showers are an additional cost. It does have an ADA shower which is a plus. Lots of permanent RVers and some sites are tight.
ScoutNice campground, bathrooms are clean but dated, first come first serve for the sites.
GuideThe park looks fantastic! Well maintained camp sites and beautiful river sceneries from the boat launch area!
Bathhouse is one of the best I have seen!
Check in was smooth. Everyone was courteous!
LegendMostly peaceful campground with nice spots, most of which offer some privacy. If you are bothered by trains, note that you will hear them in the background quite frequently from the railroad bridge that passes over the Hudson River. It's not loud by any means, but you can hear them.
The state park staff and the camp hosts were all very friendly, and it has some of the cleanest bathrooms I've ever seen in a state park.
Site 20 is a pull through site and it's huge, and while it is next to the shower building, it's far enough away that it really isn't a problem. Also, the field between you and the shower building is a fantastic spot to set up a Starlink dish.
Travelerbeautiful quiet space, great home base for the Catskills and small towns around here. note there's only a few spots. road conditions were fine.
RangerI'll start by saying this is a site-specific review (C20). I booked using Campspot and didn't select my own site but put in the criteria for my rig (30ft TT plus truck) and got a 50A back-in spot. The site was big but abnormal. Between the picnic table placement and the trees, I ended up right around 50ft from the electric and water, and the water spigot was so low I could barely put on my camco filter. With the uneven dirt roads, I had to unhitch with my truck in a gigantic puddle (lol). The site was otherwise fine aside from my gate code not working on Day 2. As for the campground as a whole, I thought it was pretty unique place by the river that offered several good amenities and activities, like downstream river tubing, an arcade, bathroom/shower facilities, a small store, little trails, and more. I would say this place borders the more primitive side.
GuideDefinitely a wide variety of sites—look at the site pictures before booking—there are two areas where it’s just an open field with bonfires and picnic tables that I’d avoid. I could see a large group going there or something but personally it doesn’t offer any privacy.
BUT if you book one of the other sites that DOES have privacy you’ll be in camping heaven. The “hike in” sites are more like “walk-in,” I was worried at first but it’s some are as little as a few yards from the road. The most annoying part was lugging the cooler back and forth, but totally worth it
GuideWe went the 2nd week of October and seems like we had just missed the foliage peak but it was still beautiful.
Everyone minded their business and most sites were 2-4 people, showers were clean and warm but the kind where you gotta push the button every 30 seconds. Toilets were clean and running smoothly (we were in the southernmost loop, closest to the camp office)
No cellphone reception but we could get satellite signal to text our loved ones that we were alive and well!
We loved the hiking and especially kayaking on the pond
LegendWhat an amazing find! This was a perfect location for the first 2 days of our vacation. Steve and Michelle were incredibly accommodating and wonderful hosts! We truly enjoyed our stay and will definitely return!
The Catskill Mountains surrounding Willow, New York range from 1,000 to 4,000 feet in elevation, creating diverse camping environments from riverside sites to mountain retreats. This region experiences significant temperature swings, with higher elevations often 10-15°F cooler than valley locations. The camping season typically begins in May when daytime temperatures average 65-70°F and extends through mid-October when fall foliage peaks.
Creek exploration: Visit Woodland Valley Campground, which features a mountain creek that campers consistently praise. "The mountain creek is like nature singing a lullaby - sleeping next to it was very relaxing," notes John N., highlighting the natural water features that enhance the camping experience.
Hiking options: Tackle nearby trail networks that connect multiple campgrounds. One camper at Giant Ledge Primitive Camp reported, "From the parking area of Giant Ledge/Panther Mountain this was a fairly decent and semi challenging hike. We took our dog too." The trail network offers varying difficulty levels suitable for different hiking abilities.
Swimming and water activities: Enjoy lake access during summer months when water temperatures are warmest. "I go there almost every year to go swimming with my family and friends and it's always a good time," shares Lizz H. about North-South Lake Campground, mentioning the lake's popularity for cooling off during hot summer days.
Spacious sites: Many campers appreciate the roominess of certain campsites in the Willow area. A visitor to Kenneth L. Wilson Campground was particularly impressed with their experience: "We had a 3-day weekend tent camping at this site from July 24-26 2020, at site 58 on Loop C... Campsite is flat and packed dirt instead of gravel, which was great."
Creek-front locations: Sites along waterways receive consistently positive feedback. Derek W. from Phoenicia Black Bear Campground recommends: "They offer creek front and wooded campsites. Each comes with a fire ring and picnic tables. I stayed at one of the creek front campsites and highly recommend doing so. They're slightly more expensive but the view is so worth it."
Proximity to trails: Campers value sites that provide direct access to hiking opportunities. At Devil's Tombstone Campground, one reviewer notes, "This is hands down one of my favorite NYC escapes! A short drive to these rustic tent-only spots, dog friendly, nice rangers and great trees for hammocks!"
Cell service limitations: Prepare for connectivity gaps throughout the Catskills region. At Echo Lake, visitors should expect complete disconnection. Similarly, at Kenneth L. Wilson Campground, Katherine P. observed: "There was no cell service in the campground."
Bear safety requirements: Practice proper food storage as bears are active in the area. Kane B. from Kenneth L. Wilson Campground shares a firsthand experience: "It was the wildest weekend I ever had, I'm not being sarcastic. The hiking areas are great, the weather is perfect and the bear was very nice for a bear."
Campsite availability: Reserve well ahead for peak summer weekends and during fall foliage season. For Giant Ledge Primitive Camp, one hiker cautions: "Getting a campsite up at the Giant Ledge area is hit or miss, as I only know of two. Both were empty when we arrived however."
Weather variability: Pack for temperature swings that can exceed 20°F between day and night, particularly at higher elevations. At Woodland Valley Campground, Gabrielle C. noted: "Cell service is limited, but that wasn't a problem for us."
Playground access: Choose campgrounds with recreational facilities for children. Becky G. from Rip Van Winkle Campgrounds mentions: "Large family friendly campground with all the amenities - boating, showers, great hiking."
Swimming options: Plan camping trips around water access for family entertainment. Eliany L. recommends North-South Lake Campground: "This campground has many different size sites big enough for groups and small for just single. Great place to camp."
Multiple campsite options: Book adjoining sites for larger family gatherings. Tom G. from Rip Van Winkle Campgrounds states: "I go here every year it's such a great campground," highlighting its repeat-visitor appeal for families.
Noise considerations: Research quieter loops for families with small children. At Kenneth L. Wilson Campground, campsites vary in proximity to roads, with a reviewer noting: "Campsites are fairly close together with a variety of levels of privacy. Ours allowed you to be pretty far back from the road for more privacy."
Site size verification: Confirm campsite dimensions before booking to ensure your RV fits comfortably. At Devil's Tombstone Campground, one camper cautioned: "When we arrived site reserved online was too small to fit two cars with being in the road even though the site was listed as fitting two vehicles."
Hookup availability: Check for specific electrical options as many Catskill campgrounds offer limited services. C O. from Rip Van Winkle Campgrounds notes: "Very easy to level and setup on #7. Full connections. Pay showers and laundry onsite."
Road access considerations: Research road conditions leading to campgrounds, especially for larger rigs. Gary G. describes the approach to Woodland Valley: "The long, narrow, and winding road from Route 28 to Woodland Valley campground should not keep you from camping there!"
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Willow, NY?
According to TheDyrt.com, Willow, NY offers a wide range of camping options, with 166 campgrounds and RV parks near Willow, NY and 15 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Willow, NY?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Willow, NY is North-South Lake Campground with a 4.5-star rating from 44 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Willow, NY?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 15 free dispersed camping spots near Willow, NY.
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