Cabin camping near Willow, New York offers diverse lodging options across the eastern Catskills region, with elevations ranging from 600 to 1,200 feet. The region experiences distinct seasons with autumn foliage peaking in mid-October, making fall a premium time for cabin rentals. Winter cabin options are limited to select locations that maintain heating systems and year-round road access.
What to do
Fishing opportunities: Lake Taghkanic State Park Campground provides fishing access to its calm lake waters where light pollution is minimal for evening stargazing. A visitor noted, "The lake is gorgeous and there are plenty of nearby hikes for exploring. Wish I would have brought my fishing pole."
Hiking trails: Blue Mountain Reservation serves as an excellent base camp for eastern Catskills trails. A camper shared, "This was my first time staying at this campground. 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. It's proximity to those trail heads was great."
Historical sites: Cabin rentals near Mills Norrie State Park provide access to significant historical landmarks. A reviewer mentioned, "The park is in a beautiful part of the country - the Hudson River Valley - with a good location for visiting the towns, villages and hamlets on the valley. State park also has a good hiking trail network with trailheads connecting to the campground."
What campers like
Creek access: Thousand Trails Rondout Valley cabins offer waterfront settings with natural soundscapes. A camper reported, "The creek that runs by the campground is gorgeous, and my kids had fun finding Crayfish."
Privacy levels: Cabin sites at Rip Van Winkle Campgrounds feature wooded settings that create natural separation between units. According to a review, "Rip Van Winkle is a beautiful campground, it's well run, well maintained, and has a lot to do! 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."
Platform sites: Some locations offer elevated tent platforms that improve camping during wet weather. One visitor to Lake Taghkanic State Park shared, "This was our second time coming to this campground and our second time getting dumped on by the rain, but have no fear!! The platforms kept us off the ground and were helpful in setting up appropriate tarp protection!"
What you should know
Bathroom quality varies: Facilities range from newly renovated to basic across the region. A reviewer at Treetopia Campground commented, "The bathrooms and showers are out of this world! Best of any campground we've ever visited!"
Weather preparedness: The Catskills region can experience significant weather shifts, particularly in spring and fall. A camper noted, "We ended up at Brookside during a bad storm the owner called and let up bunk in the arcade for the night since she was worried."
Train noise: Some Hudson River cabins experience freight train sounds at night. A visitor to Mills Norrie State Park observed, "It was situated right across the Hudson River from a highly active nighttime freight train route, and the noise from the horns and then being awake for a few minutes as the train clattered by."
Tips for camping with families
Kid-friendly water features: Jellystone Park Gardiner offers specialized water areas for younger children. A parent shared, "Nice pool that is shallow so you can relax and let the little ones go in the water park section alone or they have a 3 ft pool also."
Activity scheduling: Weekends feature more organized events than weekdays at family-oriented parks. One camper observed, "The campground had a lot of activities but some were repetitive. It looks like Saturdays have the best activities but we were not there on a Saturday."
Camp store conveniences: First-time campers appreciate well-stocked stores for forgotten essentials. As one visitor to Rip Van Winkle noted, "First trip to ease my way into camping!! Plenty of space, your car is right there next to you, and the camp store has every essential you could ever need if you left anything at home or are just stopping by!!"
Tips from RVers
Site leveling challenges: Interlake RV Park & Campground offers varied terrain that may require preparation. A camper staying there mentioned, "Stayed there for 3 weeks for work it was quite priced very reasonably for full hook up and about a half hour from stunning views."
Off-season access: RV sites with full hookups typically operate from mid-April through mid-October. According to one review, "If you have an RV, they have 30/50 amp with electric and water. There is no sewer, but they have a dump-station and on-site Honeywagon truck that you can schedule."
Large rig accommodations: Some locations can handle bigger rigs while others have size limitations. A visitor noted, "We ended up at this campground because the family we were traveling with needed to accommodate their 50 foot camper. As a rule of thumb- I try to visit as little RV parks as I can, but we were trying to find somewhere that would accommodate both of our needs."
