Where to Go Camping Near NYC This Fall: Best Spots for Foliage & Fireside Nights

Camping

Sep 1

Fall is the best season for camping near NYC. Crisp air, blazing foliage, cozy campfires — it’s pure magic. The only challenge? Most campgrounds close by mid-October, so timing matters.

👉 Quick Picks for NYC Campers:

Best transit-friendly pick: Harriman State Park (open until Oct 12)
Best late-season pick: Taconic Copake Falls (open until Nov 15)
Best foliage views: North-South Lake, Catskills (open until Oct 26)
Best no-hassle option: Our Autumn Glow Campout | Oct 3–5

Want more reasons to love fall camping? Check out our guide: Why Fall is the Best Time to Go Camping →

Autumn Glow: Fall Leaves and Firelight | Oct 3-5

🍂 Want the Easiest Option? Join Our Autumn Glow Campout

Skip the planning and join us for Autumn Glow | Oct 3–5, 2025 in the Catskills.

Chef-prepared meals
Cozy fires
Clean amenities
Welcoming community

Just bring (or rent) your tent, bag, and pad — we’ll handle the rest.

Book Your Spot Here.

1. Harriman State Park – Classic Fall Escape

📍 Location: Rockland & Orange Counties, NY
🚆 How to Get There: NJ Transit to Sloatsburg + short hike/taxi

Harriman is the closest fall getaway from NYC. With 200+ miles of trails and lakes surrounded by peak foliage, it’s perfect for a quick escape.

🗓️ Open through Oct 12, 2025

2. Taconic State Park – Bash Bish Falls in Peak Color

📍 Location: Columbia County, NY (NY/MA border)
🚆 How to Get There: Metro-North to Wassaic + taxi/rental car

Bash Bish Falls shines in fall, framed by fiery leaves. Copake Falls Campground offers both tent sites and cabins for chilly nights.

🗓️ Open through Nov 15, 2025

3. Delaware Water Gap – River Valley Colors

📍 Location: PA/NJ border
🚗 How to Get There: Best by car; buses to Stroudsburg + taxi

If you want waterfalls, trails, and wide-open views, the Delaware Water Gap delivers. Dingmans and Worthington campgrounds keep you close to the action.

⚠️ Note: Dingmans Falls trail is closed for construction, but campgrounds are open.

4. Minnewaska & the Shawangunks – Cliffs & Crisp Air

📍 Location: Shawangunk Ridge, NY
🚗 How to Get There: Bus to New Paltz + taxi

Known for dramatic cliffs, waterfalls, and even the unique Sam’s Point Ice Caves, Minnewaska shines in fall. Camp nearby at Samuel F. Pryor III Shawangunk Gateway Campground — simple but perfectly located for foliage hikes.

🗓️ Open until Nov 9, 2025

More Catskills Favorites

If Harriman is full or you want to head deeper into the Catskills, these are worth checking:

North-South Lake (Greene Co.) – The Catskills classic with huge foliage views. Open through Oct 26, 2025.
Woodland Valley (Ulster Co.) – Peaceful creekside camping near Phoenicia. Open through Oct 13, 2025.

👉 Pro Tip: When the state parks are booked, Hipcamp private sites (farm stays, orchards, riversides) are fantastic fall alternatives — often easier to reserve last-minute. To find spots close to your preferred State Park, type the State campground into search and you’ll see an option to search for Hipcamp spots close by.

Bonus: Farther Afield (Berkshires & Adirondacks)

If you’re up for a longer drive (3–5 hours), fall foliage in the Berkshires and Adirondacks is breathtaking.

Berkshires, MA: October Mountain State Forest – Open mid-May to mid-Oct; New England’s largest state forest.

Adirondacks, NY:

Many campgrounds close after Labor Day (Rogers Rock, Rollins Pond).
Some extend into mid-Oct, like Moffitt Beach, Cranberry Lake, and Lake George Battleground.
If you want the latest closing option closer to NYC, stick with Catskills’ North-South Lake (Oct 26).