Where to Go Camping Near NYC This Fall: Best Campgrounds + 2026 Closing Dates
Fall camping near NYC might be the sweet spot of the entire camping season: crisp mornings, changing leaves, quieter campgrounds and long evenings around the fire.
The tricky part is timing.
Some popular campgrounds close right after Labor Day, while others stay open through peak October foliage — and a handful keep welcoming campers well into November.
If you’re planning a fall camping trip from NYC, here’s where to go, what makes each campground worth the trip, and how late you can camp there in 2026.
Want more reasons to love sleeping outside once the temperatures drop? Check out our guide: Why Fall is the Best Time to Go Camping
Want an Easy Early-Fall Weekend? Join Mountain Cruisin’
Want to kick off fall camping season without planning the whole weekend yourself? Join us for Mountain Cruisin’ | September 11–13, 2026 at Basecamp Brooklyn Estates.
September is that beautiful in-between season in the Catskills, when the meadows turn golden, nights start getting cooler and the first hints of fall appear across the landscape. On Saturday, we head to Upward Brewing for the Fährt motorcycle meetup — cars are welcome too! — with plenty of time for food, drinks, scenic rides and hanging out.
Back at camp, we’ll take care of the chef-prepared meals, campfires and the rest of the weekend.
Just bring your camping gear — or rent your tent, sleeping bag and sleeping pad from us — and we’ll take care of the rest.
Slow down, take the scenic route, and rediscover the joy of the open road.
Mountain Cruisin’ is all about rolling through winding mountain roads, exploring hidden Catskills gems, and kicking back fireside with our community of down-to-earth humans who value good food, fresh air, and real connection. Whether you're coming up on two wheels, four wheels, or catching a ride with a friend, this weekend is about embracing the journey—not rushing the destination.
For Saturday , we’ll have scenic driving route options for anyone who wants to spend the day exploring—whether you're on two wheels or four.
We’re teaming up with Fährt, who will be hosting their Catskills meetup,and providing both on-road and off-pavement routes for riders looking to cruise or get a little dusty.
For car campers, we’ll have our own curated routes ready—perfect for a mellow day of scenic overlooks, quaint main streets, and plenty of photo opportunities. All routes wrap up back at camp in time for Chef Allan’s feast and fire.
Best Campgrounds Near NYC for Fall Camping
1. Harriman State Park – An Easy Early-Fall Escape
🗓️ Beaver Pond Campground open through October 11, 2026
Harriman is one of the easiest places to squeeze in a fall camping weekend without committing to a long drive from NYC. Beaver Pond Campground sits within Harriman State Park near Lake Welch, surrounded by woods that make early October feel a whole lot farther from the city than it actually is.
Spend the weekend hiking, hanging around camp and watching the forest transition into fall. Campsites have picnic tables and fire rings, and the campground has restrooms and showers — an easy setup for a quick two-night escape.
The catch is timing: Beaver Pond Campground closes relatively early, so think September through the first half of October, rather than a late-foliage trip.
2. Woodland Valley – Creekside Camping Near Phoenicia
🗓️ Open through October 12, 2026
Woodland Valley is one of our favorite Catskills campgrounds for a weekend that combines time in the woods with a little exploring around Phoenicia.
Tucked into a narrow mountain valley with Woodland Creek running alongside the campground, it has a cozier, more enclosed feel than North-South Lake. You can hike from the surrounding valley, take a scenic drive through the Catskills, grab breakfast or lunch in Phoenicia, and still be back around the campfire by evening.
For fall, the main thing to know is that Woodland Valley closes on October 12, so this is a better pick for late September or early October than for a later foliage weekend.
→ Planning a Catskills weekend? Check out our full guide to the Best Campgrounds in the Catskills Near NYC.
3. North-South Lake – The Catskills Fall Classic
🗓️ Open through October 25, 2026
If the trip you’re picturing involves mountains covered in red, orange and gold, North-South Lake is probably our top pick on this list.
The campground gives you lakeside camping plus access to some of the Catskills’ best-known scenery. From the campground, trails lead toward the former Catskill Mountain House site, Artist’s Rock, Sunset Rock and other overlooks with huge views across the surrounding mountains and Hudson Valley.
And unlike many DEC campgrounds in the Catskills, North-South Lake stays open well into October. The 2026 season runs through October 25, giving you a much better window for an October foliage camping trip.
If your main goal is classic Catskills scenery + fall color + a real campground, this would be one of the first places we’d check.
4. Delaware Water Gap Colors Into Late October
🗓️ Camping through October 31
If you’re looking for a fall camping trip that still works late in October, Worthington State Forest is one of the strongest options near NYC.
The campground sits along the Delaware River beneath the Kittatinny Ridge, surrounded by the rugged landscape of the Delaware Water Gap. From camp, you can hike toward Mount Tammany or Sunfish Pond, explore a stretch of the Appalachian Trail, or simply spend the weekend enjoying the river and surrounding forest.
The campground itself has both tent-only and tent/trailer sites, with picnic tables, fire rings, showers and bathrooms.
Its late season makes Worthington particularly useful for NYC campers who miss the earlier foliage weekends — or just want one more camping trip before October is over.
→ Want more options west of the city? Check out our guide to the Best Campgrounds in New Jersey.
5. Taconic State Park – Bash Bish Falls + A Long Fall Season
🗓️ Campsites open through November 14, 2026
Taconic State Park at Copake Falls gives you something most campgrounds on this list can’t: the chance to keep camping well after the main October season winds down.
The park sits along the Taconic Mountains near the Massachusetts border. From camp, you can hike toward Bash Bish Falls, bike or walk the Harlem Valley Rail Trail, explore the historic Copake Iron Works, or simply spend the day wandering the park before heading back to camp.
The 2026 campsite season runs all the way through November 14.
That makes Copake Falls a fantastic option for extending your fall camping season — but by late October and November, pay much more attention to the overnight forecast than the daytime high. You’ll want a sleeping bag and sleeping pad appropriate for the temperatures you’ll actually encounter.
→ Camping later in the season? Read our Ultimate Guide to Staying Warm While Camping in Fall.
6. Shawangunk Gateway Campground – The Gunks Into November
🗓️ Open through November 15, 2026
Want to keep camping even later? The Samuel F. Pryor III Shawangunk Gateway Campground — usually just called the Gunks Campground — runs through November 15 this year.
Its location near Mohonk Preserve and Minnewaska makes it an excellent base for a fall weekend built around hiking, climbing and exploring the Shawangunk Ridge. You can also head into New Paltz when you want food, drinks or a break from chilly weather.
There are both walk-in and drive-in tent sites, but there are two details worth knowing before you reserve: tents have to fit on a 12-by-12-foot platform, and individual campsites do not have fire rings. Instead, there’s a communal fire pit near the campground pavilion.
So it has a slightly different vibe from the classic state-park campground experience — but for a late-October or November weekend in the Gunks, the location and long season are hard to beat.
👉 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.
Already Have a Campsite? Make the Gear Part Easy.
Found a fall campsite but don’t own all the gear?
You don’t need to buy a tent, sleeping bags and sleeping pads for one or two camping weekends — especially when you’ll have to find somewhere to store everything back in your NYC apartment.
Rent your camping gear from Basecamp Brooklyn before you leave the city, then return it when your trip is over.
Our tents come with a rainfly to make sure you’re prepared for any weather surprises. And for cooler fall nights, a good sleeping setup matters even more: our 35-degree sleeping bag + insulated sleeping pad gives you exactly what you need to stay warm on a fall night in the woods.
NYC’s Go-To Camping Gear Rental
Featured by New York Magazine + I LOVE NY
Ready for a weekend outside but don’t own all the gear? Rent clean, high-quality tents, sleeping bags, and sleeping pads with convenient pickup and return in Greenpoint, Brooklyn.
Perfect for first-time campers, music festivals, group trips, and anyone who wants to experience camping without buying and storing a full setup.
Perfect for Festivals, Group Trips, and City Campers
Our gear is lightweight, easy to carry, and simple to set up—whether you’re heading to a music festival, escaping to the Catskills, taking a road trip with friends, or trying camping for the first time.
Convenient Pickup & Drop-off:
Pickup Location: Bond Collective Building, 276 Greenpoint Avenue.
Pickup: Wednesday
Drop-off: Monday
(Need a different time? Contact us before booking.)
Popular weekends book out fast—especially during music festival season. Don’t wait! Reserve ahead to guarantee your gear.
*Please email us for availability before booking for same day or next day pick up.
Ready to Plan Your Fall Camping Trip?
Fall camping near NYC doesn’t end with Labor Day.
You can squeeze in an easy September weekend, camp beneath October foliage in the Catskills or Delaware Water Gap, or — if you’re willing to bundle up — keep sleeping outside into November.
Just remember: a campground’s closing date isn’t a foliage forecast. Fall color changes with elevation and weather from year to year, so pick the campground and dates that work for you, then check current conditions and the overnight forecast before you leave.
