Where to Go Camping in the Catskills: A NYC Camper’s Guide
For generations of New Yorkers, the Catskills have been the classic upstate escape: close enough for a weekend, far enough to leave the city stress behind.
The region has long been a summer destination for NYC travelers, with mountain towns, forest roads, swimming holes, lakes, diners, farm stands, trailheads, waterfalls, and nights that feel darker, quieter, and perfectly relaxed.
For city campers, the Catskills are a perfect destination to keep the trip simple, book a public campground, rent the gear you need in Brooklyn, pack the car, and be in the mountains before dinner.
Here are some of our favorite Catskills camping options for New York City campers, especially if you’re looking for beginner-friendly amenities, water access, hiking, and a real weekend-away feeling.
The Catskills cover a wide area. This map shows where each campground in this guide sits so you can choose the part of the Catskills that fits the weekend you want.
Why does everyone love the Catskills?
The Catskills hit that sweet spot for NYC campers.
They’re mountainy, but not too remote. Woodsy, but not isolated. Scenic, but still full of approachable state campgrounds, small towns, and classic weekend trip energy.
Depending on where you’re going, the drive from NYC is often around 2.5 to 3.5 hours, which makes the Catskills realistic for a long weekend or even a simple Friday-to-Sunday escape. And unlike some camping regions that feel mostly RV-focused or highly commercialized, many Catskills campgrounds still feel like classic tent camping: wooded sites, picnic tables, fire rings, bathhouses, trails, lakes, and dinners cooked on the grill.
The biggest thing to know is that the Catskills are a wide and varied region, not one single destination. One campground might put you near dramatic overlook views and popular waterfalls, while another might feel more like a quiet mountain lake weekend, a streamside fishing trip, or a shady forest basecamp near a classic Catskills town. The best campground depends less on finding the “ultimate” Catskills spot and more on choosing the kind of weekend you want to have.
Are the Catskills Good for First-Time Campers?
Yes, especially if you choose a state campground.
For a first camping trip, look for a campground with bathrooms, showers, potable water, designated campsites, and easy access to food or supplies nearby. You’ll still get the full outdoor experience, but you won’t feel like you’ve been dropped into the wilderness with no backup plan.
The Catskills are also great for people who want camping to be part of a bigger weekend. You can hike, swim, paddle, visit a nearby town, stop at a farm stand, grab breakfast, or spend most of the day reading in a camp chair. You don’t have to hike for miles to find a beautiful spot to pitch your tent!
Can You Camp in the Catskills Without a Car?
Sometimes, but it takes more planning.
There are buses from NYC to some Catskills towns, including Phoenicia, Monticello, and Liberty, but most public campgrounds still require a last-mile ride, taxi, pickup, or very carefully planned local transportation. If you’re bringing a tent, sleeping bags, pads, a cooler, food, camp chairs, and everything else you need for the weekend, the easiest DIY version of a Catskills camping trip is usually renting or borrowing a car.
That said, you don’t necessarily need a car to have a Catskills camping weekend.
For our Basecamp Brooklyn camping events, guests can take the bus from Port Authority to Liberty, NY, and we’ll pick you up from there. Once you arrive, the weekend is already built for you: the campsite, food, fire, community, and weekend flow are all part of the experience.
So if you want to plan your own public campground trip, a car will make things easier. But if you want a simpler way to get out of the city and into the Catskills, one of our hosted weekends can be a much easier entry point.
Want the no-car version? Check out our Basecamp Brooklyn Catskills camping weekends!
Best Catskills Campgrounds for NYC Campers
North-South Lake Campground
Best for: iconic Catskills views, swimming, hiking, first-time campers who want a classic state campground
North-South Lake is probably the most iconic public campground in the Catskills. In fact, nearly every week one or more of our camping gear renters is headed there!
It is the largest and most popular state campground in the Catskill Forest Preserve, with two lakes, beaches, hiking trails, boat rentals, hot showers, and access to some of the region’s best-known scenery.
This is a great choice if you want your first Catskills camping trip to feel like a true mountain-lake weekend. You can swim, paddle, hike, fish, or just hang out at camp and watch the light change over the water.
Nearby hikes and attractions include Kaaterskill Falls, the former Catskill Mountain House site, Artist’s Rock, Sunset Rock, and other classic escarpment views.
Because this is such a popular campground, it’s important to book early if you want to snag a summer weekend.
Good for:
First-time campers, lake weekends, scenic hikes, swimmers, families, friend groups, and anyone who wants a classic Catskills camping experience.
Less ideal for:
Campers who want quiet seclusion above all else. North-South Lake is beautiful, but it is not a secret.
Mongaup Pond Campground
Best for: wooded lake camping, swimming, paddling, shade, and a quieter western Catskills feel
If North-South Lake is the iconic eastern Catskills lake campground — close to Haines Falls, Tannersville, Kaaterskill Falls, and big escarpment views — Mongaup Pond offers a different kind of Catskills weekend.
Located in Sullivan County near Livingston Manor and Roscoe, Mongaup Pond feels more tucked into the western Catskills. It’s still a lake campground with swimming, paddling, wooded sites, and plenty of summer-weekend appeal, but the surrounding area is quieter, less touristy, and a little more “disappear into the woods.”
The western Catskills towns may be quieter, but they have their own charm: good food, breweries, covered bridges, fishing-town energy, and a slower pace.
The campground sits on a 120-acre lake, the largest body of water in Catskill Park besides the NYC reservoirs. The sites are large and wooded, and some are right on the lake. Swimming, relaxing in the picnic area, hiking, and boat rentals are all popular here.
This is a strong choice for NYC campers who want a classic lake weekend, but would rather pair it with Livingston Manor, Roscoe, covered bridges, breweries, fishing-town energy, scenic back roads, and a slower western Catskills pace.
Good for:
Hot summer weekends, lake lovers, swimmers, and campers who want hidden gems, quiet towns, and a slightly more tucked-away feeling.
Less ideal for:
Campers who want to be close to the busiest Catskills attractions or the Woodstock/ Kaaterskill Falls side of the region.
Little Pond Campground
Best for: a deeper western Catskills weekend, quiet pond camping, scenic reservoir drives, paddling, and small-town exploring
Little Pond is not just a quieter alternative to North-South Lake or Mongaup Pond. It has its own kind of Catskills feeling: a little farther from the city, a little deeper into the western side of the park, and closer to the Pepacton Reservoir, Margaretville, Andes, Downsville, and some of the prettiest driving roads in the region.
The campground itself is peaceful and approachable, with a small pond, a hiking trail around the water, a beach, boat rentals, and remote tent sites on the back side of the pond. It’s a good pick if you want a slower camping weekend built around morning coffee by the tent, an easy walk, a swim, maybe a paddle, and a quiet campfire night.
Where Little Pond really shines is as a basecamp for exploring the Pepacton side of the Catskills. From here, you can spend part of the weekend driving the roads above and around the reservoir, stopping in towns like Margaretville or Andes, or heading toward Downsville for paddling on Pepacton Reservoir or the East Branch of the Delaware River.
This is a great choice for campers who don’t mind a slightly longer drive from NYC in exchange for a more tucked-in, scenic, western Catskills experience.
Good for:
Couples, relaxed friend trips, beginner campers who want a peaceful campground, scenic drivers, paddlers, and anyone who wants to explore the Margaretville / Andes / Pepacton Reservoir side of the Catskills.
Less ideal for:
Campers who want the most convenient drive from NYC, a busier campground scene, big tourist attractions nearby, or dramatic trail access right from camp.
Kenneth L. Wilson Campground
Best for: wooded campsites near Woodstock, mountain scenery, and a softer first camping trip
Kenneth L. Wilson Campground is in Ulster County, about five miles southwest of Woodstock. It offers large, secluded, wooded campsites with mountain views and a picturesque setting.
This is a nice option if you like the idea of camping near Woodstock but still want a comfortable campground experience. The campground has tent and trailer sites, flush toilets, hot showers, picnic areas, boat rentals, a playground, and other amenities.
For first-time campers, this can feel like a good balance: you get wooded sites and Catskills scenery, but you’re not far from town energy, food, shops, and a backup activities plan if the weather gets weird.
Good for:
First-time campers, Woodstock weekends, couples, and people who want woods plus nearby town access.
Less ideal for:
Campers who want a big swimming beach or the most dramatic Catskills hiking right outside the tent.
Woodland Valley Campground
Best for: classic Phoenicia-side Catskills camping, hiking access, creekside sites, and a mountain-town weekend
Woodland Valley is one of those campgrounds that feels deeply Catskills. Tucked at the end of Woodland Valley Road near Phoenicia, it sits at the foot of Slide Mountain, the tallest peak in the Catskills, and is surrounded by Panther, Cornell, and Wittenberg Mountains. The campground also serves as the trailhead for both the Slide-Wittenberg Trail and the Woodland Valley-Denning Trail, making it a strong choice if hiking is a big part of your weekend.
But Woodland Valley is not only for serious hikers. Some campsites sit near Woodland Valley Stream, giving parts of the campground that classic creekside Catskills feeling: shaded sites, mountain air, the sound of water, and the sense that you’ve really tucked yourself into a valley for the weekend. It’s also a quick drive into Phoenicia, where you can wander the cute little town or plan for a very popular brunch stop at Phoenicia Diner before heading home. Phoenicia Diner is first-come, first-served, so go early or be prepared to wait on busy weekends.
Location-wise, this is a great basecamp for the central Catskills. You’re within easy driving distance of the Shandaken area, Woodstock, Big Indian Wilderness, and some of the most beloved mountain roads and trailheads in the region. It feels far from the city, but not necessarily far from other campers. The amenities are solid — flush toilets, hot showers, picnic areas, and 70 tent and trailer sites — but the campground can feel neighborly rather than secluded, especially on a summer weekend.
One note from our own experience: on our most recent trip, cell service was still basically nonexistent at camp. That may vary by carrier, but it’s worth downloading directions, reservations, maps, and anything else you need before you arrive.
Good for:
Hikers, Phoenicia lovers, creekside camping, first-time campers who want amenities, and anyone who wants a classic central Catskills basecamp.
Less ideal for:
Campers who want lake swimming, lots of privacy between sites, or reliable cell service onsite.
Devil’s Tombstone Campground
Best for: serious hikers, simple camping, and old-school Catskills energy
Devil’s Tombstone is one of the oldest campgrounds in the Catskill Forest Preserve, located in Stony Clove and surrounded by some of the highest peaks in the Catskills. It is a small, primitive campground with wooded sites and Notch Lake.
This is not the softest intro-to-camping option, but it has a lot of character. It’s a good fit for campers who want hiking access, a more rugged feeling, and fewer campground frills.
Trails from the campground lead toward Hunter Mountain, Indian Head, and the West Kill Range, making it a strong base for hikers.
Good for:
Hikers, experienced campers, small groups, and people who like a more primitive campground.
Less ideal for:
First-time campers who want hot showers on-site, lots of amenities, or an easy lake-beach weekend.
Beaverkill Campground
Best for: streamside camping, fishing, and a classic western Catskills feel
Beaverkill Campground sits on the Beaverkill trout fishing stream near Roscoe. This stream flows through the developed length of the campground, providing a picturesque view and a historic covered bridge, built in 1865.
This is a great choice if you’re drawn to the sound of water, fishing-town energy, and a quieter corner of the Catskills. It has tent and trailer sites, flush toilets, hot showers, picnic areas, and a very classic streamside campground feeling.
If you want to combine fishing and camping with some small town strolling, you can easily add a drive to Livingston Manor or Margaretville.
Good for:
Fishing trips, stream lovers, slower weekends, campers headed toward Roscoe or Livingston Manor.
Less ideal for:
Campers who want a lake, beach, or big mountain hikes right from camp.
Bear Spring Mountain Campground
Best for: far-western Catskills camping, multi-use trails, swimming, fishing, paddling, mountain biking, and horse camping
Bear Spring Mountain is the most off-the-obvious-NYC-weekend-path campground in this guide. Located near Downsville at the western end of the Catskill Forest Preserve, it sits farther out than many of the Catskills campgrounds city campers usually talk about — and that’s kind of the point.
This is not the campground I’d recommend to someone who wants the easiest western Catskills lake weekend. For that, Mongaup Pond or Little Pond may make more sense. Bear Spring Mountain is the better fit if you want a bigger outdoor recreation area, a more under-the-radar setting, and a weekend built around trails, water, fishing, wildlife, or horse camping.
The campground is centered around the Launt Pond area, with a sand beach, boat launch, canoe and kayak access, rowboat/canoe/kayak rentals, flush toilets, hot showers, picnic areas, and 37 tent and trailer sites. It also has 24 miles of multi-use trails and a separate Spruce Grove area for campers bringing their own horses.
The surrounding Bear Spring Mountain Wildlife Management Area also adds to the appeal if you like a more rugged, activity-forward trip. Launt Pond is stocked with trout, Russ Grey Pond has largemouth bass, sunfish, and bullheads, and the streams in the area contain brook and brown trout. Bird watching is also considered excellent in the WMA, making this a good option for wildlife viewing and nature photography.
If you want to pair the campground with a day outside the park, you can head toward Downsville and the Pepacton Reservoir area. Al’s Sport Store in Downsville rents canoes and kayaks for the East Branch of the Delaware River and Pepacton Reservoir, including 3- and 6-mile river trips.
Bear Spring Mountain is worth the extra drive if you want a quieter, less expected western Catskills campground with lots to do once you get there. But if your goal is cute-town hopping, the easiest drive, or a classic “first Catskills camping trip,” this is probably not where I’d start.
Good for:
Campers who want a less obvious Catskills destination, horseback riders, mountain bikers, paddlers, swimmers, anglers, wildlife watchers, and campers who want to head somewhere their friends have never been before.
Less ideal for:
First-time campers who want the easiest drive from NYC, people looking for the best-known Catskills towns, or campers who want restaurants and shops close by.
So, Which Catskills Campground Should You Choose?
If you want the classic Catskills lake-and-hiking weekend, start with North-South Lake.
If you want a wooded lake campground with swimming and paddling, look at Mongaup Pond.
If you want something quieter and still beginner-friendly, try Little Pond.
If you want to camp near Woodstock, look at Kenneth L. Wilson.
If you want hiking right from camp, choose Woodland Valley or Devil’s Tombstone.
If you want a streamside western Catskills weekend, look at Beaverkill.
If you want western Catskills trails, swimming, paddling, or horse camping, consider Bear Spring Mountain.
There is no single best campground in the Catskills. There is only the best fit for the weekend you want to have.
What to Pack for a Catskills Camping Weekend
For most Catskills state campground trips, you’ll want the basics:
A tent with a rainfly
Sleeping bags
Sleeping pads
Camp chairs
A cooler
Headlamps or lanterns
A camp kitchen setup
Layers for cool nights
Rain gear
Bug spray
Sunscreen
A towel and swim clothes if your campground has water access
Food, snacks, and plenty of drinking water
Even in summer, Catskills nights can feel cooler than NYC, especially after rain or at higher elevations. Pack layers, bring real sleeping insulation, and don’t assume a hot city day means a hot mountain night.
Also, check the campground rules before you go. Firewood rules matter in New York, and state campground pages include firewood restriction information to help prevent the spread of invasive pests and diseases.
Don’t Own Camping Gear? Rent It in Brooklyn.
As Featured in New York Magazine
Recognized as NYC’s go-to camping gear rental in their guide to last-minute camping trips.
Ready for an adventure but don’t have your own gear? Whether you’re heading to a music festival, exploring the great outdoors with friends, or just want to try camping before investing in your own gear, we’ve got you covered. Rent high-quality tents, sleeping bags, and sleeping pads right here in New York City!
Perfect for Music Festivals & Weekend Getaways
Our gear is lightweight, easy to carry, and festival-ready, ideal for those attending outdoor events or camping trips in the tri-state area.
Convenient Pickup & Drop-off:
Pickup Location: Bond Collective Building, 276 GREENPOINT AVE.
(Look for the BOND COLLECTIVE sign under the glass awning at the intersection of Greenpoint Ave and Provost St.)Pickup: Wednesday morning or evening
Drop-off: Monday morning or evening
(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.
If you live in NYC, one of the hardest parts of camping is gathering the gear.
Buying a tent, sleeping bags, sleeping pads, camp chairs, and cooking gear can get expensive fast. And once the trip is over, you still have to clean it, dry it, store it, and somehow fit it into your apartment.
That’s where renting camping gear makes sense.
Basecamp Brooklyn rents camping gear in NYC so you can pick up what you need in Greenpoint, head out for the weekend, and return it when you’re back. It’s a simple way to camp in the Catskills without committing to a full gear closet.
Whether you’re headed to one of these great Catskills spots or branching out of state, we can help you get the basics covered.
And if you want an even easier Catskills weekend, check out our Basecamp Brooklyn camping events where the food, fire, community, and weekend flow are already built in.
The Catskills are close enough to reach, wild enough to feel like an escape, and full of good places to sleep outside.
You just need a campsite, a plan, and the right gear.
Have fun out there!
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