The Best Spots to Camp in the Catskills

Soul-Satisfying, Camping Awesomeness

Home to more than 1,000 campsites, the Great Northern Catskills offer customized camping experiences for amateurs and pros alike. From the hike-in experience of Devil's Tombstone to taking a few steps from your car campsite to paddling and hiking on some of the best hiking trails in the Catskills, Greene County lives up to its reputation as the adventure capital of the Catskills.

Grab your tent, camp chair, and some marshmallows, and book a few nights at one of the many campgrounds or backcountry campsites in the Great Northern Catskills.

The Old Game Farm

Formerly a zoo home to over 2,000 animals, including giraffes, pygmy hippos, and rhinos, the game farm has reinvented itself as a glamping hub in the Catskills. Check in to one of four tent locations facilitated by Tentrr and enjoy miles of paved walkways, photography opportunities, and peaceful settings. Large canvas tents are equipped with a queen-sized cot, a woodstove, firepit, and picnic table, among other amenities.

Bailiwick Ranch Camping

Bailiwick Animal Park and Riding Stables offers a unique Catskills camping experience. Unroll your sleeping bag in a rustic, cowboy style, canvas covered wagon! Each wagon - of which there are four - has four bunks and plenty of room for stashing gear. Each wagon comes with the use of a fire pit, picnic table, and and mini grill. A bathhouse is located nearby. Guests can also take advantage of all that Bailiwick offers, from paintball to horseback riding, and an animal park that is home to exotic and domestic creatures. Rates are $75 per night for a wagon rental.

Westward, Ho!

North-South Lake State Campground

North-South Lake State Campground is the most popular campground in the Catskills and it's perfect for families or guests looking for a basecamp for exploring the area. Take a sunrise hike to the former site of the Catskill Mountain House, which is an easy 10-minute hike from the campground, and continue on to Alligator Rock, all from your campsite. Nearby in Tannersville, you'll find restaurants and shopping. Rates are $22 per night for a campsite.

Devil's Tombstone

Devil's Tombstone is one of the oldest campgrounds in the Catskill Forest Preserve, and the location more than lives up to its name. Situated deep in Stony Clove and surrounded by some of the Catskill Park's highest mountains, legend has it that the Devil once roamed this region during the early days of settlement in the Catskills. Hike in via state trails, or drive to the campground via Route 214 in Hunter. The primitive camping sites offer picnic tables and fireplaces for campers, as well as water spigots. Rates are $16 per night for a campsite.

Whip-O-Will Campsites

Whip-O-Will Campsites in Round Top offers family-friendly and pet-friendly camping and amenities within easy driving distance of some of the Catskills' top attractions. The campground offers more than 280 sites — some including full-service hookups for RVs, or tent sites with water spigots. Families can keep kids busy at the swimming pool, playground, basketball court, or game room. Mountain bikers will enjoy nearby access to Roundtopia mountain biking trails, and we think everyone will agree that being within a short drive of New York Zipline Adventures at Hunter Mountain is ideal. Tent sites start at $35 for a tent site with water, and go up to $120 for a site with triple water and electric hookups.

Glamping in the Catskills

Enjoy the beauty of the great outdoors while tucked into a cozy, luxurious bed inside a unique Catskills glamping tent, tiny house, or Scandinavian-style cabin!

Luxury Camping