Campgrounds and RV parks near Kinderhook, NY

The Hudson Valley setting puts RV travelers within a short drive of hiking, swimming and cultural sites. Lake Taghkanic State Park anchors the water-based activities: the park features two beaches, a boat launch, rowboat, paddleboat and kayak rentals, playgrounds, sports fields, a rentable pavilion and showers, plus hiking, biking, cross-country ski and snowmobile trails, with ice skating and ice fishing when conditions allow. East toward the Berkshires, campers can reach Jiminy Peak Mountain Resort for skiing and a summer adventure park, and Catamount Aerial Adventure Park for zip lines. West across the river, the Catskills offer Kaaterskill Falls and Windham Mountain for skiing and mountain biking. Closer to town, the villages of Kinderhook, Chatham, Catskill and Hudson give access to Martin Van Buren National Historic Site, Olana State Historic Site and Clermont State Historic Site.

Most private campgrounds in this area run a spring-to-fall window. Alps Family Campground's season runs from May 1 to October 15, and other private parks nearby generally operate from spring through late October. Peak demand runs from Memorial Day through Labor Day, with holiday weekends and summer Saturdays typically booking well in advance. Spring brings unpredictable weather and lingering cold nights, but campgrounds are less crowded once they open in May. Summer is warm and humid, with July and August delivering the busiest weekends and reliable pool and lake swimming. Fall is a strong shoulder season for foliage in the Catskills and Taconics, with cool nights and lighter crowds through October. Winter camping options are limited. Lake Taghkanic State Park stays open for day use and cold-weather recreation such as ice fishing, ice skating, sledding, snowmobiling and cross-country skiing, and Alps keeps a limited number of sites open year-round for self-contained RVs along with cabin and trailer rentals. Snow can accumulate through the winter months and most private grounds close their water systems.

Private parks in this area lean family-oriented with pools, playgrounds and organized activities. Alps Family Campground offers pull-through and back-in RV sites with water and electric, some with sewer, plus a heated pool, laundromat, free hot showers, playground and activity pavilion. Spacious Skies Woodland Hills and Brook-n-Wood provide a similar family-park setup with hookup sites, restrooms with hot showers, and cabin or lodging options. At Lake Taghkanic, expect a more rustic public-park setup: the park has 60 non-electric tent and trailer campsites plus cabin and cottage lodging, with a 3 p.m. campsite check-in and 11 a.m. check-out. Black bears live in the region, so store food properly, and ticks are common, so long sleeves and repellent are recommended.