Campgrounds and RV parks near Palenville, NY

Palenville sits at the base of the Catskill Escarpment in Greene County, at the eastern gateway to the Catskill Forest Preserve. Route 23A climbs from the village into Kaaterskill Clove, connecting RV travelers to Haines Falls, Tannersville, and Hunter within a short drive. The Thruway (I-87) at Exit 20 or 21 puts the area within roughly two and a half hours of New York City and under an hour from Albany. Camping options range from state-run DEC facilities to family-owned private parks. North-South Lake, the largest and most popular state campground in the Catskill Forest Preserve, sits just up the mountain and anchors the area. Private options nearby include Blue Mountain Campground, Rip Van Winkle Campgrounds Inc, and Whip-O-Will Campsite, along with Colgate Lake, a DEC area near East Jewett, and Camp Goat Hill. Most private parks offer full or partial hookups suited to RV rentals, while DEC sites lean rustic with no hookups. The mix makes Palenville a practical base whether the trip prioritizes hiking access or full-service amenities.

State-run DEC sites, including North-South Lake, are reserved through ReserveAmerica. Camping reservations can be made up to 9 months in advance, with sites released at 8AM on weekdays between March 15 and Labor Day and 9AM otherwise. Same-day reservations are allowed until 5pm on day of arrival at all DEC campgrounds, bookings can be made online or through the Reserve America call center at 1-800-456-2267, and walk-ins are not permitted. Private campgrounds such as Blue Mountain Campground, Rip Van Winkle Campgrounds Inc, and Whip-O-Will Campsite handle bookings directly through their own websites or by phone. Summer weekends and holidays should be locked in months out for RV-sized sites with hookups. Colgate Lake is a DEC day-use area with primitive backcountry camping under DEC rules rather than reservable RV sites, so plan accordingly.