10 Family-Friendly Camping Spots Near NYC

The 10 Best Family-Friendly Camping Spots Around NYC — Getty Images

10 Best Family-Friendly Camping Spots Near NYC

It’s finally time we can start embracing the warmer weather and what better way to do that than to pack up the family and go camping?

Whether you’ve never been camping before or are looking for a new campsite to try, these family-friendly camping spots are less than a 3-hour drive away from Midtown.

Campgrounds provide New Yorkers with some reprieve from tight spaces and for the kids to enjoy time outdoors.

Sure, camping for the first time can be ‘challenging’ getting everything set up. And while we are used to streetcar honks and city sounds, the great outdoors is a whole other vibe, but this is part of the adventure, so find a camp that works for your family and enjoy!

Psst… Check out these Earth Day Events and Activities for families!

Croton Point Park

1 Croton Point Ave., Croton-On-Hudson, NY 10520

1 hr from Midtown

Enjoy the sites and beauty of the 508-acre park that is located on the east shore of the Hudson River.

Plan some exciting activities like visiting the beach, walking on the trails, discovering the museum and whatever else you can squeeze into your trip! Check online for a choice of cabin rentals, RV sites, lodges or tent sites.

Fahnestock State Park

1498 Route 301, Carmel Hamlet, NY 10512

1 hr 15 min from Midtown

This vast campground is perfect for outdoor enthusiasts! Enjoy hiking trails, picnic areas, scenic grounds, and many more activities with your family and friends.

Check out their website to see the popular attractions near the park like the Appalachian Trail, Hudson River Expedition and more. This year the campground is opening on May 12, so plan accordingly.

Round Valley State Park

1220 Stanton Lebanon Rd., Lebanon, NJ 08833

1 hr 15 min from Midtown

This is a perfect spot for the kids, whether you’re enjoying the scenic shore, having a picnic, or walking on the trails.

You can now start camping at the Round Valley State Park. The Round Valley Start Park can choose campsites that can accommodate up to 6 people and group wilderness campsites that can have up to 25.

Wildwood State Park

790 Hulse Landing Rd., Wading River, NY 11792

1 hr 30 min from Midtown

The Wildwood State Park camping season kicks off April 21 but you can look online now to take a virtual tour of the campgrounds and make a reservation.

This 600-acre land of forests is the perfect campground for the Spring. Enjoy activities like hiking, fishing, hunting, and so much more. Trailers and tent sites are available for campers and new cottages that give you a fantastic view of the grounds and are a short walk to the beach.

Malouf’s Mountain

Fishkill, Ridge Trail, Beacon, NY 12508

1 hr 30 min from Midtown

This campground is the perfect place to relax and spend some quality time with the family! The campground itself is located between mountainous terrain where campers have to hike or shuttle to because it’s not accessible by car.

They have platform sites that include a little extra shelter than regular sites for campers who can bring their own gear and tents! This campsite opens for the season on April 29 and is the perfect place to take a break from your life and relax surrounded by peaceful woods.

Rip Van Winkle Campgrounds

149 Blue Mountain Rd., Saugerties, NY 12477

2 hr from Midtown

Opening on May 1 for seasonal family-friendly camping, this campground has exciting activities for the whole family.

The camp ground have “Fun Zones” that include a pool, an outdoor movie theater, playground, giant checkers, and more. You can get a rental cabin and stay only a few nights or get a place for the seasonal months.

Macedonia Brook State Park

159 Macedonia Brook Rd., Kent, CT 06757

2 hr from Midtown

If you enjoy scenic views, you’ll love Macedonia Brook State Park. Go for the amazing views of New York State’s Catskills and Taconic Mountains.

Stay and camp as this site offers unique features like the numerous springs and streams in the park and the Blue Trail that crosses Cobble Mountain and other peaks. The park has recreational activities like hiking, sports fields, and fishing.

Taconic State Park

253 State Route 344, Copake Falls, NY 12517

2 hr 15 min from Midtown

This state park is located along the Taconic Mount Range. The park has a huge facility of over 100 campsites for tents and trailers that are ideal for weekend camping or longer.

There are nearby attractions that the family will love: the Taconic State Park’s Rudd Pond Area- Clermont State Historic Site, and more. The park opens May 19.

Peekamoose Mountain

Peekamoose Rd., Sundown, NY 12740

2 hr 15 min from Midtown

Set up camp at Peekamoose Mountain! There are amazing sites such as the Blue Hole, which is part of the Roundout Creek and reaches the Reservoir.

This is a fantastic place to set up camp, hike, and take in the outdoors. Find time to go up to Peekamoose Mountain with the family and enjoy the peaceful nature.

Hither Hills State Park

164 Old Montauk Highway, Montauk, NY 11954

2 hr 15 min from Midtown

This location offers scenic picnic areas to enjoy the fresh air, fireplaces, fishing, a beach, playing fields, a playground for the kids and a campground.

The site has unique “walking dunes” on the park’s eastern boundary and countless activities to enjoy with the family. Their West Area Camping ground is open now. Check out their website for more information!

Advantage QuickStart Tennis

A proven teaching method, customized by age and ability for ages 3 and up. Special kid-sized racquets and playing area, plus slower-bouncing balls, make it fun from day one!

Instituto Cervantes

Children and teenagers learn to understand and express themselves in Spanish, while improving their communication skills through a dynamic immersion program taught by NATIVE TEACHERS that combines CLASSES, ARTISTIC WORKSHOPS and FUN ACTIVITIES! All of our high-qualified teachers are native Spanish speakers who adapt the structure of the class to the needs and levels of each group while conducting the classes entirely in Spanish. We offer both Spanish Summer Camps and Regular Courses for children along the year to foster language learning and multicultural understanding.

New York Society of Play Summer Camp and Classes

Summer Game Camp There are many who do not feel safe sending their children back out into the world with summer camp, this year. To serve those parents and keep the children connected and stimulated during this challenging time, we are offering NYSP Digital Summer Camp. The name of the game with NYSP Summer Camp is community. We have made a large effort to make our camp feel like a living space, with features including &ndash; - Role-Playing games familiar and new, led by our master storytellers! - Enriching electives such as Chess, World Building, Character Acting, Crafts, Drawing, and more! - Discussion and media screening rooms during lunch! - A digital campus! - Moderated chat hours! &nbsp; Join us for a summer of games, friends, and more! Mon - Fri 10am - 2:30pm &nbsp; Roleplay Expeditions: Dungeons &amp; Dragons No experience is required to join one of our Dungeons &amp; Dragons games. Our game masters have pre-made character sheets, so you'll be able to start playing the game right away! We adapt the rules of traditional Dungeons &amp; Dragons to make them more approachable to children of various ages. Battle in dungeons, search for relics, and make new friends in our one-of-a-kind Dungeons &amp; Dragons workshop!&nbsp; &nbsp; Public games meet once per week, with different groups every time. Private games meet 1 to 2 times per week with the same group of kids. Since the players and the storyteller in the group are consistent, this enables us to tell epic tales of adventure together! &nbsp; Dungeons &amp; Dragons Junior No experience is required to join one of our drop-in Dungeons &amp; Dragons games. Our Dungeons &amp; Dragons Jr. game provides a D&amp;D storytelling experience without character sheets. Battle in dungeons, search for relics, and make new friends in our one-of-a-kind Dungeons &amp; Dragons workshop! A great way to introduce young children to D&amp;D so they can eventually move onto the main game.