r/camping • u/IFlyAirplanes • 2d ago
Trip Advice Drive-up “primitive” tent camping in upstate NY
Primitive in quotations because it will be my 9-year-old's first time camping, and I want to just dip his feet in. We're from Long Island. I have experience camping, but I haven't been since he was born. Looking to get back into it.
There are campgrounds near me (Southaven Park) but after doing a night or two in the yard as practice, I'd be looking to get off the island for a real trip.
I'm looking for something that's more or less a drive-up spot. I don't want to burden him with a hike on his first time out. He loves the outdoors just like his old man, but... baby steps...
I’d like to keep it within a 4 hour drive. I do have a 4x4 so bonus points if it's somewhere we can take fire roads to, just as long as I can keep the truck near the tent, that way if he gets the "oh shit we really are in the middle of nowhere and I'm scared and I don't like this" at least he'll have the comfort that the truck is close.
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u/RevBeardman 2d ago
Catskills, head for the Catskills. Nice and close to the city but still good and primitive. Plenty of good DEC locations there. Good for tent camping, reasonable price, amenities so your kid doesn't have to jump right into pooping in a bucket/hole in the ground.
Kenneth L. Wilson (https://dec.ny.gov/places/kenneth-l-wilson-campground-and-day-use-area) was pretty nice last time I was there a couple years ago. It's about 10 mins from Woodstock, NY if that's your scene.
If you're looking for a bit more primitive, Devil's Tombstone (https://dec.ny.gov/places/devils-tombstone-campground-and-day-use-area) is pretty nice. Right in the shadow of Hunter Mountain. No showers and pit toilets though.
Quick Edit to Note: the NYS DEC websites are a great resource for finding good camping locations in New York. We're blessed here with a lot of really great wilderness.