When planning our summer road trip through New England (click here to see our itinerary), the kids requested a return visit to New York City. Knowing I didn’t want to break the budget on tiny hotel rooms and also wanting to try a unique way to visit, I wanted to find out if there was camping near New York City. I did a quick internet search to see if there was any close parks for camping near New York City and I was happy to find several campgrounds to choose from on CBS New York’s website. We settled on Croton Point Park in Croton on Hudson, New York. I called the number listed on the park website a couple of months in advance and was able to book a campsite with no problems.
Croton Point Park: Camping Near New York City
Arriving in the early evening, we were pleasantly surprised to find such quiet and beautiful campsites sites in close proximity to a major urban area. We were camping near New York City but it did not feel like we were close to a big city at all. There were hardly any tent campers nearby as we set up but we could see a larger area of RV sites pretty close by. With clean bathrooms and showers and large grassy sites, this campground rocks. And this park is really pretty!
With a big grassy field and playground to play on, the kids set off to explore while Dave and I got dinner together. Afterwards we took a walk along the beautiful Hudson River and enjoyed the views. There is a nice swimming beach and several picnic spots along the river but we didn’t use either since our main objective was a city visit the next morning. I still can’t get over how far away this park feels from the city while being so conveniently close! We slept well to the sounds of the river breezes and woke up to the sounds of birds. It is a wonderful place to camp.
Croton Point Park: Camping Near New York City
If you go-
–Those who live close by or who plan to spend several days in the area would do well to buy a $60 park pass to receive reduced prices on campsites but since we were only staying for two nights, we did not purchase one. At $50 a night for a campsite without hook ups for non-pass holders, these sites are not cheap by camping standards, but a very economical choice for a visit to New York City.
–If you are tenting, make sure you set up in the right spots which are down the hill from the RV sites. We set up in the first spot we came to that matched our site number only to be visited by security late in the night telling us we were in the wrong site and that we were actually in a RV site. He asked us to call the office the next day to get it cleared up. When I called they told me I could stay in the spot we were at since it had not been booked. It would have been a hassle to move so I was thankful! They really should change the numbering as I was told by a long term camper that people regularly make this mistake and are asked to move.
–Reserve in advance if you plan to camp over a summer weekend. We talked to a few long term campers who said the tent sites stay filled all weekend but sit mostly empty during the week. There were just a couple tent campers staying nearby during our two night stay.
–The Croton Harmon Metro North Station is just across the street from the park and takes you to Grand Central in about an hour. While we chose to drive our car into the city, this is a convenient option. Our drive in took us less than an hour.
–For more money saving tips for visiting New York check out my post 7 Ways to Save Money in New York City.
I wouldn’t hesitate to stay here again the next time I am traveling to New York City. By being so serene and beautiful yet so close to the city, this campground lets you experience the best of both worlds!
