Many of New York's best camping sites in mid-Hudson Valley, according to Hipcamp
The app, which is similar to Airbnb but for camping, compiled its data for the ranking through bookings, reviews and ratings across over 500,000 active sites that had a recommendation rate at or above 95% and received 5 or more completed bookings in 2024.
Here's which New York camping sites made the list.
What are Hipcamp's best places to camp in New York?
Starting prices for the 15 campsites range from $23 to $145 per night as of Aug. 5. The following places made Hipcamp's list:
in Ferndale, Sullivan County
in Gardiner, Ulster County
in Watkins Glen, Schuyler County
in Vernon, Oneida County
in Hillsdale, Columbia County
in Glen Spey, Sullivan County
The Dominion House Farm and Trails in Blooming Grove, Orange County
in Walden, Orange County
in Keeseville, Clinton and Essex counties
in Sullivan, Madison County
in Ithaca
in Glen Spey
in Big Indian, Ulster County
in Savona, Steuben County
in Kerhonkson, Ulster County
See the list: 7 best hiking trails for kids in the Rochester region
Which New York camping sites received additional Hipcamp awards?
Three camping sites in New York — The Dominion House Farm, The Mountain Top at Wright's Farm and Historic Riverside Farm — were further recognized by Hipcamp. Here's which additional awards they received and what to know about them.
The Mountain Top at Wright's Farm
This over-450-acre site was also selected as one of the Best Farmstays in the U.S. and received the Legacy Award, which means it's been a Hipcamp property for over five years and is proven to be among the best. Located in Ulster County, The Mountain Top at Wright's Farm is home to Gardiner Brewing Co. and provides visitors with breathtaking views of the Shawangunk Mountain Range.
The location has four RV and tent sites and three tent-only sites and is a 10-minute drive from Minnewaska State Park and the Mohonk Peserve.
Cost: Starts at $45.
The Dominion House Farm and Trails
This historic renovated ranch was also named one of the Best RV & Van Spots in the U.S. Located in Orange County, The Dominion House Farm and Trails consists of four sites and 40 acres of walking trails as well as miles of rail trails for hiking and mountain biking.
You can also grab a bite to eat at a local winery or breweries, spend the day exploring the Storm King Art Center, the Motorcyclepedia Museum or LEGOLAND or do some shopping at the Woodbury Commons Premium Outlets.
Cost: Starts at $30.
See the list: 6 quirky and scenic roadside attractions in the Finger Lakes
Historic Riverside Farm
This Orange County site also received the Legacy Award and is listed as both a state and national historic landmark. Located 80 miles from both Manhattan and Albany, the 50-acre Historic Riverside Farm has 1,600 feet of direct river access as well as ponds, rolling meadows and woodlands.
The four-site location open for RVs or tents is a short drive to the Angry Orchard Cider House, several wineries and craft breweries, Minnewaska State Park, Mohonk Mountain House and Bashakill Preserve. Visitors are also not far from some city life and can take a 20-minute drive to Newburgh's waterfront and the Walkway Over the Hudson.
Cost: Starts at $54;
Emily Barnes reports on consumer-related issues for the USA TODAY Network's New York Connect Team, focusing on scam and recall-related topics. Follow her on X and Instagram @byemilybarnes. Get in touch at ebarnes@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Best camping spots in NY's Orange, Sullivan, Ulster counties: See top 15
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Many of New York's best camping sites in mid-Hudson Valley, according to Hipcamp
Fifteen New York campsites were included in Hipcamp's list of best camps in every U.S. state, with many of them located in the mid-Hudson Valley. The app, which is similar to Airbnb but for camping, compiled its data for the ranking through bookings, reviews and ratings across over 500,000 active sites that had a recommendation rate at or above 95% and received 5 or more completed bookings in 2024. Here's which New York camping sites made the list. What are Hipcamp's best places to camp in New York? Starting prices for the 15 campsites range from $23 to $145 per night as of Aug. 5. The following places made Hipcamp's list: in Ferndale, Sullivan County in Gardiner, Ulster County in Watkins Glen, Schuyler County in Vernon, Oneida County in Hillsdale, Columbia County in Glen Spey, Sullivan County The Dominion House Farm and Trails in Blooming Grove, Orange County in Walden, Orange County in Keeseville, Clinton and Essex counties in Sullivan, Madison County in Ithaca in Glen Spey in Big Indian, Ulster County in Savona, Steuben County in Kerhonkson, Ulster County See the list: 7 best hiking trails for kids in the Rochester region Which New York camping sites received additional Hipcamp awards? Three camping sites in New York — The Dominion House Farm, The Mountain Top at Wright's Farm and Historic Riverside Farm — were further recognized by Hipcamp. Here's which additional awards they received and what to know about them. The Mountain Top at Wright's Farm This over-450-acre site was also selected as one of the Best Farmstays in the U.S. and received the Legacy Award, which means it's been a Hipcamp property for over five years and is proven to be among the best. Located in Ulster County, The Mountain Top at Wright's Farm is home to Gardiner Brewing Co. and provides visitors with breathtaking views of the Shawangunk Mountain Range. The location has four RV and tent sites and three tent-only sites and is a 10-minute drive from Minnewaska State Park and the Mohonk Peserve. Cost: Starts at $45. The Dominion House Farm and Trails This historic renovated ranch was also named one of the Best RV & Van Spots in the U.S. Located in Orange County, The Dominion House Farm and Trails consists of four sites and 40 acres of walking trails as well as miles of rail trails for hiking and mountain biking. You can also grab a bite to eat at a local winery or breweries, spend the day exploring the Storm King Art Center, the Motorcyclepedia Museum or LEGOLAND or do some shopping at the Woodbury Commons Premium Outlets. Cost: Starts at $30. See the list: 6 quirky and scenic roadside attractions in the Finger Lakes Historic Riverside Farm This Orange County site also received the Legacy Award and is listed as both a state and national historic landmark. Located 80 miles from both Manhattan and Albany, the 50-acre Historic Riverside Farm has 1,600 feet of direct river access as well as ponds, rolling meadows and woodlands. The four-site location open for RVs or tents is a short drive to the Angry Orchard Cider House, several wineries and craft breweries, Minnewaska State Park, Mohonk Mountain House and Bashakill Preserve. Visitors are also not far from some city life and can take a 20-minute drive to Newburgh's waterfront and the Walkway Over the Hudson. Cost: Starts at $54; Emily Barnes reports on consumer-related issues for the USA TODAY Network's New York Connect Team, focusing on scam and recall-related topics. Follow her on X and Instagram @byemilybarnes. Get in touch at ebarnes@ This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Best camping spots in NY's Orange, Sullivan, Ulster counties: See top 15 Solve the daily Crossword
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For Travel + Leisure's column Traveling As, we're talking to travelers about what it's like to explore the world through their unique perspectives. Burnt out from corporate America, Kelly Benthall got her finances in order and gave up her Texas lifestyle to retire at 53 and live around the world in Airbnbs with her husband, Nigel. Here's her story… I was living in Texas and working in oil and gas. As time went on, and the kids left, my job became extraordinarily stressful—to the point that I had to be wheeled out on a gurney through the lobby, hooked up to an EKG. After all those years of feeling like I needed to overachieve, my doctor said my job was trying to kill me. Once I realized that, my husband, Nigel, and I got a financial advisor who gave us some sound projections and advice. I always thought I would retire at 65 and play golf. Nigel didn't have a retirement plan. He was going to work forever, and it took me a couple of years to get him to turn the corner. 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I might walk by and walk in, but I like just hanging out at a cafe and chatting with people. While I have lots of friends and family in Houston, it's not ultimately where I wanted to be, sof when Nigel and I both retired, we got the idea to travel the world, living for a month at a time in Airbnbs. Kelly and her husband while in Provence, France. We started with a trial run in 2023, spending a month in Mexico to make sure we could actually live with just each other. At the time, we had been married for about seven years. We stayed in the middle of the jungle in Tulum in a very intimate space—the door between the bedroom and kitchen was glass, so there was no privacy at all. But we did Pilates on the roof together every morning and cooked dinners. We bought a Christmas tree and decorated it. And we did a great job—I was very proud of us. So we came back and started planning our global travels. I watched all the YouTube videos I could find and listened to people's advice. 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It was interesting because the language is so different. We did a walking tour with someone who spoke English so we could get the lay of the land. The city was amazing, like a movie set. We learned to walk up and down its hills. We stayed in a neighborhood that had these local bodega-type shops. The older guys would play buće (bocce) in the evenings, and we would go out and sit with them. We asked our Airbnb host what we could do for the community even though we don't speak the language, and ended up helping harvest grapes at this small winery. They can't hire too many people because of tax issues, so they rely on volunteers. It was hot and difficult work, but a fun way to learn about the culture. Since then, we've also picked up trash on beaches in Mauritius. When you're a tourist, you might not think about it, but when you're visiting for longer, it's different. That's one of the things that helps us connect with the locals. They know we're not just using and leaving. We hope to get more involved with our community work. We would eventually like to work with kids, but we'll have to stay longer to earn that trust and get the language down. When we get to a new place, we'll usually start by finding a local market. We'll explore and find the things locals do. In Seville, for example, we were across the street from a community center, so we'd go and see all the classes people were taking. It was easy to get involved with the neighborhood because they would all gather outside in the evening, so we joined them. That's usually how we acclimate ourselves. We also like to walk around and get lost. Since we're in places for so long, we have time to ask around. A few times a week, we'll do day trips. The other day, we took the train to Avignon and went wine tasting in Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Kelly and her husband while traveling together. In Mauritius, we got really close with our Airbnb host. They lived across the street and invited us over to use their property. We spent New Year's Eve with them. It was just lovely. We stayed in Lecce for a month and would drive to the different coasts. We spent a few days south of there, and I met a woman who took my photograph from behind while I was watching a sunset and drinking a glass of wine. She invited us to a dinner party the next night, so we extended our stay. No one spoke English, except for one kid. We sat in the middle of the table with the hosts, and everyone sat as far away as possible because they knew we didn't speak the same language. But by the end, we were able to communicate using Google Translate and through the child. That was memorable, and I still keep in touch with them. I find comfort in spreadsheets, so we use one to plan our travels. It's color-coded following the sun by region. Then, I have the cost of living compared to the U.S. We also don't want to spend a ton of money on flights, so we pick a general area. Right now, we're doing Europe, and we do a bit of the Schengen shuffle if we need to because we can't stay too long. Nigel's family is in England, so it's been our jumping-off point. We have six kids, and one daughter, two grandkids, and Nigel's mom are all there. Our other kids are in California, Utah, and Texas, so we do a U.S. round for about three months. We stay in each place for at least a month to get the discount. We wanted to spend some more time in Provence because neither of us had been, so we've been in the region for three months now. Next, we're going to go back to England since I've never seen my husband's home country. Then, we're going on a road trip and will spend a month in Ireland. Airbnbs there are about $65 a night, pretty cheap. You can't even get some hostels for that amount. We could stay in bed-and-breakfasts on this road trip, but I don't want to be put together and mingle all the time. I need my own space and a kitchen. We cook all the time with ingredients from the local markets. It saves us money, and it gives us a lot of privacy, which we don't get in hotels. In Mauritius, we did go to a hotel for a nice meal on Christmas Eve, and I was like, 'Oh, I forgot how nice hotels are because everyone is serving you rather than serving yourself.' But I don't think I could live in a hotel. After that, we'll go back to the spreadsheet and feel it out. I know we want to go to Asia, then New Zealand. We also want to go to Bali and South America. We've got all of these big-picture plans. Panoramic jungle views from an Airbnb rooftop. There are definitely challenges. I miss our friends and family, and being able to drop in on people. We always book a place with an extra room so we can have people visit. But it can also be a bit isolating if we don't make an effort. It's not just being in another country. Being retired is weird at this age. At first, I felt a little guilty doing nothing. Now, I realize it's OK to be bored. I enjoy it. I've gotten a lot more creative in this chapter, a lot more introspective. Nigel always wants to go and do things, and I have to remind him, we're here for a long time. You don't need to see everything right away. We're not here as tourists. We're here as kind of locals, while also doing a bit of touring. People will ask where we're from, and that's a complicated answer. They also ask what we do—not so much overseas as they do in the U.S. We're fortunate to have this lifestyle, but it's difficult to explain to people in a way that doesn't sound braggadocious. I tell people we're looking for places where we belong in the world and are exploring and looking for adventure. My background is in behavioral psychology, so I like that I get to walk in the shoes of other people and understand their perspectives. It's been eye-opening. In Texas, we say hello to everyone. In places like France, people are super-friendly, but they'll say bonjour and that's it. They don't automatically become friends with you. It depends on where we are in the world. Once we spend a month in a place, it feels like home. We always feel like we should spend more time there because just when we're getting to the point where we know where everything is, it's time to go. We have our local wine bar and fishmonger, and it's time to leave again. We can't stay during the high season because it's expensive and I don't like crowds. I've found observing and absorbing cultures to be very unifying. The world is giant, but also so small, and traveling really teaches us respect. I have so many friends and family members who just don't understand what we're doing. But if everyone would just go and explore, it would break down these perceived barriers we all have. You realize people have stereotypes about you that may not be true. I can't force my interests on other people, but I do feel strongly about it and think it's something everyone should do.
