Waterside camping near New Paltz

About 90 minutes north of New York City, this college town sits on the Wallkill River facing dramatic stone cliffs. New Paltz has a laid-back feel, with corner pubs and farmers markets to grab camping ingredients. The historic village is close to the Hudson River and the Catskill Mountains, so it's easy to make day trips to both. Just 8 miles away, the Shawangunk Mountains loom on the horizon. Locals call them the Gunks. The Minnewaska State Park Preserve is here, offering hiking trails, waterfalls, and world-class rock-climbing. Bikes can explore the lovely carriage roads, and there's swimming at Lake Minnewaska. The Mohonk Preserve is a protected section of this same mountain ridge. The recently constructed Samuel F. Pryor III Shawangunk Gateway Campground is here. The tent-only campgrounds offer both walk-in and drive-in spots, plus a communal cooking area with a pavilion. New Paltz has about a half dozen private campgrounds within a short drive. Options range from RV parks with full hook-ups to private farms, rustic cabins, and outdoor resorts with swimming pools. Less than an hour's drive away, campers can pitch a tent at other large public parks. The 14,000-acre Fahnestock State Park is to the south. To the north is the Kenneth L. Wilson Campground near Slide Mountain, the Catskill's highest peak.