Family Camping @ New York City North / Newburgh KOA Holiday

Disclaimer: We were provided free stay in exchange for our honest review - all thoughts and opinions are our own and 100% unbiased, as always :) Affiliate links may be included below, you don't pay more but we receive a small commission from purchases made after clicking.

Whether you prefer off-the-grid tent camping, have an RV, or are looking for more of a "glamping" experience with AC and an actual bed, New York City North / Newburgh KOA Holiday has it all! Kid-friendly campgrounds with tons of activities from outdoor swimming pool and a bounce pillow to bike rentals and fishing, set in the heart of New York's Hudson Valley, just 80 miles north of NYC! Watch our highlights video below for a tour of Newburgh KOA campgrounds (including a peak at their communal showers and bathrooms, in case you'll be at a tent or non-deluxe cabin), a tour of our KOA deluxe cabin, see many of the activities, and read on for more details!!

Let me preface this by saying our family has never been camping. My husband and I have been camping as kids, but it's been a good 2-3 decades! Before we invest hundreds of dollars in tents and gear, we figured we should dip our toes into the experience first by trying out a cabin at the KOA Holiday Newburgh, just a 30 minute drive from our home in Cornwall!

​I've heard such great things about KOA (Kampgrounds of America) from moms in various Facebook groups - it's the world's largest system of open-to-the-public campgrounds, with 525 KOA campgrounds throughout the US and Canada!

​We got a KL1 "Deluxe Cabin" at KOA Holiday Newburgh, that included AC (a unit in the living room and bedroom), a bathroom with a shower, a bedroom with a queen bed (box spring and all!), a small kitchen (with fridge and stovetop but no oven), a queen sleeper sofa (which was horribly thin/springy & uncomfortable but our kids didn't seem to mind), twin bunks (very thin firm mattress on wood - I slept on it one night and found it surprisingly comfortable, definitely better than on the ground in a sleeping bag), and outside had a propane grill, picnic table, fire pit, and parking spot.

​You do have to bring your own linens (towels, sheets, blankets, pillows) as well as toiletries and food. They did have toilet paper and some basic kitchen/cooking/grill supplies, and most of the basics can be bought at their General Store onsite, but we decided to head to the local Hannaford (5 minute drive) to get soap, food, booze, etc.

I was really impressed with the activities they had to offer at the campgrounds! Our kids (and us parents) enjoyed the following FREE activities:

• outdoor pool (3.5-6' deep; no lifeguard; Memorial Day - Labor Day)
• jumping pillow (similar to a trampoline)
• mini golf
• arts & crafts
• playground
• volleyball
• basketball
• hiking
• giant chess / checkers

They also had a fishing pond, horseshoes, wine tasting, a rock climbing tower, fee-based arcade, bike rentals, and excursions!

Every morning from 8-11am they serve free pancakes which were huge and delicious!! You can buy coffee (something like $1.25) and extras such as bacon and sausage. From 12-5pm they serve basic but good and super affordably priced griddle food (we got a cheeseburger, hot dog, and ice cream - all delicious), as well as chips and bottled drinks. If you plan ahead for an early dinner you could have it there, otherwise you're on your own to cook. Though, there are some nearby restaurants that will deliver to the campgrounds, including a pizzeria. But come on, you're camping!! Time to barbecue - I believe the deluxe cabins have a propane grill and other sites have charcoal grills. And for dessert, s'mores over the fire, of course!! The manager actually recommended s'moreos - use the Oreo cookie instead of Graham crackers!! All can be found in their General Store, even reusable metal s'more sticks!

We really enjoyed walking around the campgrounds in the evening after dinner. Everyone is so friendly - sitting out by their fires or watching TV on the outside of their RV's (what!?!?! SO COOL!!). But it's the woods and there are mosquitos... we bought mosquito bracelets and I'm not sure if they helped or not but we got home yesterday and I'm still itching like crazy! So... consider ALL. THE. REPELLENTS - spray, bracelets, coils, you name it! We did twice a day tick checks and didn't find any - phew, but be sure to stay on top of that as well!

There is free wifi, so my husband got some work done on our picnic table one morning, and had a video conference from our kitchen table. We couldn't figure out our TV remote but it was Roku so we were able to control it with an app on my phone. Wifi and TV are pretty essential for my family, even on "off the grid" type of vacations like this. Sometimes you need to do a bit of work, or let the kids chill for a hot minute, am I right?

KOA Newburgh is open late March through October, with pool / snack bar open Memorial Day through Labor Day.

• Tent Site from about $35/night
• RV Site from about $48/night
• Cabin (no kitchen or bathroom, up to 6 people) from about $94/night
• Deluxe Cabin (with Full Shower, up to 8 people), from about $200/night

Get more information and book your stay (or get day passes) here!

RELATED ARTICLES:

• Checklist for First Time Family Camping
• Family-Friendly Day Trips and Weekend Getaways from NYC
• Kid-Friendly Hudson Valley Day Trips & Activities