Looking for a weekend vacation that will get you outside and away from the crowds? Why not spend the weekend glamping in the Catskills of Upstate New York?
Glamping embraces all the most awesome aspects of camping without the hassle of bringing and setting up tons of gear, and it’s our favorite way to get outside and explore while still sleeping in an actual bed each night.
So why go glamping in the Catskills? Good question!
I’m not exactly sure how or why, but there seems to be a higher concentration of glamping properties in the Catskills than anywhere else in teh northeast. Maybe it’s because there are so many city folk within driving distance of the Catskill Mountains that are aching for outdoor recreation.
Whatever the reason, we are very fortunate to live within a day’s drive of the Catskill Mountains, and we’re excited that there are so many gorgeous glamping properties available for us to choose from!
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Where are the Catskills?
The Catskill Region encompasses more than 700,000 acres of public and private land in Sullivan, Delaware, Greene, and Ulster Counties of New York State, just north and west of the Hudson Valley region.
Catskill Park is a massive state park within the Catskill Region that includes 286,000 acres of protected land.
Catskill Park and the surrounding mountains include endless opportunities for hiking, paddling, swimming, fly-fishing, skiing, and wildlife viewing. Scenic roads wind through the mountains, passing through unique villages, and past scenic vistas, waterfalls, and historic attractions.
The Catskills are just a two-hour drive from New York City, and three hours from Boston and Philadelphia, making it a perfect spot for a weekend getaway in every season.
What is Glamping?
Glamping in the Catskills encompasses all the most awesome things about camping, with some added “glamorous” perks.
Glamping is like a rustic vacation rental or a really upscale camping trip. You usually have a shelter and a bed, but other amenities will depend on the location. Maybe you’ll have a full kitchen, bathroom, and Wi-Fi. Maybe you’ll get an outdoor shower and a composting toilet.
One constant with glamping is that it embraces nature and the outdoors, so you can do all the fun activities you love and then come home to the comforts of your awesome glamping space.
We still love tent camping, but we’ve been hit hard by the glamping bug. There are just so many cool properties out there!
Why Glamping in the Catskills is Awesome
The Catskill Mountains have long been considered a retreat for New York City residents, who have been vacationing and recreating in these gorgeous mountains since the early 19th Century.
America’s first grand resort hotel, The Catskill Mountain House opened in 1824, and before long, millions of city residents were hopping on trains and heading north to drink in the crisp mountain air, swim in the lakes, and relax by the hotel pools.
While the era of grand resorts began to wane in the 1960s, the Catskill Mountains continue to be a draw for outdoor lovers of all persuasions. Opportunities for glamping in the Catskills include cabins, tiny homes, treehouses, yurts, tents, and even a train caboose.
Glamping in the Catskills allows you to have an immersive outdoor experience without having to pack up all your gear. When glamping, you can simply pack a suitcase and head to the woods.
When is the Best for Catskills Glamping
The best time to go glamping in the Catskills depends entirely on what you’re hoping to do when you get there. Summer is obviously prime time for hiking, swimming, and paddling, but a fall foliage glamping trip is a magical experience too!
If you are a winter-sport enthusiast, you will find a number of Catskills glamping retreats that provide wood heat and a cozy atmosphere near some of the region’s best ski resorts.
Finally, if you want to escape the seasonal crowds, and maybe wet a line in the famous trout streams of the Catskill Mountains, you can’t beat a late spring getaway. The Catskills is truly a four-season destination!
Also Read: 16 Incredible Spots for Glamping in New York
Amazing Glamping in the Catskills of New York
There are hundreds of great spots to go glamping in the Catskills! This means that choosing where to go is the hardest part of planning your vacation. If you aren’t prepared to scour the internet for hours before planning your trip, why not choose one of these incredible glamping properties?
No matter what you’re looking for in a glamping vacation, there’s an awesome Catskill retreat with your name on it!
The following unique Catskill Mountain glamping properties are available to rent through various booking platforms, including VRBO, and Airbnb. We talk more about the pros and cons of each booking platform on our Glamping Resource page.
And now onto the amazing Catskills glamping spots!
Postcard Cabins in Western and Eastern Catskills, NY
Sleeps: 4
Dogs: Yes
Escaping to a tiny cabin in the woods has never been easier. Postcard Cabins outposts specialize in providing a unique glamping experience within two hours of major metropolitan areas. Each Postcard Cabins outpost includes a collection of tiny cabins with plenty of outdoor spaces for you to reconnect with nature.
Each beautiful Postcard Cabin includes one or two luxurious queen-size bed(s) next to a large picture window, a tiny kitchen equipped with everything you need to prepare delicious meals, and a bathroom with a shower and toiletries. They are perfect for that romantic getaway you’ve been planning!
Outside, you’ll find a picnic table, fire pit, and chairs for relaxing with your after-dinner cocktails and s’mores. While each tiny cabin offers plenty of privacy, you’ll likely see other glampers through the trees.
There are two outposts in the Catskill Mountains. The Eastern Catskills Outpost is located in Catskill, New York, just a 10-minute drive from the village of Catskill and the Hudson River.
The Western Catskills Outpost is in Roscoe, New York, near the beautiful Pepacton Reservoir, which supplies NYC with nearly 25% of its drinking water. The biggest brown trout in the Catskills, and perhaps the east, swim in the Pepacton, which can be accessed from the shore or from non-motorized boats.
Be sure to check out the Catskill Fly Fishing Center and Museum while you’re in the area.
Beautifully Rustic and Secluded Cabin in Willow, New York
Sleeps: 2
Dogs: Yes
Located just 15 minutes from Woodstock, this rustic cabin in Willow is nestled among the trees, Blueberry Cabin has room for two guests and is pet-friendly. Yes, it’s no-frills, which is exactly what we’re looking for! Amenities include a queen-sized bed, a TV, Wi-Fi, a 60s turntable with vintage records, a kitchenette with basic cooking supplies, and a clawfoot tub, shower, and toilet.
Outdoors, you will find a two-acre field with wild strawberries, blueberries, and mountain laurel, surrounded by 19 acres of woodland. Enjoy evenings in front of the fire pit or relaxing on the porch swing.
Visitors to this cozy glamping cabin will definitely want to check out the Catskills Visitor Center, which has some beautiful, easy hiking trails with nice views. If you are looking for a more challenging trail, be sure to hike to the Tremper Fire Tower from Jessup Road.
The Esopus Creek, just a short drive from Willow, is known far and wide as a prime trout fishing river, so don’t forget your pole and waders.
Glass House in Marlboro, New York
Sleeps: 2
Dogs: No
This tiny camping cabin in the Catskills is located on 30 acres just 90 minutes from New York City. Glass walls open up to endless views of the surrounding vineyards and orchards, and modern comforts include air conditioning, wi-fi, and a modern kitchen.
With just 180 feet of living space, this incredible tiny house is big on comfort and features a small kitchen, wi-fi, a queen-size bed, a dry-flush toilet, and even a shower. The Glass House has been featured in the New York Times, the Today Show, and Upstate House Magazine.
Marlboro, New York is wine country, and no visit would be complete without doing a few tastings and tours. We recommend Benmarl Winery, which is considered the oldest vineyard in America. Estate-grown Baco Noir and Cabernet Franc are incredible, as is the 37-acre vineyard.
Follow the Marlboro Farm Trail to visit more wineries, as well as farms, orchards, and markets in the area.
Container Cabin in Saugerties, New York
Sleeps: 2
Dogs: Yes
You may have heard of the shipping container craze a few years back when people began buying them up and turning them into unique tiny homes. Well, one of those shipping containers found a home in Saugerties, New York, and has been converted into a beautiful woodland retreat for your Catskills glamping pleasure.
The Container Cabin in the Catskills is unlike anything you’ve ever stayed in. It’s a lot like camping, except you have the comfort of four walls and a cozy woodstove to keep you warm.
Amenities include a queen-size sofa bed, a propane stove with pots and pans, and an outdoor shower. There is enough electricity to charge your phones, a working record player, a hammock to relax in, and a nearby waterfall that will lull you to sleep at night.
Saugerties is an eclectic town with lots of great dining and shopping. Looking for nearby hiking trails? Check out Overlook Mountain in Woodstock and the Esopus Bend Nature Preserve in Saugerties.
Airstream in Boiceville, New York
Sleeps: 2
Dogs: No
Have you always wanted to stay in an Airstream? Well, now is your chance!
This gorgeous little camper is located next to a 2-acre meadow and stream in Boiceville, and it’s been outfitted with all the comforts of home. Amenities include a cozy double bed, a full kitchen and bathroom, plus lots of outdoor space to relax and rejuvenate.
A hammock, picnic table, and grill are available for your use, as well as a screened-in outdoor dining area. It’s the perfect glamping site for your next nature retreat.
Boiceville is located near the beautiful Ashokan Reservoir and the Ashokan Rail Trail, which runs 11.5 miles from Boiceville to West Hurly. For amazing artisan bread, be sure to stop into the original Bread Alone Bakery in downtown Boiceville.
1922 Restored Caboose in Windham, New York
Sleeps: 2
Dogs: No
A downtown glamping retreat like no other, this cozy restored caboose is within walking distance of Windham restaurants, shops, and bars.
This cool vacation rental is a perfect couples retreat and includes a queen-size bed, TV, wi-fi, a small kitchenette, and a private bathroom with a shower. An outdoor deck is perfect to relax on after a busy day exploring. What a unique Catskills glamping experience!
Windham is best known as the home of Windham Mountain, a premier Catskill Mountain Ski Resort.
When visiting in the summer and fall, you can hike Windham High Peak via several different trails of varying levels of difficulty. After a climb of around 1,500 feet, you’ll be treated to expansive views of the Catskills and the Adirondack Mountains. Such a great hike!
Geodesic Dome in Woodridge, New York
Sleeps: 2
Dogs: Yes, with restrictions
We’ve stayed in a few geodesic domes since we became hard-core glampers, and this one is absolutely stunning — a spacious geodome at the Outlier Inn in Woodbridge, New York, just 90 minutes from New York City.
The space includes a full-size bed, as well as an outdoor shower, clawfoot tub, outdoor kitchen, and a large fire pit.
The Outlier Inn is a retreat center, an event/workshop/location space, a fiber and vegetable farm, and a world-class recording studio, so be sure to check the calendar for events that may be happening when you visit, including live music, retreats, workshops, and more!
There are many animals on the farm, including merino sheep, angora goats, alpacas, chickens, and Oberhasli dairy goats. Spend your time chilling with the animals, hiking the six miles of trails across the street, or just relaxing in your peaceful, wooded retreat.
Aside from the magnificent geodome, you can also rent one of several tiny homes for your Catskills glamping retreat.
A-Frame Cabin in Margareteville, New York
Sleeps: 4
Dogs: Yes
Escape to this tiny woodland cabin in the western Catskills, nestled among hemlock trees and just a few steps from a gorgeous 30-foot waterfall. This little casita is located on 33 private acres bordering state land. With a cozy wood-burning stove, floor-to-ceiling windows, a queen bed, and a handmade spiral staircase, this would be a perfect weekend getaway for fall and winter.
The well-stocked kitchen includes everything you need to cook or bake your favorite meal, and toiletries are purchased from a zero-waste shop with sustainability in mind.
And while there are no manicured trails, there are lots of opportunities to explore. the great outdoors. In the winter, Belleayre Mountain offers fantastic downhill skiing, and there are nearby mountain peaks to bag during the rest of the year.
Want to find more unique camping and glamping properties in the Northeast? Check out these posts!
- Beautiful Glamping in the Finger Lakes of New York
- 10 Incredible Yurts You Can Rent in New York
- Why Farm Camping in Vermont Should be Your Next Adventure
- The Best Spots to go Glamping in Massachusetts
- Glamping on the Saco River in Maine
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Tara Schatz is a freelance writer and travel blogger with a passion for outdoor adventures. She is the co-author of AMC’s Best Day Hikes in Vermont and currently blogs at Back Road Ramblers and Vermont Explored, where she shares travel tips, adventure destinations, and vacation ideas for the wanderer in everyone.
