Region
Catskills
Base by county — Ulster or Greene — and drive to trailheads; no train reaches the mountains.
Key facts · United States
- Best months
- May–Aug, Oct
- Currency
- US dollar (USD, $)
- Language
- English
- Plugs
- A · B · 120 V
- Time zone
- Six zones: UTC−5 to UTC−10
Rules in force · 7Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs …Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but ta…
- North America ↗Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs your passport even on a day trip; rental cars need the company's written permission to cross, and most US and Canadian rental insurance stops at the Mexican border.
- North America ↗Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but taking any amount across the US, Canadian or Mexican border is a federal crime — including edibles and vapes.
- North America ↗The busiest US and Canadian national parks need timed-entry, campsite or lodge reservations in summer; release dates are months ahead.
- United States ↗Check whether you need an ESTA (Visa Waiver Program) or a visa on the official CBP and State Department sites; apply only through esta.cbp.dhs.gov, not third-party sites, and allow time before you book.
- United States ↗Several popular national parks use timed-entry or vehicle reservations in peak season; check each park's page on nps.gov and book on recreation.gov before fixing your dates.
- United States ↗Medical care is very expensive for visitors; buy travel insurance with high medical cover before you fly.
- United States ↗Tipping is expected: about 15–20% at sit-down restaurants and bars, and a tip for taxis, hotel staff and guides.
The Catskills are a dissected plateau 2–3 hours north of New York City, not a single town. There is no passenger rail into the mountains, so pick a base by county and drive: Ulster for Slide Mountain and Ashokan Reservoir, Greene for the Escarpment and Kaaterskill Clove, Delaware for the western peaks and fly-fishing streams, Sullivan for Bethel and the 1969 festival site. Two nights covers one county; four nights covers two.
Sleep
Which bed, for how many nights, and what to do from it
Where to sleep
Sleep base
- KingstonCity guide
Ulster County hub; Ashokan Reservoir and Slide Mountain trailheads within an hour.
Best May–Jun, Sep–Oct
JFMAMJJASOND - Hunter / TannersvillePlanned
Greene County gateway to the Escarpment; lodging stock is thinner than Kingston — book early, check availability.
Page planned: listed so the region plan is complete.
Day trip
- DelhiPlanned
Delaware County seat; western Catskills and trout streams.
Page planned: listed so the region plan is complete.
- BethelPlanned
Sullivan County; site of the 1969 Woodstock festival.
Page planned: listed so the region plan is complete.
Night sequences
- 2 nights
- One county: Greene (Kaaterskill Falls, North-South Lake) or Ulster (Slide Mountain, Ashokan)
- 4 nights
- Two counties: Ulster 2 + Greene 2, driving the ridge roads between
- Hurricane Irene (2011) flood damage is still visible in places, notably around Prattsville.
- The Catskills are the rainiest part of New York State — pack for rain even in a dry forecast.
- Cell signal drops in the deep valleys; download maps before you drive in.
Day-trips door to door
| To | From | Door-to-door p50 | Last return | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kaaterskill Falls | Tannersville | 15 min | unknown | Parking fills by mid-morning on fall weekends; the trail to the base is steep — check DEC trail conditions and wear grippy shoes. |
| North-South Lake | Tannersville | 20 min | unknown | Day-use fee per vehicle in season; check current rate. |
| Slide Mountain trailhead | Kingston | 50 min | unknown | Highest peak in the range at 1,277 m; the climb is a half-day. |
| Bethel Woods | Liberty | 25 min | unknown | Museum at the 1969 festival site; check seasonal hours. |
Bags between cities
No luggage forwarding; drive your bags between bases.
When and how
Months, arrival and passes
Seasons at a glance
Pick a month to see where to go.
| Country | JJan | FFeb | MMar | AApr | MMay | JJun | JJul | AAug | SSep | OOct | NNov | DDec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kingston | × | × | ok | ok | go | go | ok | ok | go | go | ok | ok |
| United States (country-wide) | ok | ok | go | go | go | go | ok | ok | go | go | ok | ok |
Computed from each country’s own data; hover a country name for the source. Advisory countries are left out.
Climate strip
| Zone | J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Catskill plateauUlster, Greene, Delaware, Sullivan counties | cold | cold | cool | ok | best | best | best | best | ok | best | cool | cold |
- Catskill plateau
- Summers are cooler than the Hudson Valley; first snows can settle on high summits in early November, and winter nights can drop below −17 °C. Spring creeps up the slopes from the 1 April trout-season opening to Memorial Day.Summers are cooler than the Hudson Valley; first snows can settle on high summits in early November, and winter nights can drop below 1 °F. Spring creeps up the slopes from the 1 April trout-season opening to Memorial Day.
Fall leaf colour is the busiest window; book beds weeks ahead for late September to mid-October weekends.
Get in
| From | To | How | p50 | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stewart International (SWF), New Windsor | Ulster / Sullivan County | Car via I-84 and the Thruway | check | An airport serving the southern Catskills; confirm current routes and road time for your destination. |
| Albany International (ALB) | Greene County | Car via I-87 south | check | A practical airport for the northern Catskills; confirm current routes and road time for your destination. |
| New York City | Kingston / Hunter | Car via I-87 (Thruway) | check | Buses reach some towns; confirm schedules and onward transport to your lodging or trailhead. |
| Rhinecliff or Hudson (Amtrak) | Catskill trailheads | Amtrak Empire Service, then bus or taxi | check | There is no passenger rail directly into the mountains; plan road transport from the river stations. |
Regional passes
Catskill Park access
buyPark entry is free; some trailheads and day-use areas charge a per-vehicle fee in season — check current rates.
Empire Pass (New York State parks)
checkPays only if you also visit state parks elsewhere in New York; run the numbers for your trip.
Eat and move on
Regional food
| Dish | Where | Timing / trap |
|---|---|---|
| Farm-to-table dinners in county towns | Kingston, Delhi, Tannersville | Many kitchens close by 21:00 and shut one or two weekdays; check before driving out.Many kitchens close by 9:00 PM and shut one or two weekdays; check before driving out. |
| Trout from the Beaver Kill and Esopus watersheds | Roscoe and the Delaware County streams | The region is where the American dry fly was developed; many streams are catch-and-release only, so check local rules and buy smoked trout from a shop or farm stand. |
| Maple syrup and orchard produce | Delaware and Ulster county farm stands | Sap runs as winter turns to spring; stands are seasonal. |
| Diner breakfasts | County seats along the main roads | The reliable early start before a trailhead; portions are large. |
Go next
Mid-Hudson and Catskills
plannedDrive east to the Hudson Valley
The parent region: river towns, estates and the valley floor.
New York
~2 h by car via I-87
The main gateway; fly home from JFK, LGA or EWR.
New England
Drive east via I-90 or US-7
Adds a second region; allow a full day of driving.
Rochester, New York
Drive west via I-88 and I-90
Finger Lakes and western New York on the way.
Deep dive
Photos, reading and every source