Mills-Norrie State Park
RV Guide
Introduction
Mills-Norrie State Park, also known as the Margaret Lewis Norrie State Park, along with the nearby Odgen Mills and Ruth Livingston Mills Memorial Park, make up 1,000 acres of pristine nature. These parks in New York state are located right on the Western bank of the Hudson river. The Home of Franklin D. Roosevelt National Historic Site is not far away in Hyde Park. The area provides an abundance of activities including walking, hiking, cycling, cross-country skiing, and snow shoeing. Other popular activities in the area includes power boating, nature viewing, grilling, and camping.
The campground has a combination of campsites and cabins for guests to enjoy. There are facilities including showers, water hookups, and a recycling station. The cabins are located closer to the river, while the campsites are further inland. The Marina contains showers, a pump station, and plenty of parking for your trailer. If you wish to recharge your camping set up, you can pay a small fee and hookup your rig. The campground provides easy access to the river with a boat launch ramp within the park. There are over 145 slips in fixed piers and floating docks which you can rent during the season. If there is space available, day boaters can use one of the free slips.
RV Rentals in Mills-Norrie State Park
Transportation
Driving
Mills-Norrie State Park is located on the Eastern bank of the Hudson river. This state park is a short drive north of Poughkeepsie. All the roads are clearly marked and paved, with plenty of parking spaces available at the Marina. The campground is located on a loop and has one parking lot near the cabins. All the campsites are all back-in and can accommodate 20-foot long RVs and campervans. There are townships nearby where you can buy any necessary supplies for your camping experience. The nearest gas station is a 13-minute drive away.
Parking
Public Transportation
Campgrounds and parking in Mills-Norrie State Park
Campsites in Mills-Norrie State Park
Reservations camping
New York City North / Newburgh KOA
Whether you are looking for a tranquil and relaxing vacation, or you prefer the bright lights and fast life of The Big Apple, New York City North/Newburgh KOA has you covered. Explore nature, spend time touring the town, and enjoy the various areas around that are ideal for hiking, biking, and more. Back at the New York City North/Newburgh KOA, you’ll find amenities like Wi-Fi, cable TV, a dog park, a swimming pool, and, in season, plenty of pancakes. Pull-through sites can accommodate rigs up to 100 feet, and propane and firewood are available on-site for purchase.
Mills-Norrie State Park Campground
The campground in the Mills-Norrie State Park services both the Margaret Lewis Norrie and Ogden and Ruth Livingston Mills State Park. There are plenty of picnic tables, parking lots and facilities including a camp office, first aid station, interpretive center, cultural activities, dumping station, and more. There is also a marina located right near the campground which provides fishing access, boat launches, and plenty of space to moor your boat.
There are 10 cabins located near the Hudson River which provide a partial view of the water. The showers and bathrooms are a short distance away. The campsites are located a little further inland at the beginning of the Blue Trail. There is a dumping station, recycling station and fresh water station. The campsites are quite close to one another and there is minimal privacy from other visitors.
Pets are allowed but must be kept at a leash at all times. The dogs are also permitted on many of the trails. If you're looking for some more civilization you can always stop at the nearby State Historic Gift Shop, Norrie Point Environmental Educational center, and a Riverfront Pavilion.
Seasonal activities in Mills-Norrie State Park
Off-Season
Snowshoeing
All the trails surrounding the campground are open to snowshoeing during the winter months. Its the perfect winter activity to do with your family or as a tranquil single walk. After all, if you can walk, you can snowshoe. The scenery all around will take your breath away with the snow-capped trees.
The most popular snowshoeing track is the yellow track which stretches from the parking lot at the Norrie Point Environmental Center towards the park Entrance. The track starts along the Marina, continues through the forests and along the railroad tracks. The trail heads along the ridge towards the park entrance through the forests and wetlands.
If you wish for a longer track then opt for the Blue Trail (Mills Norrie Loop). Along this loop there are picnic pavilions, restrooms, and the Staatsburgh State Historic Site.
Cross-Country Skiing
There is an extensive network of old carriage trails and riverside trails which are perfect for winter time activities. Mills-Norrie State park offers many multi-purpose trails and eight of them are ideal for cross-country skiing. There are no facilities to rent cross-country skis nearby, so make sure to bring your own in your camping trailer.
All the trails are located within a mile of the campground, which is not open in the winter, however there are six car parks available to leave your car at. When it does get snowy and icy, make sure your car has winter tires and possible chains.
Geocaching
A completely free and fun activity for the whole family is geocaching. The game encompasses hiding treasures in the forest and uploading the coordinates to the internet. The rules are easy: "take some stuff, leave some stuff". The area around Mills-Norrie State Park has several of these geocaching hidden locations. You can check out the geocaching website to start the treasure hunting experience.
In-Season
Hiking
Mills-Norrie State Park offers numerous trails that are multipurpose for hiking, biking, and snowshoeing. The best trail is a 4.7-mile trail named the Norrie Point Trail. It has a moderate amount of traffic and is perfect for any skill level. Dogs are allowed on the trail if they are kept on a leash. This trail follows the river and provides nice views of the Mills Mansion.
A fun thing about the Norrie Point Trail is that a local publisher occasionally hangs quotes on trees which bolster hikers for a positive attitude. The Mills Norrie Blue Trail loop is another easy trail which is characterized by blue markers on the trees. This one features gorgeous scenery of the forests, birds chirping in the canopies, and the sun peaking through the leaves.
Fishing
If you are a keen angler, then fishing the Hudson river will be a fantastic opportunity for you so don't forget to pack your gear in the rig. There are over 70 species of fish that live in the river. Whether you head out on a boat or try your luck on the fishing pier you can get some truly incredible catches.
If you wish to catch an American Eel you can find them through out the river. You can spot largemouth and smallmouth bass throughout the Hudson River. There is also the chance to catch Striped Bass, American Shad, and Hickory Shad. Make sure to have the appropriate fishing license before heading out for a day on the water. If you enjoy crab fishing, you can catch 50 blue crabs per day. There are strict size requirements although there are no licenses are required.
Boating
There is a boat launch located right next door to the campground at the Marina. There are over 145 slips along piers and floating docks which can be rented during the season. Boating along the Hudson River provides fantastic views of the surrounding nature, gives you access to little Islands such as Esopus Island, and provides a break from the busy roads. If you do not have your own boat, you can rent a kayak, or join one of the kayak tours. Kayaking and rowing are both popular activities.
