Here are the best places to rough it in the wild on a fun-filled camping adventure.
NASSAU
Battle Row Campground
1 Claremont Rd., Old Bethpage
Karen and Gary Higgins, of Greenlawn, settle in with their camper for what they describe as "three days of peace and quiet" at Battle Row Campground in Old Bethpage. Credit: Daniel Goodrich
- Season: Year-round.
- Campsites: 52 sites equipped with water and electric hookups, 12 tent sites (no water or electricity).
- Features: 44 acres, playground, showers, picnic areas, grills, dump station; must be 21 or older to reserve.
- More info: 516-572-8690, nassaucountyny.gov
Nickerson Beach Park Campground
Lido Boulevard, Lido Beach
- Season: April-Oct.
- Campsites: 89 sites for RVs.
- Features: 121-acre park, picnic area, beach, skate park, sewer and electric hookups.
- More info: 516-571-7700, nassaucountyny.gov
SUFFOLK
For Suffolk County parks' camping fees, visit suffolkcountyny.gov/parks. Suffolk County adds 3% charge for credit card payments.
Blydenburgh County Park Campground
Veterans Memorial Highway, Smithtown
- Season: April-Veterans Day.
- Campsites: 50 tent and trailer sites, 1 group site.
- Features: 588 acres, restrooms and showers, 2 dog parks, hiking, bridle paths, historic homes.
- More info: 631-854-3712
Cathedral Pines County Park Campground
Yaphank-Middle Island Road, Middle Island
Attendees get ready to hear the music of Jerry Garcia during Jerry Jam at Cathedral Pines County Park in Middle Island. Credit: Gabriela Manfredi
- Season: Year-round.
- Campsites: 150 sites including 80 sites with water and electric hookups.
- Features: 322 acres, hiking, mountain biking, picnicking.
- More info: 631-852-5502
Cedar Point County Park Campground
Stephen Hands Path, East Hampton
- Season: April-Veterans Day.
- Campsites: 184 tent and trailer sites, 4 group sites.
- Features: 607 acres, nature trail, saltwater fishing with outer beach vehicle permit, rowboat rentals, picnic area, biking. No night fishing.
- More info: 631-852-7620
Heckscher State Park Campground
Heckscher Parkway, Field 1, East Islip
- Season: May 23-Sept. 1.
- Campsites: 69 tent/RV sites with platform.
- Features: 1,657-acre park, barbecue grill, picnic table, restroom, showers, dump station, playground, ballfield, access to bicycle path and nature trail. Each rented site must have an adult 21 and over registered; no pets.
- Fee: Tent/RV $20 a night Sun.-Thur., $24 a night Fri.-Sat.; $126-$168 a week.
- More info: 631-581-2100, 800-456-2267, newyorkstateparks.reserveamerica.com
Hither Hills State Park Campground
164 Old Montauk Hwy., Montauk
Campers bike around Hither Hills State Park in Montauk. Credit: Newsday/Alejandra Villa Loarca
- Season: April 11-Nov. 22.
- Campsites: 189 tent and trailer sites (behind dunes); no hookups.
- Features: 1,755 acres, restrooms, showers, general store, playgrounds, dump station, swimming, sand-castle contests, fishing, hiking trails, environmental programs.
- Fee: $31 weekdays, $37 weekends. Out-of-state resident: $66 weekdays, $74 weekends and holidays.
- More info: 631-668-2554, 800-456-2267, newyorkstateparks.reserveamerica.com
Indian Island County Park Campground
Off Cross-River Drive, Riverhead
- Season: Year-round for self-contained campers.
- Campsites: 137 tent and trailer sites, 4 group sites.
- Features: 275 acres, fishing, picnics, playground, restrooms, showers.
- More info: 631-852-3232
McCann Campground
Moore’s Lane, Greenport
Season: May-Nov. 1. Campsites: 45; water, electric and sewer hookups available. Features: More than 6 acres, restrooms, showers, dump station, Wi-Fi. Fee: Trailers: $63 a day, $400 a week. Tents: $46 a day, $240 a week. Reservations made through the website. More info: 631-477-0043 or 631-477-0248, ext. 0, villageofgreenport.org
North Fork Cottages and RV Resort
690 Queen St., Greenport
- Season: April 1-Nov. 30.
- Campsites: 3 deluxe safari tents, 3 yurts, 19 cottage suites, 20 Park Model RV rentals and 75 RV trailer sites (water, electric, direct sewer hookups and Wi-Fi.)
- Features: Store, laundry, playground, pool, pickleball/basketball court, 2 dog walk areas.
- Fees: Trailer sites: $100-$220 a night with 30/50 amp includes water, electric, direct sewer hookups and high-speed Wi-Fi. Safari tents: $250-$425 a night weekends (Thur.-Sat.), $215-$295 a night weekdays (Sun.-Wed., excluding holiday weekends). Yurts: $285-$575 a night weekends (Thur.-Sat.), $250-$425 a night for weekdays (Sun.-Wed., excluding holiday weekends). Park Model RV Rentals, 1 bedroom: $285-$575 a night weekends (Thur.-Sat.), $250-$425 a night weekdays (Sun.-Wed., excluding holiday weekends). Park Model RV Rentals, 2 bedrooms: $310-$625 a night weekends (Thur.-Sat.), $285-$460 a night weekdays (Sun.-Wed., excluding holiday weekends). Cottages, 1 bedroom: $325-$535 a night weekends (Thur.-Sat.), $275-$375 a night weekdays (Sun.-Wed., excluding holiday weekends). Cottages, 2 bedrooms: $375-$695 a night weekends (Thur.-Sat.), $305-$515 a night weekdays (Sun.-Wed., excluding holiday weekends). All weekend reservations are two-night minimum. Holiday weekends are three-night minimum. Holiday rate extra, check website for complete list of rates.
- More info: 631-477-0022, nfresort.com
Sears Bellows County Park Campground
Bellows Pond Road, Hampton Bays
- Season: April-Nov. 11.
- Campsites: 70 tent and trailer sites.
- Features: 964 acres, rowboats, showers, bridle path, hiking, dump station.
- More info: 631-852-8290
Smith Point County Park Campground
Off William Floyd Parkway, Shirley
- Season: March 1-Oct. 31.
- Campsites: 79 full hookups, 39 tent and 102 electric trailer sites.
- Features: Bathrooms, showers, dump station, playground, grills, protected beach area.
- More info: 631-852-1313
Southaven County Park Campground
Victory Avenue, Brookhaven
- Season: April 1-Veterans Day.
- Campsites: 104 tent and trailer sites, 30 group sites, some with electricity.
- Features: 1,355 acres, picnic area, dump station, restrooms, showers, bridle paths, fishing, trails, rowboat rentals.
- More info: 631-852-1391 or 631-854-4949
Watch Hill Campground at Fire Island National Seashore
Fire Island (accessible by passenger ferry from Patchogue or by private boat)
The campground at Watch Hill, part of Fire Island National Seashore, offers four safari-style platform tents equipped for glamping. Credit: @loveFINS
- Season: Mid-May to mid-Oct.
- Campsites: 26 family tent sites and one group site.
- Features: Watch Hill marina, grills, restrooms, lifeguarded ocean beaches, park ranger programs, nature trail, snack bar, restaurant, marina store.
- Fees: Tent: $25 a night and $100 weekly May 16-June 19, Sept. 2-Oct. 13; $35 a night and $175 weekly June 20-Sept. 1. Group camping: $75 a night, $300 weekly May 16-June 19, Sept. 2-Oct. 13; $75 a night and $375 weekly June 20-Sept. 1. Two-night minimum Fri.-Sat.; four-day minimum Fri.-Mon. on holidays and limited to 14 consecutive days.
- More info: 631-597-6074, lovefins.com
West Hills County Park Campground
Sweet Hollow Road, Melville
Time to hit the trail at West Hills County Park. Credit: Rick Kopstein
- Season: April-Nov.
- Campsites: 12 areas for youth groups only (scouts).
- Features: 854 acres, bridle paths, picnic area, dog park.
- More info: 631-854-4423
Wildwood State Park Campground
790 Hulse Landing Rd. off Sound Avenue, Wading River
- Season: Tent/RV April 18-Oct. 13, cottages through Oct. 18.
- Campsites: 242 tent sites, 80 trailer sites, and 10 cottages. Pets not allowed. Four one-bedroom (four-person capacity) and two-bedroom (six-person capacity) cottages have cedar shingles, mahogany trim and metal roofs while the rustic-style interior is composed of unfinished natural wood. Each is equipped with a full kitchen and bathroom, screened-in porch, picnic table, electric heating/AC, queen-sized beds and outdoor fire pits with attached grills.
- Fee: Glamping cottage ranges from $175-$250 a night, deposit required. Tent: $20-$33 a night Sun.-Thur., $24-$37 a night Fri.-Sat., $126-$168 a week.
- More info: 800-456-2267, newyorkstateparks.reserveamerica.com
