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Explore All Camping Sites in NYC & Vicinity

Camping near NYC does not have to be hard or expensive (although you could go this way too). Private campgrounds usually have more amenities, but can be waaayyy more expensive than hundreds of sites available at state and county lands. Check out Useful Links below for many more camping opportunities. Here are the best/most well-known of them from both ends, good for families and therefore good for parents:

Jump to Day Hike Destinations in: Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island, Westchester, Long Island, Connecticut, New Jersey, Upstate NY, Pennsylvania

MANHATTAN

  • Governor’s Island– A “one of a kind retreat” with views of Statue of Liberty and much more. Expensive though…
  • NYC Parks Department– Has special days for camping in city parks. Check their website for days and times…

BROOKLYN

  • Floyd Bennet Field– Plenty for kids to do around this one of a kind camp site in NYC…

QUEENS

  • Camp Rockaway @ Ft. Tilden– Use their “safari-style tents” or bring your own, either way you are steps from the beach in Queens…

BRONX

  • None

STATEN ISLAND

  • Fort Wadsworth– Part of Camp Gateway, 7 sites offer “views of Verrazano bridge and New York Harbor”…

WESTCHESTER

  • Croton Point State Park– Camp by the Hudson with a swimming beach on the river near…
  • Sal J Prezioso Mountain Lakes Park– White Plains- Peaceful and quiet on the weekdays, it has five lakes and a great lookout point…

LONG ISLAND

  • Hither Hills State Park– This “camp ground on the beach” books up like it’s free money on Christmas Eve, but if you snag a spot, it will make memories worthy of remembering…
  • Watch Hill– Fire Island National Seashore premier campground, with sites amongst the dunes…
  • Wildwood State Park– 2 miles of sandy beach for swimming in the sound, plus movie nights in the summer…
  • Smith Point County Park– Camping near the beach on both bay and ocean side, but check for tent site availability…
  • Eastern Long Island Kampground– “Luxurious, but pricey”. Pool, archery and even a small racetrack available for kids…
  • Indian Island County Park– “Views of “glistening Flanders Bay” and a relaxing beach area near-by…
  • Cedar Point County Park– Shady forest, mile of beach and free rec equipment…

CONNECTICUT

  • Cozy Hills Campground– Themed weekends, indoor playground and a pool…
  • Nelson’s Family Campground– Clean and has a swimming on the pond as well as a pool…
  • Wolf’s Den Family Campground– Swimming pool, water slide and coconut bowling are just a few activities…
  • Brialee Campground– Lots of themed weekend activities and amenities…
  • Mystic KOA Campground– Pool, jumping pillow and mini-golf on premises…
  • Water’s Edge Family Campground– Stocked fishing lake and huge swimming pool…
  • Odetah Camping Resort– Offers yurts among many other amenities like lake beach, tennis courts and boat rentals…
  • Hemlock Hill Cooperative Campground– Scenic wooded sites near Lime Rock Park and Action Wildlife…
  • Strawberry Park Resort Campground– Five pools and super soaker wagon rides will keep you entertained all day…
  • Lake Compounce Campground– Deluxe tipis and close to Lake Compounce Family Theme Park…

NEW JERSEY

  • High Point State Park- Great trails with views and a sweet swimming lake…
  • Sandy Hook– Miles of both ocean side and sound side beaches to explore in addition to “old battlements” at the 20 sites available…
  • Round Valley State Park– Only accessible by boat, or hiking and fairly primitive, but that can be a plus with older kids…
  • Sun-Air Campground– A sandy lake beach and affordable to boot…
  • Cheesequake State Park– Accessible by public transportation and has a lake swimming area…
  • Delaware River Family Campground– Cabins or rustic sites with a heated pool and boat rentals…
  • The Great Divide– “Beautifully maintained facilities” including an Olympic sized pool and themed weekend activities…
  • Harmony Ridge Farm & Campgrounds– Cabin rentals and rustic sites, a pool and paddle boats available…
  • Sea Pirate Campground– “Lot’s of water related activities” and cabins that come with almost all the comforts of home…
  • Kymer’s Camping Resort– A “full menu of activities” from ball games to swimming, plus near other attractions in Northern Jersey…
  • Butterfly Camping Resort– Lots to do, but also minutes from Six Flags…
  • Four Seasons Family Campground– Swimming, games, fishing and it’s pet-friendly…
  • Ocean View Resort Campground– This New Jersey’s “largest privately owned campground” will keep kids busy for days…
  • Turkey Swamp Park- Made for campers, it has miles of trails and an archery range for little Robin Hoods…
  • Allaire State Park– A working antique steam train at Pine Creek railroad will make it special besides great trails for shorter legs all around… close to beach too..
  • Belleplain State Forest– Located in Cape May area, it has swimming on Lake Nummy or explore the trails…
  • Swartswood State Park– New Jersey’s first state park has a “beautiful lake” for fishing and swimming as well as canoe rentals…

UPSTATE NY

  • Harriman State Park– Beaver Pond campground is close to Lake Welch Beach and the tent sites have “platforms, plus hot showers”, but can get loud and crowded on peak days, there are also paid tentrr sites and 9 free, no-reservation-required trail shelters (first come basis and you must share with others or tent near-by if full). Also check out Sebago Cabins with private beach and row boat rentals and Harriman’s group camping sites for kids. Best for hiking lovers…
  • Malouf’s Mountain Sunset Campground– Pretty comfy and great views… you don’t even have to bring your own meals, they have a full menu, plus they will transprt your gear from train station…
  • Clarence Fahnestock State Park– Swimming in Canopus Lake in the summer and “very scenic hiking trails” in the fall…
  • Lake Taghkanic State Park– Great beach, boat rentals and hiking near-by the campground…
  • Taconic State Park– Cabins and tent sites available with multiple trails with varied difficulty to falls, rail-trails, swimming areas and much more…
  • Mongaup Pond Campground– Plenty of water fun to be had whether at swimming areas, boating or fishing, lots of hiking around too…
  • Little Pond Campground– “Well maintained campground” by a pretty pond and lots of scenic hiking trails near-by…
  • Newburgh KOA– 2 pools, a jumping pillow and close to art centers ( Storm King and DIA Beacon)…
  • Rip Van Winkle Campgrounds– Claims for “best all-around family fun campground” with “fun zones” like pool, r/c track, outdoor movie theater and pedal boats…
  • Moose Hillock Camping Resort– Far (near Lake George), but has the largest heated swimming pool in Northeast…
  • Mills Norrie State Park– Right by the Hudson with trails to walk, fish to catch and maybe even a kayak tour…
  • Blue Mountain Campground– Basic, but near Haine’s Falls and has a pool…
  • Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park @ Lazy River– Deluxe camping with a water park, pedal scooters, ninja course, jumping pillow and gem mining… can be expensive and very crowded though…
  • North-South Lake Campground– Biggest in the Catskills with lots of mountain trails. Visit the site of the former Catskill Mountain House high up, or rent a canoe to tour the lake…
  • Herkimer Diamond KOA Resort– Search for quartz crystals and keep them in this mining themed camping resort, plus lots of daily activities and tubing on the river… 3+ hours from NYC though…
  • Letchworth State Park– The “Grand Canyon of the East” and voted the best state park in US… far upstate but worth the trip, including the hot air balloon ride possibility and numerous magnificent waterfalls to hike to… tent sites, cabins and RV sites available…

PENNSYLVANIA

  • Dingmans Campground– Lots of nature related activities around, spacious sites, and easy with kids… ‘nough said…
  • Otter Lake Campground– “All the bells and whistles”. Lots of daily activities, row boats and 3 swimming spots…
  • Chestnut Lake Campground– Scenic views of mountains and highly affordable with playground and swimming…
  • Little Red Barn Campground– Scenic and serene with a pool…
  • Cranberry Run Campground– Tranquil woodland setting with a pool on the grounds…
  • Jim Thorpe Camping Resort– Anything “from primitive sites to deluxe cabins” in this lovely wooded site near Beltzville and Mauch Chunk lakes… pool on site too…
  • Moyer’s Lake and Campground– Especially “good for fishing enthusiasts” with boat rentals available and kids having their own catch and release pond…

MORE/SIMILAR

Latest Full Reviews of Camping Sites in NYC & Vicinity