Camping sites near Babylon, New York range from beachfront locations to forested parks, offering diverse camping experiences for RVers and tent campers throughout Nassau and Suffolk counties. The region maintains mild temperatures from late spring through early fall, with summer highs averaging 80-85°F. Winter camping options remain available at select year-round campgrounds, though seasonal closures affect availability from November through April.
What to do
Hiking trails and lake access: Blydenburgh County Park features a 7-mile loop trail around the lake with opportunities for fishing. "Hiking trails are beautiful. Dog friendly. Clean bathrooms," notes one visitor to Blydenburgh County Park. Another camper mentions, "Row boat for fishing was great. Not a party or for party site as alcohol is not allowed but I believe if your an adult your good to have an adult beverage."
Beach activities and water sports: Access Atlantic Ocean beaches at county and state parks along the south shore. At Smith Point County Park, campers appreciate the proximity to water. "Our 36ft motorhome backed up to a raised balcony overlooking the bay. Less than 100 feet from the front of our site was the beach and the Atlantic Ocean view," writes one reviewer. The park provides opportunities for swimming, surfing, and beachcombing.
City exploration via public transportation: For urban adventures, several campgrounds offer access to Manhattan. "We brought scooters & had a great stay! Plus you can see the Statue of Liberty from there!" reports a camper at Liberty Harbor RV Park. Another visitor notes, "The light rail is a block away, and the path train is about 8."
What campers like
Direct beach access: Campers consistently mention beach proximity as a top advantage. "Literally steps to the beach," reports one Smith Point visitor. Another camper shares, "Stayed on the bayside (site 30), which had a fantastic direct bay view. Although most sites have views of the bay, some are blocked by seagrass."
Clean facilities and amenities: Multiple campgrounds receive positive reviews for facility maintenance. At Heckscher State Park Campground, one camper notes, "Facilities (bathroom/showers) were clean, campsites were generously spaced, water spouts at almost every site." The park also offers recently constructed beach cottages with modern amenities.
Wildlife viewing opportunities: Several campgrounds provide opportunities to observe local wildlife. At Smith's Point, one visitor mentions, "The deer eat lettuce out of your hand. Shhhh- not supposed to feed the deer." Cathedral Pines campers also report "occasional deer" sightings throughout the wooded campsites.
What you should know
Site proximity and privacy levels: Most campgrounds feature close-together sites with limited privacy. At Battle Row Campground, campers note that "The sites all have a table and raised BBQ 'pit' for cooking only" and "Each site is set back off a common area so there is plenty of privacy." This differs from oceanfront locations where sites are more exposed.
Reservation requirements: Most campgrounds require advance booking, with county parks giving preference to residents. A Smith's Point reviewer notes, "Book early" due to limited availability. County parks like Cathedral Pines offer significant discounts for residents with green key cards.
Fire restrictions vary significantly: Fire regulations differ between locations. Battle Row requires campers to bring their own fire containers, as "There are NO fire pits, you must bring your own. Fires are allowed but you must have a fire container or bucket for your fire off of the ground." Conversely, Skyline RV Camp prohibits fires entirely.
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Several parks provide dedicated play areas. At Cathedral Pines County Park, the wooded setting offers "decent fire pit/grill" options at most sites, making it suitable for family cooking. One camper notes Cathedral Pines is "worth it just to relax and be with family."
Beach-based activities: Smith Point offers family-friendly beach programming. "It also happened to be Trick or Treat weekend on the campground which really fun to see," reports one visitor, highlighting seasonal events that engage children and families.
Wildlife education opportunities: Multiple parks support wildlife viewing with educational components. Blydenburgh County Park offers lake access and trails where families can spot various species. "Lots of horses and dogs on the trail. 30 or so sites around a central public restroom. Everyone was nice and we had a great time," notes a Blydenburgh visitor.
Tips from RVers
Navigation challenges: RVers should plan routes carefully to avoid parkway restrictions. At Nickerson Beach Park Campground, one camper advises, "The online system was not very informational and the camp site map didn't really give any insight into any differences between sites for choosing one." Another notes that RV travel through the area requires careful navigation: "I drove down from Connecticut to Long Island to find the main routes to the campsite all went through New York's parkways."
Hookup configurations: RV sites vary significantly in available utilities. Smith Point County Park provides full-service sites overlooking both bay and ocean, while Blydenburgh Park offers water and electric connections without sewer at most sites.
Size limitations: Some parks cannot accommodate larger rigs. While Nickerson Beach and Smith Point accept bigger RVs, Battle Row Campground and Cathedral Pines have more limited size capacity for rigs, with one Cathedral Pines reviewer noting "not very many electric sites" are available.
