Suffolk County parks provide most of the camping options near Bay Shore, New York. The region's coastal location creates distinct camping environments, from beachfront sites exposed to Atlantic breezes to wooded inland areas sheltered by pine forests. Temperature swings between day and night can be significant, particularly during spring and fall camping seasons when daytime highs may reach 70°F while dropping into the 40s after sunset.
What to do
Beach activities: 10-minute walk from campsites at Smith Point County Park where campers can access both bay and ocean waters. "A short walk from the ocean to the bay, both accessible by walking from your campsite," notes one visitor who rated the campground highly.
Hiking trails: 7-mile lake loop available at Blydenburgh County Park with multiple access points from the campground. "Great park with a nice 7 mile loop around the lake with decent fishing. Lots of horses and dogs on the trail," according to a camper who visited in September.
Fishing: Multiple locations throughout Suffolk County parks with freshwater options at inland parks and saltwater fishing at coastal sites. "Lake is great and only a short walk, but no swimming," reports one Blydenburgh visitor, while others mention bringing rowboats for fishing.
Cycling: Boardwalk and park roads provide paved surfaces for cycling between camping areas and beaches. One camper at Heckscher State Park suggests, "Bring a bicycle or scooper and you can ride the loop around to the beach; you can also drive to the beach."
What campers like
Wildlife viewing: Deer sightings common at Cathedral Pines County Park where wooded sites offer quiet surroundings. A reviewer mentioned, "Usually quiet, occasional deer. Be sure to lock food away as the raccoons are pretty invasive."
Clean facilities: Updated restrooms and showers receive consistent praise at most Suffolk County parks. At Smith Point County Park, one camper noted: "Had onsite bathrooms and showers that were clean. 1 minute walk over the dune to the Atlantic ocean."
Wooded campsites: Natural separation between sites at several parks, particularly inland locations. At Southaven County Park, campsites are described as "large" with "slight rain one day but who cares! NO chores around home, sites are large, just bring a fire pit."
Sunrises and sunsets: Ocean and bay views create dramatic lighting conditions during morning and evening hours. One Smith Point camper described, "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."
What you should know
Limited privacy at some locations: Several campgrounds feature open layouts with minimal separation. At Heckscher State Park Campground, a camper observed: "The campsites are very close together without any defining borders so everybody just walks across each other site's to get to a different one, a path, the bathroom, etc."
Insect protection essential: Coastal and wooded sites both have significant insect populations. At Watch Hill Fire Island Campground, one camper warned: "We couldn't even enjoy our meals at camp because it was that bad. Def bring a shelter or a canopy with a mosquito net!!!"
Fire pit policies vary: Some parks don't provide fire rings. At Southaven County Park, visitors need to "bring a fire pit" as noted by a regular camper, while others sell firewood on-site or allow portable fire containers.
Suffolk County Green Key Card: Required for resident rates at county parks, offering significant savings. One Blydenburgh visitor explained: "Worth buying green key card for resident access. 200 but you'd spend that 4 nights regardless."
Tips for camping with families
Playgrounds and recreation areas: Several parks feature dedicated children's play equipment. Southaven County Park has "a beautiful lake and a really nice playground highly recommended" according to a recent visitor with small children.
Ranger programs for children: Watch Hill Fire Island Campground offers scheduled activities led by park staff. "There are park rangers on site and have excellent programs for kids," notes one camper who visited with family.
Safety considerations: Campground layouts affect supervision ease. At Heckscher, a visitor observed: "Rangers came around checking on everyone often so it really did feel incredibly safe... Everyone I met was friendly."
Special events: Holiday-themed weekends occur throughout camping season. One Smith Point camper mentioned: "It also happened to be Trick or Treat weekend on the campground which really fun to see."
Tips from RVers
Hookup availability varies: Not all sites offer full connections. At Wildwood State Park Campground, "RV sites had water, electric and sewer hookups at each site," while other parks may offer only electric and water.
RV-specific areas: Some parks separate RV campers from tent campers in dedicated sections. A Wildwood visitor noted there is "a separate area for RVs vs tents" which can affect the camping experience.
Access challenges: Long Island parkways have height restrictions. When planning routes to Nickerson Beach Park, RVers should note there are "height restrictions on the parkways so RVs and semis cannot travel on them without a high risk of crashing into the bridges."
Site leveling: Some campgrounds have more level sites than others. At Smith Point, sites near the bay are described as requiring minimal leveling, with one camper mentioning the straightforward process of "re-level it, hook up sewer, water, power, & extend the slides."
