Cabin campers visiting Brookhaven can find accommodations scattered around the Long Island Sound and Fire Island areas. The eastern end of Long Island offers a coastal cabin camping experience with beach access points and maritime forest settings. Winter cabin stays are limited, with most campgrounds operating from April through October, and shoulder season camping often provides more solitude.
What to do
Beach exploration: Walk the rocky shores at Wildwood State Park Campground, where the Long Island Sound offers sunset views. "The beach is fairly clean and has a small boardwalk. It is a downhill walk to the beach. The beach is beautiful, very rocky, bring your water shoes, sunset scenery is beautiful!"
Coastal hiking: Cedar Point Glamping trails connect to beach areas through maritime forests. "The North Shore experience with high bluffs, sandy calm beaches along the Long Island Sound, and views of CT across the water. Lots of other nice state parks in the area plus all the usual Long Island attractions."
Local attractions: Venture beyond camp to explore the region's offerings from Hammonasset State Park. "You can ride your bike from your site to the playground, store, beach, local ice cream shop, coffee shop, or our family favorite, meig's point nature center."
What campers like
Site selection options: Various campgrounds offer different site characteristics depending on camping style. "You can find sites that are less wooded and better suited to group camping, as well as sites that are a little more secluded."
Beach accessibility: Watch Hill Fire Island Campground provides direct beach access via boardwalks. "Beautiful location steps away from the beach. Listen to the waves crashing as you sleep and stargaze over the clear ocean. Not ready for full on camp-life? No problem! There are shops, a restaurant and a bar a 10 minute walk away!"
Backcountry options: Some locations offer more remote cabin experiences. "You can get a permit to backcountry camp instead of reserving a designated campground spot. Just walk down to the beach after check-in and walk east until you see a pole with a tent symbol on it. After that you can choose where you want to set up camp."
What you should know
Seasonal crowds: Peak season fills cabins quickly at most locations. "This site gives you the North Shore experience with high bluffs, sandy calm beaches along the Long Island Sound, and views of CT across the water."
Insect preparation: Bring proper protection, especially for waterfront cabins. "We were nearly impossible to enjoy ourselves because we were getting attacked by mosquitoes and horseflies the entire weekend. Even with the bug spray, the relief didn't last long. Def bring a shelter or a canopy with a mosquito net!!!"
Ferry transportation: Watch Hill Fire Island requires ferry access, adding logistics to cabin stays. "It is a little less than a half mile walk from the ferry dock and located behind the dunes which offer some protection. Take a quick walk down to the beach."
Bathroom facilities: Quality varies significantly between parks. "Bathroom building itself is in decent shape and has a large amount of toilet stalls and about five showers, the condition of women's room was absolutely ghastly inside."
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Heckscher State Park Campground provides dedicated play areas. "There is a playground just for the campground. Bring a bicycle or scooper and you can ride the loop around to the beach; you can also drive to the beach."
Entertainment options: Many campgrounds offer scheduled activities. "Park staff and rangers regularly patrol the campground and are diligent about cleaning up. On one visit there was a magician performing for the camp goers. I've even been there while there was a philharmonic concert near the campground."
Weekend booking: Reserve well ahead for family-friendly sites. "They have activities for the kids on weekends and holidays. They are close to local beaches and hiking trails. Our site was roomy and for the most part all functioned as it was supposed to."
Tips from RVers
Site privacy concerns: Many campgrounds have limited separation between RV sites. "The sites at the rear seemed to be less-densely packed, even though every site was occupied. Quiet hours are generally adhered to but not enforced - there were some campers that had noise running later."
Pull-through availability: Kettletown State Park Campground offers various site configurations. "RV pull through sites were fantastic. It was a great campground for maiden voyage in new rig. Plenty of amenities."
Electric hookup options: Check for 30-amp versus 50-amp service when booking cabin or RV sites. "Sites had zero privacy and were all pull through. There was water, electric and sewer hookups at each site, but this was an expensive place to 'camp'."
