Long Island's eastern region surrounding Farmingville features pine barrens and mixed hardwood forests situated approximately 80 feet above sea level. The area's camping options span from maritime environments along Fire Island National Seashore to inland wooded settings. Suffolk County operates most camping sites near Farmingville, New York, with many requiring a Suffolk County Green Key card for residents or non-resident permits for visitors.
What to do
Watercraft rentals at Southaven County Park: The park offers rowboat and kayak rentals for exploring the Carmans River. "The lake is great and only a short walk, but no swimming," notes one visitor about this park in Brookhaven, just 10 minutes west of Farmingville.
Beach stargazing permits: At Wildwood State Park Campground, special permits allow campers after-hours beach access for astronomy. "You have to buy a stargazing permit to be out on the beach after sunset, which is kind of strange but really helps prevent hooligans from taking over the beach and destroying the serenity," one camper explains.
Geocaching options: Indian Island County Park provides geocaching opportunities throughout the park grounds. "There were hiking trails and geocaching on site," mentions a visitor who appreciated this activity during their stay.
What campers like
Beach proximity on Fire Island: At Watch Hill Fire Island Campground, campers can walk farther down the beach for more seclusion. "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," notes a camper who visited after Labor Day.
Wildlife encounters: Smith Point County Park offers regular wildlife sightings, especially deer. "Sweet deer. I watched a momma deer nursing two of her babies," reported one camper, while another mentioned, "The deer eat lettuce out of your hand."
Fall camping advantages: October brings more comfortable camping conditions with fewer insects. One camper at Smith Point County Park noted, "Being on the beach and camping in October is just awesome. The bugs are gone, the days are warm and the nights are chilly."
What you should know
Height restrictions on parkways: RV travelers must plan alternate routes as many Long Island parkways have bridge clearance issues. Cathedral Pines County Park campers recommend researching routes carefully before arrival.
Insect preparation: Blydenburgh County Park sites can be buggy during summer months. "Sites are close and very buggy but 'tis the season'," one camper noted about their experience. At Watch Hill, a visitor warned specifically about the intensity: "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 ring policies vary: Several campgrounds require campers to bring their own fire pits. At Heckscher State Park Campground, "There are no fire pits on any of the sites, although I learned afterwards that they do allow you to bring your own metal fire pit as long as it is elevated off the ground."
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Indian Island County Park has multiple play areas throughout the grounds. "There's a large dog run so the fur babies will have a great time too. Staff is super nice," reports one camper about this family-friendly environment.
Special event weekends: Smith Point County Park hosts themed camping weekends in the fall. One visitor mentioned, "It also happened to be Trick or Treat weekend on the campground which really fun to see."
Bathhouse facilities: Many campgrounds feature recently upgraded bathroom facilities. At Indian Island County Park, "The bathrooms were mostly clean, and the shower was hot," while at Smith Point County Park, campers praised the amenities: "10 stars to guys and girls in charge of maintaining such a busy place!!! You guys really do a great job—and those showers!!! Best ever...great water pressure and super HOT!!!"
Tips from RVers
Site conditions at Heckscher State Park: RV campers report mixed experiences with site layouts. "RV pull through sites were fantastic. It was a great campground for maiden voyage in new rig. Plenty of amenities," reports one visitor, while another noted "The entire campground is one flat open space where some sites are full in the shade and other sites have lots of sun."
Electric hookups vary: Cathedral Pines County Park offers limited electric sites. One visitor noted, "Was a pretty spacious park, very quiet, nice people, but not very many electric sites."
Site privacy considerations: Depending on location preference, site privacy varies greatly. At Wildwood State Park, "You can find sites that are less wooded and better suited to group camping, as well as sites that are a little more secluded."
Traveler
