Dog-Friendly Camping near Fort Salonga, NY

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    Blydenburgh County Park's tent and RV camping sites welcome pets in a wooded setting with clean facilities. Dogs must remain leashed while enjoying the park's 7-mile hiking trail loop around the pond. The campground features spacious grassy sites with picnic tables and BBQ grills, while offering full hookups for RVs including water, electric, and sewer connections. Wildwood State Park Campground and Heckscher State Park also maintain pet-friendly policies throughout their facilities, including cabin accommodations at both locations. Cathedral Pines County Park provides additional pet-friendly options with varying distances from bathroom facilities. The park environment remains family-friendly with ranger patrols throughout the day, ensuring campers follow pet regulations. Most camping areas feature trash receptacles for proper waste disposal, though campers should bring their own bags. Sites at Blydenburgh often attract long-term visitors due to their pet-accommodating environment.

    Dog owners appreciate the extensive hiking trails connecting many of the pet-friendly campgrounds, particularly the wooded paths at Cathedral Pines County Park. Water access for dogs varies by location, with Blydenburgh offering lake views and fishing opportunities, though swimming is prohibited for both humans and pets. During summer months, early morning walks are recommended as sites lack significant shade in many areas. Wildlife encounters include deer, rabbits, and occasionally raccoons, requiring secure food storage and proper pet supervision. Leash requirements are strictly enforced at Smith Point County Park where beach access is available to leashed dogs during designated hours. Suffolk County campgrounds generally require a Green Key card for resident pricing, providing significant savings for those planning multiple camping trips with pets throughout the season. Bathroom facilities vary in cleanliness and maintenance across locations, with Blydenburgh receiving positive reviews for their overall upkeep.

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    Best Dog-Friendly Campgrounds near Fort Salonga (29)

      1. Blydenburgh County Park

      4.1(11)6mi from Fort SalongaRVs, Tents

      "Great park with a nice 7 mile loop around the lake with decent fishing. Lots of horses and dogs on the trail. 30 or so sites around a central public restroom."

      "Hiking trails are beautiful. Dog friendly. Clean bathrooms"

      2. Heckscher State Park Campground

      3.6(9)15mi from Fort Salonga82 sitesRVs, Tents, Cabins

      "* cottages far enough away from each other

      • fire ring with Adirondack chairs
      • dumpster and recycling within walking distance
      • lots of bone dry firewood around for campfire
      • walkable beach"

      "Overall my experience was positive. Camping Sites

      Each camping site has a picnic table and barbeque grill."

      from $20 - $285 / night

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      3. Wildwood State Park Campground

      4.2(24)25mi from Fort Salonga324 sitesRVs, Tents, Cabins, Glamping

      "The beach is in a walking distance. You can swim or fish there. This camp site has a relatively new and clean facility. There are many farms near by where you can get fresh veggies and fruits."

      "However there are too many loud families and the sites are too close in proximity for me."

      from $20 - $225 / night

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      4. Cathedral Pines County Park

      3.8(4)18mi from Fort SalongaRVs, Tents

      5. Watch Hill Fire Island Campground — Fire Island National Seashore

      4.0(7)22mi from Fort Salonga28 sitesTents, Cabins

      "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!"

      "Camping gets you away from the bustle. 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."

      from $35 - $197 / night

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      6. Southaven County Park

      4.0(7)22mi from Fort SalongaRVs, Tents

      "Recently went camping in our pull behind, met some old friends and had a great time. Rangers have a hardon for people screwing up tho. Think they're all that and then some..."

      "Great Location Clean Park."

      from $33 / night

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      7. Smith Point County Park

      4.4(9)26mi from Fort SalongaRVs, Tents, Glamping

      "Literally steps to the beach."

      "A short walk from the ocean to the bay, both accessible by walking from your campsite. No shade so be prepared to wake early if you’re in a sweltering tent. Staff has been great, no complaints."

      8. Nickerson Beach Park Campground

      3.6(9)27mi from Fort SalongaRVs, Tents

      "It’s basically a parking lot, but it’s steps away from some of the greatest waves on the east coast. Showers are clean, there’s a dog park nearby, and the island is very bikable to get around."

      "They have a dog park basketball courts playground swimming just about everything."

      9. Ward Pound Ridge Reservation

      4.5(10)29mi from Fort SalongaTents

      "Pet friendly and kid friendly with a playground available. Our favorite site is #25. Up a hill, totally private and has a lean-to."

      "Close to the city and civilization, yet large enough to have nice trails and creeks to feel away from it all. The camping sites are very different so it’s useful to go in person and select the area."

      from $45 - $55 / night

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      10. Smith's Point

      4.0(5)25mi from Fort SalongaRVs, Tents

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    Dog-Friendly Camping Reviews near Fort Salonga, NY

    352 Reviews of 29 Fort Salonga Campgrounds


    • Mackenzie B.
      Aug. 4, 2018

      Nickerson Beach Park Campground

      surfers dream

      I grew up in Long Beach. If you’re looking for a spot to camp so you can surf, this is perfect! It’s basically a parking lot, but it’s steps away from some of the greatest waves on the east coast. Showers are clean, there’s a dog park nearby, and the island is very bikable to get around.

      benefits: allows dogs childrens playground beach programs like movie nights throughout the summer

    • Nadia V.
      Aug. 24, 2016

      Camp Gateway- Brooklyn NY - CLOSED — Gateway National Recreation Area

      Definitely a place to visit!

      Camp Gateway in Brooklyn New York is one of my favorite places to visit. I went to college in New York, and loved to get out of the busy city and go camping and be outdoors. Camp Gateway was always a place that I loved to go. It is pretty close to town-which is crazy because you feel like you are miles away. Camp Gateway does offer a lot of different activities for everyone. One thing I love to do is go kayaking and stand up paddle boarding. My girlfriends and I tried to do this once a month to get away from the city and school. Because you are so close to the city, you can plan outdoor activities as well as some activities in the city. My friends and I stayed 1 night in the campground, and the next day went to a recital show that took us 10 minutes to get to. You can also walk, hike or ride your bike along multiple paths- I have done the Fort Tilden trail (I just walked, but there were multiple people that passed us on their bikes). Within the campground they do have some fire pits- which my friends and I always use because we love cooking smores and hot dogs for dinner. A little further away from the campground, about 10-15 miles there is a place where you can do horseback riding, see the Statue of Liberty (which is gorgeous!), and there is a little beach area. This beach area is where I do my kayaking and stand up paddle boarding. Again, its not very far away...you can either drive there, walk or ride your bike. The road is paved, which is nice. I stayed here also with my parents, and I know my dad went golfing one day (I didn't go, but he said it was awesome)- and again that was only a 10 minute drive from our camping spot. This campground like I said, does offer quite a bit. Sometimes it doesn't really feel like you are "camping" because things are pretty close by, but it definitely is worth going to and trying.

    • LThe Dyrt PRO User
      Jun. 10, 2026

      Nickerson Beach Park Campground

      Great place

      Very nice family oriented, places the beach, which is great except for the birds watch out they come at you. They have a dog park basketball courts playground swimming just about everything.

    • EThe Dyrt PRO User
      Sep. 29, 2025

      Liberty Harbor RV Park

      Functional with excellent access to the City

      Very plain & functional, no frills but right on the harbor & on the very edge of Jersey City, close to a ferry & the train that takes u across to New York City. Shopping & restraunts are right next door. We brought scooters & had a great stay! Plus you can see the Statue of Liberty from there!

    • Christy C.
      Jun. 10, 2017

      Camp Gateway- Brooklyn NY - CLOSED — Gateway National Recreation Area

      "Camping" in Brooklyn

      We tried this campground without knowing what was safe and where to stay for visit New York City. It is located in Brooklyn and is little removed from everything. The sites are at Floyd Bennett Field which is an old airfield. The atmosphere here is eerily cool at the same time. You basically park and camp on the asphalt by the old hangars. No hookups at all but they do have a camp store and bath house. If you are tent camping, there are some grassy sites.

      The campground is located right on Jamaica Bay so there were people fishing all the time from the seawall. At night, you could hear cars doing burnouts right next to us. To get to all the action in the city, we had to take a bus and then the subway. The travel was a headache but better than trying to drive in to New York City in our RV. One way to improve here would be to have some security at night as well as access to clean water and dump station. They remained locked most of the time for some reason.

      The best part of this place was the free tour of Hangar B by some guys doing restoration of old planes (HARP). They had some great stories and gave us history of the planes on display.

    • Carrie J.
      Sep. 30, 2016

      Camp Gateway- Brooklyn NY - CLOSED — Gateway National Recreation Area

      Weird One

      This place is kind of a toss up for me. On one hand, I enjoy it because it's a little slice of heaven in the hell of one of the busy areas of New York. I hate this place for the same reason. It's not really camping if you're going to see a play and then go tour the Statue of Liberty. It just doesn't seem right to me. If I HAVE to be in New York, maybe I'd consider staying here again just to get myself out of the city for a bit. But this definitely isn't your "great outdoors/rest and relaxation" kind of place.

    • s
      Sep. 21, 2018

      Sandy Hook — Gateway National Recreation Area

      Sandy Hook is a plesant campground with great rangers working there

      Very reasonable rates to pitch a tent. You get a private space with a fire pit. Ocean is close with lifeguards. Good fishing and pleasant people. Boat from New York City.

    • Karla S.
      Aug. 31, 2018

      Liberty Harbor RV Park

      New York City View

      There is only a small place for tents. Mostly people go there with campers. Not your typical campground. Very easy to hop on transit to get to New York City. People were friendly.

    • Tara N.
      Jul. 17, 2021

      Totoket Valley RV Park

      Perfect for a stop over

      Small campground with good electrical, clean water, sewer and a friendly owner. Each site has grass and a picnic table. There is a wonderful little frozen custard shop down the road called roses farm stand. It’s a perfect campground for seeing the local area or even catching the train to New York City.


    Guide to Fort Salonga

    Blydenburgh County Park offers campers 269 acres of forest and pond habitat just minutes from Fort Salonga, New York. The area typically experiences mild summers with average temperatures between 70-85°F and moderate humidity. Long Island campgrounds generally enforce strict fire safety regulations during dry months of July and August, with some parks requiring raised fire pits or rental units.

    What to do

    Water recreation: Smith Point County Park provides direct beach access for campers. "It's a short walk over the dune to the Atlantic ocean," notes Michael, while another camper mentions "a short walk from the ocean to the bay, both accessible by walking from your campsite."

    Hiking opportunities: Wildwood State Park Campground features trails leading to scenic Long Island Sound views. "The shelter sites are large and private with access to hiking trails and make for a unique experience," writes Jeremy S. Many sites connect to longer trail networks suitable for day hikes.

    Cultural attractions: The area surrounding Watch Hill Fire Island Campground has activities beyond camping. "There are shops, a restaurant and a bar a 10 minute walk away," mentions Inocencia O., who adds that "park rangers on site have excellent programs for kids."

    What campers like

    Lake fishing: Blydenburgh County Park offers fishing opportunities in a wooded setting. Erik R. mentions "a nice 7 mile loop around the lake with decent fishing," while noting "lots of horses and dogs on the trail."

    Beach access: Campers appreciate the mix of bay and ocean shorelines. At Smith Point, a reviewer notes: "My 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."

    Fall camping weather: October and November offer pleasant camping conditions with fewer bugs. One Smith Point reviewer states: "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

    Site selection guidance: Ward Pound Ridge Reservation offers varied camping options. "The camping sites are very different so it's useful to go in person and select the area," advises Susana M. Some sites require advanced planning to secure preferred locations.

    Insect protection required: Watch Hill campers stress bug preparation. "The mosquitoes are extremely potent and plentiful. Take the good stuff," warns Inocencia O., while another camper advises "bring a shelter or a canopy with a mosquito net."

    Reservation challenges: Most Suffolk County parks require a Green Key card for resident pricing. Connor M. notes Cathedral Pines County Park costs "about $14 a night for green key members" and recommends sites farther from facilities for more privacy.

    Tips for camping with families

    Playground access: Southaven County Park provides family-friendly recreation areas. Correl H. calls it the "perfect place to take the little ones has a beautiful lake and a really nice playground."

    Group-friendly sites: Certain areas work better for family gatherings. "Heckscher State Park is the best around for group and family camping. The entire campground is one flat open space where some sites are full in the shade," notes Giselle P., adding "there is a playground just for the campground."

    Wildlife viewing: Supervised wildlife encounters create memorable experiences. At Smith Point, a reviewer mentions that "you get visits from the nearby deer" and another notes "I watched a momma deer nursing two of her babies."

    Tips from RVers

    Hookup availability: Heckscher State Park Campground offers various hookup options. "There are 69 tent/trailer sites (no hook ups)," reports Ellen C., explaining the layout as "basically like camping in your local city park" with limited privacy between sites.

    Dump station access: Several parks offer dump stations for longer stays. Lori R. found Wildwood State Park Campground "was a great campground for maiden voyage in new rig. Plenty of amenities."

    Site spacing considerations: Smith Point provides oceanfront RV camping with some limitations. "Close sites with no privacy. Short walk to beach," summarizes Karen R., while another camper advises to "be prepared for narrow campsites and book early."

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Fort Salonga, NY?

    According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Fort Salonga, NY is Blydenburgh County Park with a 4.1-star rating from 11 reviews.

    What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Fort Salonga, NY?

    TheDyrt.com has all 29 dog-friendly camping locations near Fort Salonga, NY, with real photos and reviews from campers.