Best Campgrounds near Great River, NY

Long Island's eastern coastal region around Great River, New York provides several established campgrounds within short driving distance. Campers seeking overnight accommodations can choose from facilities like Heckscher State Park Campground in East Islip and Blydenburgh County Park in Smithtown, both offering tent and RV sites. The area also features specialized options such as the Watch Hill Fire Island Campground, accessible by ferry and providing a mix of tent sites and cabins along the protected Fire Island National Seashore.

Camping facilities throughout Suffolk County operate on varied seasonal schedules, with many developed campgrounds opening from spring through early fall. Heckscher State Park's camping season runs from late May through early September, while some county parks like Blydenburgh remain open year-round. "Facilities were clean, campsites were generously spaced, water spouts at almost every site," noted one camper at Heckscher State Park. Access to some campgrounds, particularly on Fire Island, requires planning as they may only be reached by ferry service from mainland departure points, and visitors should account for transportation of camping gear.

Most established campgrounds in the region feature restroom facilities with showers, picnic tables, and designated areas for campfires or grills. Site layouts vary significantly between locations, with some parks offering more privacy than others. According to feedback from The Dyrt, many campsites at Heckscher State Park lack clear boundaries, with one visitor observing: "The sites are designated by printing on the roads and do not have clear boundaries between them." The beach-oriented camping at Watch Hill on Fire Island presents its own challenges, particularly regarding insects, but rewards campers with proximity to shoreline. Amenities at regional campgrounds generally include water spigots, trash disposal, and toilet facilities, though hookup availability for RVs differs by location. Suffolk County parks typically require advance reservations, especially during summer weekends.

Best Camping Sites Near Great River, New York (36)

    1. Blydenburgh County Park

    11 Reviews
    Hauppauge, NY
    8 miles
    Website
    +1 (631) 854-3713

    "just a great place to get away from home"

    "The group camping on the fox sites is accessible by a dirt drive in. I felt like I was suddenly transported upstate when in fact I had only driven 2 towns over, (about 20 minutes from home.)"

    2. Heckscher State Park Campground

    9 Reviews
    Great River, NY
    1 mile
    Website
    +1 (631) 581-2100

    $20 / night

    "* 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."

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

    7 Reviews
    Bayport, NY
    9 miles
    +1 (631) 597-6074

    "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."

    4. Smith Point County Park

    9 Reviews
    Mastic Beach, NY
    16 miles
    Website
    +1 (631) 852-1315

    "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."

    5. Southaven County Park

    7 Reviews
    Shirley, NY
    15 miles
    Website
    +1 (631) 852-1391

    $33 / night

    "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."

    6. Wildwood State Park Campground

    24 Reviews
    Wading River, NY
    24 miles
    Website
    +1 (631) 929-4314

    $20 - $250 / night

    "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."

    7. Smith's Point

    5 Reviews
    Mastic Beach, NY
    15 miles
    Website

    8. Battle Row Campground

    4 Reviews
    Old Bethpage, NY
    16 miles
    Website
    +1 (516) 572-8690

    $5 - $60 / night

    "You can take bike rides , and relax outside with a nice amount of space to yourself ."

    9. Cathedral Pines County Park

    4 Reviews
    Middle Island, NY
    16 miles
    Website
    +1 (631) 852-5502

    10. Fire Island National Seashore

    1 Review
    Mastic Beach, NY
    15 miles
    Website

    $25 / night

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Recent Reviews near Great River, NY

234 Reviews of 36 Great River Campgrounds


  • 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!

  • EThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 17, 2025

    Liberty Harbor RV Park

    friendly staff at the office

    Gave us a welcome folder with lots of helpful info, can walk to get food up the street, short drive to Liberty Park where we got out and walked at night to admire the city skyline and Statue of Liberty at night. They have hook ups and big laundry room.

  • J
    Aug. 8, 2025

    Wildwood State Park Campground

    Our go-to spot

    My wife and I love this campground. It is right at the entrance to wine country on Long Island and has a beach on the Long Island Sound. (A little rocky on the north shore)

  • H
    Jun. 28, 2025

    Hammonasset State Park Campground

    Worst Camp Hosts

    Absolute worst Camp Hosts. They cancel every event they schedule while receiving free beach camping all summer. They’re an embarassment and a constant disappointment for young children. Shame on you and shame on Hammonasset.

  • GThe Dyrt PRO User
    May. 8, 2025

    Wildwood State Park Campground

    Nice campground with lots of sites

    I've been going to this campground every summer for at least 5 years. Recently they became very stringent about parking to vehicles at the site making it very difficult to visit with a family and 2 vehicles. I usually host group camping trips and the single vehicle rule makes that very difficult.

    That aside, this is a very nice campground with various kinds of sites. You can find sites that are less wooded and better suited to group camping, as well as sites that are a little more secluded. This is one of my favorite campgrounds solely because there are platform sites so I can place my tent on a concrete or wooden platform. There is a separate area for RVs vs tents. There is also a store where you can get a cup of coffee in the morning and lots of goodies throughout the day.

    There are hiking trails and you can walk to the beach. Note - it is a downhill walk to the beach. The beach is fairly clean and has a small boardwalk.

    There are lots of stores nearby as well as orchards to pick your own fruits. I stayed there one weekend and went to Splish Splash waterpark that's not far away. There is also a Tanger Outlet nearby. I've been there during a full on thunderstorm and watched as the trees swayed in the wind.

    Lovely campground with lots of activities to entertain you.

  • GThe Dyrt PRO User
    May. 8, 2025

    Heckscher State Park Campground

    My favorite place for group camping

    This place 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 and other sites (lower numbers) have lots of sun. I've been going here every summer since 2019 after it re-opened. Each site has a picnic table and grill. Water is also available near the sites.

    You can come here in tents as well as RVs and the staff is very nice. They toilets are cleaned constantly, though they are not immaculate. There is a shop at the entrance to get supplies if you need it and you can rent firepits and buy firewood. The ice cream trucks comes by as well. 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. There is a pool, but it has not been open for many years. There are also hiking trails and a place where you can rent a kayak.

    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.

    Park staff and rangers regularly patrol the campground and are diligent about cleaning up.

  • M
    May. 3, 2025

    Blydenburgh County Park

    Great stay

    If your going to be on Long Island ,Suffolk county is really only RV friendly place.Worth buying green key card for resident access.200 but you’d spend that 4 nights regardless.Very clean campgrounds lots of space.Not much to do inside the grounds.

  • Joe R.
    Mar. 23, 2025

    Liberty Harbor RV Park

    Worth it

    This is a pricey park, but options are limited. As in almost non existent. This is a prime location for visiting the city or heading down the shore. The light rail is a block away, and the path train is about 8.

    Staff is average, as this is not meant to be high end. They are nice but a bit rough. We had some issues with our converter and they wanted to extort a 20% commission to allow our repair man in. A bit of logical conversation put that idea to sleep. Sites kind of level and very close. Power and water, and convenient dump station if staying and needing to dump. The bath house was above average and heated. The laundry was helpful and was acceptable. Having a view of Lady Liberty out your window is priceless.

    Getting in and out of the city is an adventure. Stay right off the highway to avoid the $30 tunnel toll. Follow RV life pro and not Waze.

  • Prashant M.
    Oct. 17, 2024

    Indian Island County Park

    Very Busy! Close quarters! Can be loud and neighbors are ignorant of rules

    Stayed at this campground this past weekend and yes it was a long weekend so the campground was packed. All the camping spots are pretty much right next to each one with hardly any space, packed like Sardines. Neighbors are loud and some of them are ignorant of the park rules. Staying on the phones in the middle of the night while talking so loud that all camping neighbors can hear their whole story

    Its a pity that they take a nice park and remove the fun out of camping. 

    However the walk to the beach area was very serene, especially early morning before sunrise and didn't feel like we live in dense suburbia and sunrise from the beach was worth the trip

    Camp site itself was pretty flat, had a water station, bathrooms were well kept , no fire ring (BYOFP)


Guide to Great River

Suffolk County offers several campground options within 30-40 minutes of Great River, New York. Most camping facilities in the region operate seasonally from April to October, though some county parks remain accessible year-round. Winter temperatures in the area typically range from 25-45°F, while summer months see averages of 70-85°F with moderate humidity.

What to do

Hiking around the lake: Blydenburgh County Park in Smithtown features a 7-mile loop trail circling the lake with opportunities for wildlife viewing. "The hiking trails were quiet, natural and clean. The trails I explored were well marked," notes one visitor to Blydenburgh County Park.

Beach activities: Smith Point County Park in Shirley provides immediate beach access with Atlantic Ocean views. "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," reports a camper at Smith Point County Park.

Fishing opportunities: Cathedral Pines County Park in Middle Island offers fishing access with boat rentals available. "Row boat for fishing was great. Not a party or for party site as alcohol is not allowed but I believe if you're an adult you're good to have an adult beverage," mentions one visitor about the nearby waters.

What campers like

Privacy levels: Tent sites at Battle Row Campground provide more seclusion than typical county parks. "Each site is set back off a common area so there is plenty of privacy. It's great if you're local, easy in and out," explains a camper at Battle Row Campground.

Beach camping options: Fire Island National Seashore offers primitive backcountry beach camping for those seeking solitude. "Very secluded, and peaceful weekend by the water. Make sure to get a reservation if you're going in between March 15 and Labor Day," advises a visitor to Fire Island National Seashore.

Wildlife encounters: Several campgrounds feature resident wildlife that frequents camping areas. At Smith Point County Park, one visitor notes: "You get visits from the nearby deer. It is paradise." Some deer are accustomed to human presence, with another camper adding: "I watched a momma deer nursing two of her babies."

What you should know

Insect preparation: Mosquitoes and other biting insects can be problematic throughout the camping season. At Watch Hill on Fire Island, a camper warns: "It was absolutely gorgeous, don't get me wrong. However, it was nearly impossible to enjoy ourselves because we were getting attacked by mosquitoes and horseflies the entire weekend."

Site boundaries: Many campgrounds feature sites without clear demarcation between neighboring campsites. "The sites at the rear seemed to be less-densely packed, even though every site was occupied," notes a visitor to Heckscher State Park Campground.

Fire pit requirements: Some campgrounds do not provide fire rings or pits. At Battle Row Campground, "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."

Tips for camping with families

Playground access: Several campgrounds feature dedicated playgrounds for younger campers. Heckscher State Park has "a playground just for the campground," and visitor mentions, "There is a shop at the entrance to get supplies if you need it and you can rent firepits and buy firewood. The ice cream trucks comes by as well."

Educational opportunities: Ranger programs are available during peak season at select locations. At Watch Hill Fire Island Campground, a visitor notes: "There are park rangers on site and have excellent programs for kids."

Protected swimming areas: Wildwood State Park Campground offers beach access along Long Island Sound with gentler waves than ocean beaches. "The North Shore experience with high bluffs, sandy calm beaches along the Long Island Sound, and views of CT across the water" provides safer swimming for families with children.

Tips from RVers

Site selection: For RV camping, choose sites based on preference for sun or shade. "The entire campground is one flat open space where some sites are full in the shade and other sites (lower numbers) have lots of sun," notes an RVer at Southaven County Park.

Waterfront options: Some RV sites provide direct water views. At Smith Point County Park, an RVer explains their site "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."

Residential access: Suffolk County parks prioritize county residents for reservations and special rates. "Suffolk County is really the only RV friendly place. Worth buying the green key card for resident access. $200 but you'd spend that on 4 nights regardless."

Frequently Asked Questions

What camping is available near Great River, NY?

According to TheDyrt.com, Great River, NY offers a wide range of camping options, with 36 campgrounds and RV parks near Great River, NY and 1 free dispersed camping spot.

Which is the most popular campground near Great River, NY?

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

Where can I find free dispersed camping near Great River, NY?

According to TheDyrt.com, there is 1 free dispersed camping spot near Great River, NY.

What parks are near Great River, NY?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 11 parks near Great River, NY that allow camping, notably Fire Island National Seashore and Gateway National Recreation Area.