We all love roasting marshmallows over a campfire—and you can often still do that while cabin camping in Great River. Finding a place to cabin camp near Great River is easier than ever. Each cabin offers quick access to one or more of Great River's most popular destinations.
Take the Virtual Tour! - WILDWOOD STATE PARK
Wildwood State Park comprises 600 acres of undeveloped hardwood forest, terminating on the high bluff overlooking Long Island Sound. Swimmers can take advantage of the cool waters of the Sound, and picnickers can relax at shaded picnic tables as their children enjoy the nearby playground. Visitors can fish and use the hiking and cross-country ski trails, making this an enjoyable place to camp and be outdoors in any season. Geography: Wildwood State Park is located near Long Island Sound, on the north shore of Long Island, in Suffolk County. Recreation: Considered a flagship facility, visitors can enjoy the beach, biking, camper recreation programs, fishing, hiking, picnicking, and cross-country skiing. During July and August, movies are shown weekly, and once a week, campers can enjoy an evening of line or square dancing. Facilities: The park has 2 miles of beach on the Long Island sound for fishing and swimming. Each campsite has a picnic table, and dumping stations are nearby. There are 10 cottages, each with a fire ring, screened-in patio, and are available for rent through mid-November. The campground recycles newspaper and cardboard. Other amenities include food concessions, a nature trail, twelve miles of marked hiking trails, a picnic area, basketball courts, ball fields, a playground, and showers. Firewood is for sale at the park; bring your own barbecue or metal fire container.
Heckscher State Park was once the 19th century estates of George C. Taylor and J. Neal Plum. William Nicoll, founder of the Town of Islip, originally built his estate on this property. The park was bought by the State of New York using a donation by the affluent August Heckscher with strong opposition from wealthy local residents. It was one of Robert Moses' most difficult fights to obtain land for public recreation on Long Island. Only with assistance and support from then Governor Alfred E. Smith was Moses able to close the deal on this beautiful property fronting the Great South Bay.
$18 - $22 / night
The family campground at Watch Hill provides a camping experience like no other.
This campground boasts a spectacular view of the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge, the longest vehicle suspension span in the United States. When it opened in 1964, it was the longest span in the world for 17 years. It connects Fort Hamilton in Brooklyn and Fort Wadsworth in Staten Island. Not far from the campground is an overlook area which features a vantage point to view the Statue of Liberty NM, the Manhattan Skyline and various forts and batteries in the New York Harbor region. Fortification tours are available on site. Connecting to the bike path, near the campground, is a NYC Parks and Recreation boardwalk where bike rentals and food concessions are available offsite.
Surf fishing at the beach is available for campers with a fishing license (see DEC for details). In addition, campers can attend a ranger-led tour of the historic structures. In the summer months, campers may enjoy walking/sunbathing (no Lifeguard on duty) on the beach at Fort Wadsworth. Swimming where lifeguards are on duty, is available at Gateway NRA- Great Kills Beach or NYC Parks and Recreation beaches. Bird watching, kayaking, biking and playground areas are all located within the Staten Island Unit of Gateway (Fort Wadsworth, Miller Field and Great Kills Park sites).
Thousands of years ago, glacial activity created a morainal hilltop, that is Fort Wadsworth Overlook. Located at the Narrows in New York Harbor, visitors can look out at the hills of Bay Ridge in Brooklyn and eastern Staten Island. Part of Gateway National Recreation Area, Staten Island Unit, has various topographic features, such as hills, fields, maritime forest and dunes, as well as beaches.
Alice Austin House, Snug Harbor, Staten Island Zoo, and Staten Island Museum are all within a 10 mile or less radius.
Changes & Cancellations Recreation.gov refund and cancellation policy: https://www.recreation.gov/rules-reservation-policies
$30 / night
You’ve never experienced New York City like this before. A quick ferry ride from downtown Manhattan, our peaceful oasis is nestled in the hills of historic Governors Island. You’ll be surrounded by sprawling green spaces, with unparalleled views of the Statue of Liberty across the New York Harbor. It’s a retreat unlike any other in the world. The retreat includes Three Peaks Lodge dining and group activities space, a great lawn, and a collection of luxury outdoor accommodations (Summit Tents and Outlook Shelters) with en-suite bathrooms and entry level Journey Tents that offer a private dedicated bathroom that can be locked and that includes full flush toilets, showers, hot running water and amenities.
**Getting Here: **Collective Governors Island is located eight minutes from Lower Manhattan and five minutes from Brooklyn via ferry. All guests must arrive at Collective Governors Island on one of these ferries. The full ferry schedule can be found here.
Manhattan ferries run daily: 10 a.m.- 4:15 p.m. (Monday-Friday) and 10 a.m.- 6 p.m. (Saturdays and Sundays)
Brooklyn ferries run: 10:15 a.m.- 4:15 p.m. (Saturdays and Sundays)
*Note above schedules are subject to changes or time variations depending on time of year. Please confirm the most current ferry schedule here.
MORNINGS BACK TO WORK:Governors Island Ferry only starts transporting back to Manhattan at 10AM to 10 South St., however Collective Retreats guests may take exclusive morning ferries back to 10 South St. at 7:15AM, 7:45AM, 8:15AM, 8:45AM, 9:15AM, and 9:45AM. No reservations are required in advance, see front desk for more info.
$529 - $1200 / night
Nestled within walking distance of Main Street, Greenport, Long Island, near the tranquil sound, North Fork Cottages & RV Resort offers a unique lodging experience. Our premier destination features a variety of accommodations, including cozy cottages, well-equipped RV sites, and luxurious glamping setups. The brand-new cottages are not only perfect for a relaxing getaway but also cater to bridal parties and corporate retreats, providing an exclusive setting for special occasions and team gatherings.
Traveler
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. No solitude, lots of families with kids, lots of music, I mean it’s basically a party. I didn’t realize this when I made my reservations. The place is great for families who want a safe space to camp and it’s a typical Long Island campground. Rangers came around checking on everyone often so it really did feel incredibly safe. I had a pick up truck w/ tinted windows follow me in the park for quite a while which was rather creepy and I couldn’t shake them. When I biked into the campground itself, the pick up truck couldn’t get past the check in area. Everyone I met was friendly and there’s a little shop in the front of the campgrounds that sells various items. I personally wouldn’t stay here again unless I was meeting up with friends or something and wasn’t trying to have more solitude. This is no fault of the park itself though, I’m just more of a woods girl.
Guide
Camping Review:
This campsite is beautifully located in the woods, offering a peaceful and serene environment. There are no busy roads nearby, which ensures a quiet setting during the day.
However, there are several downsides to consider. The camping spots are uneven, making it challenging to set up tents or campers. Additionally, swimming at the nearby beach is restricted to residents of the village, so visitors are not allowed to swim there.
During our stay, there were multiple large groups, including a Christian group that preached (screamingly) and played loud music until midnight, despite the designated quiet hours. Unfortunately, the management did nothing to enforce the rules, which was disruptive.
Another significant issue was the state of the sanitary facilities. They were extremely dirty, with feces present in various places. It took a long time before anything was cleaned, which obviously kept us from using the facilities.
Overall, while the location is beautiful, the poor management, noise issues, and dirty sanitary facilities seriously detract from the experience.
Scout
The article also mentions the benefits of camping on Governor Island, such as feeling close to nature, relaxing and enjoying a peaceful space, away from the noise of the city. The language is easy to understand, not too technical, suitable for those who love traveling and camping. driving directions
I found your article to be a good and engaging article, helping readers have an overview and details about the campground at Governor's Island. I hope my review is helpful to you.
Traveler
Perhaps it was the weekend we went but this was an extremely unpleasant trip. The bathroom facilities are wonderful as is the beach but the crowd stayed awake playing music all night very loudly. I think the cabins here are the way to go.
ScoutI camped here solo on Friday and Saturday over the Labor Day weekend. Overall my experience was positive.
Camping Sites
Each camping site has a picnic table and barbeque grill. The sites are designated by printing on the roads and do not have clear boundaries between them. My site had good shade coverage and was free of rocks and other hazards.
I had enough space that I didn't feel like I was intruding on my neighbors and vice-versa. That said, there aren't clear paths to the restroom building so it's not uncommon for people to cut through the edges of sites to get there. In my experience I (and others I saw) tried not to go right through the middle people's setups to do so.
If you're looking for privacy, 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.
Amenities
The restroom building is in the middle of the campground and was clean and had plenty of stalls.
Potable water is available at regular intervals, about at the corners of each group of four campsites.
Cell phone reception is limited - I had data but it was very slow which led to my phone's battery draining quickly.
Access
A car is an absolute must for this part - the entrance is directly off of Southern State Parkway with no pedestrian access. Train stations are nearby so you could take the train most of the way and rent a car from there.
Traveler
Favorite place ever. You can get there by ferry. Very quiet and comfortable. Birdsong in the morning and the sound of the waves. There are showers, toilets and a café. For those who want to be at one with nature. Lots of mosquitoes, be prepared.
TravelerBeen to this campsite 2 times. Nice beach with no waves. A lot of fishermen. 5-7 minutes by car to the store, gas station and farms.
LegendI tented here while doing a river stream reconstruction project in southern Connecticut.
To start, access to the river was great, though no swimming was allowed because of an algae bloom. The shorter hiking trails in the area were really beautiful.
Site 32 and the upper loop was not great though. The sites were super close together and the boundary lines were unclear, so my neighbors ended up using my fire ring to secure their tent. The picnic table seemed to be shared between sites and had boards missing, so it was challenging to use when available.
Overall, folks seemed to be there in larger groups for celebrations so things were loud well past midnight, which was challenging given how close each site was. I realize this is very time specific but there was no management presence around quiet time, and this happened both evenings I was there, so I got the sense that quiet times didn’t really apply.
The location was great especially for folks closer to the major metro areas, but I’ll be looking elsewhere if I’m ever in the area again.
GuideWe love this State Park because it's close to our home for a quick getaway.
This time we tried one of the sites on the water, and I probably wouldn't choose the same site again. Site 11, while large, was uneven and had some large tree roots that would be easy to trip over. It was a walk up the hill to the bathhouse. No hookups.
It's quiet, clean, and exactly what we were looking for in a weekend. Close to Southford Falls for a nice hike and waterfall views.
Speaking of bathhouse - this one is really just in dire need of updating. Having visited 2 other state parks in a neighboring state, CT should really invest in better quality bath houses. This is the only reason why I didn't give it 5 stars.
GuideEasy car camping! Super accessible with well maintained bathrooms. Was pretty loud over when we went. The walk to the beach is slightly down hill but paved and accessible as well.
RangerThis was a last-minute booking for us and we were delighted with the beachside cottage, with enough amenities that mom and dad did not worry we had their cutie with us for "camping". She's too little for backpacking into the woods but finally got to stay overnight and help with the campfire!
Pros
Cons
TravelerThis is a popular site in the peak season. 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.
Scout
It’s a perfect place to camp in your tent by the fire
GuideThis trip was too short!
We really liked this location, you can see your neighbors, but each site has nice space.
It was a quick walk down to the beach.
The LI sound is definitely different from the ocean, but still nice. There was a nice little camp store, and by the beach another store and concession stand. This state campground does not have many amenities or activities, but the area is very nice. We enjoyed visiting The Shops at East Wind.
We definitely would come back, the only drawback is if you don't live on Long Island, the traffic getting here and leaving is insane.
GuideGreat area to camp with kids. The lots were large. Semi private with great view and nice walks to the water. Noise was not a problem overnight as to having problems with noises neighbors at other CT state parks.
ScoutWonderful place, clean lots to do. Friendly staff
GuideAs a long islander is was a Good local experience. The state park is very well run and the facilities are clean. However there are too many loud families and the sites are too close in proximity for me. This place is great for a group/family getaway but those looking for a quiet nature retreat may want to look elsewhere.
TravelerWas pleasantly surprised with this campsite ! Facilities (bathroom/showers) were clean, campsites were generously spaced, water spouts at almost every site. Was unaware there were no fire pits at the site so I would just bring your own. We made due with our charcoal grill provided at the site! Beaches were a 5 min drive
Guidefun experience with the travel trailer, a lot of trailers there, it was quiet and sometimes loud but all in all a fun time, walked to the beach and the trails
ScoutEs bonito
Guideamazing sites, very great employees , bathroom are clean, long walks
ScoutGood site
ScoutBeautiful trails, flat & hilly. No camping as far as I can tell.
TravelerYou 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. There are many spots along the dunes and allows to really space out from other campers. It felt like we had the entire beach to ourselves because there was no one else even close to around us, we went the weekend after labor day.
TravelerStayed here for 3 night and it was a phenomenal experience. From everything being clean, safe and accessible to beach. My family and I love it.
Traveler
My wife and I went on our first camping trip together. The staff was extremely nice and helpful. The sites were exactly what we needed. Grassy and flat for our tent. Easy access to water and electric. There were tons of campers that were there for the season and kids playing together. Some of the screens were missing from the bathroom so it was full of bugs. If you are in a camper and it has a bathroom, this will not be an issue for you. For us, it was. Since it was only one night, we opted to wait and shower at home.
GuideWell , one of the best sites , big enough, some have platform, clean bathrooms,many showers . Walk to the beach on Long Island sound , rocky beach you need water shoes or sandals , sunset is beyond amazing . Fire allowed, but no fire ring , rent it for $8 per day (rip off) so bring yours ! Quiet place , cabins look amazing, all booked , you gotta book a year in advance :( fishing and swimming allowed. Cell service available. Ticks signs everywhere, just be careful and wear light colors clothes. I’m going again this summer !
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular cabin campsite near Great River, NY?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular cabin campground near Great River, NY is Wildwood State Park Campground with a 4.2-star rating from 22 reviews.
What is the best site to find cabin camping near Great River, NY?
TheDyrt.com has all 7 cabin camping locations near Great River, NY, with real photos and reviews from campers.
