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Best Tent Camping near Hampton Bays, NY

263 Reviews

Tent camping options near Hampton Bays, New York include oceanfront sites at Watch Hill Fire Island Campground in Fire Island National Seashore. Located approximately 30 minutes by ferry from the mainland, this established campground offers designated tent sites behind the dunes with boardwalk access. Fire Island National Seashore also provides more primitive walk-in tent camping areas for those seeking greater seclusion.

Most tent sites in the Hampton Bays region require some planning for access. Watch Hill is accessible only by ferry, requiring campers to transport all gear across boardwalks to reach their sites. A camper noted that "it is a bit of a walk to camp site but all on board walk (we took two carts full of stuff)." Many tent areas prohibit ground fires, with Watch Hill allowing only charcoal cooking on provided grills and camp stoves. Restroom facilities vary significantly, with some campgrounds offering showers without privacy curtains while more remote areas have no facilities at all.

Tent camping in this coastal region provides unique experiences not available to other lodging types. Sites at Watch Hill offer the distinctive sound of ocean waves while sleeping, with tent areas situated steps from the beach. The backcountry beach camping option allows greater privacy, as described in feedback on The Dyrt: "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." Mosquitoes present a significant challenge throughout the region, with multiple reviews emphasizing the need for effective repellent. The tent sites on Fire Island provide access to stargazing over clear ocean views, with the advantage of some sites having shops and dining options within walking distance while maintaining a natural camping experience.

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Best Tent Sites Near Hampton Bays, New York (9)

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Recent Tent Camping Photos near Hampton Bays, NY

14 Photos of 9 Hampton Bays Campgrounds

Tent Camping Reviews near Hampton Bays, NY

263 Reviews of 9 Hampton Bays Campgrounds

  • T
    Sep. 5, 2023

    Heckscher State Park Campground

    Good Campsite For Families And Weekend Trips

    I 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.

  • John D.
    May. 3, 2015

    Rocky Neck State Park Campground

    Great park in a great location

    I have been camping at Rocky Neck State Park for decades, both tent camping, and now In a 30' camper. Located right off I95 ( which you can hear at times), the park is convenient to all the major interstates and state roads. If you can, stay away from the front gates during the typical peak arrival / departure times. Traffic jams occur, partly because you're also in-line with the car loads of beach goers. The beach and beach parking lots fill to capacity. Week ends are the worst.

    The campgrounds are located within internal loops. Most sites are quite level. Park-like settings surrounding a large lawn. Bathhouses are being rehabbed, deemed adequate; can be seedy towards the end of the season. Park is routinely patrolled by State Conservation Officers who will put you out if needed. CT State Police and local officers also patrol. Camp roads are paved, and lots and lots of kids spend time riding bikes, coloring with chalk, skateboarding, roller blading.

    No electrical hook-ups; potable water spigots located within the camping circles. Generators allowed, but there are quiet hours. Dump upon exit; its up top by the entrance booths.

    There is a "tent-only area" which is nice and abuts a paved road for campers to walk / bike to the beach. Use this. Stay off the main road to the beach if you can. The speed limit is enforced, but sporadically. The fines are very stiff (you receive a State traffic ticket from the Officer).

    This beach road leads you to a wonderful overlook where lots of people take their kids crabbing for Blueshells. There are size regulations so be careful. The regs are posted. Bring some raw chicken wings and kite string and have some fun. You can also follow the signs that will lead you to nature walks. Amazing.

    During inclement weather some campers leave the park. We always recommend taking a right out of the park onto east bound Route 156. Follow into downtown Niantic for restaurants, an Irish pub, or a movie. Nice village area, and pedestrian friendly.

    Rocky Neck is a very nice park, and if I had to list one complaint, it is that the State is in a financial tight-spot, and has been cutting services and personnel. Entrance booths go unmanned and that leads to traffic jams that extend out and onto the main road. Very , very messy. Life guard towers at the beach are empty at times. Bath houses can be filthy.

    All things considered, I would recommend this park..

  • Ryan A.
    May. 21, 2024

    Devil's Hopyard State Park Campground

    Good Location for Hiking, Lots of Garbage, Not Recommended

    Camped here on a Friday night in Site 16, yet another campground recommended in“Best Tent Camping: New England.” Overall I was not impressed. The campsites are right next to each other and are marked with posts. The sites are so close that the posts are marked with the site number on both sides which tells me that there has been confusion in the past.

    The sites along the creek mostly have worn paths to walk to it but it’s nothing impressive and I wouldn’t want to eat fish that came out of it. Each site has a picnic table and fire ring, some have the kind where the top flips over and others have the moveable grate that goes up and down. There is a large dumpster in the campground and several porta-potties. The old outhouses have been permanently closed and locked shut. My campsite had a lot of trash in it, old tent stakes, plastic bottle caps, plastic fork, broken glass, etc. Not good.

    Some of the people there were camping in a group and were blasting music. I didn’t see a single park ranger the entire night so I’m not sure how often they police it. Someone in a pickup truck came into the campground, did a u-turn, and sped out at 30 mph which was really annoying and unsafe.

    Across the street from the campground is a trail to Chapman Falls, which will take less than 10 minutes to hike to, but it’s a pretty waterfall despite all the foam and garbage around it.

    This is a pretty basic campground and is nothing special. Out of all the sites I think 22 looked the best, it is more isolated and you can hear the waterfalls from it, which would be relaxing. The downside is that it’s right next to the entrance and road so you’ll get car headlights at night.

    I woke in the morning to a gray sky and hundreds of birds singing– it was my favorite part of the trip. I delayed getting up to enjoy the moment. I also didn’t see any ticks but I’m sure there are plenty based on other reviews.

    I’ve always thought that if states were condiments Connecticut would be mayonnaise– relatively unremarkable and bland. This campground fits that description perfectly.

  • Ellen C.
    Jul. 15, 2019

    Heckscher State Park Campground

    Like camping in a city park, the beach cottages are the highlight

    My husband and and I camped one night at this newly reopened park over the weekend in Long Island just to check it out and were pretty disappointed by the tent camping area. There are 69 tent/trailer sites(no hook ups). There is no distinguishing separation between each site nor a designated driveway for your car- you merely pull up on the grass. It's basically like camping in your local city park. People park wildly all over the place, which also makes it more difficult to determine which site is which by the number painted on the roadway. Each"site" has a picnic table and an barbecue grate on a post. There is one bath/shower house in the center of all of these sites with no path provided for folks to walk to and fro, so naturally people will walk right through your site randomly rather than around the road. While the 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.

    At some point during the evening, a maintenance worker on a golf cart showed up with a mop and some cleaning supplies and cleaned the men's side of the building. I was so relieved when I saw him, but he seemed to neglect the women's side completely, so I resorted to using the men's facilities all night.

    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. There are large dumpsters located throughout the camping area and a large trash bag is provided (if needed) at the camp office when you check in.

    The highlight of Heckscher State Park is the newly constructed heated cottages located on the shore of Nichol's& Great South Bays.. There are currently 11 cottages--- with more under construction. There are cottages suited for two, four, and six people and range in price from$225-$285 per night during off peak seasons and$250- 320 per night during the peak seasons.

    The cottages are fully furnished, with a full kitchen and large bathroom with a walk in shower. The cottages are a short walk from the beach and also include a fire pit with Adirondack chairs and an outdoor shower on the exterior each property. I do not have photos of the inside, but they do have them on the Reserve America website if you are interested.

    While the cottages are lovely and their location is fabulous  they are quite pricey and  no TLC was spent in the$22 tent/rv camping area, other than a new registration office which is not yet completed as of this weekend. I do hope they invest some funding in the primitive area to add fire pits,more water spigots, clearer site markings and for the continued maintenance& upkeep of the bath/shower house.

    * I emailed the parks departement about the issues mentioned above about the camping area and received this reply:

    I am sorry that you are upset with the conditions in our recently opened campgrounds. We have replaced all of the picnic tables. Although, they may look old because they are weathered since these picnic tables were put together during the Winter, however, they are brand new. All of the barbeques are also new and were installed during the Winter. We have changed and modernized the light fixtures and we will be replacing the rusted doors that you mentioned. There are also plans to install a playground within the campground beginning this Fall and we are looking for other improvements and additions to the campgrounds. As you probably noticed there is a new building under construction, at the entrance to the campgrounds, and it will serve as a check-in area, as well as, additional comfort stations, including family restrooms. Your suggestion of fire pits is a good one and the Park Managers will evaluate the feasibility of installing these. Lastly, I have spoken to the Park Manager who will review the cleaning operation to ensure the restrooms are appropriately maintained. I apologize for our employee not cleaning the women's room. Again, I am sorry for your negative experience but we are continuing to make improvements to the campgrounds.

    Sincerely, George Gorman Regional Director New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation

    I will check back later this year to see if anything was changed and report back.

  • Alex S.
    May. 13, 2020

    Rocky Neck State Park Campground

    Best New England beach campground!

    The beach is about a 1 mile walk or drive from the campground.  The walk is lovely and I have seen deer, turkeys, many birds, skunks, raccoons, and other wildlife along the way. There are several osprey nests too. Many families bring bikes. 

    There are several camping areas at Rocky Neck - I think Crane is the best because it is quiet and the bathrooms are updated. 

    The tent camping area is in a field without much privacy or shade. I recommend setting up your tent at a traditional site.

    The beach is great for relaxing and beach combing. The water is warm and shallow, very calm. No floats or toys are allowed in the water, not sure why. Don't bring your kite either as the Amtrak is next to the beach, it's interesting when it goes by!

    Sometimes generators are an issue, but there are limited hours at which they can run.

    Lots of dumpsters for easy trash disposal. Firewood available for a low price on site, don't bring any outside wood. 

    Campground is not too far from a Walmart if you forget something. There's a gas station close by too for ice.

    This campground books up FAST, I usually book in the wintertime. I stay for a week at a time.

  • Mayra D.
    Mar. 27, 2021

    Cedar Point County Park

    Perfect beach site

    We have gone there a few times. They don’t take reservations but there’s always some sites open. We have walked in and book a site. Twice though in June we had tons of ticks 😬 but overall is a good site! A couple of times we had loud neighbors and it seemed that the ranger was out for lunch so nobody was making sure that quiet hours were enforced.

  • Bill K.
    Oct. 14, 2018

    Rocky Neck State Park Campground

    Wooded camping near the beach

    Nice CT state park campground with clean well maintained campsites. Mix of open field and well shaded campsites with reasonable space, some sites have decent privacy, most are pretty open. Good access to shared drinking water, restrooms and dishwashing stations. Most sites are mixed use allowing RVs but no hook ups or dump stations available. Bathrooms/showers are ok but could use better cleaning and upkeep. Rocky Neck state park beach is within walking distance if your ambitious otherwise its a 2min drive from camp. We like it here and return often for the opportunity to camp and enjoy beach time during the summer.

  • W L.
    Jan. 8, 2022

    Heckscher State Park Campground

    Great Late Fall Weekend Cabin

    This 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

    • Modern facility with full kitchen accessories (coffee maker, plates, wine opener, can opener, silverware, pots, pans, cooking utensils, toaster, oven), sponge/dish liquid. Microwave.1
    • Clean interior, clean campground
    • modern cottage with propane fireplace, WiFi access, bathroom with shower, large screened in porch with bar height table and 4 chairs, deck with chaise lounges, two bedrooms (1 with 2 twin beds, 1 with full), coach, chairs, plenty of clean storage places and hooks. You have everything but bedding, food, drinks, and personal items.
    • 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
    • beautiful
    • wildlife: deer, rabbits, turtles

    Cons

    • a bit pricey
    • playground is driving distance not walking
  • Emily S.
    Sep. 20, 2020

    Watch Hill Fire Island Campground — Fire Island National Seashore

    Backcountry Beach Camping

    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. 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.

Guide to Hampton Bays

Tent camping near Hampton Bays, New York extends beyond the Fire Island options, with additional opportunities along the Connecticut River valley approximately 60 miles northwest. The coastal camping options require planning for ferry transportation, while inland sites offer easier vehicle access. Summer temperatures average 75-85°F with frequent coastal breezes that help mitigate the region's notorious mosquito population.

What to do

Hiking trails: Battle Row Campground provides access to several trails that connect to the surrounding natural areas. According to Michael M., "The park is clean the bathrooms are well maintained and there is a playground for the kids. Each site is set back off a common area so there is plenty of privacy."

Kayaking: Campers at Selden Neck State Park can explore the Connecticut River by kayak. "It's about a 20 minute paddle across the river to the island. If it's a nice day, you're going to encounter some wake from passing boats so make sure your gear is in waterproof bags," advises Jason S.

Swimming: Hurd Park offers water access for swimming during summer months. As Jackie G. from Gillette Castle State Park notes, "We have camped on the south end of Hurd Park several times via boat access. It is amazing with the views of the CT River and being able to watch the sunrise and sunset... You can swim and fish and relax all day!"

What campers like

Secluded island camping: At Selden Neck State Park Campground, the complete isolation provides a unique experience. "Selden Neck State Park is an island in the Connecticut River with no roads or development other than 4 campsites. You have to kayak or boat in," reports Jason S. The site features "plenty of flat area to pitch a tent, nice picnic table and fire pit."

Primitive camping experiences: Fire Island National Seashore offers more remote options for those seeking seclusion. Nora S. notes, "So it's about a mile to three miles to the closest campsites on the western side. Very secluded, and peaceful weekend by the water."

Wildlife observation: The marsh areas around Hampton Bays campgrounds provide excellent bird watching opportunities. Ben L. from Chapman Pond Preserve describes the area as having "Good tent platforms, picnic tables and outhouse. CT river within view."

What you should know

Insect preparation: Mosquitoes are a consistent challenge throughout the Hampton Bays tent camping areas. Igor K. from Watch Hill Fire Island Campground warns, "Lots of mosquitoes, be prepared."

Accessibility challenges: Many sites require significant effort to reach. For tent camping at Gillette Castle area, expect hiking to reach your site. Todd J. mentions, "Great place for a hike or a picnic. Castle has tours at certain times."

Fire regulations: Different campgrounds have varying fire policies. At Battle Row, Katrina M. explains, "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."

Bathroom facilities: Facility quality varies widely across the region. At Battle Row, Katrina noted, "There were lots of showers but only 1 was unlocked (free and with hot water). The bathroom was very clean and well stocked."

Tips for camping with families

Playground access: Some campgrounds offer recreational facilities specifically for children. Lexis N. from Battle Row Campground shares, "The playground is new and centrally located. They also have a horseshoe pit."

Ranger programs: Look for educational opportunities led by park staff. Igor K. mentions that at Watch Hill, there are "showers, toilets and a café. For those who want to be at one with nature."

Site selection: For families needing more space, certain campgrounds offer larger sites. According to Michael M., Battle Row Campground is "great if your local easy in and out" and "each site is set back off a common area so there is plenty of privacy."

Tips from RVers

Limited hookup options: Most tent camping areas near Hampton Bays offer few amenities for RVs. At Battle Row Campground, Katrina M. observed, "There are lots of RVs but not close to tent sites," indicating some separation between camping types.

Road noise considerations: When selecting an RV site, consider proximity to highways. Jill R. from Battle Row Campground cautions that "the lots are near an expressway that constantly has loud traffic," which might disturb light sleepers.

Site preparation: RV campers should confirm site conditions before arrival. One camper at Battle Row noted that "there is plenty of privacy" at sites that are "set back off a common area," providing good separation between neighboring campers.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Hampton Bays, NY?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Hampton Bays, NY is Watch Hill Fire Island Campground — Fire Island National Seashore with a 4-star rating from 7 reviews.

What is the best site to find tent camping near Hampton Bays, NY?

TheDyrt.com has all 9 tent camping locations near Hampton Bays, NY, with real photos and reviews from campers.

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