26 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Nickerson Beach Park Campground's pet policy allows dogs at the RV-only sites, though canine companions aren't permitted on the beach itself. The campground features full hookups with electric, water, sewer connections, and sanitary dump stations for RV campers traveling with pets. Located in Lido Beach, this Nassau County facility operates seasonally from April through November with shower facilities and toilets available to all guests. Liberty Harbor RV Park in nearby Jersey City offers another pet-friendly option with 24-hour security and proximity to NYC attractions. The sites at both locations accommodate varying RV sizes, with Liberty Harbor providing space for larger rigs. Campers at Nickerson Beach mention the campground is clean and quiet with convenient access to amenities, though the small designated dog run is located across the large beach parking lot away from the camping area.
Blydenburgh County Park provides year-round pet-friendly camping with tent and RV sites for those seeking options beyond Hempstead. Dogs must remain leashed throughout most campgrounds in the region, with specific exercise areas designated for off-leash activity. The area's limited camping options reflect the urban density of Long Island, with most pet-friendly sites functioning primarily as convenient basecamps for exploring nearby attractions rather than wilderness experiences. Campers arriving with RVs should note that many routes to these campgrounds include parkways with height restrictions, requiring careful navigation planning to avoid low bridges. Heckscher State Park Campground offers an additional seasonal pet-friendly campsite option between May and September with cabin accommodations alongside the traditional tent and RV sites. The campground provides picnic tables and allows fires, though campers report facilities can get crowded during peak summer weekends.
"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."
"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."
"Very easy to hop on transit to get to New York City. People were friendly."
from $145 - $180 / night
Check Availability"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"
"* 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 $24 - $320 / night
Check Availability"A little intimidating driving in to a nondescript gate at the end of a narrow street but the overall experience exceeded expectation."
from $130 / night
Check Availabilityfrom $85 - $120 / night
Check Availability"15 dolares la noche para los que viven en el Estado de New York o New York city .. si es fuera del estado son $5 dolares mas!!"
"Drive-in tent campgrounds. Adequate restroom facilities sprinkled amongst tent sites. Some campsites have raised platforms. All sites have picnic tables and fire ring with flip-top grill."
from $21 - $24 / night
Check Availability"I stayed at Cheesequake at the beginning of August and had a very positive experience."
"This park is on the list of 50 top NJ Hikes, and it has a few great trails. The trails range from easy to moderate with quite a few lookout locations."
from $200 / night
Check Availability"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 $24 - $250 / night
Check Availability"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 - $337 / night
Check Availability
GuideI 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
GuideCamp 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.
ScoutVery 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.
RangerVery 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!
LegendWe 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.
GuideThis 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.
ScoutVery 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.
ScoutThere 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.
LegendThis campground is amazing. You have a clear view of the Narrow bridge and at night the city lights light up your surroundings light a nigh light. The camp here has 7 campsites here and it fill up really fast. I came at 5 in the morning and there was already a family there. There is abandoned buildings here and you can do urban exploring. There are restroom here that are pretty dirty. The public uses the restrooms not just the campers here. For the firewood I recommend buying it or bringing your own. Firewood was difficult to find here. At night there are no stars because the city lights cover them up.There are rangers taking you on a trek and exploring the abandoned building. This place is great if you live in new York city and don't want to drive really far from the city to go camping
Camping options near Hempstead, New York provide convenient access to both Long Island's shorelines and NYC attractions within driving distance. The region sits at low elevation with a humid continental climate featuring hot summers and mild-to-cold winters. Most campgrounds operate seasonally between April and October, with overnight temperatures dropping to the 50s even during summer months.
Hiking trails along water features: Blydenburgh County Park offers a 7-mile loop trail around the lake that supports hiking, dog walking and fishing opportunities. "Hiking trails are beautiful. Dog friendly. Clean bathrooms," notes one camper from Blydenburgh County Park.
Beach access without driving: Watch Hill Fire Island Campground provides direct beach access via boardwalks. "It's a bit of a walk to camp site but all on board walk (we took to carts full of stuff)... Short walk to the beach," shares a camper at Watch Hill Fire Island Campground. The location offers swimming and shoreline exploration with minimal travel once you arrive.
Birding and wildlife observation: Wildwood State Park sits above the Long Island Sound on high bluffs with diverse habitats. "The North Shore experience with high bluffs, sandy calm beaches along the Long Island Sound, and views of CT across the water... pine barrens and hardwood forest to explore, lots of deer, pretty good birding," reports one visitor.
Platform tent sites for wet weather: Elevated camping platforms at several parks keep tents dry during rain. "Many of the camping options were on platforms which is especially nice if it recently rained or if you are expecting rain during your stay," explains a camper at Beaver Pond Campground. The platforms provide flat, stable surfaces above potentially wet ground.
Winter camping options: Year-round access at select parks extends camping season beyond summer months. "This park is about 6 minutes away from our home. It's a small park. It's great if you have little ones. Dogs are welcome. There's a large dog run so the fur babies will have a great time too," notes a local who frequents Blydenburgh County Park, which remains open all year.
Ferry access to car-free camping: Fire Island's campgrounds require ferry transportation, creating a unique camping environment. "You can get there by ferry. Very quiet and comfortable. Birdsong in the morning and the sound of the waves," writes a visitor to Watch Hill Fire Island Campground.
Insect preparation essential: Waterfront campgrounds experience significant insect activity, especially mosquitoes. "Def bring a shelter or a canopy with a mosquito net! We spent a lot of time inside our tent, needless to say," warns a camper about Watch Hill. High-concentration DEET products are recommended at most Long Island campgrounds.
Shower facility limitations: Many campgrounds have basic shower facilities that may lack privacy or temperature control. At Fire Island, a camper notes: "Only thing no hot showers as it was a beach bathroom shower. It was a little cooler so showering was not that great also showers are not covered no curtains."
Parkway height restrictions: RV travelers face route limitations due to parkways with low bridges. "We drove down from Connecticut to Long Island to find the main routes to the campsite all went through New York's parkways. There are height restrictions on the parkways so RVs and semis cannot travel on them without a high risk of crashing into the bridges and getting the tops ripped off like a tin can," explains a camper from Nickerson Beach Park Campground.
Playground access: Multiple campgrounds feature dedicated play areas for children. A camper at Heckscher State Park Campground notes: "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."
Group site availability: Certain parks accommodate larger family gatherings with special site layouts. "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... Group camping has a limit of 2 cars per site," explains a visitor to Blydenburgh County Park.
Educational ranger programs: National Park Service sites offer structured learning opportunities for kids. "There are park rangers on site and have excellent programs for kids," shares a Fire Island visitor, noting these activities can help engage children with nature and park history.
Urban access planning: RV campers can use strategic locations as bases for city exploration. "This is a great spot with views of Manhattan, Statue of Liberty, etc. Expect to pay pretty good to be gear, but from here you can pretty much easily get anywhere in NYC," notes a reviewer at Liberty Harbor RV Park. Transportation options like ferries and trains allow vehicle-free city access.
Site spacing varies significantly: RV campers report differences in privacy between parks and sections. "Larger rigs will barely have a yard. And don't bet on a private picnic table," warns one Liberty Harbor visitor, while at Wildwood State Park a camper notes: "RV pull through sites were fantastic. It was a great campground for maiden voyage in new rig."
Off-season advantages: Visiting after Labor Day reduces crowds at most Long Island campgrounds. "We went the weekend after labor day... It felt like we had the entire beach to ourselves because there was no one else even close to around us," reports a camper at Fire Island, highlighting quieter conditions outside peak summer periods.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Hempstead, NY?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Hempstead, NY is Nickerson Beach Park Campground with a 3.6-star rating from 9 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Hempstead, NY?
TheDyrt.com has all 26 dog-friendly camping locations near Hempstead, NY, with real photos and reviews from campers.
Keep Exploring
