Blydenburgh County Park's convenient walking paths offer versatile accommodation for both tent and RV campers with dogs. The campground features grassy, tree-lined sites with clean bathrooms and a central restroom facility. Dogs are welcome throughout the park's extensive trail system, including the popular 7-mile loop around the lake. Sites remain close together but provide enough space that neighbors don't intrude on each other's camping experience. The park maintains a designated dog run where pets can exercise off-leash, making it particularly appealing for campers with energetic dogs. Some campers report the bathrooms are just okay, but the staff is consistently described as friendly and helpful regarding pet policies.
Fire Island National Seashore's Watch Hill Campground provides a unique beach camping experience for dogs and their owners, accessible via a 30-minute ferry ride. The boardwalk-connected campsites allow dogs to enjoy the beach environment with their families, though campers should note mosquitoes can be particularly aggressive toward both humans and pets. Site privacy varies significantly—some locations offer excellent seclusion while others place neighbors in close proximity. The campground's proximity to the ocean means dogs can enjoy the sound of crashing waves while camping. Campers with pets should prepare for the boardwalk transportation of gear from the ferry to campsites, bringing sturdy wheeled carts for equipment and pet supplies. Beach camping with dogs requires extra preparation with potent insect repellent to protect pets from the abundant mosquito population.
"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"
$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."
"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."
"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."
$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."
$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."
"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."
"Very close to everything."
"Campsites are located close enough to the beach/marsh. Multiple playgrounds for the kids although they were closed due to Covid."
"There are dog friendly which was very nice. It is a lil tight from each site but you have the beach and a little hiking trails that makes it worth it."
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.
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.
GuideSmall 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.
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
Suffolk County campgrounds offer diverse camping options with varying terrain from pine barrens to coastal dunes. Most campgrounds in the area require a Suffolk County Green Key card for residents, which costs around $30 annually and provides discounted rates. Summer temperatures average 75-85°F with high humidity, while spring and fall camping brings cooler 50-70°F temperatures and fewer insects.
Hiking trails with varied terrain: Cathedral Pines County Park provides secluded wooded sites and natural hiking paths. "Group camping has a limit of 2 cars per site. This helped support a feeling of secluded tranquility campers only from forest camping rather than field camping," notes Linda A., who adds that "the hiking trails were quiet natural and clean. The trails I explored were well marked."
Beach access with boardwalks: Smith Point County Park features direct beach access from campsites. "Short walk to beach. 1 minute walk over the dune to the Atlantic ocean," says Michael. Gianna adds that this is a "truly great spot. Amazing sites with plenty of room... Stayed on the bayside (site 30), which had a fantastic direct bay view."
Fishing opportunities: Indian Island County Park offers multiple fishing spots along with kayak launches. "You are a short walk from beach access and kayak launch," explains Michael G. The park maintains clean facilities and provides "water stations" according to Prashant M., making it convenient for day trips to fish without carrying extra water.
Ferry access camping: Watch Hill Fire Island Campground provides a unique island experience. "You can get there by ferry. Very quiet and comfortable. Birdsong in the morning and the sound of the waves," shares Igor K. Another camper, Emily S., recommends backcountry camping: "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."
Long Island Sound views: Wildwood State Park Campground offers camping near the North Shore with scenic water views. "A great place to break up the suburban wasteland lifestyle that is much of Long Island!" notes Amber A., who describes the park's "high bluffs, sandy calm beaches along the Long Island Sound, and views of CT across the water."
Proximity to wineries: Campers appreciate Wildwood State Park's location near Long Island wine country. James O. mentions it is "right at the entrance to wine country on Long Island and has a beach on the Long Island Sound." Several campers note that this makes it convenient for day trips to nearby vineyards while maintaining a home base for camping.
Seasonal considerations: Most campgrounds in Suffolk County operate from April through October, with some offering limited winter camping. Wildwood State Park runs from "April 1 to October 10," while Heckscher runs from "May 26 to September 3," making advance planning necessary.
Pet restrictions at beaches: While most campgrounds allow pets at campsites, beach access for pets varies. At Nickerson Beach Park Campground, "Campsite allows dogs, however, the beach does not. They have a small dog run on the other side of the large beach parking lot," according to Theresa G.
Campsite spacing varies: Site privacy differs significantly between parks. At Heckscher State Park, "The campsites are very close together without any defining borders so everybody just walks across each other site's," notes Jessica C., while at Smith Point, Gianna describes "amazing sites with plenty of room, though they are close together."
Playground access: Southaven County Park offers family-friendly facilities. Correl H. calls it the "perfect place to take the little ones has a beautiful lake and a really nice playground." The park maintains a range of activities suitable for different ages.
Structured activities: Several campgrounds offer ranger-led programs during summer months. At Watch Hill, "There are park rangers on site and have excellent programs for kids," shares Inocencia O. These often include nature walks, wildlife identification, and environmental education.
Insect preparation: Parents should pack appropriate insect protection, especially for coastal campgrounds. At Indian Island, Maxime T. advises bringing a canopy with mosquito netting, as coastal areas can have persistent insect activity, particularly in humid summer conditions. The eastern end parks generally have fewer mosquitoes than the central island locations.
Hookup availability: Heckscher State Park Campground recently upgraded its facilities for RVs. Elizabeth D. notes, "Facilities (bathroom/showers) were clean, campsites were generously spaced, water spouts at almost every site." She adds, "Was unaware there were no fire pits at the site so I would just bring your own."
Dumping stations: Most Suffolk County parks offer sanitary dump stations, though not all provide direct sewer hookups. At Indian Island County Park, Frank P. mentions the park "has clean heated bathroom and bike station near dump station," making end-of-stay cleanup more convenient.
Site leveling needs: Smith Point offers level sites with views, according to Gianna: "Amazing sites with plenty of room... Stayed on the bayside (site 30), which had a fantastic direct bay view." Several reviewers mention bringing leveling blocks for certain sections of the campgrounds, particularly at the beach-adjacent sites where sand shifting occurs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Islip, NY?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Islip, 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 Islip, NY?
TheDyrt.com has all 22 dog-friendly camping locations near Islip, NY, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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