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Best Tent Camping near Jamesport, NY

303 Reviews

The coastal areas surrounding Jamesport, New York offer tent campers several unique options, with Fire Island National Seashore providing the most accessible tent-only camping experiences. Watch Hill Fire Island Campground, located on the barrier island, requires a ferry ride from Patchogue and features designated tent campsites behind protective dunes. For more seclusion, backcountry tent camping permits are available at Fire Island National Seashore, allowing campers to set up along less-developed stretches of beach. Battle Row Campground in Old Bethpage, approximately 30 miles west of Jamesport, maintains 5-7 dedicated tent sites separated from RV areas.

Tent campsite conditions vary significantly across these locations. At Watch Hill, campsites connect via boardwalks with a half-mile walk from the ferry dock to camping areas. Campers should prepare for persistent insects, particularly mosquitoes and horseflies, which multiple visitors report as problematic despite using repellent. Battle Row's tent sites feature spacious, shaded areas with picnic tables, but require campers to bring their own fire containers as no permanent fire pits exist. Fires must be kept off the ground in approved containers. Reservations are essential for all tent campgrounds in the region, with Fire Island requiring permits between March 15 and Labor Day. Most sites provide basic amenities like toilets and picnic tables, though water access points may be limited.

The tent camping experience at these locations offers distinctive coastal elements. According to reviews, backcountry beach camping at Fire Island provides exceptional solitude. One camper noted, "You can get a permit to backcountry camp instead of reserving a designated campground spot. After check-in, walk east until you see a pole with a tent symbol. It felt like we had the entire beach to ourselves." At Battle Row, tent sites are set back from common areas, creating privacy despite being in a developed campground. Morning birdsong and crashing waves create the soundtrack at Fire Island sites, though weather conditions can change rapidly. Post-Labor Day visits typically offer reduced crowds and more comfortable temperatures for primitive tent camping experiences.

Best Tent Sites Near Jamesport, New York (9)

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Tent Camping Reviews near Jamesport, NY

303 Reviews of 9 Jamesport 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • A
    Sep. 10, 2024

    Kettletown State Park Campground

    Great location, but not a good experience

    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.

  • 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

Guide to Jamesport

Tent campsite options near Jamesport, New York include primitive sites scattered across the Connecticut River Valley region. Most established camping areas sit within 30-40 miles of Jamesport, with many requiring boat or ferry access. The climate along coastal Long Island creates a humid summer environment, particularly from June through August when overnight temperatures rarely drop below 65°F.

What to do

Riverside hiking trails: At Hurd State Park River Camping, tent campers can access multiple hiking paths along the Connecticut River. The park connects to extensive trail systems through wooded terrain.

Water-based activities: River Highlands State Park River Campground provides direct river access for kayaking and fishing. "The campsite was absolutely beautiful—especially with its location right by the river," notes Alicia B., though she warns about wildlife encounters: "The outhouse did have quite a few wolf spiders."

Castle exploration: Beyond basic camping, tent sites near Gillette Castle offer historical exploration. "Castle has tours at certain times," mentions Todd J. about Gillette Castle State Park Campground, making it ideal for campers seeking cultural activities between outdoor adventures.

What campers like

Island isolation: Tent campers consistently praise the secluded feeling at boat-in sites. At Selden Neck State Park Campground, Jason S. reports: "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."

Private tent areas: Many campers appreciate the separation between tent and RV camping areas. "Each site is set back off a common area so there is plenty of privacy," notes Michael M. about Battle Row Campground, adding it's "great if your local easy in and out."

Natural beach access: Coastal tent sites provide direct beach access. Inocencia O. describes Watch Hill Fire Island Campground as a "Beautiful location steps away from the beach. Listen to the waves crashing as you sleep and stargaze over the clear ocean."

What you should know

Transportation logistics: Many tent campsites near Jamesport require ferry or boat transportation. For Watch Hill, campers must take the ferry from Patchogue, with Pedro R. noting: "Only about 20 min drive and 30 min ferry trip for us we got to watch hill... It's a bit of a walk to camp site but all on board walk (we took to carts full of stuff)."

Fire restrictions: Fire regulations vary significantly between campgrounds. Battle Row requires off-ground fires only, with katrina M. reporting: "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."

Permit requirements: Fire Island National Seashore camping requires advance planning. Nora S. advises: "Make sure to get a reservation if you're going in between march 15 and labor day. The only disappointments were that there are no campfires allowed and no dogs."

Tips for camping with families

Kid-friendly amenities: Some campgrounds offer specific family accommodations. At Watch Hill, Inocencia O. mentions: "There are park rangers on site and have excellent programs for kids."

Playground availability: Families should consider campgrounds with recreational facilities. Katrina M. notes about Battle Row: "The playground is new and centrally located. They also have a horseshoe pit."

Alternative beach options: For families concerned about insects, consider day trips to beaches instead of overnight stays. Rosie R. warns about persistent pests: "We couldn't even enjoy our meals at camp because it was that bad. Def bring a shelter or a canopy with a mosquito net!"

Tips from RVers

Site selection considerations: RVers report mixed experiences with site layouts. At Battle Row, Lexis N. appreciates: "The sites have provided electric and water and are kept so clean. They have shower and restroom facilities, the showers were amazing and also so clean!"

Facility limitations: Bathroom and shower facilities vary widely between campgrounds. Jill R. cautions about Battle Row: "The bathrooms are run down and not well kept, the lots are near an expressway that constantly has loud traffic."

Alternative options: When full hookups aren't available, consider hybrid options. Igor K. notes about Watch Hill: "There are showers, toilets and a café. For those who want to be at one with nature."

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Jamesport, NY?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Jamesport, 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 Jamesport, NY?

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

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