Best Dog-Friendly Camping near Kings Park, NY

Blydenburgh County Park's dog-friendly trails and camping areas attract pet owners seeking outdoor experiences with their animals. The park has clean bathrooms and grassy campsites that welcome pets with proper supervision. Located in Smithtown, this Suffolk County campground offers both tent and RV sites with hookups including electric, water, and sanitary dump facilities. Dogs must be leashed throughout the campground and trails. Several reviewers note the excellent 7-mile loop trail around the lake is particularly popular with both dogs and horses. The campground provides picnic tables at each site, and fires are permitted in appropriate containers. Sites are spacious enough for comfortable camping with pets, though some RV campers report difficulties leveling larger rigs.

Nearby Heckscher State Park Campground and Wildwood State Park also accommodate pets with designated pet-friendly areas. Dogs need to be kept on leashes no longer than 6 feet throughout these parks, and owners must clean up after their animals. The hiking trails at Cathedral Pines County Park provide additional pet exercise opportunities with miles of wooded paths where wildlife encounters are common. Many campers report deer sightings while walking their dogs on trails. Visitors should secure food items as raccoons can be problematic, especially at Cathedral Pines. Suffolk County parks require a Green Key card for resident rates, which proves economical for frequent campers with pets. Temperature fluctuations on Long Island can affect camping comfort for pets, so adequate water and shade access are essential during summer months.

Best Dog-Friendly Sites Near Kings Park, New York (27)

    1. Blydenburgh County Park

    11 Reviews
    Hauppauge, NY
    4 miles
    Website
    +1 (631) 854-3713

    "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"

    2. Heckscher State Park Campground

    9 Reviews
    Great River, NY
    13 miles
    Website
    +1 (631) 581-2100

    $24 - $285 / 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."

    3. Wildwood State Park Campground

    24 Reviews
    Wading River, NY
    23 miles
    Website
    +1 (631) 929-4314

    $24 - $225 / 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."

    4. Cathedral Pines County Park

    4 Reviews
    Middle Island, NY
    16 miles
    Website
    +1 (631) 852-5502

    5. Watch Hill Fire Island Campground — Fire Island National Seashore

    7 Reviews
    Bayport, NY
    19 miles
    +1 (631) 597-6074

    "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."

    6. Southaven County Park

    7 Reviews
    Shirley, NY
    19 miles
    Website
    +1 (631) 852-1391

    $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."

    7. Smith Point County Park

    9 Reviews
    Mastic Beach, NY
    23 miles
    Website
    +1 (631) 852-1315

    "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."

    8. Smith's Point

    5 Reviews
    Mastic Beach, NY
    23 miles
    Website

    9. Nickerson Beach Park Campground

    8 Reviews
    Long Beach, NY
    28 miles
    Website
    +1 (516) 571-7700

    "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."

    10. Hammonasset State Park Campground

    39 Reviews
    Clinton, CT
    44 miles
    Website
    +1 (203) 245-1817

    $20 - $70 / night

    "The showers were outside the bathroom- there was a bench & hooks OUTSIDE! We found out all the other loops had modern bathhouses."

    "Beautiful Connecticut beach sits just steps away from your campsite. Well kept showers and bathrooms are abundant and the camp store has the majority of what you need."

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Dog-Friendly Camping Reviews near Kings Park, NY

309 Reviews of 27 Kings Park Campgrounds


  • Mackenzie B.
    Aug. 4, 2018

    Nickerson Beach Park Campground

    surfers dream

    I 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

  • Nadia V.
    Aug. 24, 2016

    Camp Gateway- Brooklyn NY - CLOSED — Gateway National Recreation Area

    Definitely a place to visit!

    Camp 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.

  • EThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 29, 2025

    Liberty Harbor RV Park

    Functional with excellent access to the City

    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. Shopping & restraunts are right next door. We brought scooters & had a great stay! Plus you can see the Statue of Liberty from there!

  • Christy C.
    Jun. 10, 2017

    Camp Gateway- Brooklyn NY - CLOSED — Gateway National Recreation Area

    "Camping" in Brooklyn

    We 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.

  • Carrie J.
    Sep. 30, 2016

    Camp Gateway- Brooklyn NY - CLOSED — Gateway National Recreation Area

    Weird One

    This 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.

  • s
    Sep. 21, 2018

    Sandy Hook — Gateway National Recreation Area

    Sandy Hook is a plesant campground with great rangers working there

    Very 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.

  • Karla S.
    Aug. 31, 2018

    Liberty Harbor RV Park

    New York City View

    There 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.

  • Tara N.
    Jul. 17, 2021

    Totoket Valley RV Park

    Perfect for a stop over

    Small 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.

  • K
    Aug. 9, 2019

    New York City North/Newburgh KOA

    Super lindo y el Personal muy amable

    Super lindo todo!! $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!! Lo mejor es reservar online y escojer el espacio pero no es obligatorio.. si quieres acampar en un area lejos y solo pues escojan la seccion W... no todas las secciones tienen una plataforma de madera para poner tu caseta de campaña.. algunas secciones son las casetas ensima de la grama.. lo mejor es buscar una seccion que esten los bańos y las duchas cerca en caso también de que se te antoje ir de madrugada ... para el mes de Agosto no habia nada de mosquitos ni moscas .. El personal muy amable .. no habia mucha vigilancia.. lo que si es llevar mucho gas y carbon y palos de madera para la fogata y estar preparado si llueve.. hay una tienda que venden palos para la fogata $12.. venden Cafe $1 . Hielo $5 ..$10  .. venden frisas .. leche y muchas cosas mas!!! Hay un lago estilo playa..bueno lo unico que los que no están acostumbrados a ver o escuchar animales salvajes es un poco miedoso en la noche!! Nunca tener comida ni nada de olor dentro de las casetas por que los osos viene por la comida .. dejar todo dentro del carro .. y en fin todo muy lindo.. los bańos y bańera muy limpios y ademas puedes cargar en el bańo el celular


Guide to Kings Park

Blydenburgh County Park sits at an elevation of approximately 80 feet above sea level in Suffolk County, nestled within the oak-hickory forests common to Long Island's north shore. The park's terrain features a mix of woodland and wetland areas around Stump Pond, creating a microclimate that maintains temperatures about 3-5 degrees cooler than surrounding coastal areas. Sites at Suffolk County campgrounds operate on a Green Key system that provides cost benefits for frequent campers.

What to do

Hiking trails beyond the lake loop: Cathedral Pines County Park offers extensive wooded paths beyond the main attractions. "The hiking trails were quiet natural and and clean. The trails I exposed were well marked," reports Linda A. about her experience at nearby Blydenburgh County Park.

Beach activities at Wildwood: The Long Island Sound shoreline provides rocky beach terrain for walking. "Beach is beautiful, very rocky, bring your water shoes, sunset scenery is beautiful!" advises Ossama B. about Wildwood State Park Campground.

Fishing opportunities: Multiple parks feature accessible fishing areas for varied skill levels. "Lake is great and only a short walk, but no swimming," notes Michael G. about facilities at Blydenburgh. At Smith Point, one camper mentions the possibility to "rent a rowboat for fishing."

What campers like

Group camping areas: Secluded group sites create a more isolated camping experience. "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 feild camping," notes Linda A. about her experience at Blydenburgh.

Wildlife encounters: Proximity to deer and other wildlife enhances the camping experience. At Smith Point County Park, one visitor shares, "And sweet deer. I watched a momma deer nursing two of her babies."

Seasonal variations: The changing seasons offer different camping experiences. At Watch Hill Fire Island Campground, Emily S. notes, "We went the weekend after labor day" and describes how they "had the entire beach to ourselves because there was no one else even close to around us."

What you should know

Site selection strategies: Some campgrounds have significant variations between sites. At Wildwood State Park, one reviewer mentions, "You can find sites that are less wooded and better suited to group camping, as well as sites that are a little more secluded."

Bug protection essentials: Insect issues vary by location and season. At Watch Hill Fire Island Campground, Rosie R. warns, "We were getting attacked by mosquitoes and horseflies the entire weekend. Even with the bug spray, the relief didn't last long."

Beach access limitations: Heckscher State Park Campground has specific beach access points. According to Thorin J., "A car is an absolute must for this part - the entrance is directly off of Southern State Parkway with no pedestrian access."

Seasonal closures: Not all facilities operate year-round. Wildwood State Park Campground operates seasonally from "April 1 to October 10," while Heckscher maintains a shorter season from "May 26 to September 3."

Tips for camping with families

Beach access with children: Proximity to beach areas varies by campground. At Hammonasset State Park Campground, Tiffany T. reports, "You can ride your bike from your site to the playground, store, beach, local ice cream shop, coffee shop, or our family favorite, meig's point nature center."

Activity planning: Multiple entertainment options keep families engaged. At Smith Point County Park, Giselle P. notes, "I stayed there one weekend and went to Splish Splash waterpark that's not far away. There is also a Tanger Outlet nearby."

Pet policies for children's pets: Different pet-friendly camping rules exist across parks. At Southaven County Park, strict rules apply to dogs on the trails. For families bringing along children's pets, recognize that according to one reviewer, each park maintains "places to eat are very close, and a 15 minute drive to Smith's Point beach was a plus."

Tips from RVers

Leveling challenges: RV sites at some locations present setup difficulties. At Southaven County Park, Dominick L. observed that "There seemed to be a disproportionate amount of dilapidated trailers on the side of the campground with no electricity. I'm not sure how some of them even moved."

Hookup availability: Electric and water connections vary significantly between campgrounds. At Wildwood State Park, "RV pull through sites were fantastic. It was a great campground for maiden voyage in new rig. Plenty of amenities," according to Lori R.

Site dimensions: Space limitations affect larger vehicles differently. Michael G. notes about Wildwood State Park, "sites had zero privacy and were all pull through. There was water, electric and sewer hookups at each site, but this was an expensive place to 'camp'."

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Kings Park, NY?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Kings Park, 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 Kings Park, NY?

TheDyrt.com has all 27 dog-friendly camping locations near Kings Park, NY, with real photos and reviews from campers.