Campsites near Laurel, New York offer access to both Long Island beaches and woodland settings within a 30-mile radius. The area features sandy soil typical of coastal regions with elevation ranging from sea level to 100 feet. Summer temperatures average 75-85°F with frequent ocean breezes, while spring and fall camping seasons bring cooler 50-70°F temperatures with less humidity.
What to do
Beach activities: Hither Hills State Park Campground provides direct beach access just over the dunes. "Great view and nice beach. Nice place to run and also ride a road bike in the mornings," notes one visitor. The park offers ocean swimming and fishing opportunities.
Historic exploration: Rocky Neck State Park Campground has hiking trails along the coastline with water views. "A short walk to Rocky Neck beach. Nature Center has movies on weekends for kids," mentions a camper. The park features a 1930s stone pavilion.
Water sports: Take advantage of nearby boat launches for kayaking excursions. "Local kayaking areas and about 30 min to Foxwoods Casino, even closer to Mohegan Sun," reports a visitor at Aces High RV Park. The park also has "a creek area for dog swimming. Our two labs loved it!"
Cultural visits: Several campgrounds provide access to Mystic's attractions. "This park is in a great location for exploring Mystic. You are close to downtown, the aquarium, Mystic Seaport and other attractions," mentions a camper at Sun Outdoors Mystic.
What campers like
Clean facilities: Sun Outdoors Mystic maintains well-kept grounds and bathhouses. "The bathrooms in the campground were newer and immaculate. This resort has lots of amenities that would occupy kids time," reports a visitor. Their mini-golf course was noted as "actually really nice and not the run-down homemade ones."
Spacious sites: Campgrounds offer various site configurations. "Pull through sites also have lots of space between them so you don't feel like you are on top of the neighbors," notes a camper at Aces High RV Park. Sites typically include grassy areas and pea gravel pads.
Waterfront options: Several parks feature premium waterfront locations. "We paid $150/night for a 'Premium Waterfront FHU Site' on the lake. A bit pricey, but really nice site including level concrete pad and patio, clean and well-maintained utilities, and beautiful view," describes a visitor at Aces High RV Park.
Ferry access: Crocker's Boatyard offers unique marina camping with easy access to ferries. "The next day we took the ferry to Block Island which was also walking distance from the boat yard. Block Island a must see," shares one camper. The location provides a secure base for exploring coastal areas.
What you should know
Reservation requirements: Hither Hills State Park Campground fills quickly. "Must reserve early in the year for summer spots," advises a visitor. "Great place to camp, need to reserve about 1 year in advance when I went to reserve it," adds another.
Site privacy varies: Some campgrounds offer more separation than others. "The sites were close to each other with little to no privacy but everyone in our area was nice," reports a Hither Hills visitor. At Rocky Neck, sites are more shaded with natural barriers.
Seasonal availability: Most campgrounds in this region operate from spring through fall. Rocky Neck State Park is open "May 26 to September 29" while North Fork Cottages & RV Resort operates from "May to Nov."
Bathroom conditions: Facility quality varies across campgrounds. "Some of the screens were missing from the bathroom so it was full of bugs. If you are in a camper and it has a bathroom, this will not be an issue for you," notes a camper at North Fork Cottages & RV Resort.
Tips for camping with families
Beach proximity: Hither Hills State Park Campground provides immediate beach access. "The beach is just over the dunes. Village Pizza is remarkably good," shares a visitor. The campground includes a playground and general store for forgotten supplies.
Kid-friendly activities: Several parks offer recreational facilities for children. "The grounds are clean and well maintained, the bathrooms and showers are spotless and newly painted. The kids areas looked great," notes a visitor at Sun Outdoors Mystic.
Group sites: Some campgrounds offer configurations suitable for multiple families. "We camped here with friends and got one of the 'buddy sites' so our patios faced each other. I like this configuration when camping with friends," explains a camper at Sun Outdoors Mystic.
Noise considerations: Campgrounds with many families can be lively. "There's a ton of family's with kids," mentions a Hither Hills visitor. For quieter options, consider sites at the edges of campgrounds or during shoulder seasons.
Tips from RVers
Hookup availability: RV sites near Laurel, New York offer various connection options. "Our site was a nice long, level pull-thru. Hook-ups were placed in ideal locations for the pad which was gravel," notes a Sun Outdoors Mystic visitor.
Utility reliability: Quality of services varies between parks. "Cell signal varies wildly by spot. B17 no prob at all. G14 spotty. F20 total dead zone," reports a Hither Hills camper regarding connectivity.
Site configurations: Parks offer different RV pad types. "Clean, well-maintained, and level site with concrete pad and patio. Utility hookups were in great condition and everything worked as it should," shares a visitor at Aces High RV Park.
Generator restrictions: Some parks limit generator usage. "Had to take a star off for no hookups. Generator hours are limited. There are spigots located down the middle of the rows," advises a Hither Hills camper.
