Blydenburgh County Park's grassy campsites accommodate pets year-round, making it a popular choice for dog owners near Massapequa Park. The park maintains clean facilities with pet waste stations throughout the grounds. Dogs must remain leashed in camping areas but can enjoy the spacious dog run where they can exercise off-leash. Most campgrounds in the area permit 2-3 pets per site without breed restrictions, though some charge modest pet fees. Heckscher State Park and Nickerson Beach Park campgrounds also welcome pets with designated pet-friendly areas. While dogs are allowed at Nickerson Beach campground, park rules prohibit them on the actual beach, with a small dog run available on the opposite side of the parking lot.
The 7-mile loop trail around Blydenburgh's lake provides excellent dog walking opportunities with plenty of shade during summer months. Many sites at these campgrounds offer water and electric hookups for RV campers with pets, while some feature cabin accommodations that accept dogs with advance reservations. Both Wildwood State Park and Smith Point County Park maintain pet-friendly camping sections with specific guidelines posted at check-in. Park rangers regularly patrol campgrounds ensuring pet policies are followed, particularly during quiet hours when barking must be controlled. Temperature considerations are important when camping with pets, as summer heat can be intense with limited tree cover at some locations like Nickerson Beach, where the camping area resembles a parking lot with minimal natural shade.
"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."
"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 - $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."
$35 - $197 / night
"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."
$145 - $180 / night
"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."
$20 - $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."
"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."
$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."
$130 / night
"A little intimidating driving in to a nondescript gate at the end of a narrow street but the overall experience exceeded expectation."
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.
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
RangerThe park itself is lovely and close to some other green areas. The nice thing about this campsite is that it’s so close to NYC. The bad thing about this campsite is that it’s so close to NYC. If you live in NYC this is a good, cheap, super quick escape accessible by public transport. If you’re visiting the area I’d recommend staying in Manhattan/Queens in an AirBNB for the full NYC experience or heading to Long Island, Pennsylvania, “Upstate” New York, or New Jersey for a better nature camping experience. For what it is, this site is a nice green little oasis. It’s National Park Service land and they try really hard to keep things clean and working well with so much traffic. Bring earplus for the airport traffic and the noisy neighbors. Tent sites are pretty and wooded, but there is also a TON of concrete from an old WW2 airfield.
Camping areas near Massapequa Park sit within Suffolk County's eastern woodland and coastal zones, where the terrain transitions from inland pine barrens to Atlantic barrier islands. Average summer temperatures range 75-85°F with high humidity and frequent afternoon thunderstorms. The camping season typically runs April through October with limited winter availability at select inland parks that maintain year-round operations for hardy campers.
Hiking trails with lake views: Blydenburgh County Park offers a scenic 7-mile loop trail that circles a central lake. "Great park with a nice 7 mile loop around the lake with decent fishing. Lots of horses and dogs on the trail," notes Erik R., who appreciated the mixed-use nature of this pathway.
Kayak rentals and water access: Heckscher State Park provides places to rent kayaks while camping. "There are also hiking trails and a place where you can rent a kayak," according to Giselle P., who found the water activities complemented the camping experience well.
Beach camping options: Fire Island's Watch Hill campground offers a rare beach camping experience near Massapequa Park. "You can get a permit to backcountry camp instead of reserving a designated campground spot. Just walk down to the beach after check-in and walk east until you see a pole with a tent symbol on it," explains Emily S., who enjoyed the secluded beach setting.
Fruit picking excursions: Wildwood State Park campers can easily access nearby orchards. "There are lots of stores nearby as well as orchards to pick your own fruits. I stayed there one weekend and went to Splish Splash waterpark that's not far away," shares Giselle P., highlighting the agricultural activities accessible from this campground.
Clean facilities with hot showers: Smith Point County Park maintains exceptional bathroom facilities. "Lastly, 10 stars to guys and girls in charge of maintaining such a busy place!!! You guys really do a great job- and those showers!!! Best ever….great water pressure and super HOT!!!" reports Chris A., who visited in October.
Wildlife encounters: Many campers enjoy respectful wildlife viewing opportunities at Smith Point. "And sweet deer. I watched a momma deer nursing two of her babies. This is paradise," notes Patrick C., describing the natural setting at this oceanfront campground.
Winter and off-season camping: Cathedral Pines County Park offers year-round camping options. "Was a pretty spacious park, very quiet, nice people, but not very many electric sites. Still tho, was a pleasant experience," reports Junior D., who appreciated the peaceful atmosphere of this four-season campground.
Beach access and sunsets: Oceanfront camping at Smith Point provides spectacular evening views. "Our 36ft motorhome backed up to a raised balcony overlooking the bay. Less than 100 feet from the front of our site was the beach and the Atlantic Ocean view," explains Patrick C., describing the prime waterfront location.
Limited private campground spaces: Most campgrounds feature open layouts with minimal privacy. "The entire campground is one flat open space where some sites are full in the shade and other sites (lower numbers) have lots of sun," explains Giselle P. about Heckscher State Park, reflecting a common layout pattern across area campgrounds.
Green Key card requirements: Suffolk County parks require resident cards for reservations and discounts. "You need a Green Key card membership for reservation which at least got me a 50% ($9) discount on beach parking," explains Dominick L. about Southaven County Park, highlighting the local resident advantage system.
Insect preparation needed: Depending on season and location, mosquito control is essential. "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!!!" warns Rosie R. about Watch Hill, emphasizing the importance of bug protection.
Variable site quality within campgrounds: Locations within the same park can differ dramatically. "Sites are great overlooking the bay. Bathroom lights are bright. 10 would be better. I also like the corner sites as they are bigger. The 230-70 overlook the ocean which is great," advises Stephen P., providing specific site selection tips.
Playground access considerations: When camping with children, select sites near play areas. "This place is the best around for group and family camping. The entire campground is one flat open space where some sites are full in the shade and other sites (lower numbers) have lots of sun. There is a playground just for the campground," reports Giselle P. about Heckscher State Park.
Kid-friendly ranger programs: Watch Hill offers excellent children's activities. "There are park rangers on site and have excellent programs for kids," notes Inocencia O., highlighting the educational opportunities available at Fire Island's campground.
Trick-or-treating weekends: Smith Point offers seasonal camping events for families. "It also happened to be Trick or Treat weekend on the campground which really fun to see," shares Chris A., describing the October camping experience with organized activities.
Limited RV hookup access: Cathedral Pines has few electrical sites for larger rigs. "Was a pretty spacious park, very quiet, nice people, but not very many electric sites," warns Junior D., suggesting early reservations for those needing power connections.
Oceanfront RV positioning: At Smith Point, site selection impacts your views dramatically. "Stayed on the bayside (site 30), which had a fantastic direct bay view. Although most sites have views of the bay, some are blocked by seagrass (for example site 28 - huge corner spot but the flat spot to park has an obstructed view)," advises Gianna, providing specific site recommendations for optimal positioning.
Site variation between campgrounds: Different parks offer varied RV experiences. "RV pull through sites were fantastic. It was a great campground for maiden voyage in new rig. Plenty of amenities," reports Lori R. about her stay at Wildwood State Park, contrasting with other more primitive options in the area.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Massapequa Park, NY?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Massapequa Park, NY is Nickerson Beach Park Campground with a 3.4-star rating from 8 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Massapequa Park, NY?
TheDyrt.com has all 23 dog-friendly camping locations near Massapequa Park, NY, with real photos and reviews from campers.
Keep Exploring
