Dog-Friendly Camping near Massapequa, NY

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    Nickerson Beach Park Campground accommodates pets with limitations and restricted beach access. Only RVs are permitted at this oceanside location with clean facilities and good hookups. Pets can stay at the campground but are not allowed on the adjacent beach, with a small dedicated dog run available on the opposite side of the beach parking lot. The campground provides a convenient base for exploring Long Island's attractions, though sites are essentially a parking lot arrangement with limited natural features. ['Sites aren't marked and the tables and BBQs are in poor condition at some of the area's facilities.'] Blydenburgh County Park offers more natural surroundings with grassy tent sites, shaded areas, and pet-friendly trails around a scenic lake.

    Suffolk County parks maintain several pet-accepting campgrounds within reasonable driving distance of Massapequa. Southaven County Park permits pets while providing water hookups, picnic tables, and reservable sites that remain open year-round. Heckscher State Park Campground features both tent sites and pet-friendly heated cottages along the shore, though the tent camping area lacks clear site boundaries and fire pits. The beach cottages include fully furnished accommodations with kitchens, bathrooms, and outdoor fire rings with Adirondack chairs. Wildlife sightings including deer, rabbits, and turtles enhance the experience at these locations. Sites at Smith Point County Park accommodate pets while offering full hookups and beach proximity, making it popular for RV campers seeking coastal access with their dogs.

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    Best Dog-Friendly Campgrounds near Massapequa (23)

      1. Nickerson Beach Park Campground

      3.6(9)9mi from MassapequaRVs, Tents

      "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."

      "They have a dog park basketball courts playground swimming just about everything."

      2. Blydenburgh County Park

      4.1(11)17mi from MassapequaRVs, Tents

      "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"

      3. Heckscher State Park Campground

      3.6(9)17mi from Massapequa82 sitesRVs, Tents, Cabins

      "* 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."

      from $20 - $285 / night

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      4. Liberty Harbor RV Park

      3.8(16)30mi from Massapequa1 siteRVs

      "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."

      from $145 - $180 / night

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

      4.0(7)25mi from Massapequa28 sitesTents, Cabins

      "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."

      from $35 - $197 / night

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      6. Wildwood State Park Campground

      4.2(24)40mi from Massapequa324 sitesRVs, Tents, Cabins, Glamping

      "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."

      from $20 - $225 / night

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      7. New York City North/Newburgh KOA

      4.2(40)50mi from Massapequa129 sitesRVs, Tents

      "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!!"

      "Drive-in tent campgrounds. Adequate restroom facilities sprinkled amongst tent sites. Some campsites have raised platforms. All sites have picnic tables and fire ring with flip-top grill."

      from $17 - $20 / night

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      8. Smith Point County Park

      4.4(9)32mi from MassapequaRVs, Tents, Glamping

      "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."

      9. Southaven County Park

      4.0(7)32mi from MassapequaRVs, Tents

      "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."

      from $33 / night

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      10. Skyline RV Camp - Waterfront

      5.0(1)26mi from Massapequa20 sitesRVs

      "A little intimidating driving in to a nondescript gate at the end of a narrow street but the overall experience exceeded expectation."

      from $130 / night

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    Dog-Friendly Camping Reviews near Massapequa, NY

    276 Reviews of 23 Massapequa 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.

    • LThe Dyrt PRO User
      Jun. 10, 2026

      Nickerson Beach Park Campground

      Great place

      Very nice family oriented, places the beach, which is great except for the birds watch out they come at you. They have a dog park basketball courts playground swimming just about everything.

    • 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.

    • phillip L.
      Aug. 1, 2016

      Staten Island — Gateway National Recreation Area - CLOSED for 2025

      Bridge

      This 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


    Guide to Massapequa

    Suffolk County offers several dog friendly campgrounds near Massapequa where pets are welcome to join camping adventures. The area sits at sea level with coastal influences creating moderate temperatures year-round. Summer camping temperatures typically range from 65-85°F, with higher humidity near the water and cooler evenings in wooded sites.

    What to do

    Beach exploration: Smith Point County Park offers both bay and ocean access within walking distance of campsites. "A short walk from the ocean to the bay, both accessible by walking from your campsite," notes camper Ali O., who mentions staying up late is common as "campers stay up late drinking by the fire."

    Water activities: Rent boats or kayaks near camping areas. At Southaven County Park, "If you like water activities and hiking, then chances are you will probably like this campground... I rented a rowboat, and used that for a large part of the morning. They also have some kayaks available to rent as well," reports Kari M.

    Wildlife viewing: Many campsites offer opportunities to spot local wildlife. At Heckscher State Park Campground, campers regularly spot "wildlife: deer, rabbits, turtles" according to reviewer W L., who stayed in one of the beachside cottages.

    What campers like

    Proximity to NYC: Located just 40 minutes north of New York City, Beaver Pond Campground provides an accessible escape. "A quick 40 minutes north of NYC, Harriman State Park has an eclectic little campground called Beaver Pond. The grounds are just steps away from Welch Lake, offering a lifeguard monitored sandy beach," mentions Steve W.

    Natural camping surfaces: Blydenburgh County Park stands out for its grassy sites. "Camp on grass! Lovely trees. Everyone is nice. Hiking trails are beautiful. Dog friendly. Clean bathrooms," writes Ali O., highlighting the comfortable terrain for tent camping.

    Oceanfront access: Many campers appreciate direct beach access at Watch Hill Fire Island Campground. "Beautiful location steps away from the beach. Listen to the waves crashing as you sleep and stargaze over the clear ocean," says Inocencia O., who also notes there are "park rangers on site and have excellent programs for kids."

    What you should know

    Tent camping considerations: Some parks have limited tent amenities. At Heckscher State Park, "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," explains Ellen C.

    Bug preparation: Several campgrounds near water require serious insect protection. For Watch Hill, campers warn: "Expect to be eaten alive...we were getting attacked by mosquitoes and horseflies the entire weekend. Even with the bug spray, the relief didn't last long. 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!!!"

    Seasonal variations: Wildwood State Park Campground offers different experiences throughout its April to October season. "The North Shore and South Shore are pretty different. This site gives you the North Shore experience with high bluffs, sandy calm beaches along the Long Island Sound, and views of CT across the water," explains Amber A.

    Tips for camping with families

    Playground access: When camping with children, select sites with dedicated play areas. "Cheesequake State Park Campground is a great site for those who are not avid campers. It's close to town if you forget something and it has all the facilities you may need, bathroom, shower, etc. The best part is all the trails," says Maggie A.

    Site selection for space: At Beaver Pond, "The campground offers several different sites, from platform tent spaces to those for 25' trailers. All sites have a standard picnic table and fire ring," notes camper Steve W., and Linda A. adds it "Feels like upstate camping in group camping area" with sites "spaced enough to allow a true feeling of escaping into the woods."

    Water safety: When swimming is a priority, check for lifeguard schedules. Southaven County Park has "a beautiful lake and a really nice playground," making it "perfect place to take the little ones," according to correl H.

    Tips from RVers

    Full hookup availability: Some parks offer limited hookups for RVs. Smith Point County Park provides complete utilities, with Patrick C. describing, "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."

    Site spacing: RV campers should research site dimensions before booking. At Nickerson Beach Park, Clifford notes, "Spent 2 weeks here while in assignment this spring. Clean, quiet. Very close to everything," though the campground primarily accommodates RVs rather than tents.

    Alternative city access: For those wanting to visit New York City in their RV, Liberty Harbor RV Park offers a practical option just across the river. "This is all about location. The closest RV park to NYC. It's basically a parking lot with a dump station... minutes walk to the Statue of Liberty, liberty Science center. Two blocks away from NJ Path train into Manhattan or take the ferry to Wall Street!" explains Keith and Tia S.

    Frequently Asked Questions

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

    According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Massapequa, NY is Nickerson Beach Park Campground with a 3.6-star rating from 9 reviews.

    What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Massapequa, NY?

    TheDyrt.com has all 23 dog-friendly camping locations near Massapequa, NY, with real photos and reviews from campers.