Suffolk County offers beachfront camping options within a short drive of Mastic Beach, New York. Most campgrounds in the area are open seasonally with peak times from May through September. Sites near water typically fill quickly, especially on summer weekends when temperatures average 75-85°F.
What to do
Beach activities: At Hither Hills State Park Campground, campsites sit just over the dunes from the ocean. "The beach is right over the dunes very clean beach," notes one visitor. Another camper mentions, "There is beach access, a playground, and a general store for things you may have forgotten (tent stakes for instance)."
Wildlife viewing: Cathedral Pines County Park provides opportunities to observe local wildlife in a wooded setting. "Occasional deer," reports one camper about the experience. At Smith Point County Park, "you get visits from the nearby deer," and another camper shared, "I watched a momma deer nursing two of her babies."
Biking: Several campgrounds offer cycling opportunities on nearby roads and paths. One visitor to Hither Hills mentions, "There is also great restaurants in Montauk biking is nice to get around." Many campsites have flat terrain suitable for casual rides, with some parks featuring dedicated bike paths.
What campers like
Ocean proximity: Campers consistently praise the nearness to water. At Smith's Point, a visitor notes, "Weekend at the Beach... Being on the beach and camping in October is just awesome. The bugs are gone, the days are warm and the nights are chilly." Another states, "Beautiful views of the ocean."
Clean facilities: Many campers appreciate well-maintained bathrooms and showers. "The bathhouses and toilets were not as cleaned as I would have liked but passable," notes one visitor to Rocky Neck State Park Campground. More positively, a camper at Hither Hills reports, "Bath house on the west side is eh. The east side- beautiful."
Natural setting: Wooded sites provide shade and atmosphere. "Wooded sites are lovely," says one visitor about Cathedral Pines County Park. At Battle Row Campground, "Each site is set back off a common area so there is plenty of privacy."
What you should know
Reservation requirements: Most rv campgrounds near Mastic Beach, New York require advance booking. For Hither Hills, "Must reserve early in the year for summer spots," advises one camper. Another notes, "This place is notorious for being booked solid months in advance."
Site privacy varies: Campsite spacing differs significantly between parks. At Heckscher State Park Campground, "The campsites are very close together without any defining borders so everybody just walks across each other site's to get to a different one." In contrast, Battle Row Campground offers "plenty of privacy."
Fire regulations: Rules about campfires differ between locations. At Battle Row, "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." Hither Hills has different rules: "No camp fires at site but your allowed to have a fire on the beach must follow guidelines."
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Several parks offer dedicated play areas for children. At Battle Row Campground, "The playground is new and centrally located." A visitor to Heckscher mentioned, "playground is driving distance not walking."
Kid-friendly atmosphere: Some campgrounds specifically cater to families with children. One camper noted about Hither Hills, "We were initially concerned bringing such a young child with the potential for crying (she was a trooper!) but it wasn't a problem with all the families around with young kids."
Special events: Some parks offer organized activities. At Heckscher, one visitor mentioned, "On one visit there was a magician performing for the camp goers. I've even been there while there was a philharmonic concert near the campground."
Tips from RVers
Dump station access: RV campers should verify availability of dump stations. At Heckscher, facilities include "sanitary-dump, sewer-hookups, showers, toilets" according to the campground information, though reviews don't mention details about accessibility.
Hookup availability: RV sites with utilities are limited at some parks. At Cathedral Pines County Park, a camper notes there are "not very many electric sites." Smith Point County Park features full hookups including electric, water, and sewer connections.
Generator restrictions: Parks have different rules about generator use. Hither Hills campers report, "Generator hours are limited" which affects RVers without hookups. Many campgrounds prohibit generators entirely, so checking regulations before arrival is essential for RV travelers.
