Best Tent Camping near Medford, NY

Recent Tent Reviews in Medford

208 Reviews of 12 Medford Campgrounds

• 

  Prashant M.

  Scout

  

  Oct. 17, 2024

  Indian Island County Park

  Very Busy! Close quarters! Can be loud and neighbors are ignorant of rules

  Stayed at this campground this past weekend and yes it was a long weekend so the campground was packed. All the camping spots are pretty much right next to each one with hardly any space, packed like Sardines. Neighbors are loud and some of them are ignorant of the park rules. Staying on the phones in the middle of the night while talking so loud that all camping neighbors can hear their whole story

  Its a pity that they take a nice park and remove the fun out of camping. 

  However the walk to the beach area was very serene, especially early morning before sunrise and didn't feel like we live in dense suburbia and sunrise from the beach was worth the trip

  Camp site itself was pretty flat, had a water station, bathrooms were well kept , no fire ring (BYOFP)

• J

  Jessica C.

  Traveler

  

  Oct. 11, 2024

  Heckscher State Park Campground

  Great for families, not for solitude

  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, a path, the bathroom, etc. No solitude, lots of families with kids, lots of music, I mean it’s basically a party. I didn’t realize this when I made my reservations. The place is great for families who want a safe space to camp and it’s a typical Long Island campground. Rangers came around checking on everyone often so it really did feel incredibly safe. I had a pick up truck w/ tinted windows follow me in the park for quite a while which was rather creepy and I couldn’t shake them. When I biked into the campground itself, the pick up truck couldn’t get past the check in area. Everyone I met was friendly and there’s a little shop in the front of the campgrounds that sells various items. I personally wouldn’t stay here again unless I was meeting up with friends or something and wasn’t trying to have more solitude. This is no fault of the park itself though, I’m just more of a woods girl.

• A

  Arno W.

  Guide

  

  Sep. 10, 2024

  Kettletown State Park Campground

  Great location, but not a good experience

  Camping Review:

  This campsite is beautifully located in the woods, offering a peaceful and serene environment. There are no busy roads nearby, which ensures a quiet setting during the day.

  However, there are several downsides to consider. The camping spots are uneven, making it challenging to set up tents or campers. Additionally, swimming at the nearby beach is restricted to residents of the village, so visitors are not allowed to swim there.

  During our stay, there were multiple large groups, including a Christian group that preached (screamingly) and played loud music until midnight, despite the designated quiet hours. Unfortunately, the management did nothing to enforce the rules, which was disruptive.

  Another significant issue was the state of the sanitary facilities. They were extremely dirty, with feces present in various places. It took a long time before anything was cleaned, which obviously kept us from using the facilities.

  Overall, while the location is beautiful, the poor management, noise issues, and dirty sanitary facilities seriously detract from the experience.

• 

  Cynthia K.

  Legend

  

  Aug. 29, 2024

  Hammonasset State Park Campground

  Connecticut

     I had a hankering for East Coast seafood, so I picked Hammonesett Beach State Park for Connecticut. Our 2nd state of 5.

      Hammonesett Beach has a huge campground. They divide the loops with names. I unfortunately chose Pequot. This loop has THE WORST bathrooms/showers on the South side of the campground. Looks like they were built in 1950s with rotten wood siding. Dirty. The showers were outside the bathroom- there was a bench & hooks OUTSIDE! We found out all the other loops had modern bathhouses.

   My first impression of this campground is it's loud, crazy busy & there's traffic noise from the beach road. I actually liked it! This is a fun campground for families. There were kids on bikes, scooters, skateboards,roller blades. Watch your speed! They don't always watch out for your car.

    I found out most people stay through Sunday & leave on Monday. There were still lots of campers left. Lots of tent campers. 

     I chose site 14 on the Pequot Loop because I thought I would have a view of one of the ponds. There was tall vegetation, so that was out.

   The sites on the other side of the loop were right by the main beach road. Noisy during the day, but quiet at night. 

    There are some sites with shade, but most are sunny. 

     There's no electricity at most of the sites. Our site was full sun(yay for the solar panel!). On Beach Road in the campground there's 2 rows of full hookup sites, but they go FAST! I tried.

  NO PETS! Including dogs.

     No WiFi, but there's cell service. At least 5 dump stations. 

   The beach was popular. 

    There was a stream running from a pond that kids were playing in. 

   They have a beautiful Nature Center. A couple of easy hikes through one of the preserves.

    This was a good base camp for the area. Gillette Castle & other state parks are within driving distance. Connecticut is a beautiful state!!

• G

  Gianna

  Traveler

  

  Jun. 14, 2024

  Smith Point County Park

  Lovely campsite

  Truly great spot. Amazing sites with plenty of room, though they are close together. But was worth it for the amenities and fantastic views. 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). Literally steps to the beach.

• D

  Denis S.

  Scout

  

  Jun. 2, 2024

  Suffolk County Sears Bellows County Park

  Tick Kingdom

  This is a nice campground - not crowded and centrally located. However, I cannot walk ANYWHERE without picking up ticks. Even on the large sand paths, going to and from the bathroom I find ticks. It’s amazing!

• 

  Jason S.

  Traveler

  

  Mar. 28, 2024

  Selden Neck State Park Campground

  Gorgeous riverside tent camping

  Selden Neck State Park is an island in the Connecticut River with no roads or development other than 4 campsites. You have to kayak or boat in. There's a boat launch across from the island on the west side of the river at Deep River Landing where you can leave your car. (Entering and parking at the boat launch requires a permit Memorial Day to Labor Day.)

  It's about a 20 minute paddle across the river to the island. If it's a nice day, you're going to encounter some wake from passing boats so make sure your gear is in waterproof bags. Once you get to the island, follow the bank north until you spot the sign for your campsite.  

  My 5-year-old and I camped at site 2, Hogback. I haven't visited the other sites, but probably will just book this one again because it was so good. Plenty of flat area to pitch a tent, nice picnic table and fire pit. There's a private outhouse. At low tide, a couple of beaches emerge to play on.

  The sunset view was amazing. There was a little noise at night from boat traffic but it didn't keep us up. In the morning, we were completely socked in with fog which would have been an issue if we had to get back early. But it burned off before long and we headed back.

• 

  CM M.

  Traveler

  

  Mar. 3, 2024

  Wildwood State Park Campground

  Proceed With Caution

  Perhaps it was the weekend we went but this was an extremely unpleasant trip. The bathroom facilities are wonderful as is the beach but the crowd stayed awake playing music all night very loudly. I think the cabins here are the way to go.

• 

  Paul R.

  Guide

  

  Dec. 5, 2023

  Ward Pound Ridge Reservation

  Well maintained and friendly

  Ive been coming here for years. They have great sights and are open all year round. Ive stayed in hammocks, tents, leantos, and even did a good share of car camping. They have many sites and a tone of hiking trails. All of the shelters have fire pits and some have interior fireplaces. The one downside is that you need to book in person but it can be done well in advance if need be.

• c

  chris

  Scout

  

  Sep. 17, 2023

  Hammonasset State Park Campground

  Wunderschöne Natur

  Der Camping Platz ist in der wunderschönen Natur gelegen. Das Personal ist sehr freundlich und die Camping Plätze sind grosszügig und gut gepflegt. Das Preis Leistungsverhältniss ist ebenfalls sehr gut. Einziger Nachteil: in den Waschräumen brennt die ganze Nacht das Licht und es gibt keine Türen. Damit wird aus den Waschräumen ein zu Hause für Moskitos und Ungeziefer…

• P

  Patrick C.

  Scout

  

  Sep. 9, 2023

  Smith Point County Park

  Paradise

  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. A stones throw away was one of several shower and rest room buildings. Clean and well lit. Our site had a trex picnic table on a cement patio. An on site firepit was cozy at night. A general store, complete with an ice cream shop window, on the grounds was a treat. And sweet deer. I watcheda momma deer nursing two of her babies. This is paradise.

• T

  Thorin J.

  Scout

  

  Sep. 5, 2023

  Heckscher State Park Campground

  Good Campsite For Families And Weekend Trips

  I camped here solo on Friday and Saturday over the Labor Day weekend. Overall my experience was positive.

  Camping Sites

  Each camping site has a picnic table and barbeque grill. The sites are designated by printing on the roads and do not have clear boundaries between them. My site had good shade coverage and was free of rocks and other hazards. 

  I had enough space that I didn't feel like I was intruding on my neighbors and vice-versa. That said, there aren't clear paths to the restroom building so it's not uncommon for people to cut through the edges of sites to get there. In my experience I (and others I saw) tried not to go right through the middle people's setups to do so.

  If you're looking for privacy, the sites at the rear seemed to be less-densely packed, even though every site was occupied. Quiet hours are generally adhered to but not enforced - there were some campers that had noise running later.

  Amenities

  The restroom building is in the middle of the campground and was clean and had plenty of stalls.

  Potable water is available at regular intervals, about at the corners of each group of four campsites.

  Cell phone reception is limited - I had data but it was very slow which led to my phone's battery draining quickly.

  Access

  A car is an absolute must for this part - the entrance is directly off of Southern State Parkway with no pedestrian access. Train stations are nearby so you could take the train most of the way and rent a car from there.

• 

  Igor K.

  Traveler

  

  Aug. 8, 2023

  Watch Hill Family Campground — Fire Island National Seashore

  Alone with nature.

  Favorite place ever. You can get there by ferry. Very quiet and comfortable. Birdsong in the morning and the sound of the waves. There are showers, toilets and a café. For those who want to be at one with nature. Lots of mosquitoes, be prepared.

• 

  Igor K.

  Traveler

  

  Aug. 8, 2023

  Wildwood State Park Campground

  Great for families but a lot of people on the beach

  Been to this campsite 2 times. Nice beach with no waves. A lot of fishermen. 5-7 minutes by car to the store, gas station and farms.

• 

  Ashley S.

  Scout

  

  Aug. 3, 2023

  Hammonasset State Park Campground

  BAD BAD BAD

  Bathrooms are a health hazard, have not been cleaned in who knows how long. Poop is smeared on the walls, floor and toilet. Showers are horrendous. There are young children that have to use those showers and bathrooms. I wouldn’t want to bring my kids here!!!

• 

  Dominick L.

  Traveler

  

  Aug. 2, 2023

  Southaven County Park

  Average at best

  Average compared to other state/county parks. The crowd was a little questionable. State police were called in the settled a dispute between campers. Neighbor ran a generator all night (luckily it was somewhat quite)I, but  had no issues with anyone. 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. The side with electricity was ok. Places to eat are very close, and a 15 minute drive to Smith's Point beach was a plus. You need a Green Key card membership for reservation which at least got me a 50% ($9) discount on beach parking.

• B

  Bennett B.

  Scout

  

  Jun. 22, 2023

  Blydenburgh County Park

  Big Rig Camping in Blydenburgh

  We have a 42 ft 5th wheel toy hauler. A few Big Rig spots are available, but this is a Suffock Co Campground that is not well maintained. 2 miles of the Road have many areas of missing blacktop making a very rough ride with low branches. The dump station is basically not accessible to a big rig. Most of the longer sites were very difficult to level.

• 

  Ashley F.

  Legend

  

  Jan. 20, 2023

  Hidden Lake Farm

  Quiet and Private

  Ashley here with The Dyrt. I would like to welcome your host, Mary, to our platform. There are 2 lodging options to choose from. Pets welcome! Book your stay today and come back here to leave them some love.

• T

  Tim M.

  Traveler

  

  Jan. 9, 2023

  McCann Campground

  Harry is AWESOME

  The campground is very nice. Everything you need is right here, and if you need something else, it's literally 5 mins away. The manager, Harry is incredible! He takes care of everything, ground maintenance, if there's a problem with your rig, he'll do what he can to fix it(99 out of 100, he will) Greenport Long Island, need I say more? I hope you love seafood.

• T

  Tim M.

  Traveler

  

  Jan. 9, 2023

  Smith Point County Park

  FANTASTIC!!!!

  Camping on the beach with all the amenities. At nite an ice cream truck comes by, you get visits from the nearby deer. It is paradise. ONLY DRAWBACKS, 1- YOU HAVE TO BE A RESIDENT OF SUFFOLK CO, NY 2- ONE WEEK STAY AT A TIME. PERIOD. After staying there, you'll wish all campgrounds were like this.

• 

  Michael M.

  Guide

  

  Dec. 26, 2022

  Battle Row Campground

  Fantastic hidden tent camping experience

  I have lived 6 miles from this campground for the last 20 years and never knew they had tent sites. The park is clean the bathrooms are well maintained and there is a playground for the kids. Each site is set back off a common area so there is plenty of privacy. It's great if your local easy in and out

• J

  Jenny S.

  Traveler

  

  Oct. 4, 2022

  Riverdale Farm Campsites

  Schöne Nacht

  Wir waren nur eine Nacht da. 50€ hat die für einen kleineren Camper gekostet. Im Oktober. Die Sanitäranlagen waren sehr sauber und das Personal freundlich. Wir waren fast alleine da.

• S

  Suzanne W.

  Scout

  

  Sep. 18, 2022

  Riverdale Farm Campsites

  Good location near CT coast

  Nice campground. Facilities are in good shape, friendly staff. Sites are very close to one another. Level pull through site. Quit in the evening!

• 

  Nick H. is A.

  Scout

  

  Aug. 27, 2022

  Riverdale Farm Campsites

  Great family campground close to beach

  Update number 2: I told you I come here a lot, we did bingo and it was a blast. It was a beautiful day on the beach pond. They had great prizes for cheap cost. I spent 2 dollars for 10 long rounds of bingo with 4 cards. Who can beat that!!?? My son won a game prize worth 5 times that. I had to give the rest of the money I had as a tip because I was so happy with how everything worked out. They are always updating, someone broke the basketball 🏀 hoop on one side and it’s fixed 2 weeks later.

  Update: They have changed days for me many times when I had issues with the camper. Never once asked questions or even treated me differently. No extra cost. You might have have to change spots but I don’t care. They are so easy to work with. Thanks guys

  Great Value and Nice Family owned business. The lake is perfect, the river needs work. But this an awesome small campground. The kids who work here are so friendly and the playground is nice. They did a show on the beach one night that was fun too. We did bingo too. Have been going for 2 years and started with tenting up to a trailer. I love coming here and wish I could spend more time. Really close to Hammonassett beach and one of my favorite restaurants the “log cabin”. Make sure you bring Tupperware with you to this place.

  Also don’t let other family’s ruin your trip. We had 3 family’s meet up on 2 sites near us and the father and mother just kept yelling at the kids. Made me feel bad for the children but doesn’t make me right a bad review about the campground.

• 

  Carolyn W.

  Traveler

  

  Aug. 22, 2022

  Indian Island County Park

  Camper glamping

  Bathrooms and showers were a good size. Rangers were driving around often but hand no issues with drink in red cups. Site 130 was a camper we rented then I got 131 to have more room and had tents

• 

  Justin P.

  Legend

  

  Aug. 18, 2022

  Kettletown State Park Campground

  Great activities but compact sites

  I tented here while doing a river stream reconstruction project in southern Connecticut.

  To start, access to the river was great, though no swimming was allowed because of an algae bloom. The shorter hiking trails in the area were really beautiful.

  Site 32 and the upper loop was not great though. The sites were super close together and the boundary lines were unclear, so my neighbors ended up using my fire ring to secure their tent. The picnic table seemed to be shared between sites and had boards missing, so it was challenging to use when available.

  Overall, folks seemed to be there in larger groups for celebrations so things were loud well past midnight, which was challenging given how close each site was. I realize this is very time specific but there was no management presence around quiet time, and this happened both evenings I was there, so I got the sense that quiet times didn’t really apply.

  The location was great especially for folks closer to the major metro areas, but I’ll be looking elsewhere if I’m ever in the area again.

• C

  Christopher S.

  Guide

  

  Aug. 1, 2022

  Blydenburgh County Park

  A Long Island secret

  We visited in late July. Park was excellent. Grounds were as advertised. Family friendly. Lots of long haulers it seemed around the sites. Ranger drove around a few times to say hi. Trails were awesome. Row boat for fishing was great. Not a party or for party site as alcohol is not allowed but I believe if your an adult your good to have an adult beverage. If your playing beer pong I think it would be strictly enforced.