Rachel L.
Scout
ScoutLiberty Harbor RV Park
Liberty Harbor RV Park
I love this location. Close to public transportation, great staff, and site security.
Best Campgrounds near Melville, NY
The area surrounding Melville, New York features several established campgrounds primarily focused on developed camping experiences. Suffolk County parks like Blydenburgh County Park and Battle Row Campground provide convenient options for tent and RV campers within a relatively short drive. State parks including Heckscher State Park and Wildwood State Park Campground expand the camping inventory with additional amenities and waterfront locations. Most developed sites support both tent and RV camping, with some locations like Watch Hill Fire Island Campground and Wildwood offering cabin accommodations.
Camping in this region operates seasonally, with many facilities open from spring through fall. Heckscher State Park Campground specifically operates from May through early September, while others like Wildwood maintain availability from April through October. Advance reservations are strongly recommended, particularly for weekend stays during summer months when Long Island campgrounds reach capacity. The terrain throughout these campgrounds is generally flat with minimal elevation changes, making most sites accessible without specialized vehicles or equipment. Cell service is typically reliable across the region. A camper noted, "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."
Most campgrounds near Melville provide standard amenities including picnic tables, designated cooking areas, and access to bathrooms with showers. Several parks feature water access, with Smith Point County Park and Heckscher State Park offering beach proximity as major attractions. Campsite layouts vary considerably between locations, from more secluded settings to open field arrangements. "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," reported one visitor about Heckscher State Park. Wildwood State Park Campground receives consistently positive feedback for its cleanliness and natural setting, while Blydenburgh County Park earns praise for its hiking trails and lake access. RV campers benefit from electric hookups at most locations, though site sizes and hookup capabilities differ between parks.
Best Camping Sites Near Melville, New York (40)
1. Blydenburgh County Park
11 ReviewsHauppauge, NY10 milesWebsite+1 (631) 854-3713"just a great place to get away from home"
"The group camping on the fox sites is accessible by a dirt drive in. I felt like I was suddenly transported upstate when in fact I had only driven 2 towns over, (about 20 minutes from home.)"
2. Battle Row Campground
4 ReviewsOld Bethpage, NY3 milesWebsite+1 (516) 572-8690$5 - $60 / night
"You can take bike rides , and relax outside with a nice amount of space to yourself ."
3. Heckscher State Park Campground
9 ReviewsGreat River, NY14 milesWebsite+1 (631) 581-2100$20 / 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."
4. Nickerson Beach Park Campground
8 ReviewsLong Beach, NY17 milesWebsite+1 (516) 571-7700"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."
5. Watch Hill Fire Island Campground — Fire Island National Seashore
7 ReviewsBayport, NY23 miles+1 (631) 597-6074"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."
6. Wildwood State Park Campground
24 ReviewsWading River, NY33 milesWebsite+1 (631) 929-4314$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."
7. Battle Row Campground
Be the first to review!Old Bethpage, NY3 milesWebsite+1 (516) 572-86908. Southaven County Park
7 ReviewsShirley, NY27 milesWebsite+1 (631) 852-1391$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."
9. Smith Point County Park
9 ReviewsMastic Beach, NY29 milesWebsite+1 (631) 852-1315"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."
10. Liberty Harbor RV Park
16 ReviewsJersey City, NJ34 milesWebsite+1 (201) 516-7500$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."
Recent Camping Photos near Melville, NY
77 Photos of 40 Melville Campgrounds
Karen N.
Blydenburgh County Park
Ellen C.
Heckscher State Park Campground
Pedro R.
Watch Hill Fire Island Campground — Fire Island National Seashore
Connor M.
Cathedral Pines County Park
Michael V.
Camp Gateway- Brooklyn NY - CLOSED — Gateway National Recreation Area
Karen R.
Smith's Point
Michael K.
Wildwood State Park Campground
Anil S.
Ward Pound Ridge Reservation
phillip L.
Staten Island — Gateway National Recreation Area - CLOSED for 2025
Anil S.
Croton Point Park
stacy W.
Sandy Hook — Gateway National Recreation Area
Daniel F.
Indian Island County Park
Recent Reviews near Melville, NY
260 Reviews of 40 Melville Campgrounds
- RRuth M.
TravelerNew York City North/Newburgh KOA
Great place for a relaxing weekend
Going back for Memorial Day weekend my 3rd time going and always had a great time nice place ,clean Bathroom & Shower with hot water 👍🏽convenient location easy access to campground and lake
- MMisty V.Scout
Ward Pound Ridge Reservation
Secluded sites
Beautiful campsites! Lots of lean to sites with fireplaces in them. You have to go in person to make a reservation and pay. The camp area is beautiful, especially in the fall. Pet friendly and kid friendly with a playground available. Our favorite site is #25. Up a hill, totally private and has a lean-to.
- AAmy P.
GuideSkyline RV Camp - Waterfront
Waterfront Skyline Views, Clean Bathrooms
A little intimidating driving in to a nondescript gate at the end of a narrow street but the overall experience exceeded expectation. It’s essentially a spacious parking lot with electrical pedestals but the view of the skyline across the water is spectacular and there’s a metro station within a 10-minute walk. The area feels safe and is pedestrian friendly, even at night (we were there Halloween night and we took our kids out trick-or-treating just outside the gate). During the day, I saw another RV patron walking to do their laundry just outside the complex on the next street over (I didn’t ask where exactly). On-site bathrooms were warm and clean. There were portable showers available but beware the broken shower head holders and lack of shelving/hooks for towels & clothing. This was a minor issue considering the convenience of RV accommodations so easily accessible within the NYC region, would definitely recommend. I couldn’t find a map prior to my booking but would suggest requesting the highest number site available for best direct views.
- EEmily L.
RangerLiberty 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!
- EErc L.Scout
Liberty Harbor RV Park
friendly staff at the office
Gave us a welcome folder with lots of helpful info, can walk to get food up the street, short drive to Liberty Park where we got out and walked at night to admire the city skyline and Statue of Liberty at night. They have hook ups and big laundry room.
Paul K.ScoutCroton Point Park
Not the Best Place to Go in the Northeast By a Longshot
Croton Point Campground is a modest little campground, located along the Hudson River within Croton Point Park in NY. In addition to camping, the park itself offers many of its own attractions, including swimming, hiking, kayaking, cabin rentals, and a host of other family-oriented activities just along the Hudson.
The park, which is honestly probably the largest attraction here, is located just an hour and a half outside of the city. This proximity is both its perk and its downfall, as the park itself, but particularly the campground, has become laden with all sorts of inexplicable and burdensome rules, endless guidelines, and restrictions only a New York State-run bureaucracy could ever make sense of, let alone hope to justify.
This includes all manner of restrictions on how you can camp, where you can camp, what equipment can be used, and use in relation to what particular site you may have been lucky enough to reserve. Much of this you can understand while imagining what may have taken place here to bring them to such measures, but it doesn't make it any easier to contend with.
In terms of the actual camping conditions Both the tenting section and RV sites are each very clustered together, and quite crowded, with regular patrols🚓(actual patrols) being made day and night, by both the Park Rangers and what appears to be general park staff members, all looking to see if you or your family might be doing something that they might consider outside of the guidelines or not in compliance with the many restrictions.
This is not to say you can't possibly have a good time here. It just might mean being a bit more diligent toward reviewing the potential legitimacy of your normal camping routine to ensure it meets with many restrictions and guidelines imposed, while also making yourself comfortable with some fairly regular surveillance during your stay here. These all being things we hoped to get away from while camping ourselves It just turned out to be a bit much for our particular liking.
- JJames O.Scout
Wildwood State Park Campground
Our go-to spot
My wife and I love this campground. It is right at the entrance to wine country on Long Island and has a beach on the Long Island Sound. (A little rocky on the north shore)
- GGiselle P.Guide
Wildwood State Park Campground
Nice campground with lots of sites
I've been going to this campground every summer for at least 5 years. Recently they became very stringent about parking to vehicles at the site making it very difficult to visit with a family and 2 vehicles. I usually host group camping trips and the single vehicle rule makes that very difficult.
That aside, this is a very nice campground with various kinds of sites. You can find sites that are less wooded and better suited to group camping, as well as sites that are a little more secluded. This is one of my favorite campgrounds solely because there are platform sites so I can place my tent on a concrete or wooden platform. There is a separate area for RVs vs tents. There is also a store where you can get a cup of coffee in the morning and lots of goodies throughout the day.
There are hiking trails and you can walk to the beach. Note - it is a downhill walk to the beach. The beach is fairly clean and has a small boardwalk.
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. There is also a Tanger Outlet nearby. I've been there during a full on thunderstorm and watched as the trees swayed in the wind.
Lovely campground with lots of activities to entertain you.
Guide to Melville
Suffolk County parks near Melville, New York provide camping options in terrain that transitions from the flat central plains to gentle hills along the north shore. Most campgrounds in the region operate between April and October, with a few select locations maintaining year-round availability. The camping landscape features a mix of wooded sites and open field arrangements, with several locations offering beach access to either the Long Island Sound or Atlantic Ocean.
What to Do
Hiking trails along the lake: Blydenburgh County Park offers a 7-mile loop trail around the lake with opportunities for fishing. "The hiking trails were quiet natural and and clean. The trails I exposed were well marked," notes one visitor. Another camper mentions, "Lots of horses and dogs on the trail."
Beach activities at Smith Point: Smith Point County Park provides direct access to both bay and ocean beaches. "A short walk from the ocean to the bay, both accessible by walking from your campsite," reports a camper. The park includes "a trex picnic table on a cement patio" at each site with many overlooking the water.
Wildlife viewing: Beaver Pond Campground in Harriman State Park, about an hour from Melville, offers chances to spot local wildlife. "The wildlife do roam around your campsite so be mindful of putting food and garbage away before sleeping," advises one visitor. Another camper mentions spotting "deer, rabbits, turtles" during their stay.
What Campers Like
Waterfront locations: Nickerson Beach Park Campground provides direct beach access. A visitor describes it as "right on the beach" and "a surfers dream" with "some of the greatest waves on the east coast." The island is also "very bikable to get around."
Privacy options: At Blydenburgh County Park, site locations vary considerably. "The fox 9 site was a long enough walk I needed to plan my trips to the bathroom. Other sites were spaced enough to allow a true feeling of escaping into the woods," explains a camper. Another adds that "Each site is set back off a common area so there is plenty of privacy."
Clean facilities: Wildwood State Park Campground maintains well-kept amenities. A camper notes, "Bathrooms and showers were not really clean, which was surprising because most people used their personal bathroom/shower in their RV." Another mentions "modern cottage with propane fireplace, WiFi access, bathroom with shower."
What You Should Know
Fire pit policies vary: Watch Hill Fire Island Campground has specific rules about fires. A camper reports, "Two-night minimum on weekends, and no fires. You can bring charcoal to cook on the grills provided or camp stoves, though." At other locations like Heckscher State Park, "There are no fire pits on any of the sites, although they do allow you to bring your own metal fire pit as long as it is elevated off the ground."
Insects can be problematic: Fire Island camping requires preparation for bugs. "Beautiful location steps away from the beach. Listen to the waves crashing as you sleep and stargaze over the clear ocean... One warning, however, the mosquitoes are extremely potent and plentiful. Take the good stuff," advises a visitor.
Transportation logistics: Some camping spots near Melville require special planning. For Watch Hill, a camper explains, "You can get there by ferry. Very quiet and comfortable." Another visitor notes that at Smith Point, "A general store, complete with an ice cream shop window, on the grounds was a treat."
Tips for Camping with Families
Protected swimming areas: Heckscher State Park Campground offers family-friendly water access. "The beach is secured with lifeguards and shower and bathroom facilities are available," notes a visitor. Another camper mentions there is "a playground just for the campground."
Entertainment options: Families at Beaver Pond Campground appreciate the amenities. A visitor shares, "Short distance from NYC, very organized, clean pond, has a playground, showers, bathroom." During peak season, Heckscher State Park sometimes features special events, with one camper reporting, "On one visit there was a magician performing for the camp goers."
Proximity to attractions: Wildwood State Park offers easy access to regional destinations. "It is right at the entrance to wine country on Long Island and has a beach on the Long Island Sound," explains a camper. Another visitor mentions, "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."
Tips from RVers
Site layouts and hookups: Southaven County Park provides options for different RV needs. "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," reports one RVer. The park offers "electric-hookups" and "thirty-amp-hookups" for campers needing power.
Parking regulations: Some camping locations have strict vehicle policies. A visitor to Wildwood State Park mentions, "Recently they became very stringent about parking to vehicles at the site making it very difficult to visit with a family and 2 vehicles." At Battle Row Campground, "Group camping has a limit of 2 cars per site. Additional cars can park in guest parking lot."
Seasonal considerations: Smith Point County Park offers specific amenities during warmer months. "Stayed on the bayside (site 30), which had a fantastic direct bay view," shares an RVer. Another mentions, "At nite an ice cream truck comes by, you get visits from the nearby deer."
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Melville, NY?
What camping is available near Melville, NY?
According to TheDyrt.com, Melville, NY offers a wide range of camping options, with 40 campgrounds and RV parks near Melville, NY and 1 free dispersed camping spot.
Which is the most popular campground near Melville, NY?
Which is the most popular campground near Melville, NY?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Melville, NY is Blydenburgh County Park with a 4.1-star rating from 11 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Melville, NY?
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Melville, NY?
According to TheDyrt.com, there is 1 free dispersed camping spot near Melville, NY.
What parks are near Melville, NY?
What parks are near Melville, NY?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 11 parks near Melville, NY that allow camping, notably Fire Island National Seashore and Gateway National Recreation Area.
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