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 Merrick, NY
Camping options within 30 miles of Merrick, New York range from oceanfront sites to suburban parks with varying levels of development. Nickerson Beach Park Campground in nearby Lido Beach provides RV and tent sites with full hookups just steps from Atlantic Ocean beaches, while Battle Row Campground in Old Bethpage offers year-round camping with more basic amenities. Heading east, Heckscher State Park Campground in East Islip features both traditional campsites and beachside cottages along Great South Bay. Fire Island National Seashore's Watch Hill Campground provides a more remote beach camping experience accessible by ferry, offering a natural barrier island setting with dunes and oceanfront access.
Reservations are essential for most campgrounds in the region, particularly during the peak season from Memorial Day through Labor Day. Many Long Island campgrounds have parkway access restrictions that prohibit RVs and trailers due to low bridge clearances, requiring alternate routing. As one camper noted, "There are height restrictions on the parkways so RVs cannot travel on them without risk of crashing into bridges. Google Maps doesn't have an option for large vehicles, so I made my way manually and the trip took an extra hour." Weather conditions vary seasonally, with summer bringing hot, humid conditions and occasional thunderstorms, while spring and fall offer milder temperatures but more variable conditions including nor'easters in late fall.
Beachfront locations receive consistently positive reviews for their proximity to swimming, fishing, and water activities. At Nickerson Beach, campers appreciate the surfing opportunities, with one visitor noting it's "basically a parking lot, but steps away from some of the greatest waves on the east coast." Most campgrounds in the area feature relatively close site spacing with limited privacy, though facilities are generally well-maintained. Campers seeking solitude may be disappointed, as one reviewer of Heckscher State Park observed: "The campsites are very close together without defining borders so everybody walks across each other's sites. No solitude, lots of families with kids, lots of music." Wildlife encounters are limited compared to more remote camping areas, though raccoons are commonly reported at several campgrounds.
Best Camping Sites Near Merrick, New York (39)
1. Nickerson Beach Park Campground
8 ReviewsLong Beach, NY5 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."
2. Battle Row Campground
4 ReviewsOld Bethpage, NY9 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. Blydenburgh County Park
11 ReviewsHauppauge, NY21 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.)"
4. Heckscher State Park Campground
9 ReviewsGreat River, NY21 milesWebsite+1 (631) 581-2100$24 - $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."
5. Sandy Hook — Gateway National Recreation Area
18 ReviewsAtlantic Highlands, NJ27 milesWebsite+1 (347) 630-1124$30 - $50 / night
"Boat from New York City."
"Once you are there, you can walk right across the street to a bayside inlet and sandy shore that is not highly trafficked because no one can park there except those using the campground."
6. Liberty Harbor RV Park
16 ReviewsJersey City, NJ26 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."
7. Battle Row Campground
Be the first to review!Old Bethpage, NY9 milesWebsite+1 (516) 572-86908. Skyline RV Camp - Waterfront
1 ReviewNew York, NY22 milesWebsite+1 (347) 434-6891$130 / night
"A little intimidating driving in to a nondescript gate at the end of a narrow street but the overall experience exceeded expectation."
9. New York City North/Newburgh KOA
39 ReviewsPomona, NY48 miles+1 (845) 947-2792$21 - $24 / night
"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."
10. Watch Hill Fire Island Campground — Fire Island National Seashore
7 ReviewsBayport, NY30 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."
Recent Camping Photos near Merrick, NY
91 Photos of 39 Merrick Campgrounds
Marcia K.
Camp Gateway- Brooklyn NY - CLOSED — Gateway National Recreation Area
Karen N.
Blydenburgh County Park
Ellen C.
Heckscher State Park Campground
phillip L.
Staten Island — Gateway National Recreation Area - CLOSED for 2025
Mike G.
Sandy Hook — Gateway National Recreation Area
Rosie R.
Watch Hill Fire Island Campground — Fire Island National Seashore
Connor M.
Cathedral Pines County Park
Karen R.
Smith's Point
Brenda G.
Cheesequake State Park Campground
Ellen K.
Pleasant Valley Lavender
Anil S.
Croton Point Park
Anil S.
Ward Pound Ridge Reservation
Recent Reviews near Merrick, NY
266 Reviews of 39 Merrick 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 Merrick
Camping sites near Merrick, New York range from oceanfront locations to inland woodland settings across Nassau and Suffolk counties. Long Island's flat coastal terrain features sandy beaches along the Atlantic Ocean to the south and the Long Island Sound to the north, with scattered wooded inland areas. Temperatures average 80-85°F in summer months with high humidity, while fall camping brings cooler 55-65°F temperatures and less precipitation.
What to do
Fishing at local lakes: Blydenburgh County Park offers fishing opportunities on its sizeable lake with rowboat rentals available. As one visitor noted, "The hiking trails were quiet, natural, and clean. The trails I explored were well marked," making it ideal for combining fishing and hiking.
Urban exploration: Staten Island Gateway camping puts you close to abandoned buildings and urban exploration. "This campground is amazing. You have a clear view of the Narrow bridge and at night the city lights light up your surroundings like a night light," explains one camper who appreciates the unique setting.
Beach activities: Heckscher State Park Campground provides easy access to Great South Bay beaches. A camper shared, "You can come here in tents as well as RVs and the staff is very nice. They toilets are cleaned constantly, though they are not immaculate. There is a shop at the entrance to get supplies."
What campers like
Wooded seclusion minutes from urban areas: Blydenburgh County Park creates a surprising woodland experience despite its location. One camper remarked, "I felt like I was suddenly transported upstate when in fact I had only driven 2 towns over, about 20 minutes from home. I have lived on Long Island for my entire life never knew great camping was minutes away."
Playground access: Battle Row Campground offers family-friendly amenities including a centrally located playground. "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," notes a visitor, highlighting the balance of community and privacy.
Large camping areas: Beaver Pond Campground at Harriman State Park features spacious sites with platform options. One camper explained, "The biggest positive about Beaver Pond is how spread out it was. You definitely feel like you have your own space and are not camping on top of your neighbor. Many of the camping options were on platforms."
What you should know
Reservation requirements: Most campgrounds near Merrick require advance bookings, particularly for weekends. At Nickerson Beach Park Campground, a visitor observed, "It's all but impossible to get an RV spot there from Memorial day to Labor day. Still, it is a clean and well run campground."
Wildlife considerations: Multiple campgrounds report active wildlife. At Beaver Pond, visitors are warned about bears. One camper shared, "The wildlife do roam around your campsite so be mindful of putting food and garbage away before sleeping."
Site spacing variations: Site privacy varies significantly between campgrounds. At Heckscher State Park, one camper noted the public layout: "The campsites are generously spaced, water spouts at almost every site. Was unaware there were no fire pits at the site so I would just bring your own."
Tips for camping with families
Bring own fire containers: Several campgrounds require elevated fire containers. At Battle Row Campground, a visitor explained: "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. The sites all have a table and raised BBQ pit for cooking only."
Consider cottages for comfort: Heckscher State Park offers cottages as an alternative to tent camping. A family noted, "Modern facility with full kitchen accessories, coffee maker, plates, wine opener, can opener, silverware, pots, pans, cooking utensils, toaster, oven, sponge/dish liquid. Microwave. Clean interior, clean campground."
Off-season weekday visits: For quieter family experiences, consider non-peak timing. At Beaver Pond Campground, a ranger confirmed that "during summer weekends the grounds fill up and can be quite noisy, but mid-week during the off-season it was great."
Tips from RVers
Alternative routing necessary: RVs must navigate carefully around parkway restrictions. At Nickerson Beach Park Campground, one RVer shared their experience: "There are height restrictions on the parkways so RVs and semis cannot travel on them without a high risk of crashing into the bridges and getting the tops ripped off like a tin can. Google Maps doesn't have an option for large vehicles so I made my way manually."
Dump station access: Several campgrounds offer dump stations but with varying accessibility. At Liberty Harbor RV Park, an RVer noted: "There is a dump station, but not the easiest to use. The laundry was not working properly and ate a good $5 of our quarters."
Site selection strategy: End spaces typically offer more room at crowded RV parks. At Liberty Harbor, a camper advised: "Pick one of the larger end row sites to get a little extra elbow room. If it's packed, your neighbor with be within inches of your rig."
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Merrick, NY?
What camping is available near Merrick, NY?
According to TheDyrt.com, Merrick, NY offers a wide range of camping options, with 39 campgrounds and RV parks near Merrick, NY and 1 free dispersed camping spot.
Which is the most popular campground near Merrick, NY?
Which is the most popular campground near Merrick, NY?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Merrick, NY is Nickerson Beach Park Campground with a 3.4-star rating from 8 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Merrick, NY?
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Merrick, NY?
According to TheDyrt.com, there is 1 free dispersed camping spot near Merrick, NY.
What parks are near Merrick, NY?
What parks are near Merrick, NY?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 11 parks near Merrick, NY that allow camping, notably Gateway National Recreation Area and Fire Island National Seashore.
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