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."
