24 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Blydenburgh County Park maintains a dedicated off-leash area within its dog-friendly grounds, one of several pet-welcoming camping options within a short drive of Merrick. Located in Smithtown, this park offers year-round camping and features both tent and RV sites with electric hookups, water, and full sewer connections. Nickerson Beach Park Campground in Lido Beach provides another option for pet owners, though dogs are not permitted on the beach itself. The small dog run located on the opposite side of the beach parking lot gives pets a place to exercise. Clean facilities and friendly employees enhance the camping experience at these Suffolk County parks. Both locations maintain alcohol-allowed policies and include amenities like picnic tables, showers, and trash collection.
Camping sites at Heckscher State Park Campground accommodate pets with open, grassy areas suitable for dogs on leashes. The park enforces standard quiet hours which helps manage barking issues during evening hours. The campground provides generous spacing between sites, with water spigots available at almost every location. For pet owners seeking more structured accommodations, Watch Hill Fire Island Campground allows pets at both tent sites and cabins. Regular ranger patrols throughout these campgrounds ensure safety and cleanliness standards are maintained. Most campgrounds in the region require pets to remain on leash when outside designated exercise areas, and owners should bring waste bags as pet waste stations may be limited.
"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."
"They have a dog park basketball courts playground swimming just about everything."
"Great park with a nice 7 mile loop around the lake with decent fishing. Lots of horses and dogs on the trail. 30 or so sites around a central public restroom."
"Hiking trails are beautiful. Dog friendly. Clean bathrooms"
"* 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."
from $20 - $285 / night
Check Availability"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."
from $145 - $180 / night
Check Availability"A little intimidating driving in to a nondescript gate at the end of a narrow street but the overall experience exceeded expectation."
from $130 / night
Check Availability"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."
from $17 - $20 / night
Check Availability"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."
from $35 - $197 / night
Check Availabilityfrom $85 - $120 / night
Check Availability"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."
from $20 - $225 / night
Check Availability"I stayed at Cheesequake at the beginning of August and had a very positive experience."
"This park is on the list of 50 top NJ Hikes, and it has a few great trails. The trails range from easy to moderate with quite a few lookout locations."
from $200 / night
Check Availability
GuideI grew up in Long Beach. If you’re looking for a spot to camp so you can surf, this is perfect! 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.
benefits: allows dogs childrens playground beach programs like movie nights throughout the summer
GuideCamp Gateway in Brooklyn New York is one of my favorite places to visit. I went to college in New York, and loved to get out of the busy city and go camping and be outdoors. Camp Gateway was always a place that I loved to go. It is pretty close to town-which is crazy because you feel like you are miles away. Camp Gateway does offer a lot of different activities for everyone. One thing I love to do is go kayaking and stand up paddle boarding. My girlfriends and I tried to do this once a month to get away from the city and school. Because you are so close to the city, you can plan outdoor activities as well as some activities in the city. My friends and I stayed 1 night in the campground, and the next day went to a recital show that took us 10 minutes to get to. You can also walk, hike or ride your bike along multiple paths- I have done the Fort Tilden trail (I just walked, but there were multiple people that passed us on their bikes). Within the campground they do have some fire pits- which my friends and I always use because we love cooking smores and hot dogs for dinner. A little further away from the campground, about 10-15 miles there is a place where you can do horseback riding, see the Statue of Liberty (which is gorgeous!), and there is a little beach area. This beach area is where I do my kayaking and stand up paddle boarding. Again, its not very far away...you can either drive there, walk or ride your bike. The road is paved, which is nice. I stayed here also with my parents, and I know my dad went golfing one day (I didn't go, but he said it was awesome)- and again that was only a 10 minute drive from our camping spot. This campground like I said, does offer quite a bit. Sometimes it doesn't really feel like you are "camping" because things are pretty close by, but it definitely is worth going to and trying.
ScoutVery nice family oriented, places the beach, which is great except for the birds watch out they come at you. They have a dog park basketball courts playground swimming just about everything.
RangerVery 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!
LegendWe tried this campground without knowing what was safe and where to stay for visit New York City. It is located in Brooklyn and is little removed from everything. The sites are at Floyd Bennett Field which is an old airfield. The atmosphere here is eerily cool at the same time. You basically park and camp on the asphalt by the old hangars. No hookups at all but they do have a camp store and bath house. If you are tent camping, there are some grassy sites.
The campground is located right on Jamaica Bay so there were people fishing all the time from the seawall. At night, you could hear cars doing burnouts right next to us. To get to all the action in the city, we had to take a bus and then the subway. The travel was a headache but better than trying to drive in to New York City in our RV. One way to improve here would be to have some security at night as well as access to clean water and dump station. They remained locked most of the time for some reason.
The best part of this place was the free tour of Hangar B by some guys doing restoration of old planes (HARP). They had some great stories and gave us history of the planes on display.
GuideThis place is kind of a toss up for me. On one hand, I enjoy it because it's a little slice of heaven in the hell of one of the busy areas of New York. I hate this place for the same reason. It's not really camping if you're going to see a play and then go tour the Statue of Liberty. It just doesn't seem right to me. If I HAVE to be in New York, maybe I'd consider staying here again just to get myself out of the city for a bit. But this definitely isn't your "great outdoors/rest and relaxation" kind of place.
ScoutVery reasonable rates to pitch a tent. You get a private space with a fire pit. Ocean is close with lifeguards. Good fishing and pleasant people. Boat from New York City.
ScoutThere is only a small place for tents. Mostly people go there with campers. Not your typical campground. Very easy to hop on transit to get to New York City. People were friendly.
LegendThis campground is amazing. You have a clear view of the Narrow bridge and at night the city lights light up your surroundings light a nigh light. The camp here has 7 campsites here and it fill up really fast. I came at 5 in the morning and there was already a family there. There is abandoned buildings here and you can do urban exploring. There are restroom here that are pretty dirty. The public uses the restrooms not just the campers here. For the firewood I recommend buying it or bringing your own. Firewood was difficult to find here. At night there are no stars because the city lights cover them up.There are rangers taking you on a trek and exploring the abandoned building. This place is great if you live in new York city and don't want to drive really far from the city to go camping
Tent and RV sites near Merrick occupy coastal and wooded areas that extend across both Nassau and Suffolk counties. Campers can explore diverse terrain along the Long Island Sound to the north and Atlantic Ocean to the south, with elevations ranging from sea level to 400 feet at some parks. Winter camping options remain limited, with most locations closing between November and March when temperatures typically range from 25-40°F.
Beach access: 5-minute walk. At Smith Point County Park, campers have direct beach access just steps from their sites. "A short walk from the ocean to the bay, both accessible by walking from your campsite," notes one visitor, while another mentions that "sites are great overlooking the bay" with some spots offering "a fantastic direct bay view."
Scenic trails: 7-mile loop. The trails at Blydenburgh County Park include a popular route encircling the park's central lake. "Great park with a nice 7 mile loop around the lake with decent fishing. Lots of horses and dogs on the trail," explains one camper. The hiking network offers varied difficulty levels and connects to multiple access points throughout the park.
Water activities: Kayak rentals available. Many parks feature water access beyond swimming. At Heckscher State Park, campers mention "there is also a place where you can rent a kayak" while Blydenburgh offers rowboat fishing options. One visitor highlighted that "row boat for fishing was great" during their summer stay, noting that fish are plentiful in the warmer months.
Natural diversity: Four ecosystems. Beaver Pond Campground offers a unique mix of landscapes within a short drive of Merrick. "The campground was clean and quiet. RV hook-ups, tent platforms, and rustic tent sites were available," writes one reviewer. "Our rustic tent site had a few good options for pitching a tent, as well as picnic table and fire ring."
Wildlife viewing: Dawn and dusk. Several pet-friendly campgrounds near Merrick feature abundant wildlife. At Heckscher State Park, campers report seeing "wildlife: deer, rabbits, turtles" while Smith Point visitors mention "you get visits from the nearby deer." Morning and evening offer the best wildlife viewing opportunities.
Elevated sites: Wooden platforms. Multiple parks provide raised camping platforms that enhance comfort in wet conditions. "Many of the camping options were on platforms which is especially nice if it recently rained or if you are expecting rain during your stay," explains one Beaver Pond camper. Similar features exist at Wildwood State Park, where "some sites are full in the shade and other sites have lots of sun."
Site spacing varies significantly. While some campgrounds offer spacious sites, others place campers in close proximity. At Watch Hill Fire Island Campground, those seeking more privacy have options: "You can get a permit to backcountry camp instead of reserving a designated campground spot. Just walk down to the beach after check-in and walk east until you see a pole with a tent symbol on it."
Insect preparation essential. Coastal and wooded camping areas near Merrick require thorough insect protection, especially during summer months. Fire Island campers warn to "bring a shelter or a canopy with a mosquito net" since "mosquitoes are vicious." Multiple reviewers emphasized the importance of "taking the good stuff" for repellent.
Transportation considerations. For island camping locations, ferry access adds logistical challenges. Watch Hill requires "a 10 minute walk from the ferry dock" to reach camping areas. For mainland parks, some campers note that "the main routes to the campsite all went through New York's parkways" which have vehicle height restrictions.
Playground access: On-site options. Several dog-friendly campgrounds near Merrick feature dedicated children's areas. One Nickerson Beach visitor highlights that the park "allows dogs, children's playground, beach, programs like movie nights throughout the summer." Similarly, Wildwood State Park includes "a playground just for the campground."
Educational programming: Ranger-led activities. Wildwood State Park Campground offers seasonal interpretive programs for children. "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," reports a frequent visitor. These structured activities typically run from Memorial Day through Labor Day.
Nearby attractions: 15-20 minute drives. The area surrounding Merrick provides numerous family-friendly day trip options. A Wildwood State Park camper notes "You can come here in tents as well as RVs and the staff is very nice... 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."
Hookup availability: Electric and water. Heckscher State Park Campground offers utility connections at most sites. "Facilities (bathroom/showers) were clean, campsites were generously spaced, water spouts at almost every site," reports one RVer. For fire enthusiasts, note that "there are no fire pits at the site so I would just bring your own."
Parking and vehicle restrictions. Several parks enforce strict vehicle policies. At Wildwood State Park, campers note "they became very stringent about parking to vehicles at the site making it very difficult to visit with a family and 2 vehicles." Check individual park regulations before arrival to avoid complications.
Seasonal considerations: Reserve early. Limited winter camping options exist, with most parks closing from November through March. A Smith Point camper notes "You have to be a resident of Suffolk Co, NY" and stays are limited to "one week stay at a time. Period." Many waterfront RV sites book 6+ months in advance for summer weekends.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Merrick, NY?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Merrick, NY is Nickerson Beach Park Campground with a 3.6-star rating from 9 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Merrick, NY?
TheDyrt.com has all 24 dog-friendly camping locations near Merrick, NY, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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