Nickerson Beach Park Campground's pet policy allows dogs at campsites, though pets are not permitted on the beach itself. Located in Lido Beach near Rockville Centre, this RV-focused campground provides clean facilities with water and electric hookups for pet owners camping with their dogs. A small dog run is available on the opposite side of the beach parking lot for exercising pets. The camping area is primarily a gravel parking lot with full hookup sites accommodating RVs of various sizes. While the campground itself is pet-friendly, many visitors note the campground is basically a parking lot but right on the other side of the dunes is Lido Beach, which is fantastic for activities though closed to dogs.
Liberty Harbor RV Park in nearby Jersey City offers another pet-friendly option with convenient access to New York City attractions. The campground features water and electric hookups with 24-hour security, making it a safe base camp for exploring with pets. Sites are closely spaced in what is essentially a marina parking lot, but the location provides unmatched access to Manhattan via nearby ferries and trains. During summer months, sites fill quickly and are placed within inches of neighboring rigs, so booking end-row sites provides slightly more space for pets. Despite the tight quarters, the campground's urban location makes it ideal for pet owners wanting to combine camping with city exploration, though the $120 nightly rate reflects the premium location rather than enhanced amenities for dogs.
"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."
$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."
"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"
$130 / night
"A little intimidating driving in to a nondescript gate at the end of a narrow street but the overall experience exceeded expectation."
$20 - $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."
$85 - $120 / night
$17 - $20 / 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."
$200 / night
"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."
$42 - $79 / night
"Heavily wooded and supremely quiet, it’s located not far from anywhere you’d want to be. 30 minutes to the shore. Every site is a pull-through, large and spacious with great woodland views. 30amp and"
"Water is more than 40 feet away from your parking so 25' hose if not enough. If you have GFIC in your RV, ask for a non-GFIC site, or it will trip on you."
$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."
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.
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
RangerThe park itself is lovely and close to some other green areas. The nice thing about this campsite is that it’s so close to NYC. The bad thing about this campsite is that it’s so close to NYC. If you live in NYC this is a good, cheap, super quick escape accessible by public transport. If you’re visiting the area I’d recommend staying in Manhattan/Queens in an AirBNB for the full NYC experience or heading to Long Island, Pennsylvania, “Upstate” New York, or New Jersey for a better nature camping experience. For what it is, this site is a nice green little oasis. It’s National Park Service land and they try really hard to keep things clean and working well with so much traffic. Bring earplus for the airport traffic and the noisy neighbors. Tent sites are pretty and wooded, but there is also a TON of concrete from an old WW2 airfield.
Dog friendly camping near Rockville Centre is limited but accessible, with locations along the northern and southern shores of Long Island. The area's low-lying coastal terrain averages 24 feet above sea level, creating a mix of wooded inland parks and beachside campgrounds. Summer humidity can make camping challenging, with July and August temperatures averaging in the mid-80s.
Hiking with dogs: At Blydenburgh County Park in Smithtown, a 7-mile loop trail circles the lake with "decent fishing. Lots of horses and dogs on the trail," according to Erik R. The park is "dog friendly" with a "large dog run so the fur babies will have a great time too," notes Karen N.
Beach activities: The Atlantic beaches near Heckscher State Park Campground offer family-friendly shorelines. "Bring a bicycle or scooper and you can ride the loop around to the beach; you can also drive to the beach," says Giselle P. For water activities, "there is a place where you can rent a kayak" at the park.
Urban exploration: Use Liberty Harbor RV Park as a base for city adventures. "This is a prime location for visiting the city or heading down the shore. The light rail is a block away, and the path train is about 8," reports Joe R. The park provides "easy access with our 32 foot RV pulling our Jeep," notes Kevin A.
Pet exercise areas: Though many campgrounds restrict where dogs can go, Blydenburgh County Park provides open spaces for dogs. As Ali O. mentions, you can "Camp on grass! Lovely trees. Everyone is nice. Hiking trails are beautiful. Dog friendly. Clean bathrooms."
Waterfront views: Wildwood State Park Campground offers unique coastline camping opportunities. "A great family campsite right on the Long Island Sound," notes Megan B. The park 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)," adds James O.
Spacious sites: Larger groups with pets appreciate Turkey Swamp Park where "Sites are in the woods and widely spaced apart to give you privacy and the feeling of being out in the Forrest," according to Katheryn N. The park has "plenty to do over a 2 night stay. Archery, boating, fishing, and hiking."
Reservation timing: Campgrounds near Rockville Centre fill quickly in summer. For Nickerson Beach, "It's all but impossible to get an RV spot there from Memorial day to Labor day," warns Michael M. Book months in advance for weekend stays.
Beach restrictions: Many beaches prohibit dogs during peak seasons. At Beaver Pond Campground, "the grounds are just steps away from Welch Lake, offering a lifeguard monitored sandy beach which is open during the summer season," explains Steve W., though pets may be restricted.
Urban camping realities: Liberty Harbor RV Park is primarily a "glorified parking lot with water & electric hookups," explains Ericka T. who notes that "Larger rigs will barely have a yard. And don't bet on a private picnic table."
Playground access: Cheesequake State Park offers convenient family facilities, though note that "the playground is driving distance not walking," according to W L. at Heckscher State Park.
Group-friendly sites: For family gatherings with pets, Turkey Swamp Park accommodates multiple setups. "You are allowed to have a tent on the site with an RV at no extra charge," mentions Katheryn N. The sites have "fire pit, large picnic bench, and lamp stand. Plenty of parking space," adds Graham D.
Wildlife encounters: Prepare children for wildlife at woodland parks. At Beaver Pond Campground, "you may find a few visitors, not necessarily on two legs, but always a delight," shares Elliot G., while the ranger greets visitors with "Welcome to Bear Mountain."
Utility connections: Check specific hookup availability when traveling with pets. Turkey Swamp Park provides "electric and water hookups" but "they don't have primitive campsites so your stuck paying the higher rate even though you don't need the hookups," notes Dan W.
Urban transit access: When staying at Liberty Harbor RV Park, utilize public transportation with pets. "Two blocks away from NJ Path train into Manhattan or take the ferry to Wall Street!" advises Keith and Tia S., making urban exploration with pets more convenient.
Limited hookup options: At Wildwood State Park, RV sites have "water, electric and sewer hookups at each site, but this was an expensive place to 'camp'," cautions Michael G., so budget accordingly when bringing pets to coastal campgrounds.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Rockville Centre, NY?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Rockville Centre, NY is Nickerson Beach Park Campground with a 3.4-star rating from 8 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Rockville Centre, NY?
TheDyrt.com has all 27 dog-friendly camping locations near Rockville Centre, NY, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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