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Best Campgrounds near Setauket, NY

246 Reviews

Camping areas near Setauket, New York provide a mix of state and county park campgrounds, most within a 30-minute drive. The region includes established campgrounds like Wildwood State Park and Blydenburgh County Park, offering tent sites, RV options, and some cabin accommodations. Most locations maintain camping facilities open seasonally, with many sites reservable through county or state booking systems. Several parks like Cathedral Pines and Southaven County Park feature wooded camping areas with varying levels of electric hookups and amenities.

Many Suffolk County campgrounds require a Green Key card for residents to access camping reservations and discounts. Sites typically provide basic amenities including picnic tables, barbecue grills, and access to restrooms with showers. The camping season for most developed campgrounds runs from spring through fall, with some county parks like Blydenburgh and Southaven remaining open year-round. Big rig accessibility varies considerably across locations, with some parks having limitations on larger vehicles. A review noted, "If your going to be on Long Island, Suffolk county is really only RV friendly place. Worth buying green key card for resident access."

Campers report mixed experiences regarding site quality and maintenance at these established campgrounds. Several parks feature water bodies, with Southaven County Park receiving positive feedback for its lake access and recreational opportunities. One visitor described Blydenburgh as "a gem of long island. Feels like upstate camping in group camping area," noting the secluded feeling despite being close to populated areas. Site spacing and privacy differ significantly between parks, with Cathedral Pines offering more spacious wooded sites compared to the more open field-style layouts found at other facilities. Proximity to beaches is another highlight, with Smith Point County Park and Heckscher State Park providing camping options relatively close to Long Island shorelines. Most campgrounds maintain relatively good sanitary facilities, though cleanliness and maintenance standards vary across locations.

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Best Camping Sites Near Setauket, New York (47)

    1. Wildwood State Park Campground

    24 Reviews
    Wading River, NY
    16 miles
    Website
    +1 (631) 929-4314

    $20 - $250 / 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."

    2. Blydenburgh County Park

    11 Reviews
    Hauppauge, NY
    9 miles
    Website
    +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.)"

    3. Cathedral Pines County Park

    4 Reviews
    Middle Island, NY
    10 miles
    Website
    +1 (631) 852-5502

    4. Heckscher State Park Campground

    9 Reviews
    Great River, NY
    15 miles
    Website
    +1 (631) 581-2100

    $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."

    5. Southaven County Park

    7 Reviews
    Shirley, NY
    15 miles
    Website
    +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."

    6. Smith Point County Park

    9 Reviews
    Mastic Beach, NY
    19 miles
    Website
    +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."

    7. Watch Hill Fire Island Campground — Fire Island National Seashore

    7 Reviews
    Bayport, NY
    18 miles
    +1 (631) 597-6074

    $25 - $159 / night

    "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."

    8. Smith's Point

    5 Reviews
    Mastic Beach, NY
    19 miles
    Website

    9. Indian Island County Park

    10 Reviews
    Riverhead, NY
    26 miles
    Website
    +1 (631) 852-3232

    "Campsites are located close enough to the beach/marsh. Multiple playgrounds for the kids although they were closed due to Covid."

    "The beach was within walking distance, lots of little trails, and plenty of activities for the whole family. The bathrooms were mostly clean, and the shower was hot."

    10. Hammonasset State Park Campground

    39 Reviews
    Clinton, CT
    37 miles
    Website
    +1 (203) 245-1817

    $20 - $70 / night

    "Beautiful Connecticut beach sits just steps away from your campsite. Well kept showers and bathrooms are abundant and the camp store has the majority of what you need."

    "This campsite is near the shore in my home state of CT. It took a little over an hour to get here. Our spot was near a large salt marsh."

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Recent Camping Photos near Setauket, NY

84 Photos of 47 Setauket Campgrounds

Recent Reviews near Setauket, NY

246 Reviews of 47 Setauket Campgrounds

  • MThe Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 29, 2025

    Gentiles Campground

    Nice place to stay

    Quiet CG near Waterbury CT. Close to major stores for resupply. CG has lots of friendly seasonal campers and lots of other sites. Most sites seem pretty level, but there are some steep roads in the CG. There is an airport next to CG, but it is for single engine private planes only so not a problem. Not by a major road so little traffic noise. I would stay here again.

  • Paul K.
    Aug. 26, 2025

    Croton 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.

  • J
    Aug. 8, 2025

    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)

  • H
    Jun. 28, 2025

    Hammonasset State Park Campground

    Worst Camp Hosts

    Absolute worst Camp Hosts. They cancel every event they schedule while receiving free beach camping all summer. They’re an embarassment and a constant disappointment for young children. Shame on you and shame on Hammonasset.

  • GThe Dyrt PRO User
    May. 8, 2025

    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.

  • GThe Dyrt PRO User
    May. 8, 2025

    Heckscher State Park Campground

    My favorite place for group camping

    This place is the best around for group and family camping. The entire campground is one flat open space where some sites are full in the shade and other sites (lower numbers) have lots of sun. I've been going here every summer since 2019 after it re-opened. Each site has a picnic table and grill. Water is also available near the sites.

    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 if you need it and you can rent firepits and buy firewood. The ice cream trucks comes by as well. There is a playground just for the campground.

    Bring a bicycle or scooper and you can ride the loop around to the beach; you can also drive to the beach. There is a pool, but it has not been open for many years. There are also hiking trails and a place where you can rent a kayak.

    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.

    Park staff and rangers regularly patrol the campground and are diligent about cleaning up.

  • M
    May. 3, 2025

    Blydenburgh County Park

    Great stay

    If your going to be on Long Island ,Suffolk county is really only RV friendly place.Worth buying green key card for resident access.200 but you’d spend that 4 nights regardless.Very clean campgrounds lots of space.Not much to do inside the grounds.

  • B
    Apr. 24, 2025

    Chapman Pond Preserve

    Middle of no where site

    Good tent platforms, picnic tables and outhouse. CT river within view. Good site

  • Lee D.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 18, 2024

    Croton Point Park

    Not too much to offer

    General: A county park with a mix of w/e (6 sites) and FHU sites plus about a dozen tent sites near a capped dump! There is a lodge and cabins close to the end of the point, but they appeared to be part of a group camp experience. They all appeared to be closed for the season (or because no one was renting at the time; they reminded me of places I used to take youth groups for weekend camps). The reservation process is a bit wonky. You need to call (no online reservations) and then wait for an e-mail, but the e-mail does not tell you your assigned site; you have to wait until you check in to find out your site.

    Site Quality: We had a loosely defined gravel pad that was level. All sites appeared level. The FHU sites were back-to-back and although there were trees separating the sites, they were close together. No one was in the tent sites, but they did have new picnic tables.

    Activities/Amenities: Other than a playground and a basketball court, there did not seem to be any activities to partake in. There used to be a pool but from the looks of it, it hasn’t been in use for many years. There are walking paths outside of the campground that are located within the park, but we did not have time to explore them. 

    Bath/Shower house: Clean but a bit dated. No shelves or hooks for toiletries. I was surprised the door was left open all night long. There was a sign warning that the toilets were slow flushing, but I think this may have been fixed because the flush was so powerful that the water splashed over the top of the seat! 

    Because it was on a point on the Hudson, I had hoped for views from the campground but there were too many trees to see the water. I was perplexed by the signs throughout saying no trespassing/fishing prohibited. I get the no fishing part but the trespassing? When we checked in, we had to write down our credit card number on a slip of paper before we were given a key that opened the gate to the campground. When we checked out, we asked for the paper or to watch it get shredded but were told they had to keep it on file which concerned us.

Guide to Setauket

Camping near Setauket, New York, offers a mix of beautiful nature and family-friendly activities. Whether you're looking for a peaceful retreat or a fun-filled adventure, there are plenty of campgrounds to explore.

What to do:

  • Hiking and Nature Walks: Many campgrounds, like Ward Pound Ridge Reservation, have extensive trails. One camper mentioned, "The best part of this campsite are the endless trails in the area," making it perfect for nature lovers.
  • Fishing and Swimming: At Indian Island County Park, visitors can enjoy fishing and swimming. A review noted, "The beach was within walking distance, lots of little trails, and plenty of activities for the whole family."
  • Beach Access: Campgrounds like Smith Point County Park offer direct beach access. One happy camper said, "Amazing sites with plenty of room, though they are close together. But was worth it for the amenities and fantastic views."

What campers like:

  • Clean Facilities: Campers appreciate well-maintained restrooms and showers. A visitor at Kettletown State Park Campground mentioned, "We have seen varied conditions of the restrooms and showers but have always found the family restroom... in great condition."
  • Family-Friendly Atmosphere: Many campgrounds cater to families. A review from Hammonasset State Park Campground highlighted, "This is a fun campground for families. There were kids on bikes, scooters, skateboards, roller blades."
  • Scenic Views: Campers love the beautiful surroundings. One reviewer at Wildwood State Park Campground said, "The beach is in walking distance. You can swim or fish there."

What you should know:

  • Reservations Recommended: Many campgrounds fill up quickly, especially during peak season. A camper at Blydenburgh County Park advised, "If you are looking for a site it’s best to book far in advance."
  • Limited Amenities: Some campgrounds may lack certain amenities. A visitor at Nickerson Beach Park Campground noted, "The online reservation system is clunky and shows no photos or have much detail."
  • Noise Levels: Be prepared for noise, especially on weekends. A camper at Southaven County Park mentioned, "The crowd was a little questionable. State police were called in to settle a dispute between campers."

Tips for camping with families:

  • Choose Family-Friendly Campgrounds: Look for places that offer activities for kids. A review from Kettletown State Park Campground said, "Great area to camp with kids. The lots were large."
  • Pack Outdoor Games: Bring along games to keep the kids entertained. One family at Hammonasset State Park Campground enjoyed the lively atmosphere, saying, "Watch your speed! They don't always watch out for your car."
  • Plan for Meals: Some campgrounds have limited food options. A visitor at Wildwood State Park Campground mentioned, "The camp store has a small variety of camp supplies, drinks, and food."

Tips from RVers:

  • Check Site Sizes: Make sure your RV fits the site. A camper at Blydenburgh County Park noted, "A few Big Rig spots are available, but this is a Suffolk Co Campground that is not well maintained."
  • Be Prepared for Rough Roads: Some campgrounds have bumpy access roads. One RV owner at Blydenburgh County Park said, "2 miles of the road have many areas of missing blacktop making a very rough ride."
  • Plan for Dump Stations: Know where the dump stations are located. A visitor at Smith Point County Park mentioned, "The dump station is basically not accessible to a big rig."

Camping near Setauket, New York, has something for everyone, from families to RV enthusiasts. Just be sure to plan ahead and enjoy the great outdoors!

Frequently Asked Questions

What camping is available near Setauket, NY?

According to TheDyrt.com, Setauket, NY offers a wide range of camping options, with 47 campgrounds and RV parks near Setauket, NY and 1 free dispersed camping spot.

Which is the most popular campground near Setauket, NY?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Setauket, NY is Wildwood State Park Campground with a 4.2-star rating from 24 reviews.

Where can I find free dispersed camping near Setauket, NY?

According to TheDyrt.com, there is 1 free dispersed camping spot near Setauket, NY.

What parks are near Setauket, NY?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 12 parks near Setauket, NY that allow camping, notably Fire Island National Seashore and Hop Brook Lake.

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