2 campgrounds with availability next weekend
Shelter Island, New York sits at the eastern end of Long Island, with campgrounds near Shelter Island ranging from RV parks with hookups to tent-only sites steps from the water. State parks and county facilities within an hour's drive include Hither Hills State Park Campground in Montauk, Cedar Point County Park in East Hampton, and Wildwood State Park in Wading River. Most campgrounds in this coastal region accommodate both tent and RV camping, with varying levels of hookups and amenities. North Fork Cottages & RV Resort and McCann Campground in Greenport provide the closest established camping options to Shelter Island itself, accessible via short ferry rides from either Greenport or North Haven.
Reservations are essential during the peak summer season from Memorial Day through Labor Day, with many campgrounds booking up months in advance. As one camper noted, "This campground books up FAST, I usually book in the wintertime." Most facilities operate seasonally, typically closing between November and April. Mosquitoes can be problematic, particularly in wooded areas and near marshes, with one visitor warning that "mosquitoes are extremely potent and plentiful. Take the good stuff." Cell service varies considerably throughout the region, with Hither Hills campers reporting "almost no cell service" with "2 bars maximum." Privacy between sites is generally limited at most campgrounds, though fall and spring visits offer more solitude and cooler temperatures.
Beach access represents the primary draw for most campgrounds in the area. Hither Hills provides direct beach access with sites "just one dune away from an incredible stretch of beach." Cedar Point County Park offers opportunities to "walk and hike out to the lighthouse, kayak, bike or just relax." Many campgrounds feature clean bathhouses, picnic tables, and fire rings, though site sizes and privacy vary considerably. Family-friendly amenities are common, with one visitor noting that "rangers came around checking on everyone often so it really did feel incredibly safe." Weekends tend to be busiest, with some campers reporting that "music starts blasting early" at certain locations, making weekday visits preferable for those seeking quieter experiences.
"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."
Campground full next weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $20 - $70 / night
"Hither Hills campground is clean, well run and is just one dune away from an incredible stretch of beach."
"Drawback is 10 minute walk to the general store/ranger station and 5 minutes to the beach (10 to swimming area). Almost no cell service! 2 bars was the maximum and finding that was rare."
Available next weekend
from $33 / night
"The beach is about a 1 mile walk or drive from the campground. The walk is lovely and I have seen deer, turkeys, many birds, skunks, raccoons, and other wildlife along the way."
"Located right off I95 ( which you can hear at times), the park is convenient to all the major interstates and state roads."
from $20 - $70 / night
"Bathhouse with showers and dishwashing was close by. Plenty of space to walk and hike out to the lighthouse, kayak, biking or just relax. Will be next year!"
"We have walked in and book a site. Twice though in June we had tons of ticks 😬 but overall is a good site!"
from $10 - $26 / night
"Close to level parking pad, with table and very nice brick firepit. Sites not too close together. I had woods behind me. I would definitely camp here again."
"This KOA Niantic CT location is about 2 hours from home. It was the perfect place (not far from home) to practice. "
"Which was walking distance from the boat yard. Had a bite to eat at the Blue Duck, it was fine. Saw the show and walk back to the boat yard."
"Easy access to the boatyard at night; pulled in, picked a spot and all good. Enjoyed the pool.
Walked to Fort Trumbull.
Recommend Crockers."
from $50 - $75 / night
"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."
ScoutFriendly staff and very clean facilities. They have sites with sewage hookups along with water and electric. Sites are small and very close together. I liked how many dog waste receptacles were available all over the property.
GuideWhen I arrived, I discovered this site they reserve for me was not level, and the picnic table was blocking access to the electric. When I asked the office for help, I was told maintenance had already left around 4 o’clock, and nobody could help me. I was offered a different side if I wanted to pay the extra price. I managed to wrestle the table out of the way and made it work. But the Wi-Fi was worthless.
TravelerGood place to come for Halloween trick-or-treating for kids, lots of activities to keep you busy
ScoutNothing fancy, great for us as a stop along the way. Large, open gravel space surrounded by boats. Cute in-ground pool just closed for the season, great washroom & showers. A bunch of restaurants around the corner - highly recommend The Waffle Company. Dump station at the waste treatment plant 5 minutes away, no charge, very helpful staff, tight quarters, choose your route carefully if your rig is >13 ft - bridges.
RangerEnjoyed our stay at this campground for a weekend in mid September. We booked for a good rate using Campspot and it was well worth the money. Our site was wide and had some bushes adding privacy from some nearby RVs. The campground was quiet and had several nice amenities, like a store, laundry, dog park, playground, pool, basketball court, and more. It was close to Olde Mystic and plenty of other nearby attractions.
GuideSites are rocky and not the most level. Fairly private. No water elec or sewer @ sites. Water spigot spread throughout the park. 2 nice sewer dumps. 1 in the middle of the park and 1 on your way out. Decent beaches. Pretty nice playground. Horrible arcade. The camp store is awesome. Everything you need. They are doing alot of work updating the park and it shows. New bath houses are really nice. We have gone 3 times this year. Good family campground
TravelerWe booked this campground, as well as 2 others, to see how we liked them to visit our daughter and granddaughter. We are in section 2, site 016. Small site, did not get level. Beautiful beaches and homes in the area.
ScoutI do not recommend staying at this campsite. As you can't drive to the Campsite, as you have to come on a kayak or canoe.
TravelerOverall a superb spot to either stay put and enjoy the camp, park and beach or to use as a base to explore the region. Huge campground, yet peaceful. Online map would make it seem spaces are tight but it is a very big area and so ample room to stretch out your space. Not a lot of privacy as most spaces are out in the open or light tree area but it is not an invasive feeling situation. Very popular for CT families with biking, walking and the beautiful beach right here. Lots of grass, level sites. A few sites have electric but not many and this seems to be the big rig area. Most people are tent or small camper setups. Bathrooms clean, hot water reasonable temp. Dish washing stations at each restroom. Movies at night (kids). The state park is really pretty and well maintained. The area towns are very pretty and remarkably quiet in general (not many tourist traps) and its easy to access various shoreline parks, drives, viewpoints. I'd avoid the spots very nearest the park road as it does get a lot of day visitors to the park/beach. I'm here late August and schools go back this week so midweek the campground is less than half full but I believe it will fill for the weekend.
The camping spots near Shelter Island, New York provide access to the Long Island Sound and Atlantic Ocean coastlines, with most campgrounds sitting at elevations between 10-50 feet above sea level. Summer temperatures typically range from 65-85°F with high humidity, while spring and fall offer cooler camping conditions with fewer crowds. Most campsites in this coastal region remain open from April through October.
Beach exploration: Cedar Point County Park offers a 2.5-mile hike to a historic lighthouse that campers enjoy. "We pretty much had the entire park to ourselves. We arrived on Friday afternoon and enjoyed a quiet peaceful weekend with cool weather and no bugs. Plenty of space to walk and hike out to the lighthouse, kayak, biking or just relax," notes one Cedar Point County Park visitor.
Wildlife viewing: Hammonasset State Park Campground features a nature center with educational programs about coastal ecosystems. "You can ride your bike from your site to the playground, store, beach, local ice cream shop, coffee shop, or our family favorite, meig's point nature center. We make it a point to spend at least a week here every summer!" reports a Hammonasset State Park Campground camper.
Kayaking and boating: Many waterfront campgrounds offer direct water access for small boats. "Short walk to the beach with lots of little trails, and plenty of activities for the whole family. The bathrooms were mostly clean, and the shower was hot," explains an Indian Island County Park visitor.
Spacious sites: Several campgrounds offer well-sized sites that provide adequate room for setup. "Campgrounds are clean and spacious but very open, being a beach there are a few campers who enjoy staying up quite late and listening to music," reports a camper from Wildwood State Park.
Clean facilities: Most campgrounds maintain quality shower and restroom facilities. "We were super lucky to get in for Memorial Day weekend. The beach is great and the staff was very friendly. The camp sites are close to each other with little to no privacy but everyone in our area was nice. There's a ton of family's with kids," notes a Hither Hills State Park Campground visitor.
Swimming options: Many campgrounds offer beach access or pool facilities for water recreation. "The campground is very nice. Everything you need is right here, and if you need something else, it's literally 5 mins away. Greenport Long Island, need I say more? I hope you love seafood," shares a McCann Campground guest.
Advance booking required: Most camping areas near Shelter Island fill quickly, especially for summer weekends. "We were super lucky to get in for Memorial Day weekend. The beach is great and the staff was very friendly," notes a Hither Hills camper.
Site privacy varies: Many campgrounds feature open layouts with limited separation between sites. "Sites had zero privacy and were all pull through. There was water, electric and sewer hookups at each site, but this was an expensive place to 'camp'," reports a Wildwood State Park visitor.
Fire ring availability: Not all campgrounds provide fire rings with sites. "It's a lame not having a fire ring, you have to rent one or bring your own," mentions a Wildwood State Park camper.
Insect preparation: Bugs can be problematic, particularly in wooded areas. "I don't mind the noise but the nats (little black flies) make it nearly impossible to enjoy an evening," shares a Hammonasset State Park visitor.
Pool access: Some campgrounds offer swimming pools that provide alternatives to beach swimming. "We were here on an extremely hot and humid couple days. It was great to have electric and water hookups. Also being able to use their pool with our grandchildren was great," shares a Crocker's Boatyard visitor.
Playground facilities: Multiple campgrounds feature playground equipment for children. "They have plenty of things at the camp store and you can't beat the couple minute walk to the beach. There is plenty of things in the area if you need to pick up any extra supplies too!" notes a Hammonasset camper.
Scheduled activities: Some campgrounds organize regular events for younger campers. "This campground is undergoing a much needed upgrade. The staff is very friendly and tries hard to make it fun for the kids including icecream socials wagon rides and a coin hunt," explains a Niantic KOA visitor.
Hook-up availability: RV sites with full hook-ups are limited near Shelter Island. "No sewers sites that I could tell, and water was off because we were a week shy of the season opening. Needed to move to dump station prior to leaving (2 night visit) and had to drive to fill the fresh water tank once while there," reports an Indian Island County Park camper.
Generator restrictions: Many campgrounds limit generator hours or prohibit them entirely. "Generator hours are limited. There are spigots located down the middle of the rows. Go on google maps to find a spot near a spigot," shares a Hither Hills visitor.
Cell signal variability: Mobile reception can be unreliable across the area. "Cell signal varies wildly by spot. B17 no prob at all. G14 spotty. F20 total dead zone," notes another Hither Hills camper.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular campground near Shelter Island, NY?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Shelter Island, NY is Hammonasset State Park Campground with a 3.9-star rating from 40 reviews.
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