Best Campgrounds near Shirley, NY

Shirley is the perfect place for adventurous campers and RVers. Aside from great camping spots, you'll find hiking and many more outdoor experiences. Thinking of traveling with kids? You're in luck—Shirley is surrounded by family-friendly activities. Find the best campgrounds near Shirley, plus reviews and photos from other campers like you.

Best Camping Sites Near Shirley, New York (39)

    1. Wildwood State Park Campground

    24 Reviews
    Wading River, NY
    12 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. Smith Point County Park

    9 Reviews
    Mastic Beach, NY
    4 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."

    3. Southaven County Park

    7 Reviews
    Shirley, NY
    1 mile
    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."

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

    7 Reviews
    Bayport, NY
    9 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."

    5. Smith's Point

    5 Reviews
    Mastic Beach, NY
    4 miles
    Website

    6. Cathedral Pines County Park

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

    7. Indian Island County Park

    10 Reviews
    Riverhead, NY
    16 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."

    8. Heckscher State Park Campground

    9 Reviews
    Great River, NY
    16 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."

    9. Blydenburgh County Park

    11 Reviews
    Hauppauge, NY
    18 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.)"

    10. Fire Island National Seashore

    1 Review
    Mastic Beach, NY
    4 miles
    Website

    $25 / night

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Recent Reviews near Shirley, NY

257 Reviews of 39 Shirley Campgrounds


  • Snooz H.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 17, 2025

    Niantic KOA

    I mean wow!!

    So much going on! They will give free shuttle rides to 3 beaches & downtown Niantic, CT.

    We had tried to get a deluxe location and not completely booked. This is the weekend before Labor Day and they were vanishing point the owner / shuttle driver, John, asked us if we would want to move on Sunday after a bunch of people moved out. And we said absolutely because we're going to be here for 3 more nights.

    And it is huge and amazing! If you want to pay a little extra for the deluxe request slot 92!

  • 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)

  • Jennifer H.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 3, 2025

    Niantic KOA

    Great amenities, staff and location

    Charming, full of wonderful amenities and nice extras. Nice staff, fun coin scavenger hunt, great pool, well stocked store, wide sites, lots of grass/trees and space to stretch out. Missing full hook ups but the staff and overall vibe more than make up for it. Community garden was something we hadn’t seen before - super fun.

  • 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


Guide to Shirley

Camping near Shirley, 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 choose from.

What to do:

  • Beach Access: Many campgrounds are close to the beach. For example, at Smith Point County Park, you can enjoy stunning views and easy access to the Atlantic Ocean. One camper mentioned, "Our site had a trex picnic table on a cement patio. An on-site firepit was cozy at night."
  • Fishing and Boating: If you enjoy fishing, Blydenburgh County Park has a lovely lake where you can fish or rent a rowboat. A visitor shared, "The park was excellent. Grounds were as advertised. Family friendly."
  • Hiking Trails: Explore the hiking trails at Kettletown State Park Campground. One reviewer noted, "The shorter hiking trails in the area were really beautiful."

What campers like:

  • Friendly Staff: Campers appreciate the helpful staff at many campgrounds. At Niantic KOA, one visitor said, "Very friendly and helpful staff. The grounds are clean and well kept."
  • Clean Facilities: Clean bathrooms and showers are a big plus. A camper at Lake Compounce Campground remarked, "Friendly staff and really clean bathrooms and shower area."
  • Family Activities: Many campgrounds offer activities for families. At Riverdale Farm Campsites, a visitor enjoyed bingo and said, "They had great prizes for cheap cost."

What you should know:

  • Site Proximity: Some campgrounds have sites that are close together. A camper at Blydenburgh County Park mentioned, "Sites are open and fairly close would be only negative."
  • Booking Requirements: Certain campgrounds, like Smith Point County Park, have specific booking rules. One camper noted, "ONLY DRAWBACKS, 1- YOU HAVE TO BE A RESIDENT OF SUFFOLK CO, NY."
  • Limited Amenities: Some campgrounds may lack certain amenities. A visitor at Liberty Harbor RV Park said, "This campground is like a parking lot, with absolutely nothing but a spot to park."

Tips for camping with families:

  • Plan for Activities: Look for campgrounds that offer family-friendly activities. At Niantic KOA, one reviewer said, "So many activities for kids and family."
  • Choose Spacious Sites: Opt for campgrounds with larger sites to give kids room to play. A camper at Lake Compounce Campground mentioned, "The sites were long enough that our door wasn't directly across from our neighbor."
  • Check for Playground Facilities: Some campgrounds have playgrounds for kids. A visitor at Riverdale Farm Campsites noted, "The playground is nice."

Tips from RVers:

  • Maneuvering Space: Be cautious about tight spaces when parking your RV. A camper at Liberty Harbor RV Park advised, "Getting in and out is not for someone in a brand new 45' travel trailer."
  • Check Hookups: Ensure your campground has the necessary hookups for your RV. A visitor at Rocky Neck State Park Campground mentioned, "The site itself is not very private but very spacious."
  • Plan for Dump Stations: Some campgrounds may have limited dump station access. A camper at Blydenburgh County Park noted, "The dump station is basically not accessible to a big rig."

Camping around Shirley, NY, has something for everyone, from families to RV enthusiasts. Just remember to check the specific amenities and rules of each campground to ensure a great experience!

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular campground near Shirley, NY?

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