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Southampton's eastern Long Island location offers several developed campgrounds with varied accommodations within Suffolk County. Shinnecock East County Park provides RV camping with ocean views directly in Southampton, while Indian Island County Park near Riverhead features tent, RV, and glamping options approximately 20 miles northwest. Cedar Point County Park in East Hampton and Wildwood State Park in Wading River expand the region's camping inventory with cabin options and waterfront access. Most campgrounds in the area maintain seasonal availability, with several operating year-round including Cedar Point and Sears Bellows County Parks.
Camping reservations are essential during peak summer months when beaches and waterfront sites fill quickly. The eastern Long Island campgrounds generally provide good vehicle access on paved roads, though some sites have limited parking. Most established campgrounds offer drinking water, toilets, and showers, with varying levels of hookups for RVs. Weather conditions remain mild throughout camping season, though coastal areas can experience strong winds. A camper at Sears Bellows County Park noted that "it's a perfect campground for anyone looking to camp off the grid. Tucked away in the woods is a beautiful well kept campground with spacious sites, a lake with kayaking access, and trails for bike riding and hiking."
Beachfront camping represents a significant draw for the Southampton area, with many campsites providing direct water access. Shinnecock East County Park earns high ratings for its proximity to ocean beaches, while inland options like Sears Bellows offer more wooded seclusion. According to one review, Cedar Point County Park provides "plenty of space to walk and hike out to the lighthouse, kayak, biking or just relax." Campgrounds with beach access typically command higher demand throughout summer. Wildlife viewing opportunities include deer, rabbits, and turtles at several parks. Many campgrounds maintain a family-friendly atmosphere with playground facilities, though these sometimes close seasonally. Several sites accommodate RVs with varying hookup capabilities, while others cater primarily to tent campers seeking a more primitive experience.
"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."
"This hidden gem is located right in Hampton Bays and is the perfect campground for anyone looking to camp off the grid."
"Is good for dogs to the trails are nice and big"
"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 $24 - $250 / night
Check Availability"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."
from $37 / night
Check Availability"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."
from $20 - $70 / night
Check Availability"I had bathrooms and showers near me. There’s a beautiful natural lake and other amenities. Also, the camp is pretty safe. I left my things unattended a couple of times and nothing happened."
"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
Check Availability"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."
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.
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.
Scoutgreat location, with pool, electric and bathrooms/showers. close to ferry
TravelerJust kidding - this is the best boondock camping you’ll find. Ample water fill, air, and dump stations. Pick the ocean or bay side- my preference is the bay side, closer to the inlet. Great fishing too. Note: there are NO hook ups, contrary to the AI summary from Dyrt.
TravelerFamilies are all around. Place is clean. Several play areas for children. Office upon 24/7. Also they added an Activity Room for kids. Beach accessible and great views.
ScoutThis park is beautiful. Everything is very well taken care of from the grounds to the restrooms the pool. Not a blade of grass or if place.
ScoutThe hikes are nice and plentiful. Very cool waterfall near campground. That’s about as far as the good goes. Very unregulated campground. Didn’t see a single ranger the entire time. No one to check in with or enforce rules, which many took advantage of to party into very late at night. Sites are very close together with no privacy. You can hear someone having a casual conversation in the site over. Go here if you just want to party with friends, not if you want a peaceful time.
Suffolk County offers camping options from 5 to 30 miles from downtown Southampton. Campgrounds typically range from sea level to 50 feet elevation. Eastern Long Island experiences mild coastal weather during camping seasons with average summer temperatures between 75-85°F during the day and 60-70°F at night.
Beach fishing: At Shinnecock East County Park, striped bass fishing draws anglers. "We go here at least once a year. The ocean is beautiful and we catch stripe bass. The bay is peaceful and we go crabbing," reports Anthony M.
Lighthouse hiking: Cedar Point County Park provides trails leading to a historic lighthouse. "Plenty of space to walk and hike out to the lighthouse, kayak, biking or just relax," notes Chris A.
Geocaching: Several parks offer geocaching opportunities. At Indian Island County Park, one camper mentioned, "There were hiking trails and geocaching on site."
Kayaking: Multiple waterfront campgrounds offer kayak launches. Michael G. from Indian Island County Park notes, "You are a short walk from beach access and kayak launch."
Direct beach access: Montauk's Hither Hills State Park provides immediate beach access. "The beach is right over the dunes very clean beach," says Pedro R.
Beachfront RV parking: Four-wheel drive vehicles can camp directly on the beach at some locations. "4x4 a must, air down a must. Beautiful on the bay or ocean side. They also have a hill top section," explains Lisa M. about Shinnecock East.
Stargazing: Despite proximity to New York City, some campgrounds offer good night sky viewing. Mike B. reports about Hither Hills, "The star gazing was great too being so close to NYC."
Well-maintained facilities: Many campgrounds feature clean facilities. At Cedar Point County Park, Chris A. appreciated the "Bathhouse with showers and dishwashing was close by."
Tick prevention: Some wooded areas have tick issues. At Suffolk County Sears Bellows County Park, one camper warned, "I cannot walk ANYWHERE without picking up ticks. Even on the large sand paths, going to and from the bathroom I find ticks."
Fire pit requirements: Not all sites provide fire rings. At Wildwood State Park, a camper noted it was "lame not having a fire ring, you have to rent one or bring your own."
Reservation timing: Peak season requires advance planning. For Hither Hills, one camper advised, "Must reserve early in the year for summer spots."
Cost considerations: Suffolk County parks require a county permit. Fernando C. explained, "I had to get a Suffolk county green key card. And then pay 50 dollars per night. It wasn't cheap but it's definitely cheaper than the hotels in the area."
Playground access: Several campgrounds offer playgrounds. At Wildwood State Park, Ossama B. mentioned, "Kids were roaming freely and safe!"
Nature center visits: Families can explore environmental education centers. Nearby Hammonasset State Park has a "meig's point nature center" that one family called their "favorite."
Swimming beaches: Beach quality varies between parks. Hither Hills offers direct ocean access, with one camper noting, "The beach is great and the staff was very friendly."
Seasonal closures: Check facility availability during shoulder seasons. At Indian Island County Park, one visitor noted, "Multiple playgrounds for the kids although they were closed due to Covid. We were a week shy of the season opening."
Hookup limitations: Water access varies by site and season. At Indian Island County Park, Janelle G. reported, "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."
Signal variability: Cell coverage differs dramatically between sites. At Hither Hills, Nancy M. warned, "Cell signal varies wildly by spot. B17 no prob at all. G14 spotty. F20 total dead zone."
Generator restrictions: Campgrounds limit generator hours. Nancy M. noted at Hither Hills, "Had to take a star off for no hookups. Generator hours are limited."
Beach driving requirements: For beach camping at Shinnecock East, proper vehicle preparation is essential. Lisa M. emphasized, "4x4 a must, air down a must."
Frequently Asked Questions
Where are the best campgrounds in Southampton?
Southampton and the surrounding area offer several excellent camping options. Shinnecock East County Park is ideally located near Southampton with beach access and basic amenities including water and toilets. For a more developed experience, Sears Bellows County Park provides diverse outdoor activities for families and offers both tent and RV/trailer sites. The park has beautiful natural surroundings and is well-maintained, making it a popular choice for visitors looking to enjoy the Southampton area while having access to essential camping facilities.
Are there any campsites in Southampton that don't require reservations?
Most campgrounds in the Southampton area typically require reservations, especially during peak summer season. However, Heckscher State Park Campground sometimes has first-come, first-served availability during off-peak times, though calling ahead is recommended. Indian Island County Park may occasionally have walk-up sites available, particularly during weekdays or in shoulder seasons. Be aware that spontaneous camping in this popular region can be challenging, especially on summer weekends when sites fill quickly. For the best chance at securing a spot without a reservation, arrive early on weekdays and have backup options ready.
What are the overnight tent camping options near Southampton?
For overnight tent camping near Southampton, Watch Hill Fire Island Campground offers a beautiful beachside experience with tent sites just steps from the ocean. You can fall asleep to the sound of waves and enjoy stargazing, though be prepared for mosquitoes. Wildwood State Park Campground provides another excellent tent camping option within driving distance of Southampton, with wooded sites offering more privacy. Most tent campsites in the region include basic amenities like picnic tables, fire rings, and access to restroom facilities. For the best experience, book well in advance during summer months when tent sites throughout the area fill quickly.
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