Rocky Neck State Park Campground offers glamping options within a 50-mile drive of Southold, New York. The park accommodates both RV and tent camping across four camp areas named after waterfowl: Crane, Egret, Osprey, and Heron. Winter temperatures average 30-45°F while summer months reach 70-85°F with moderate humidity typical of the Long Island Sound region.
What to do
Beach exploration and swimming: Rocky Neck State Park Campground features a swimming beach with seasonal lifeguards from Memorial Day through Labor Day. The water remains relatively calm compared to ocean beaches. A camper noted, "Short walk to Rock Neck beach. Nature Center has movies on weekends for kids."
Fishing opportunities: Smith Point County Park provides excellent surf fishing access directly from camping areas. The park stretches across both bay and ocean sides, creating diverse fishing environments. According to a visitor, "Our 36ft motorhome backed up to a raised balcony overlooking the bay. Less than 100 feet from the front of our site was the beach and the Atlantic Ocean view."
Water activities: Riverdale Farm Campsites offers a swimming pond and river access. The facilities include boats for rent and multiple swimming areas. A reviewer mentioned, "The lake is perfect, the river needs work. But this an awesome small campground."
Historic sites exploration: Wolf's Den Family Campground serves as a convenient base for visiting nearby attractions. A camper explained, "Nearby attractions are Gillette Castle and Goodspeed Opera. The campground itself is really nice. Cable TV at most sites."
What campers like
Clean facilities: Wildwood State Park Campground maintains modern bathroom facilities compared to other state parks. A regular visitor reported, "Among the most modern bathrooms I've seen at a State Park campground. Nice clean campground with the usual NY State Park quality."
Family-friendly activities: Odetah Camping Resort schedules weekly themed events for families. Activities range from farmer's markets to seasonal celebrations. One camper shared, "Each weekend has a big schedule of events- farmers' market, themed activities and a band. In addition there is good fishing on the pond, mini-golf, pool and splash pad, etc."
Natural environment: Indian Island County Park offers multiple trails for hiking and exploring natural areas. The park preserves coastal habitats where wildlife viewing opportunities abound. A visitor noted, "The beaches, picnic areas and hiking trails were clean and clearly marked."
Water features: Many campgrounds near Southold feature water access points for swimming or boating. Most operate from Memorial Day through September with some offering extended seasons. A camper at Burlingame State Park mentioned, "Nice for biking, cute little beach, dog friendly. Bring quarters for the showers."
What you should know
Reservation requirements: Most campgrounds within 50 miles of Southold require advance reservations, particularly on summer weekends. Smith Point County Park enforces residency restrictions. A reviewer warned, "ONLY DRAWBACKS, 1- YOU HAVE TO BE A RESIDENT OF SUFFOLK CO, NY, 2- ONE WEEK STAY AT A TIME. PERIOD."
Site features: Many campgrounds lack fire rings at individual sites. Wildwood State Park requires campers to bring or rent fire pits. A camper mentioned, "Lame not having a fire ring, you have to rent one or bring your own. Beach is beautiful, very rocky, bring your water shoes."
Seasonal considerations: Niantic KOA operates from April through early November but offers limited amenities during shoulder seasons. A camper observed, "Unmaintained roadways. The main one was once paved but has not been maintained; others were dirt (and mud after a rain)."
Privacy levels: Campgrounds closer to beaches tend to have more open sites with less separation between campers. Those looking for privacy should consider inland options. A visitor at Indian Island County Park noted, "All the camping spots are pretty much right next to each one with hardly any space, packed like Sardines."
Tips for camping with families
Activity planning: Schedule visits when special weekend activities run. Most family-oriented campgrounds offer organized events like outdoor movies and hayrides. A visitor to Niantic KOA shared, "In season, there are many activities to occupy families (pool, playground, mini golf, daily firetruck rides, complimentary shuttle into the town of Niantic)."
Beach selection: Choose bay-facing beaches for younger children as they have calmer waters than ocean beaches. Pack water shoes for rocky shorelines common in the area. A visitor to Rocky Neck noted, "Great for kids! You'll enjoy the low tide."
Campground selection: Burlingame State Park Campground offers spacious sites for families needing room to spread out. The layout allows for bike riding within the campground. A camper explained, "Spacious - even with all those sites, there's plenty of room between sites and tons of open space for kids to run around, fly a kite, play tag, hide and seek."
Facility planning: Book sites close to bathhouses when camping with small children. Many campgrounds have limited bathroom facilities that may be crowded during peak season. One visitor warned, "Bath houses - are usually pretty filthy, and that's because there are too many people per bath house, and people are gross."
Tips from RVers
Site selection: Request level sites when making reservations, especially at state parks where site conditions vary. Most private campgrounds offer more consistent grading. A visitor to Wildwood State Park advised, "RV pull through sites were fantastic. It was a great campground for maiden voyage in new rig."
Hookup availability: Mystic KOA offers full hookup sites for RVs but books quickly during summer months. The campground also provides rental cabins for those without RVs. A camper noted, "If you want to be up near the action– pool, bar car, and other activities– get a site in the front section."
Size considerations: Many older campgrounds have limited access for larger RVs. A camper at Wolf's Den Family Campground warned, "Really long or tall RV will need to stay close to the front of the campground, as typical older campground is not designed for 40 foot long or 10 foot high campers."
Dump station planning: Plan dump station usage during off-peak times to avoid lines. Some resorts offer honey wagon services for longer stays. A visitor to Riverdale Farm Campsites reported, "There are full hookups, and a dump station. Grey dump at site."
