Best Campgrounds near Wading River, NY

Wading River, New York provides access to several established campgrounds along the Long Island Sound, with Wildwood State Park Campground serving as the primary camping destination in the immediate area. The region includes multiple county parks with camping facilities, including Indian Island County Park, Southaven County Park, and Cathedral Pines County Park. Most campgrounds accommodate both tent and RV camping, with Wildwood State Park also offering cabin and glamping options. These sites are primarily drive-in accessible, with some providing boat-in access along coastal areas. Suffolk County parks and state-managed facilities dominate the camping landscape, extending east toward Riverhead and south toward Brookhaven.

Camping in the Wading River area remains available year-round at several county parks, while Wildwood State Park operates seasonally from April through October. Most campgrounds require reservations, especially during summer months when beach access becomes a priority for visitors. The terrain is generally flat with sandy soil typical of Long Island's north shore. Full hookup sites for RVs are common at larger facilities, though amenities vary by location. Many campsites lack fire rings, requiring campers to rent or bring their own. Cellular coverage is reliable throughout the region, though ticks can be a concern in wooded areas. "Big Park 3 minute walk to the Long Island Sound. Have to rent a fire pit, so that is kind of lame. However, big restrooms with free luke warm showers, so that is kind of good," notes one camper about Wildwood State Park.

The Long Island Sound shoreline represents the most distinctive camping feature, with rocky beaches accessible from several campgrounds. Campers frequently mention sunset views across the water as a highlight of their experience. Wildwood State Park offers convenient beach access with a short walk from camping areas, though some visitors note the shoreline is rocky and water shoes are recommended. Sites tend to be relatively close together with limited privacy, particularly in the RV camping sections. Several reviewers mention proximity to local attractions including wineries, farms, and shopping areas as benefits of the location. A visitor remarked, "The North Shore and South Shore are pretty different. This site gives you the North Shore experience with high bluffs, sandy calm beaches along the Long Island Sound, and views of CT across the water." Weekends during summer months often become crowded and occasionally noisy, with weekdays providing a quieter experience.

Best Camping Sites Near Wading River, New York (56)

    1. Wildwood State Park Campground

    24 Reviews
    Wading River, NY
    1 mile
    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. Indian Island County Park

    10 Reviews
    Riverhead, NY
    10 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."

    3. Southaven County Park

    7 Reviews
    Shirley, NY
    10 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."

    4. Smith Point County Park

    9 Reviews
    Mastic Beach, NY
    14 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."

    5. Cathedral Pines County Park

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

    6. Hammonasset State Park Campground

    39 Reviews
    Clinton, CT
    26 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."

    7. Smith's Point

    5 Reviews
    Mastic Beach, NY
    14 miles
    Website

    8. Sears Bellows County Park

    4 Reviews
    Hampton Bays, NY
    15 miles
    Website
    +1 (631) 244-7275

    "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"

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

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

    "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."

    10. Blydenburgh County Park

    11 Reviews
    Hauppauge, NY
    23 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.)"

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Recent Reviews near Wading River, NY

330 Reviews of 56 Wading River Campgrounds


  • DThe Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 14, 2025

    Crocker's Boatyard

    Great spot and good communication

    Was in town for the Elvis show. This was minutes from downtown definitely walkable. Will be back again!

  • 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.

  • j
    Aug. 19, 2025

    Crocker's Boatyard

    Great!

    Great spot with view of harbor, a pool, bathroom and power if needed. Easy to book, good location- near many places of interest.

  • 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.

  • John K.
    Jul. 31, 2025

    Crocker's Boatyard

    Perfect place

    We stayed there with our RV for 2 nights.  We had a spot right next to the pool and the docks. Very convenient.  The staff does a great job.

  • Alicia B.
    Jul. 27, 2025

    River Highlands State Park River Campground

    Beautiful But Beware of Arachnids

    We only visited for the day and left around dawn, but the campsite was absolutely beautiful—especially with its location right by the river. As a heads-up, the outhouse did have quite a few wolf spiders (which might be expected in a natural setting like this). Otherwise, it’s a peaceful and scenic spot worth seeing!


Guide to Wading River

Suffolk County Parks and state parks host the majority of camping sites near Wading River, New York. The north shore location features typical Long Island terrain with sandy soil, flat landscapes, and access to both the Long Island Sound and Peconic Bay. Summer temperatures average 80°F while spring and fall camping offers milder conditions with temperatures between 50-70°F. Cellular coverage remains consistent throughout most camping areas.

What to do

Beach access and swimming: Wildwood State Park Campground offers direct access to the Long Island Sound beaches. "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)," shares James O.

Hiking trails: The numerous county parks provide trail networks through Long Island's distinctive woodlands. At Blydenburgh County Park, a camper notes, "Hiking trails were quiet natural and clean. The trails I exposed were well marked."

Water activities: Multiple parks offer fishing, kayaking and boat rentals. "The first night I stayed here my friends and I rented some rowboats and went on the water. It was a lot of fun, and the price of the rowboat was pretty cheap," reports one visitor about Sears Bellows County Park.

Wine country excursions: Several campgrounds serve as bases for exploring nearby Long Island wineries. "It is right at the entrance to wine country on Long Island and has a beach on the Long Island Sound," mentions a camper about Wildwood State Park.

Wildlife viewing: Many campers report deer sightings at various parks. "And sweet deer. I watched a momma deer nursing two of her babies," notes a visitor to Smith Point County Park.

What campers like

Accessible beaches: Smith Point County Park provides some of the most direct beach access. "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," reports Patrick C.

Clean facilities: Most county parks maintain well-kept shower and restroom buildings. "Among the most modern bathrooms I've seen at a State Park campground. Nice clean campground with the usual NY State Park quality," notes a Wildwood visitor.

Varied campsite options: Indian Island County Park offers multiple camping environments. "Wonderful weekend visit in the off season. Site was level, pretty spacious and easy to back into. Campsites are located close enough to the beach/marsh," shares Janelle G.

Local attractions: The proximity to local towns provides additional entertainment options. "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," mentions a camper about Wildwood State Park.

Year-round availability: Several Suffolk County parks remain open throughout winter. "Spent a week while travel nursing. Quiet and peaceful," notes Clifford about camping at Smith Point County Park during the off-season.

What you should know

Fire ring policies: Most campgrounds require campers to bring or rent their own fire pits. "Camp site itself was pretty flat, had a water station, bathrooms were well kept, no fire ring (BYOFP)," notes a camper at Indian Island County Park.

Mosquito and tick concerns: Insect protection is essential, particularly in wooded areas. At Watch Hill Fire Island Campground, campers warn: "It was absolutely gorgeous, don't get me wrong. However, it was nearly impossible to enjoy ourselves because we were getting attacked by mosquitoes and horseflies the entire weekend."

Beach conditions: North shore beaches feature rockier terrain than south shore beaches. "The beach is beautiful, very rocky, bring your water shoes, sunset scenery is beautiful!" advises Ossama B. about Wildwood State Park.

Site privacy varies: Campground layouts differ significantly between wooded and open areas. "Sites are close and very buggy but 'tis the season'. We didn't explore the trails but heard they were good," notes a Blydenburgh County Park visitor.

Reservation requirements: County park camping requires a Green Key card for discounted rates. "Worth buying green key card for resident access. 200 but you'd spend that 4 nights regardless," advises Maria P. about Blydenburgh Park.

Tips for camping with families

Playground access: Cathedral Pines County Park and other county parks offer play areas for children. At Indian Island County Park, one visitor notes, "It's nice for kids they have an open field with a playground for kids."

Site selection strategy: Choose sites based on proximity to amenities or desired privacy level. "You can find sites that are less wooded and better suited to group camping, as well as sites that are a little more secluded," advises Giselle P. about Wildwood State Park.

Wildlife experiences: Several parks offer opportunities for wildlife viewing. "Kids were roaming freely and safe!" mentions Ossama B. about the family-friendly environment at Wildwood State Park.

Educational opportunities: Some parks provide ranger-led activities. "There are park rangers on site and have excellent programs for kids," notes a visitor to Watch Hill Fire Island Campground.

Off-season advantages: Family camping during shoulder seasons offers fewer crowds. "We visited in late July. Park was excellent. Grounds were as advertised. Family friendly," reports Christopher S. about Blydenburgh County Park.

Tips from RVers

Electric hookup availability: Electric sites are limited at some campgrounds. "Very good sized park, very quiet, nice people, but not very many electric sites," notes Junior D. about Cathedral Pines County Park.

Site spacing considerations: RV campsites vary in size and privacy levels. "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'," cautions Michael G. about Wildwood State Park.

Dump station access: Some parks offer dump stations rather than full hookups. "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," explains an Indian Island County Park visitor.

RV size restrictions: Not all campgrounds accommodate larger rigs. "RV pull through sites were fantastic. It was a great campground for maiden voyage in new rig. Plenty of amenities," shares Lori R. about Wildwood State Park.

Off-season services: Water hookups may be unavailable during colder months. "Water was off because we were a week shy of the season opening," reports a camper at Indian Island County Park.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular campground near Wading River, NY?

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

What parks are near Wading River, NY?

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