Camping experiences near Wantagh, New York range from coastal locations to inland wooded settings, with a camping season that typically runs from April through October. Suffolk County provides the most RV-friendly camping options, while Nassau County offers limited but accessible facilities. Many campgrounds require advance reservations, with summer weekends filling up months ahead, particularly at smaller facilities with limited sites.
What to do
Beach access and swimming: Heckscher State Park Campground in East Islip offers proximity to beaches with summer swimming options. "The campsites are designated by printing on the roads and do not have clear boundaries between them. My site had good shade coverage and was free of rocks and other hazards," notes Thorin J. who visited during Labor Day weekend.
Fishing opportunities: Blydenburgh County Park in Smithtown provides lake fishing as part of its recreational offerings. One visitor mentioned, "Great park with a nice 7 mile loop around the lake with decent fishing. Lots of horses and dogs on the trail. 30 or so sites around a central public restroom."
Urban exploration: For campers wanting to experience New York City, Liberty Harbor RV Park in Jersey City serves as a convenient base. "This is a great spot with views of Manhattan, Statue of Liberty, etc. Expect to pay pretty good to be here, but from here you can pretty much easily get anywhere in NYC," according to one reviewer who appreciated the location despite the cost.
What campers like
Lake recreation: Visitors to Blydenburgh County Park enjoy the combination of camping and water activities. A camper mentioned, "Great location and quick to get to from NYC. 45 minute drive and location has a lot of amenities. Full bathrooms and slop sinks throughout the campsite."
Tent site privacy: At Battle Row Campground in Old Bethpage, tent campers appreciate the secluded nature of the sites. One local camper noted, "I have lived 6 miles from this campground for the last 20 years and never knew they had tent sites. Each site is set back off a common area so there is plenty of privacy."
Beach proximity: Watch Hill Fire Island Campground offers direct access to Atlantic Ocean beaches. A visitor shared, "You can get a permit to backcountry camp instead of reserving a designated campground spot. Just walk down to the beach after check-in and walk east until you see a pole with a tent symbol on it. After that you can choose where you want to set up camp."
What you should know
Mosquito preparation: Fire Island camping requires serious insect protection. "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. Even with the bug spray, the relief didn't last long," warns a Watch Hill camper.
Fire pit requirements: Many Long Island campgrounds don't provide permanent fire pits. At Beaver Pond Campground near Bear Mountain, sites include standard fire rings, but Battle Row requires campers to bring their own elevated fire containers, as fires must be kept off the ground.
Site spacing variations: Campground density varies significantly in the region. A reviewer at Blydenburgh noted, "The sites can be a bit tight at times," while another at Heckscher observed, "The campsites are very close together without any defining borders so everybody just walks across each other site's randomly."
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Sandy Hook in New Jersey provides family-friendly facilities within an hour's drive of Wantagh. One visitor noted the campground is "great if you have little ones. Dogs are welcome. There's a large dog run so the fur babies will have a great time too."
Weekend timing considerations: Family campers should avoid peak periods for a quieter experience. At Beaver Pond Campground, a ranger advised that "during summer weekends the grounds fill up and can be quite noisy, but mid-week during the off-season it was great."
Educational opportunities: Watch Hill Fire Island Campground offers ranger programs for children. A visitor mentioned, "There are park rangers on site and have excellent programs for kids," making this a good option for families seeking educational camping experiences.
Tips from RVers
Power connections: Nickerson Beach Park Campground in Lido Beach offers electrical hookups for RVs, though sites can be difficult to reserve. "This is a small beach campground. It's all but impossible to get an RV spot there from Memorial day to Labor day. Still, it is a clean and well run campground with easy beach access," explains Michael M.
Route planning: RVers must plan routes carefully to avoid parkway height restrictions. "I drove down from Connecticut to Long Island to find the main routes to the campsite all went through New York's parkways. There are height restrictions on the parkways so RVs and semis cannot travel on them without a high risk of crashing into the bridges and getting the tops ripped off like a tin can," warns one camper who struggled to reach Nickerson Beach Park.
Reservation windows: Most RV-friendly campgrounds near Wantagh open reservations 6-9 months in advance. Liberty Harbor RV Park in Jersey City fills particularly fast due to its proximity to New York City, with a reviewer noting, "The ONLY thing we really liked about it was its convenient location to the city with easy access to the ferry boats."
