Concrete jungle, who? Let New York’s nature surprise you at a Brooklyn area campsite.
Brooklyn camping may sound like an oxymoron, but this NYC borough isn’t without its outdoor spaces. Nor does it do anything, even camping, halfway. Branching off Long Island, Brooklyn provides access to the best of both New York City and New Jersey—not to mention the Atlantic Ocean. Get your fix of city life before retreating to your beachfront tent, tree-covered RV site, or family-friendly cabin with all the amenities. From your Brooklyn campsite, you can embrace a New York state of mind by unwinding however you please. We promise: you don't have to wander far from the boroughs to burrow into nature.
As Brooklyn’s largest park, Marine Park sits right on the city’s southern tip. The park comes with public sport courts and a boat launch, but the tidal salt marsh is perhaps the park’s most unique claim to fame. All throughout the area, nature abounds. Lace up your sneakers and stroll the nature trail, where you’ll spot a range of flowers, fauna, and foliage.
If you’re after a beach getaway, cross Jamaica Bay, and you'll reach Queens. Specifically, the Rockaway Peninsula. Explore the peninsula from Fort Tilden and Breezy Point all the way to Rockaway Beach. Campgrounds come just before Long Island and come with all kinds of scenery, activities, and, of course, beaches. Whether or not you surf, Rockaway will have you riding the waves of your next, easy-breezy camping trip.
For a beach campsite that does it all, look no further than New Jersey. Part of the Gateway National Recreation Area, NJ’s Sandy Hook, as its name suggests, hooks right into the Atlantic Ocean. Campers can spend a night along the waves and beneath the stars. You might even spot the NYC skyline from your tent campsite. See? Brooklyn campgrounds embrace all the views.
Depending on how you like to camp, Brooklyn campsites work with campers year-round. Escape the heat of New York City with a July stint on Sandy Hook, when the ocean presents the best solution to summer sweat. Or, opt for a shoulder season vacation, when your Brooklyn campsite comes with a canopy of spring flowers or colorful autumn leaves. The most specific advice for Brooklyn camping? Just avoid the winter slush.