Discover the best family-friendly beach campgrounds in New York

United States
—
New York

100% (417 reviews)

Popular camping styles for New York

Under $50

Dog-friendly getaways

100%

(22)

Kickin' Up Dust Farm

3 sites · Lodging, Tents8 acres · Schuyler Falls, NY

99%

(50)

Big Indian Wilderness Paradise

3 sites · Lodging, Tents120 acres · Big Indian, NY

Tomtuga on the Erie Canal

4 sites · RVs2 acres · Gasport, NY

Thank you for looking at what I have to offer. We love to have fun here. Which is why we call our little campground Tomtuga. It is sort of a reference of the Caribbean pirate island of Tortuga, except my name is Tom. I'm here mostly for the canal and living the pirate life but there have been sightings of Bigfoot and his cousin Yeti. They show up once in awhile to keep things interesting. Here at Tomtuga we are 2 acres with the Erie Canal across the front on a quiet street and the Genesee Valley Transportation, a local shortline railroad across the backyard. Boat season is May - Oct. Train runs mostly just two days a week all year. Step out and give the boats and trains a friendly wave. We are a hard packed base that can handle the very large RVs. Campsite #1 is where the 50amp / 30amp / 110 electric outlets are. Campsite #2 is the only area that has a "good" grassy spot. There is no electricity here at this site. With only two campsites, along with my RV here, it is a rather peaceful camp. There are no bathrooms here, so I'm sorry but no tent camping available. We offer ''Buddy Camping'', in which if you are traveling with friends in a 2nd RV / camper. I allow you to both camp on the same campsite #1. You still need to book campsite #4. If you have more camping friends, I can add more campsites for each camper using our "Overflow sites" for booking. This is just a clerical thing for charges. Actually campsite #1 can hold three campers. Also if you don't need power, like you have solar or batteries etc. I might allow you to park anywhere on our two acres. You book campsite #3. You can check the property out before setting up. I allow 2nd vehicles or also ''toads'' on the campsites too at no charge. I'm Ok if you show up early from an overnight drive to the site and park in the main driveway. If there are not any previous campers onsite, I might let you into the site. Just let me know beforehand. *No bathrooms on the property! You must have self contained units! When I get the bathroom built, this will change. **Again, NO Bathrooms here! If you try to book posing as a ''campervan'' but just a van or staying in a cardboard box on a trailer, don't book here. Please go stealth camp at Walmart, they have bathrooms and are free to overnight. I wouldn't pee in your yard. No water hookups. No dumpstation either. We have free WiFi. Firewood available for $5 a bundle or bring your own. The local gas station has small bundles down the street for $8 each. * Please ask me before you let any of your dogs off leash. If there are other campers here, we all need to be in agreement on this. For their children and pets safety too. I do allow multiple dogs here. Again, please clean up after them. Do NOT just toss it into my woods or the canal. Nice small canal town here with local eateries, including two pizza places; two bars and a breakfast lunch spot / laundromat / hardware store / Dollar General / gas station. We have a veterinary in town too. All within a short walking distance. NYS Bike path on the opposite side of the canal, goes from Buffalo to Albany. Some 350 miles. Also a free NYS Canal boat ramp 1,800ft to the east, on our side of the canal. So bring your bikes / kayaks / boats / fishing poles. Rentals available in Lockport. Worms available at the hardware store in town. We are also open during the winter season, Uh yep. Please message me before hand because it depends on the snow depth if I'm letting campers in. *Special Bonus Offer - I am an online ordained minister and offer wedding nuptials here at Camp Tomtuga. Our twist is having your vows done by Rev Bigfoot or Padre Yeti in full regalia. Comes with an actual wedding certificate (you still need a license to make it legal). Cake is an extra fee. NO Dumpstation here!!! There is one 20 minutes south, just off the NY Thruway at the Flying J Truck Stop. 8484 Allegheny Rd, Pembroke. It is in the RV fuel island. Costs is $10. Get the code inside. *Ask about our free camper sticker or buying a Camp Tomtuga T-shirt. The shirts are Made to Order and can be mailed out afterwards. Hey if you could, when on the booking page it asks you to "Say Hello". Please tell me what kind of camper you are coming in like an RV or trailer and the size. It asks you that question right above that but I don't receive that info till much later. It just helps me gauge on placement here. I have plenty of room but it's nice to know what it showing up. Thanks Lots of people asking so, we are 30 miles from Niagara Falls. Very easy ride there and back using NYS Rt 104. This route goes along the Niagara escarpment with lots of farms stands and a few wineries. Most of my guests use my campsites as a basecamp to then go and explore Niagara Falls or even day trip to Toronto Canada 106 miles away. I provide a list of local NY info / places to visit in Canada and my experience on crossing the border. My camp to downtown Buffalo is 38 miles. To downtown Rochester is 51 miles. Lake Ontario Olcott Beach is 17 miles. Letchworth NYS Park 60 miles. We are 42 miles to the Buffalo Bills (Highmark Stadium). Thanks again, I hope you come and stay.

Sanctuary in the woods tent camp

3 sites · Lodging, Tents10 acres · Newfield , NY

After traveling and living around the world, raising my kids... you can return home. I craved the seasons and the woods and some quiet peaceful land. I feel in love with this property as it had the perfect spot in the middle of the ten acres for a primitive camp, not to far from the house and driveway so very easy assess. A short walk up a trail. It is private and has lots of wildlife, the deers cross every morning and evening. We added another tent camp lower down on land near creek. It is a short 10 miles to Ithaca for provisions and other types of activities, or just stay and play on the land, fish, swim, hike, swing, rest, read, write, meditate, dream. come in peace or come to rediscover your peace. I look forward to meeting you Learn more about this land: We have 10 forested hilly acres 12 miles from Ithaca. We’ve built a camp with a covered dry lean-to with a double bed platform inside to put your sleeping bags or to put supplies off the ground and dry. Lots of room for tents. We have a primitive upper camp where you can also put tents for privacy. There’s a teepee with a wood base. The campfire has a grill, 2 homemade benches & an Adirondack chair. An orange hammock and also a picnic table. There’s a fun homemade swing & seesaw. We made many marked walking trails around our land to enjoy. There is access to well water. Dry cut Firewood is available for $7 a bundle in cash at the property or you can add extras with booking for $7.70 per bundle. Portable toilet outside, outdoor private shower. Come enjoy. It is very quiet. We are close to Treman, Buttermilk And Taughannock State Parks which all have swimming. Watkins Glen State Park and racetrack is half an hour away. Watkins Glen is breathtakingly magnificent. Also great cross country skiing, walking and hunting nearby at Connecticut Hill. There is downhill skiing at Greek Peak 45 minutes away if you are winter campers. We are 14 miles from Cornell University and 10 miles from Ithaca College. We are between two finger lakes, Cayuga and Seneca, there are 60 wineries and breweries around the lakes.Woman’s Rights National Museum in Seneca Falls, Corning Museum of Glass is fabulous. Ithaca has theatres, museums for art and lots to do for kids like a public pool on the lake.Or simply hang out and enjoy our ten private acres of forest. Check out Bobs workshop while you are here if you are interested. Theartistandbuilder.comOn Instagram and FB Robertroemischcreativearts. (Robert Roemisch)

5 top beach campgrounds in New York

99%

(252)

Ugly Apple Farms

12 sites · Tents70 acres · Port Jervis, NY

Ugly Apple Farms was started by my Wife and to try to bring fresh organic/permaculture food to our community. We love to play music and get together with our friends and have been hosting people for some time. We thought that hipcamp could introduce people to our mission and make some extra money to get the farm off the ground. Ugly Apple Farms is a diverse place. We have opportunities for farm classes, pick your own veggies and more. We also have 1800 feet of access to the Neversink River. We recommend four wheel drive for some of our sites so please ask about them. We are an off grid farm with access to some solar for charging. We have tent sites and room for campers. Our camping is primitive but there is access to potable water and sanitation if needed. All extras are first come first serve if not reserved in advance. We love and welcome any questions! Thanks for looking!! Randall and Melissa

Tomtuga on the Erie Canal

4 sites · RVs2 acres · Gasport, NY

Thank you for looking at what I have to offer. We love to have fun here. Which is why we call our little campground Tomtuga. It is sort of a reference of the Caribbean pirate island of Tortuga, except my name is Tom. I'm here mostly for the canal and living the pirate life but there have been sightings of Bigfoot and his cousin Yeti. They show up once in awhile to keep things interesting. Here at Tomtuga we are 2 acres with the Erie Canal across the front on a quiet street and the Genesee Valley Transportation, a local shortline railroad across the backyard. Boat season is May - Oct. Train runs mostly just two days a week all year. Step out and give the boats and trains a friendly wave. We are a hard packed base that can handle the very large RVs. Campsite #1 is where the 50amp / 30amp / 110 electric outlets are. Campsite #2 is the only area that has a "good" grassy spot. There is no electricity here at this site. With only two campsites, along with my RV here, it is a rather peaceful camp. There are no bathrooms here, so I'm sorry but no tent camping available. We offer ''Buddy Camping'', in which if you are traveling with friends in a 2nd RV / camper. I allow you to both camp on the same campsite #1. You still need to book campsite #4. If you have more camping friends, I can add more campsites for each camper using our "Overflow sites" for booking. This is just a clerical thing for charges. Actually campsite #1 can hold three campers. Also if you don't need power, like you have solar or batteries etc. I might allow you to park anywhere on our two acres. You book campsite #3. You can check the property out before setting up. I allow 2nd vehicles or also ''toads'' on the campsites too at no charge. I'm Ok if you show up early from an overnight drive to the site and park in the main driveway. If there are not any previous campers onsite, I might let you into the site. Just let me know beforehand. *No bathrooms on the property! You must have self contained units! When I get the bathroom built, this will change. **Again, NO Bathrooms here! If you try to book posing as a ''campervan'' but just a van or staying in a cardboard box on a trailer, don't book here. Please go stealth camp at Walmart, they have bathrooms and are free to overnight. I wouldn't pee in your yard. No water hookups. No dumpstation either. We have free WiFi. Firewood available for $5 a bundle or bring your own. The local gas station has small bundles down the street for $8 each. * Please ask me before you let any of your dogs off leash. If there are other campers here, we all need to be in agreement on this. For their children and pets safety too. I do allow multiple dogs here. Again, please clean up after them. Do NOT just toss it into my woods or the canal. Nice small canal town here with local eateries, including two pizza places; two bars and a breakfast lunch spot / laundromat / hardware store / Dollar General / gas station. We have a veterinary in town too. All within a short walking distance. NYS Bike path on the opposite side of the canal, goes from Buffalo to Albany. Some 350 miles. Also a free NYS Canal boat ramp 1,800ft to the east, on our side of the canal. So bring your bikes / kayaks / boats / fishing poles. Rentals available in Lockport. Worms available at the hardware store in town. We are also open during the winter season, Uh yep. Please message me before hand because it depends on the snow depth if I'm letting campers in. *Special Bonus Offer - I am an online ordained minister and offer wedding nuptials here at Camp Tomtuga. Our twist is having your vows done by Rev Bigfoot or Padre Yeti in full regalia. Comes with an actual wedding certificate (you still need a license to make it legal). Cake is an extra fee. NO Dumpstation here!!! There is one 20 minutes south, just off the NY Thruway at the Flying J Truck Stop. 8484 Allegheny Rd, Pembroke. It is in the RV fuel island. Costs is $10. Get the code inside. *Ask about our free camper sticker or buying a Camp Tomtuga T-shirt. The shirts are Made to Order and can be mailed out afterwards. Hey if you could, when on the booking page it asks you to "Say Hello". Please tell me what kind of camper you are coming in like an RV or trailer and the size. It asks you that question right above that but I don't receive that info till much later. It just helps me gauge on placement here. I have plenty of room but it's nice to know what it showing up. Thanks Lots of people asking so, we are 30 miles from Niagara Falls. Very easy ride there and back using NYS Rt 104. This route goes along the Niagara escarpment with lots of farms stands and a few wineries. Most of my guests use my campsites as a basecamp to then go and explore Niagara Falls or even day trip to Toronto Canada 106 miles away. I provide a list of local NY info / places to visit in Canada and my experience on crossing the border. My camp to downtown Buffalo is 38 miles. To downtown Rochester is 51 miles. Lake Ontario Olcott Beach is 17 miles. Letchworth NYS Park 60 miles. We are 42 miles to the Buffalo Bills (Highmark Stadium). Thanks again, I hope you come and stay.

Big Indian Wilderness Paradise

3 sites · Lodging, Tents120 acres · Big Indian, NY

Kickin' Up Dust Farm

3 sites · Lodging, Tents8 acres · Schuyler Falls, NY

Sanctuary in the woods tent camp

3 sites · Lodging, Tents10 acres · Newfield , NY

After traveling and living around the world, raising my kids... you can return home. I craved the seasons and the woods and some quiet peaceful land. I feel in love with this property as it had the perfect spot in the middle of the ten acres for a primitive camp, not to far from the house and driveway so very easy assess. A short walk up a trail. It is private and has lots of wildlife, the deers cross every morning and evening. We added another tent camp lower down on land near creek. It is a short 10 miles to Ithaca for provisions and other types of activities, or just stay and play on the land, fish, swim, hike, swing, rest, read, write, meditate, dream. come in peace or come to rediscover your peace. I look forward to meeting you Learn more about this land: We have 10 forested hilly acres 12 miles from Ithaca. We’ve built a camp with a covered dry lean-to with a double bed platform inside to put your sleeping bags or to put supplies off the ground and dry. Lots of room for tents. We have a primitive upper camp where you can also put tents for privacy. There’s a teepee with a wood base. The campfire has a grill, 2 homemade benches & an Adirondack chair. An orange hammock and also a picnic table. There’s a fun homemade swing & seesaw. We made many marked walking trails around our land to enjoy. There is access to well water. Dry cut Firewood is available for $7 a bundle in cash at the property or you can add extras with booking for $7.70 per bundle. Portable toilet outside, outdoor private shower. Come enjoy. It is very quiet. We are close to Treman, Buttermilk And Taughannock State Parks which all have swimming. Watkins Glen State Park and racetrack is half an hour away. Watkins Glen is breathtakingly magnificent. Also great cross country skiing, walking and hunting nearby at Connecticut Hill. There is downhill skiing at Greek Peak 45 minutes away if you are winter campers. We are 14 miles from Cornell University and 10 miles from Ithaca College. We are between two finger lakes, Cayuga and Seneca, there are 60 wineries and breweries around the lakes.Woman’s Rights National Museum in Seneca Falls, Corning Museum of Glass is fabulous. Ithaca has theatres, museums for art and lots to do for kids like a public pool on the lake.Or simply hang out and enjoy our ten private acres of forest. Check out Bobs workshop while you are here if you are interested. Theartistandbuilder.comOn Instagram and FB Robertroemischcreativearts. (Robert Roemisch)

Happy farmer sitting in a truck in a grassy field

Family-friendly beach camping in New York guide

Overview

New York state is made for outdoor adventures, whether you're hiking in the Finger Lakes, glamping amid Hudson Valley vineyards, or backcountry camping in the Adirondacks. Campers can take their pick of 180 New York state parks, 22 national park sites, and a national forest, almost all of which provide RV sites and tent camping—some also have cabin rentals and glamping options. June through August is peak camping season in Upstate New York, and camping reservations are essential through fall, too. November through March is ski season, and many RV parks and cabins stay open year-round.

Where to go

New York City & Long Island

When the temperatures rise in summer, New York campers make a beeline for the sandy shores of Long Island. Beach camping experiences abound on the island, both along the Atlantic Coast and the North Shore. Check into one of the coastal RV parks, camp at one of the many country parks, or head to the beachside campgrounds at Hither Hills State Park or Wildwood State Park.

Hudson Valley & the Catskills

Vineyards and heritage towns dot the banks of the Hudson River, north of NYC, stretching all the way up to the Catskills Mountains. There’s lakeside camping within an hour’s drive of the city at Harriman State Park, kayak-in tent sites at Hudson River Islands State Park, and a popular campground at Bear Mountain State Park. For keen hikers, some of the best camping and glamping is found in the vast Catskill Forest Preserve.

Saratoga & Adirondacks

To escape the crowds and explore the wilderness, continue north into the Adirondacks, where the soaring mountains and wild woodlands stretch across more than 6 million acres. Epic hikes, fall foliage views, and idyllic lakes await campers, whether you prefer a hike-in tent site or a cozy log cabin in the woods. Don’t fancy hiking? Try whitewater rafting along the Ausable River, go canoeing between the three Saranac Lakes, or enjoy boating on Lake George.

Central New York & the Finger Lakes

For tranquil lakeside camping, the Finger Lakes get our vote. Regional highlights include the Gorge Trail at Watkins Glen State Park, the beaches and waterfalls of Buttermilk Falls State Park, and the "Grand Canyon of the East" at Letchworth State Park, but you can also fill your camping trip with wine tasting, farm-to-table restaurants, and lake activities.

Western New York

More than 65,000 acres of mountains, forest, and lakes make up the vast Allegany State Park, where you can choose from four state campgrounds or book one of the many cabins. Further north, there’s beachside camping along the shores of Lake Ontario, while Four Mile Creek State Park is one of three western New York state parks to offer yurt rentals. An added bonus? It’s within a 15-minute drive of Niagara Falls.