Fire Island Camping Travel Guide

Fire Island Camping Travel Guide

Other Guides for Fire Island

Camping Destinations Near Fire Island

Travel Guides Near Fire Island

Northeast Camping States/Provinces

Parks and Outdoors Travel Destinations

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Fire Island, New York
Foot Bridge on Fire Island, New York (courtesy, National Park Service)
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Fire Island Camping Travel Tips

By Karen Berger
  • Watch Hill, located across the Great South Bay from Patchogue, offers 26 sand sites in a campground with running water, grills, showers, and bathrooms. Activities include ocean swimming (seasonal lifeguards), backcountry hiking, and bird watching. It's accessible only by private boat, ferry, and foot.
  • Large, organized groups of up to 40 should reserve at the group site at Watch Hill. The campground is within a short walk of a visitor center and marina; it is located next to the Otis Pike Fire Island High Dune Wilderness.
  • The Otis Pike Fire Island High Dune Wilderness offers backcountry wilderness camping on a first-come, first-served basis. Late fall and early spring are best to avoid ticks, mosquitoes, and the heat. Group size and locations are limited. You must backpack in to each of the designated areas.
  • Smith Point County Park is the only campground where you may drive in with a camper or trailer. Located on the eastern end of Fire Island National Seashore, it's accessible via the William Floyd Parkway. From the parking lot, you can hike into the Otis Pike Fire Island High Dune Wilderness.

Fire Island Travel Guide

A half-mile wide, 32 miles long, and car- and attitude-free, Fire Island is about as emotionally far from New York City as you can get within a couple of hours. A patchwork of national seashore and private property, the island has few formal addresses; folks ride beat-up bicycles barefoot and know places only by name. Regulars talk of "the mainland" like it was a distant continent rather than right across the bay. And the word "ostentatious" hasn't even been coined yet—informality rules the day. With punishing winters, Fire Island is strictly a summertime getaway. When Memorial Day hits, the small hamlets fill with warm-weather revelers, while other parts of the island see only congregations of deer. And after September's over, most everything shuts down. Read More

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Hotels

Cleggs Hotel

478 Bayberry Walk
Ocean Beach, NY Map

Distance: 0.6 mi.
(from destination center)

Hotel Class: Not Yet Rated
expert favorite hotel
Good For Camping
Expert Rated & Recommended
5.0

The Palms Hotel

168 Cottage Walk
Ocean Beach, NY Map

Distance: 0.6 mi.
(from destination center)

Hotel Class: Not Yet Rated
expert favorite hotel
Good For Camping
Expert Rated & Recommended
5.0

Four Seasons Bed & Breakfast

468 Dehnhoff Walk
Ocean Beach, NY Map

Distance: 0.5 mi.
(from destination center)

Hotel Class: Not Yet Rated
Good For Camping
Expert Rated & Recommended
4.0
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Attractions

Smith Point County Park

expert favorite attraction
Good For Camping
18 Havenwood Dr. E.
Shirley, New York

Distance: 16.4 mi. (from destination center)

Description: Smith Point County Park is a hot spot for sports lovers, surfers, and beachcombers. Pristine sand, cool surf, and camping facilities attract tourists and locals alike. ... Read More
Expert Rated & Recommended
5_0

Heckscher State Park

Good For Camping
East Islip
Heckscher State Parkway
New York, New York 11730

Distance: 6.0 mi. (from destination center)

Description: More than a million people visit Heckscher State Park each year. The park rests on the shores of... Read More
Expert Rated & Recommended
4_0

Fire Island Lighthouse

expert favorite attraction
Fire Island National Seashore
Ocean Beach, New York

Distance: 0.5 mi. (from destination center)

Description: Open to the public, Fire Island Lighthouse is set amidst a community rich in history, wildlife, and... Read More
Expert Rated & Recommended
5_0
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Airports

Major Airports near Fire Island

Distance (mi.)
New York John F Kennedy International Airport 33.4 map
New York La Guardia Airport 39.2 map
Newark Liberty International Airport 53.6 map

Other Smaller Airports near Fire Island

Distance (mi.)
Islip Long Island Macarthur Airport 10.8 map
Westchester County Airport 41.0 map
Teterboro Airport 50.2 map

Trip Ideas

Fire Island Vacation Rentals

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Charming Beach Cottage

Bedrooms: 3
Bathrooms: 1
Sleeps: 6
Amenities: BBQ, CD Player, Cable/Satellite TV, Coffee Maker, Laundry, Microwave, Oceanfront, Pets OK, Stereo, TV, Utensils, VCR
check rates
from: $414

Fire Island Vacation Rental

Bedrooms: 5
Bathrooms: 2
Sleeps: 10
Amenities: BBQ, Blender, CD Player, Cable/Satellite TV, Coffee Maker, DVD Player, Dishwasher, Fireplace, Laundry, Microwave, No Pets, Non-Smoking, Playground, Refrigerator, Restaurant, Stove, Swimming Pool, TV, Toaster Oven
check rates
from: $500

Shelly's Beach House

Bedrooms: 5
Bathrooms: 2
Sleeps: 10
Amenities: Linens
All Fire Island Vacation Rentals »

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