The largest island in the contiguous United States, Long Island stretches 118 miles, from New York City east to Montauk Point. Despite its large population -- nearly 8,000,000 people -- residents and visitors enjoy a surprisingly high number of parks and natural attractions. RV campers can choose from a healthy selection of campgrounds in a wide variety of settings, from woodlands to sandy beaches.
Hither Hills
- Far out on the island's South Fork, Hither Hills offers 168 campsites. RVs are welcome, although no electrical hookups are available. Anglers come to cast their lines into the surf or into the park's 40-acre freshwater lake. Enjoy bicycling or horseback riding, relaxing on the sandy beach or walking trails through a woodland of olive, oak and pine. Environmental interpretation programs are conducted regularly. Amenities include a dumping station, camp store and showers. Just east of the park are the "walking dunes" of Napeauge Harbor.
Wildwood
- You may not think to find 600 acres of hardwood forest in densely populated Long Island, but the woods thrive on bluffs overlooking the Sound in Wildwood State Park. RV campers will find electrical hookups at 80 of the park's 314 sites, all of which have picnic tables. Two miles of beach beckon swimmers and anglers. Twelve miles of hiking trails, basketball courts, ball fields and a playground are on-site and movies are shown weekly during July and August. A dump station, showers and food concessions are available. The park sells firewood.
Indian Island
- This largely wooded, 275-acre park in Suffolk County is popular with RV campers. Thirty-seven of its 137 sites are equipped with electrical hookups. All sites have water spigots and fire rings. At the mouth of the Peconic River, Indian Island draws anglers, but swimming is discouraged in its salt waters. Amenities include picnic tables and grills, a dumping station, rest rooms and showers. A causeway of white sand connects what was formerly an island to the mainland.
Nickerson Beach
- Just an hour east of New York City in Nassau County, Nickerson Beach, on Long Island's south shore, is an ocean park. Its 74 RV sites are electrified and offer sewer hookups. A half-mile beach beckons swimmers and sun-bathers, but if you don't care for salt water, there are swimming pools at each end of the 155-acre park. Nickerson's "Fun Zone" includes a playground, basketball courts and a skate park with seven ramps. Before cooling off in the Atlantic, work up a sweat at one of the park's six beach volleyball courts. A dump station, restrooms and showers are all available.
