Camping. What is there to say about an activity that doesn’t get the love it deserves? It’s an escape and it can help you commune with nature, which is an important connection to have in our modern times. If you live in NYC, those two benefits are at an absolute premium with camping. With the weather getting warmer, here are five of the best local campsites where to set up a tent. They’re all within two hours of the Big Apple so that you aren’t going too far to go camping.
We’ll start small in the Garden State. Streams, forests, and views from Sunrise Mountain are at a premium at this small park. It has 63 miles of trails and one of the best trout streams in New Jersey. If you’re into mountain biking, hunting, camping, skiing, or even snowmobiling, this park will have something for you. It’s about an hour and a half out from the city.
This is perhaps the truest “campground” on the list, though it’s not your typical campfire place. It’s located by the popular Shawangunks Climbing Area. If you are a rock climbing junkie or are interested in doing it even for the first time, this is the place for you. There’s a reservation process for the campground that includes communal amenities, wifi, and tent sites. It’s around two hours away from the city.
200 miles worth of hiking trails, many camping areas, and tons of natural sights are waiting for you here. If you like being on a boat, fishing, or both, there are 31 lakes and reservoirs at your disposal. A historic and expansive park, you again won’t even need to travel more than an hour and a half from the city to get here.
This is arguably the finest camping spot on Long Island. It is unique on this list for its beach locale, which really can’t be beaten. 600 acres are yours to explore here with opportunities to fish, hike, and more. There are newly built cottages offering three-season accommodations near the shore, giving a more residential feel to the camping experience. The drive will take you two hours from Manhattan.
Minnewaska State Park Preserve
Serene mountain views define this site that’s over 2,000 miles above sea level in the Shawangunk Ridge in Ulster County, New York. The park features lakes, waterfalls, hardwood forests, sheer cliffs and ledges opening to beautiful views. For the active, there are 35 miles of carriage roads and 50 miles of footpaths to enjoy in a multitude of ways.. This is another approximately two hour drive.
There you have it. A quintet of camping spots to make your summer a bit more outdoorsy, all within the NYC orbit.
