End-of-summer camping near Manhattan provides quiet nature, fresh air, and easy outdoor escapes that suit beginners. State-park campgrounds are reliable and well maintained, often offering flushing toilets, showers, picnic tables, and dishwashing sinks. Most state sites require advance reservations ($17 per night plus a $7.25 reservation fee), but some allow same-day reservations until 3 p.m. or walk-in spots if campers arrive before cutoff times. Beaver Pond at Harriman State Park and Clarence Fahnestock Memorial State Park are accessible options with hiking and water activities. Beach campgrounds like Watch Hill on Fire Island and Hither Hills in Montauk offer alternative access via the LIRR and ferries.
If you find yourself craving utter silence (save for chirping cicadas and birds) and air that smells and feels like the exact opposite of what you inhale on the subway platform, an end-of-summer camping trip may be in order. And you don't need outdoorsy experience to make it happen. There are plenty of low-key places to pitch a tent within a few hours of Manhattan. Veteran camper Jeremy Rellosa shares exactly how to plan an impromptu s'mores-filled getaway.
Seek out a state-park campground with same-day reservations or walk-in availability. Generally, they're the most reliable and well maintained. Many offer standard amenities like flushing toilets, showers, picnic tables, and sinks for dishwashing. While the majority of state campsites take reservations ($17 per night, plus a $7.25 reservation fee) months in advance and book up fully for the summer, there are a few gems where you can stay without planning ahead.
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