Reserve a cabin or tent at these Long Island parks
Campers roast marshmallows at Wildwood State Park in Wading RIver. Credit: Johnny Milano
Camping has gotten more glamorous around Long Island, where public parks have added furnished cabins that visitors can rent by the night or the week, replete with bathrooms, hot water and heat.
CABIN RENTALS
Wildwood State Park Campground 790 Hulse Landing Rd., Wading River; Reservations: 800-456-2267, newyorkstateparks.reserveamerica.com. Four one-bedroom (four-person capacity) and six two-bedroom (six-person capacity) cottages have cedar shingles, mahogany trim and metal roofs, while the rustic-style interior is composed of unfinished natural wood. Each is equipped with a full kitchen and bathroom, screened-in porch, picnic table, electric heating/AC, queen-size beds and outdoor fire pits with attached grills. Three cottages are ADA-compliant. Pets are not allowed. Rates from $175 a night, deposit required, available April 21-Oct. 21.
Campers roast marshmallows outside their rented glamping cabin at Wildwood State Park in Wading River. Credit: Randee Daddona
Heckscher State Park Heckscher Parkway, Field 1, East Islip; 631-581-2100, newyorkstateparks.reserveamerica.com. One- and two-bedroom furnished beachside cottages overlooking Nicoll Bay are equipped with a full kitchen, bathroom, AC/heat, Wi-Fi, screened porch, deck and an outdoor fire pit with a grill. They're available to rent by those over 21 for a maximum of seven nights. Four cottages are ADA-compliant. No pets. Rates from $255 a night with minimum stay requirements during peak season.
PLATFORM TENTS
Watch Hill, Fire Island National Seashore (lovefins.com) The campground offers safari-style platform tents outfitted mostly with two queen beds, linens, mosquito netting, decks, Adirondack chairs, a cooler, and charcoal for the barbecue. (The smaller tent sites have one queen bed.) Campsites are a short walk to the ocean beach (the Atlantic is at its warmest in late summer), as well as to food trucks. Park rangers offer guided nature and canoe tours. Ferries run from Patchogue to Watch Hill. Rates from $219 a night weekdays and $299 a night weekends and holidays, June 16-Sept. 4; discounts for shoulder season stays, May 18-June 15 and Sept. 5-Oct. 9.
The campground at Watch Hill on Fire Island offers safari-style platform tents outfitted with beds, linens, mosquito netting, decks, Adirondack chairs, coolers and charcoal for the barbecue. Credit: Love Watch Hill & Sailors Haven Inc./@loveFINS
LUXURY TENTS
Cedar Point County Park Campground Stephen Hands Path, East Hampton; 917-257-3652, lovecedarpt.com, glamping@lovecedarpt.com. The county park has safari-style platform tents overlooking Gardiners Bay. Tents are covered with large rain flies that make a covered porch, and provide additional waterproofing and shade to keep the tents cooler. You can sit under the covered porch on the two Adirondack chairs provided. Each tent site is set with a picnic table and charcoal BBQ grill. Single tents come standard with a queen bed and up to two optional cots, while double tents offer two queen beds and up to two cots. It's a short walk to the Cedar Point Camp Store for coffee, food, beverages, toiletries, apparel, games and more. At night, guests can gather around the campfire. Hot showers can be found in the campground. Rates from $199 a night. There is a two-day minimum stay for reservations that include Saturdays. Three-day minimum stay for holiday weekends.
