Urban Camping

Let’s be honest...when urban camping the last thing to expect is getting a little bit closer to nature.  However, we discovered a little known secret after reading an article in the New York Times that informed us there were a total of 174 campsites within the National Park system in the NYC area! Being from Colorado and avid campers, we had to check it out. For $30/night we had a great spot, clean bathrooms, and friendly staff.  Well worth the money as long as you bring your ear-plugs!

The campsite is situated on the water’s edge in Brooklyn near Canarsie and Jamaica Bay. It is also located about 5 miles west of JFK and about 10 miles south of LGA.  The planes seem to run all night long. It can be windy since there is little protection once you are outside of the trees sheltering the campsite and standing on the runway.

There are many types of camping.  Prairie camping allows you to put yourself in the place of the settlers crossing this great nation.  Mountain and forest camping offer a chance to escape the entrapments of modern life.  City camping is a whole different animal.  It is never dark, it is never quiet.  

We slept great (thanks, earplugs), groceries are super close, and you can visit the city with a quick transit ride.  In fact, we loved it so much we decided to camp near DC as well.  Heck, the campsite was cheaper than parking anywhere else within the region.  The National Park system is awesome!