Not far from the famous Big Apple, there is an exciting world of camping, canoeing, hiking, and exploring guaranteed to keep the kids busy and entertained.

For gorgeous and breathtaking landscapes, a visit to the grand and stunning Hudson River Valley or to the Catskills should be on your list.

If you head west toward the Finger Lakes, you can pitch the tent down in the valley.

Or go north to the stunning Adirondacks, where you’ll find an abundance of lush green state parks as well as national forests with endless mountain trails and fabulous trees, all making tranquility and peace easy to come by.

You can also book a campsite or rent a cabin along the shores of the stunning Lake George, which is ideal for various water sports, boating, or just a good, fun day at the beach.

Beautiful campsites are one of the many reasons to enjoy a stay in New York. So, here are eight family-friendly campsites near New York City that the family will love.

For the majority of city slickers, this park may be the most beautiful and convenient camping option. You can get on Metro-North at the famous Grand Central Station and take the train for about an hour, or a little more, to Croton-Harmon which is around half a mile away from Croton Point Park.

Croton Point Park is located on a beautiful peninsula in the famous Hudson River. The park offers tent camping as well as other fun activities for families. You can enjoy hiking, swimming and even take tours of various local wineries.

This Brooklyn oasis, also known as Camp Getaway, is located at the edge of the famous Jamaica Bay. The best part is that the Q35 bus takes you right to the entrance of this majestic park.

Floyd Bennett Field is a perfect place to enjoy a campfire with the family and sleep under the stars. Each camping site is fully equipped with basic amenities such as drinking water, grills, campfire rings, picnic areas, and trash collecting. Plus, there is an area for RV parking as well.

Keep in mind that the camping sites fill up pretty quickly; so, visit Recreation.gov for advance reservations.

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Hither Hills Park is situated right on the ocean and presents the perfect wake-up call from the tent – what’s better than the natural sound of waves waking you up in the morning. If you are not driving, it’s accessible also by public transport, get on the LIRR to Montauk. From there you may hike the short distance or call a cab to reach this campground.

Kids will enjoy hiking the dunes of the awesome Napeague Harbor. You can also hike through oak, pine, shad, as well as Russian olive trees. You can also fish throughout the year if you have the right permit.

Campers at the amazing Fort Wadsworth can enjoy breathtaking views of the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge, Manhattan, as well as Lady Liberty from the comfort of their own tents!

This park also provides gorgeous beaches for fishing and swimming, playgrounds, birding, and elaborate tours of the exquisite and Revolutionary War-era fort. However, keep in mind that most on-site showers have cold water!

In true New York City style, this park is easily accessible through mass transit. Just get on a bus from the popular Staten Island Ferry. This amazing campsite is open for visitors from May through to late September while booking usually opens about one month in advance.

Fahnestock State Park stretches over 14,086 acres with lots for visitors to do and see, including the monumental Hudson River Birding Trail. If you’re into birdwatching, you’ll be amazed at the extensive variety of beautiful species available for viewing.

Fishing on the serene Canopus Lake is fun and you could also rent the rowboat available at the park office or use your personal one provided you get a permit.

What would you say to falling asleep under the beautiful starlit sky on your own island? Head to the Saranac Lake Islands and choose any of the several of islands to camp on.

Keep in mind that Saranac Lake is really an interconnected series of waterways and lakes, and you can reach the breathtaking village of Saranac Lake from any point by boat if you fancy that as your mode of transport.

North-South Lake Campground is one of the most popular and biggest state campgrounds in the famous Catskill Forest Preserve and offers extraordinary picturesque beauty, as well as historical sites, like Kaaterskill Falls and Alligator Rock.

This campsite is ideal for family excursions because of its sheer beauty and range of walks and activities.

This stunning State Park has over 805 acres of streams and trails that would make any avid nature lover smile. Also, the Musconetcong River offers excellent trout fishing; the river is annually stocked with rainbow, brown, and brook trout, making it a popular place for fly-fishing.

But if fishing isn’t your thing, there are also six miles of exciting trails for hiking, walking, horseback riding and mountain biking, making it a perfect spot for families.

There you have it. 8 family-friendly campsites that are ideal for camping enthusiasts and all within striking distance of New York City!