Fire Island National Seashore Ferry Watchhill

Great beach, campsite nicely done, everyone friendly, but the mosquitoes… oh the mosquitoes. Appalling. And there’s not much shade, so ensure you take umbrellas, hats etc.

We went camping on Watch Hill/​Fire Island the first weekend in June and it was incredible. We took the LIRR to Patchogue from Penn Station with a transfer at Babylon. The ferry is around the corner from the Patchogue LIRR stop and it takes less than five minutes to walk there. Once we got to the site, we set up camp and checked in. Just a note — if you need food/​charcoal/​etc, check out the general store in Davis Park… it’s about a mile walk on the boardwalk and has more of a selection than the mini store at Watch Hill.
There are outlets along the boardwalk by the campsites for charging phones, as well as running water (safe to drink). The bathrooms and showers are close by and the beach is a two minute walk! It’s amazing to hear the sound of the waves crashing as you fall asleep.
Bring lots of bug spray and sunscreen — there are ticks and mosquito, but they weren’t bad when we went in June. Also, make sure you have tent stakes that can hold up in sand.
We can’t wait to go back!

I went camping here for the first time last year with a couple of girl friends. I just made a reservation for this summer and I can’t wait to go back!
Let me start with the con… literally the only negative comment I have is about the mosquitoes. I am not generally bothered by bugs, but the mosquitoes were INSANE when I went. Despite being prepared with 99% deet, citronella, spraying permethrin on tent/​clothes days before… there was no relief from the mosquitoes at the campsite. We got there around 11 am and tried to pick a camp site with not many mosquitoes, but as soon as we stepped foot in any of them, swarms came out. We quickly set up our stuff and ran out of there! To be honest, we spent almost no time at the campsite, so it ended up not bothering us that much. Instead, we spent the day at the beach and spent most of the night at the bar at Davis Park. When we came back we just ran into our tent and went to sleep. I think that the only way to get relief from the mosquitoes, if you plan on hanging out around the campsite alot, is to bring some kind of cabana mosquito net thing.
Anyways, Watchhill was so great that the mosquitoes didn’t even put a dent in our trip. The campsites are a very short walk from the beach, which was not busy at all when we went (I was there mid-​August on a weekday). I found the surf to be about as strong as Jones Beach, and there are lifeguards, so it’s great spot to swim. There wasn’t much going on at the marina when we were there, not sure if it was because it was a weekday. I also did not see a Tiki bar, but if it’s there it may just be open on weekends. There is a very small general store with basic items, but not much at all. We did eat at the restaurant on our way out… I can’t remember what we got but I think it was fried calamari and wings or something like that, which were just fine since it was such simple food.
We walked to Davis Park twice — once midday and then later at night. It’s about a 20 minute walk along a boardwalk type thing that goes through a bunch of houses. It’s actually a really nice walk with flowers and we even came across a deer right on the path! Sitting in the bar at Davis Park, I felt like I was on a tropical vacation somewhere far away. We also got some DELICIOUS food from the Casino restaurant. The have a large patio where you can just sit out and have drinks and look out over the ocean.
Overall, the whole trip felt very low-​key and relaxing. I couldn’t believe how easy it was to get there — an hour drive from my house in lower westchester and then a quick ferry ride (there is abundant parking at the ferry for those who drive!) We made a lot friends, most of them young people who were spending the summer on the island, and spent a few hours at the bar at Davis Park. Also– the stars were absolutely beautiful! I spent quite a while sitting on the beach just enjoying the sounds of the wave and looking up at the stars. The constant sound of the waves crashing, which you can hear pretty much anywhere on watchhill is so peaceful and relaxing!
This year we are going in mid-​July, so it will be interesting to see if there are more people around and what the bug situation is like. We are staying an extra day, so I look forward to exploring a bit more, maybe canoeing and walking on more of the trails. This will definitely be a yearly trip for me!

I saw that this hasn’t had a recent review yet, so I’ll throw in my $.02. One thing is true from the reviews, the mosquitoes/​ticks are present, and I’ve spent a good part of my day swabbing four parts of my body with Gold Bond Anti-​Itch crème.
Now that I got that out the way, bug bites aside, Watch Hill was a very enjoyable experience. I went overnight camping for the weekend with my girlfriend. Watch Hill is a perfect place for camping novices, because while you get the overnight sleeping in a tent experience, you still have access to clean showers/​bathrooms, running water, a general store/​snack bar/​restaurant/​tiki bar just a quarter of a mile from the campsites, even a spot where you can charge your phones/​mobile devices. As for the campsites themselves, they’re very clean and well-​maintained. I believe there’s over 20 different sites that you can pick «first come-​first served», ranging from individual cul-​de-​sac-​esque ones that offer a bit of privacy to ones connected to other ones in case you’re feeling neighborly.
Speaking of neighborly, everyone was really friendly, especially the workers there. It seems that the city folk that stay here lose the «eff off» attitude and take the time to say «hello» to each other.
Oh and the beach is gorgeous. Even when slightly busy, the loudest noise you can hear is the crashing waves, which always makes for a good beach going experience in my book.
TL;DR — Watch Hill is great for camping novices, great facilities, friendly people, beautiful beach, bring plenty of mosquito/​tick repellent *that works*

One of the most unique campgrounds I’ve ever been to. Spectacular deserted beach accessible only by a short ferry ride from the mainland. You camp in the middle of sunken martime forest with the ocean on the other side of a sand berm — so you go to sleep listening to the waves and with no city lights and a million stars in the sky. A wooden elevated pathway leads through the forest and after the sun went down there were hundreds of fireflies above our heads. Magical.
And there’s a cool general store and tiki bar just a short walk away, nice rangers and I met some cool people.
But here’s why I won’t go again and I couldn’t recommend it to anyone else — the mosquitos were insane. I had read the reviews and had 4 heavy duty citronella candles triangulated around our campground, a huge fire, mosquito coils and we were coated in deet insect repellent. Usually I can live with mosquitos, but this was like wave after wave of them and even worse were the big biting flies which were incredibly painful. It was impossible to ever really relax or enjoy the beautiful surroundings. My kids were traumatized.
I ran into a guy who had been camped out in a bog in Viet Nam for months and he said he’d never seen bugs that bad. Another couple had camped there a few times and said it usually is much worse.
Would recommend this for a day trip to the beach but overnight camping is a no-​go.

Just returned from a visit this past weekend and am sad to report that the mosquitoes were a terror. They devoured us day and night and left us itchy and scratchy, although we still managed to enjoy the gorgeous beach and the pre-​July fourth peace.
However, we did spot several bunnies hopping through the swamp this year and met quite a few nice folks at the newly opened TIki Bar next to the Snack Bar. Try the Toasted Almond and enjoy a chat with the affable bartenders.

Watchhill is located on the edge of the National Park which stretches to the end of Fire Island. Standing on the boardwalk after dark you can’t see any lights beyond until the far off mainland.
The campsite has a limited number of sites. Each could fit two small tents and some can fit more. Each has it’s own grill and probably a table and it’s own swarm of mosquitos. Be warned, before even stepping foot in the campground put on bug spray and then keep it with you at all times. We were told that in previous weeks it was much worse but even on our visit any flesh without repellent was targeted especially during morning and dusk times. Hot sun and wind help the ease problem.
Don’t let the bugs put you off. the campground is great and you can hear the roaring surf across the dunes as you fall asleep. The showers are cold but in mid-​summer that’s not really a problem.
On the bay-​side there’s a marina which fills up with floating caravans and a whole social scene emerges with different families grilling together in the evenings. It’s a completely different scene from the campground. There’s a small shop for essentials, a snack bar, restaurant, and bar. The food at the restaurant is ‘ok’ but not really cheap. Probably best to stick to the burgers.
The visitors center is manned by the usual enthusiastic National Park Rangers who will also take you out on a ‘free’ canoeing trip up into the salt marsh which is highly recommended. A good change from the beach and you really get a grasp for how fertile and large this park is.
The beach itself has a life guard and as the surf can be large it’s probably best to swim only in this area. Walk West along the beach and you reach Davis Park Town, walk East and pristine dunes until the end of the island.
Wilderness camping is available on first come first served basis. You have to walk at least 1 mile along the beach before making camp. No facilities but you essentially get a private beach to yourselves and the wildlife.
A magnificent piece of wilderness just 3 hours from NYC.

«I have of late, – but wherefore I know not, – lost all my mirth… and indeed, it goes so heavily with my disposition that this goodly frame, the earth, seems to me a sterile promontory; this most excellent canopy, the air, look you, this brave o’erhanging firmament, this majestical roof fretted with golden fire, – why, it appears no other thing to me than a foul and pestilent congregation of vapours.»
* * * * *
Anyway, so when I feel like that, I make plans to go to the beach!
Watch Hill Beach, Long Island, specifically.
It’s a national seashore, so it’s clean and nice. It’s not crowded like other nearby beaches. It attracts an ecletic mix of city people and local folks. It has a boat basin where people tie-​up and hang out.
And most greatly, you get there by taking a boat across Fire Island Sound (an enjoyable 15 minute ride that transports you from suburban Long Island to watery paradise).
There’s a little snack and drink stand and a more formal sit-​down restaurant, too, right near the beach. Near the ferry boat landing there are restaurants where you can buy lobster salad sandwiches and put together picnic lunches.
You can buy an excursion ticket that gets you train fare and ferry boat tickets all in one. For more info:
The entire trip from Penn Station to beach takes about two or two and a half hours. But if you plan it (have snacks, things to read, etc.) it’s not bad. I’ve made the trip out here going back several summers, with friends. Swimming, sunning, walking — This is one of the nicest beaches I’ve been to.
Be sure to check the ferry schedule so that you time your train’s arrival in time to catch the ferry boat.