Camping

Parent Cafe
1

<p>Hi Parents,
Since this topic is off topic from everything else I thought I can maybe post here and ask adults.
The question is…
Is legal or possible at all for people to set out tents and camp out in the middle of big public parks near tree areas during the day or night? Like for instance, central park in NYC. The park doesn’t have camping centers but it never said people can not set out tents and camp somewhere in the park either. </p>

2

<p>Most parks will have well-established rules on camping. It’s illegal in Central Park (and I would guess most urban parks). In the White Mountain National Forest where I camp, the general rules are in established campsites or no closer than 1/4 mile to roads and 200 feet from hiking trails and below treeline.</p>

<p>If you do a Google search for “camping” and the name of the park, you’ll probably find the regs.</p>

3

<p>There are various laws that prohibit camping in Central Park. Don’t do it. </p>

<p>It is usually illegal to camp in city parks, though it is legal in some small towns. </p>

<p>I’ve camped all across the US. Why are you asking? I might be able to offer some suggestions.</p>

4

<p>I would assume it’s also illegal to camp at flushing meadows corona park as well. Is this true?</p>

<p>Where is a good place to camp in the NYC area?</p>

5

<p>Camping in the middle of NYC? I would say…no where. You would need to drive outside of the city. My guess is there are campsites in upstate NY, NJ, and maybe out on LI. </p>

6

<p>I saw an article about this recently - there actually are federal campsites in Brooklyn and Staten Island. <a href=“Camping & Campground Reservations Online | ReserveAmerica”>http://www.reserveamerica.com/camping/New_York_federal_parks_campgrounds/r/campgroundDirectoryList.do?contractCode=NRSO&pstate=NY&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

7

<p>Most parks I have seen have signs that say something like, “Open from dawn to dusk.”</p>

8

<p>There are campgrounds around NYC though - some that you can even get to by train (and maybe a short taxi ride from the station). I camped somewhere around Cold Spring, which is on the Metro North line. Unfortunately, I don’t remember the name of the camp site. You can definitely find camp grounds that you can reach by train! Fire Island also has a really nice section for camping.</p>

9

<p>If you are simply looking for cheap accommodations, there are commercial campgrounds, like this chain:</p>

<p><a href=“New York Camping Locations | KOA Campgrounds”>http://koa.com/states-provinces/new-york/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>They are usually located near major attractions and metropolitan areas. </p>

10

<p>For tent camping, KOAs are generally more expensive than public campgrounds, and found in the vicinity of public campgrounds.</p>

11

<p>Agree, but they typically have hot showers, laundromats, and cooking areas and can be used as “cheaper than motel” accommodations. </p>