Beach Day into a Beach Stay – Camp Rockaway Experience

Turn your beach day into a beach stay at Camp Rockaway! Ever want to sleep under the stars just steps from the beach, with sounds of the ocean waves crashing while you sleep? An absolute heaven for the urban beach glamper – Camp Rockaway at Riis Beach is an amazing NYC retreat that you must experience.

Guests at Camp Rockaway stay in furnished tents and have access to a fire pit, picnic area, hammocks, and games. A short walk brings you to Riis Beach Bazaar with vendors, equipment, rentals and live entertainment along the boardwalk. Did we mention the pristine beach? Read on as we go behind the tents on the latest in glamping retreats.

Behind the Tents 

Camp Rockaway is the brainchild of architect Kent Johnson, who discovered the Rockaways when he moved to New York City from the Catskills. Kent was searching for somewhere he could maintain his newfound passion for surfing, and the Rockaways fit that bill. He was fascinated by Rockaway and its history, and started researching more about this beach community.

When he discovered the history , Kent was amazed to find that the Rockaways had once been an urban resort and that recreational beach camping in Rockaway was popularized at the turn of the century.  The first wave of development brought bathing clubs, boardwalks, hotels, tent communities to Rockaway Beach in the early 1900s. 

The idea of recreating this turn-of-the-20th-century tradition inspired Kent to launch a successful Kickstarter campaign in May 2014. In Fall of 2017 Camp Rockaway had a successful Pilot program in Fort Tilden, and in 2018 Camp Rockaway launched 12 tents at Jacob Riis, where they still stand today.

Camp site to Beach side – Camp Rockaway is only a few steps from the Ocean.

Camp side to beach side – location is everything! Camp Rockaway was built inside the iconic art-deco Jacob Riis bathhouse. The tents themselves reside in the courtyard, just steps from the ocean. The nostalgia-tinged campsite sits on sand and is adjacent to the beach, and is the perfect jumping off location for exploring the Rockaways.

Checking into Camp Rockaway

Checking in to Camp Rockaway.

Camp Rockaway stays close to the relaxed, unpretentious vibe seen on the postcards that inspired it. Check-in is under the communal tent, where fresh flowers, numerous board games, and a mini camp store awaits guests. There is also a charging station and electrical outlets if needed. We were quickly helped by the amazing staff for check-in on an ipad, and then were whisked away to our tent just a few steps away.

 

A look inside the tents. Below: bathrooms, snack cabinet, and the outdoor showers.

 

Modern Amenities

Camp Rockaway fuses beach camping heritage with modern amenities seamlessly. Safari-style canvas tents are carefully situated in a quiet, beautifully landscaped campground site. Each tent comes fully furnished; much like a hotel with white sheets and summer-weight blankets, a locker for valuables, a snack cabinet, and extra towels and blankets. We especially loved Camp Rockaway’s commitment to environment conservation. There is no electricity in the tents; instead, they are outfitted with brilliant solar-powered apparatuses, such as lamps and fans. Campground amenities include a communal fire pit, a picnic area, hammocks, (indoor!) bathrooms with running water, and outdoor showers with hot water.

All the above is within one block of Camp Rockaway!

Campsite Conveniences

Camp Rockaway’s appeal isn’t limited to outdoorsy types, and there’s plenty to do within steps of the campsite. There is a coffee shop less than 5 steps from the campsite entrance, a beer garden, beach shop directly on the boardwalk, all only a block away. Families will love that there is a (ginormous) playground just steps from the entrance, and a small, but perfect beach side arcade to play in. The Riis Park Beach Bazaar is a 5 minute walk, offering nearly a dozen mouthwatering food vendors, a large picnicking area, beach equipment rentals, live music and more.

As night falls. Camp fire fun at Camp Rockaway.

S’mores and More

The perfect way to cap off a beach day is with s’mores!  As the sun sets the Camp Rockaway team builds a bonfire for guests. Bring your own or purchase a s’mores kit form the staff- and enjoy a warm toasty treat in the sand. Not a s’mores fan? The staff is willing to help you grill anything you wish over the fire! We brought popcorn during our visit, and others brought hotdogs for the kids. The bonfire was one of the most memorable parts of our trip. We loved connecting with other campers around the crackling fire, hearing stories from the staff, and watching the kids play together with their new found friends.

The pristine beach scene.

Beach Please 

As one would guess, one of the most magical aspects of sleeping over in the Camp Rockaway tents is the incredible beach front access.

The Rockaways are amazing. Wide soft sand stretches as far as the eyes can see. Sea shells collect at the waters edge. Waves form and crash from deep in the ocean. Perfect for relaxing, swimming and sand castle building, It is really the most perfect beach for sea fans of all ages. I had to remind myself multiple times that I was actually in NYC. (Doesn’t this look as if it was a Caribbean destination?).

Having the entire beach to ourselves.

The real magic? Visiting the beach late night or early morning almost guarantees you a secluded beach experience. We woke up at 6:30, grabbed some free coffee from the communal Camp Rockaway tent, climbed up one of the (empty!) lifeguard chairs, and watched the sun rise and the waves come in. We were completely and totally alone on the beach for as far as the eye could see. It. Was. Magic. To wake up sea side and watch the tide was a truly incredible experience we will never forget.

How to Get There