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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.

Beach 96th St. Summer 1909. Courtesy Stevie S. Stevens and rockawaymemories.comBeach 96th St. Summer 1909. Courtesy Stevie S. Stevens and rockawaymemories.com

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.

Beach Side Retreat 

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.

 

Exploring the Neighborhood

Camp Rockaway is the perfect basecamp and launching point for exploring the Rockaway peninsula.  While Jacob Riis beach is right outside your door, the bustling Riis Park Beach Bazaar‘s food vendors, beach equipment rentals & regular live entertainment scattered up and down the boardwalk. Biking, birding, nature watching, fishing, hiking and more are just a a short walk away in historic Fort Tilden. Want to explore? Here’s a few of our favorites:

 

How to Get There

The old saying “Getting there is half the fun” couldnt be more true for Camp Rockaway, thanks to the NYC Ferry. In only an hour from Manhattan, you will be beach side with this amazing Ferry ride. The Rockaway Ferry from Pier 11 Wall Street, which will bring you directly to the Rockaways in just under an hour. Once off the boat, jump on the (FREE!) Ferry Connection shuttle (weekends only) heading to Jacob Riis, and it will drop you off literally in front of the bathhouse building, and the entrance to Camp Rockaway.

It could not be easier – and the entire trip will cost you $2.75 per person (kids are free!). Our tip: hustle to the open-air, top deck of the boat for AMAZING prime seating, you will be rewarded with incredible views of Manhattan, the Statue of Liberty, and the surrounding beach scenes (including Coney Island!). It will be the best $2.75 you have ever spent. . Check the schedule HERE. Not a ferry fan? No problem. Detailed directions by subway and car can be found HERE.

Know Before You Go

A few tips to get the most out of your visit!

  • Pack sunscreen and bug spray for the trip (also for sale in the camp shop if needed).
  • Camp Rockaway provides towels for use in the campsite showers. Please bring a beach towel for your beach adventures.
  • While you may grill anything on the campfire, there is no onsite refrigeration (bring a cooler if this is needed).
  • It’s ok to unplug! But if you can’t – a WiFi hotspot is located in the common area. Each tent is equipped with a solar light + USB charger capable of charging any USB device. Portable, beach-ready solar chargers are available to borrow as well, or use the common area charging base if needed.
  • Water conservation is a key component of Camp Rockaway’s commitment to the environment! Bring a refillable water bottle. No water is sold on site, but there is (free) filtered water available to fill your bottles.
  • Bring cash for beach vendors. While most accept credit cards, its best to have cash on hand in case needed, or for the arcade.
  • Night time beach side can get chilly. Bring a sweatshirt or layers.
  • Quiet hours for everyone are from 10pm until 8am. Our campsite was pin drop quiet (and we could actually hear the ocean waves from our bed!) however Camp Rockaway does provide ear plugs if needed. We would suggest earphones if you would like to listen to music.
  • Camp Rockaway is very family friendly! If you have a baby/toddler/young child who will sleep with you in bed, no need to count as an extra guest. If your child will sleep in the tent with you and requires a cot, they can be rented for an additional $75. Cots come with a sleeping bag, sleeping bag liner, pillow and a free s’mores pack.

 

Camp Rockaway

Camp Rockaway runs from Memorial Day weekend – October 15th 2019. 157 Rockaway Bach Blvd. $195 weekdays and Sunday. $249 Fridays and Saturdays. Additional cot $75.

Phone: (347) 916-6199
Email: info@camprockaway.com
Address: 157 Rockaway Beach Boulevard, Rockaway Park, NY 1169
Website: HERE

Thank you Camp Rockaway for an experience we will never forget. We can’t wait to return again! As always, all opinions are our own.