Ready for 'Glamping'? Glamorous Camping Coming to LI

High-end campers from Long Island Glampers can take you to the outer beach in style. Photo courtesy of Long Island Glampers
High-end campers from Long Island Glampers can take you to the outer beach in style. Photo courtesy of Long Island Glampers
5/21/19 - By Lisa Mancuso

If you’ve avoided taking your family camping because the thought of pitching a tent, sleeping on a hard floor, and eating roasted wieners for a week wasn’t your idea of a vacation, we’ve got some good news. A family camping trip no longer means you have to rough it: Glamorous camping, or “glamping,” has made its way to Long Island.

To Cedar Point County Park in East Hampton, to be exact.

OUR LATEST VIDEOS


A camping site with hardwood floors and bedroom furniture: Who knew? Photo courtesy of Terra Glamping

Beginning Memorial Day weekend through the last weekend of October, guests will be able to book from 30 waterfront, safari-style tents (for two or four people) courtesy of Terra Glamping, a Brooklyn-based company. Each tent sits on a platform and features queen-size memory-foam mattresses with luxurious bedding, additional hotel-like furniture, and a six-foot wooden deck that overlooks Gardiners Bay.

But that’s just the beginning. Glampers also have the use of luxury bathrooms (complete with flush toilets and hot showers); a campfire area, lounge tents for relaxing (games, books, and cards included); and a dining and grilling area that is stocked with dishes, flatware, and coolers.

Planned nightly family-friendly activities include s’mores around a campfire and movie nights. Complementary kayaks and stand-up paddle boards will be available to guests. A continental breakfast is included each morning.

Cost for renting a tent starts at $300 per night. Reservations can be made online at Terra's website.

RELATED: Great LI Campsites for Families and Kids


You can enjoy all the creature comforts with a Long Island Glampers rental. Photo courtesy of Long Island Glampers

Another option for those interested in less rustic camping is to rent a glamped-up camper from Long Island Glampers. This family-run business caters to families and has a number of rolling glampers that have bunk beds. All are fully equipped with linens, dishes, beach chairs, outside carpets, boogie boards, marshmallows and sticks, and more. All you basically need to bring are food and clothes.

“Most of our reservations are on the beaches of the East End,” said Hal Kench, who owns Long Island Glampers with wife Rachel. “We tow the unit to the site and set it up. We try to make it as enjoyable and easy as possible. It's mom's vacation too! So we set up the carpet, fire pit, chairs, tables, and make the beds for your arrival.”

According to the owner, popular spots for his glampers are Cuposgue Beach County Park, Hither Hills State Park Campground, Shinnecock East County Park, and Montauk County Park. Long Island Glampers’ rates range from $140 (sleeps 4) to $350 per night (sleeps 6). There is a $300 security deposit due upon reservation and a four-night minimum for outer-beach reservations. See its website for more details. You are responsible for making your campsite reservation.

All campsites are in state or county parks. Residency restrictions might apply. Remember, camping is popular on Long Island, so call ahead for availability and other essential information. For Suffolk County Parks rules, click here. For more information about camping in New York State parks, click here.

Cedar Point County Park is located on Cedar Point Road in the East Hampton section known as Northwest Harbor, about six miles north of Montauk Highway in the village downtown.  

Places featured in this article: