Battle Row Campground (Nassau County Park)

The Great Outdoors

Just because Long Island is one of the most densely populated regions of the U.S. doesn’t mean it lacks in outdoor recreation. The campsites at Battle Row Campground are only a few blocks away from the Bethpage Bikeway, a 13-mile asphalt pathway running from Woodbury (north of the campground) down to Massapequa on the island’s south shore. Bicycle rentals, along with shuttle services, can be found near its southern terminus.One of the best parts of RV camping at Battle Row Campground? The beaches. Long Island’s southern shore is packed with them, including Long Beach, Jones Beach, and Fire Island National Seashore. In the summer, they are a favorite weekend getaway for New York’s urban dwellers, but on the weekdays, you’ll have them largely to yourself. Enjoy wiggling your toes in the sand or reading a good book in the shade, but if you need more adventure on your beach vacation, consider renting a kayak from one of the stores near Long Beach and exploring the many small islands dotting the coast.For a great hike while camping near Long Island, check out the state parks and reserves just a few miles from Battle Row Campground. Trail View State Park, which contains the Bethpage Bikeway, is the closest green space and a great place to get a cardio workout in. Farther away near Westhampton Beach are the pine barrens of Quogue Wildlife Refuge, with several miles of trail inside the 300-acre preserve. This is a great spot to do some wildlife spotting too.

Exploring the City

Camping with an RV on Long Island will surely involve trips into NYC proper (Broadway shows, a bagel from the Upper West Side, or Brooklyn’s famous pizza), but there are plenty of great attractions to enjoy out in the island’s suburban counties too. If you’re a hockey fan, the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum (part-time home of the New York Islanders NHL team) is a short drive away. Tickets to their games can be half or even a third the price of a Rangers game at Madison Square Gardens, so it’s a great sporting event option for RV travelers on a budget.Next door to the Coliseum is the Cradle of Aviation Museum, a tribute to Long Island’s role in many historic flights. It’s one of the most popular air and space museums in the U.S. and is full of interactive exhibits to keep the kids entertained. Sharing a building with the Cradle of Aviation Museum is the Firefighter Museum, which chronicles the development of professional firefighting teams on Long Island starting in the mid-19th century.Brought the kids along for the Long Island motorhome rental adventure? Don’t forget to plan a day at Adventureland theme park in nearby Farmingdale. It’s low-key and certainly doesn’t draw the crowds like Coney Island, but that’s kind of the point; you won’t spend the day waiting in lines or breaking the bank on games. You can just plan on a day of relaxing and having fun.For great shopping in central Long Island, head east on Long Island Ave to the Deer Park region. There you’ll find a plethora of outlet malls, restaurants, and kids entertainment. It’s the perfect place for a family outing when you camp in a travel trailer rental near Old Bethpage.