Hither Hills State Park, Montauk: Address, Phone Number, Hither Hills State Park Reviews: 4.5/5
Hither Hills State Park
Hither Hills State Park
4.5
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Top ways to experience nearby attractions
The area
Address
Best nearby
Restaurants
69 within 3 miles
Scarpetta Beach
253
0.3 mi$$$$ • Italian • Seafood • Vegetarian Friendly
Tillie's
47
0.3 mi$$ - $$$ • American • Vegetarian Friendly
Corso Coffee
10
0.2 mi$
The Firepit
3
0.2 miBar • Cafe • Grill • Pub
The Beach Club
4
0.2 miAmerican
Wave Crave
9
0.9 miAmerican
Surfside Inn
217
1.5 mi$$ - $$$ • American • Seafood • Vegetarian Friendly
ALL DAY at Breakers
3
1.8 mi$$ - $$$ • American • Bar • Cafe
Harvest on Fort Pond
958
2.4 mi$$ - $$$ • Seafood • Vegetarian Friendly • Vegan Options
Ruschmeyer's Restaurant
70
2.1 mi$$ - $$$ • American
Attractions
21 within 6 miles
Theodore Roosevelt County Park
11
0.8 miParks
Ditch Plains
147
2.4 miBeaches
Camp Hero State Park
116
2.4 miHistoric Sites • State Parks
Shadmoor State Park
88
3 miState Parks
Gosman's Dock
347
Points of Interest & Landmarks
Deep Hollow Ranch
85
2.4 miRanches
Second House Museum
19
2.1 miHistory Museums
Fort Pond Bay Park
5
1.7 miParks
Montauk Brewing Company
72
2.6 miBreweries
St. Therese of Lisieux Catholic Church
18
2.7 miPoints of Interest & Landmarks • Churches & Cathedrals
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
206 reviews
Excellent
123
Very good
56
Average
19
Poor
5
Terrible
3
CherryTravels17
New Jersey663 contributions
My husband and I visited Hither Hills State Park on a Saturday. It is quite large and with minimal cell service in the area, we got lost looking for the Coastal Trail. We came across the Walking Dunes Trail by accident. (There was free parking on the street bordering the trail.) We only did the first loop but it was very unique and featured views of the water, dunes and forest. We later found the Coastal Trail and parked in the lot at the end of Navy Road. (Parking was free.) The trail was easy and had a nice mix of forest and water views.
Written November 25, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Erica B
48 contributions
Family
Don't miss the Walking Dunes hike! But, be prepared for mosquitos! The past reviews are not kidding. Swarms of big, fat hungry mosquitos. Saw people tucking their arms in their shirt & running back to the entrance! We pushed through & were SO grateful. What a beautiful natural phenomenon! My teens ran up & down & rolling in the dunes for hours. Great numbered informational trail. What?! A forest is buried under the dunes??!! The walk along the beach to get back was the perfect ending.
Written August 28, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Gamyra
New York City, NY1 contribution
Couples
We try to come back here every summer.
Sound of waves, long walks on the beach, stargazing at night.
It is a perfect camping experience!
Many thanks to the park staff this year, especially Janet Bravo💚 and her team.
Thank you!!!
Sound of waves, long walks on the beach, stargazing at night.
It is a perfect camping experience!
Many thanks to the park staff this year, especially Janet Bravo💚 and her team.
Thank you!!!
Written July 9, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Croaker_Outdoors
Westchester County, NY16 contributions
I had read only a few sporadic reviews about ticks and and did not pay them much mind. Upon setting up and laying out our tents we started noticing a number of them grabbing on to the fabric and crawling around. Immediately we began spraying ourselves. Throughout the trip I found them crawling on my tent, on people clothes, up a beach chair, drop a towel and find them on it immediately, one made it into my tent but luckily didn't find me. Not going to lie, it did wig me out and I was a bit anxious. I camp in the woods and it's never been a problem. The park should take some measures to curb the population but I learned that ticks are a problem on Long Island and there has been a boom in the past couple years.
Aside from the ticks the beach is amazingly clean and beautiful. The waves were big when we visited and were tough for smaller or older folks to enjoy the water. We did have heavy storms come through but that is camping. Spots are very large and the concrete slap is a nice convenience. The park is much larger than I expected from Google Map images. We ended up using the main bath house in the middle of the beach but it felt like a 1/4 mile hike in an emergency! The smaller loop has the private showers but they are poorly vented and stay very steamy after the water is off. Other campers were very respectful and quiet. The tent loop looks nice but they are closer together and are a farther walk to the beach.
Due to covid the camp store was closed so we visited the 7-11 for ice. Tight parking and the ice price is expensive.
Aside from the ticks the beach is amazingly clean and beautiful. The waves were big when we visited and were tough for smaller or older folks to enjoy the water. We did have heavy storms come through but that is camping. Spots are very large and the concrete slap is a nice convenience. The park is much larger than I expected from Google Map images. We ended up using the main bath house in the middle of the beach but it felt like a 1/4 mile hike in an emergency! The smaller loop has the private showers but they are poorly vented and stay very steamy after the water is off. Other campers were very respectful and quiet. The tent loop looks nice but they are closer together and are a farther walk to the beach.
Due to covid the camp store was closed so we visited the 7-11 for ice. Tight parking and the ice price is expensive.
Written July 13, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Pammmeee
Long Island, NY85 contributions
Family
Tis year I was fortunate to visit my cousins here one day this summer. I used to LOVE it here but I have not been able to get a reservation for years! What is the deal with furiously calling and going on line and anxiously typing away in a panic at EXACTLY 8:59 am, PRECISELY 9 months before your vacation week, and being informed at 9:01 am that all sites are sold out. Not only is that a logical and physical impossiblity, but (since Hither Hills is a government facilty) deserves to be investigated by the State DAs office. An accountability of the fees, pricing, and trickery by "Reserve America" need to be delved into as well. REMEMBER...This OUR park (NYS taxpayers) NOT RESERVE AMERICA'S. Any hints? How do you all get sites every year!
Written October 13, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Robert S
West Islip, United States4 contributions
Family
Started camping here 30 years ago! For the last 5 years we have spent Memorial Day at Hither Hills. We are tent campers. This year, 5/27/17, we arrived on Friday of Memorial Day Weekend. After many years of excellent camping, this year was different! The site, in the A row, was small, even for 2 small tents. There was broken glass on the ground, a lot of it, right where the tents would go. I asked for a new site, I was told every site was taken, sold out, even though there were 20+ sites empty. But the real bad news is, TICKS, TICKS, TICKS!!! Within 30 minutes every member of our family had ticks on them! The ticks were EVERYWHERE! AND NO they do not spray for ticks, I asked! There were no large signs warning us of the danger in the park! I live on the East End of Long Island and I am aware of the many organic options to control ticks.
The tall grass next to the site was too close to the camping area, Our 8 x 12 tents were literally against the cement pad on one side and against the tall grass on the other side!. Even the cut grass was 6 high in some places! This NOT an inconvenience, this is life threatening! Babesiosis, Lyme, Anaplasmosis and Erhlichioisis. This is a real hazard! Two members of my family have been in the hospital because of past issues with these diseases, NYS Parks, this is a major issue!. We did not wander into the tall grass, we stayed on the cut grass, the ticks are everywhere! Yes, we wore white socks so we could see the ticks, and we saw them! Yes, we applied DEET based spray, several times a day! And YES, we still had ticks crawling on us! I pulled one off myself, and my two daughters! Was it a mild winter, yes, and that means ticks will flourish. This is a real hazard that MUST be warned against. We are thinking twice about going next year, we are warning all our camping friends.
The tall grass next to the site was too close to the camping area, Our 8 x 12 tents were literally against the cement pad on one side and against the tall grass on the other side!. Even the cut grass was 6 high in some places! This NOT an inconvenience, this is life threatening! Babesiosis, Lyme, Anaplasmosis and Erhlichioisis. This is a real hazard! Two members of my family have been in the hospital because of past issues with these diseases, NYS Parks, this is a major issue!. We did not wander into the tall grass, we stayed on the cut grass, the ticks are everywhere! Yes, we wore white socks so we could see the ticks, and we saw them! Yes, we applied DEET based spray, several times a day! And YES, we still had ticks crawling on us! I pulled one off myself, and my two daughters! Was it a mild winter, yes, and that means ticks will flourish. This is a real hazard that MUST be warned against. We are thinking twice about going next year, we are warning all our camping friends.
Written May 29, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
misssaintsomewhere
New York City, NY137 contributions
Family
During low season (typically before mid-June), fires are allowed at your campsite. However, you must bring your own fire ring. Everyone there had a steel bucket (about $20 from any hardware store). There weren't any actual fire rings. You really MUST have a bucket due to the wind, don't bring just a fire ring. During high season, camp fires are not allowed. However, your can bring a little smokey joe grill to cook on with charcoal or a gas camp stove. Fires are allowed anywhere along the beach so if you want a campfire, just walk over the dunes and build one. They have to be a 25 feet from the dunes I believe. It is very windy all year round so be prepared to really stake down anything you bring. It tends to pick up at the end of the day around 4pm and can really blow through the night. ReserveAmerica says "fireplaces" are at every site. I have no idea why they put that. There is a slab of concrete with a picnic table and that's it. The potable water is in the middle in between those campsites and easy to get to. These are for everyone's use so if you see an RV hooked up to one with their hose, they can fill up but then they must unhook and let others use the water. It's not their water just because it's by their campsite. When we were there on the weekend in June, there were tons of little kids and we were told that is the norm. It's a family beach camping area after all and they come for a week as vacation. We had twin babies across from us in a tent that screamed all night, every night. Which was rather inconsiderate of the parents to do that to the rest of the campers who were trying to sleep. Little kids cry, be warned. There were an equal number of RVs, pop ups and tents. The most desirable area for tents is up next to the beach. RVs and pop ups cannot fit in these spots but they are plenty big for tents. If you don't have kids and have a tent, that is the most desirable place to be. Obviously near the bathrooms is where everyone with small children want to be so if you don't have kids, steer clear of being close to the bathroom. If you have kids, then any spot on either side works just as well as any other. They are all exactly the same. There is no shade here anywhere so its an absolute must to bring your own - a screened room is almost a necessity here as the flies can be quite bothersome. There are are also those tiny little ants that you see along the beach but that's typical of any beach area. There are hot showers and nice bathrooms. If you want hot water, best to go late at night after everyone has come back from the beach and the kids have been showered. After about 8pm the water was hot and the showers weren't crowded. Same drill in the morning. Town is 5 min. away with the grocery store, drug store and hardware store (only 1 of each). It's a small town so things open late and close early so plan your shopping accordingly.The park is spectacular to walk through. Get a map and cross over Montauk highway and walk on the North side along the water.
Written June 17, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Jay S
Long Island City, NY11 contributions
Family
The Park itself looks very inviting to explore. Unfortunately the place is infested with ticks so you cannot walk, hike, mountain bike, etc. without a fear of coming in contact with ticks. We walked right out after 10 minutes of watching people pull multiple ticks off their dogs,and themselves.
Written May 30, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Joseph D
Smithtown, New York, United States12 contributions
Family
If you live on an island you know it must have an end. The end is just the beginning to the best vacation of your life. Pristine beaches, amazing sunsets, and romantic moon rises. I write this review from the perspective of a seasoned camper accustomed to the lifestyle since I was three. Starting in a tent and now graduated to a Class C camper to hold the wife and kids.
Hither Hills still remains to be a cherished family vacation spot. Growing up I camped here every year during the last week of Aug. to fish, swim, surf, beachcomb, ride bikes, enjoy smores, and engage in the classic family social gathering known as camping. There is no other spot on earth that I hold so dear to my heart as Hither Hills and the hamlet of Montauk. Time has stood still as old classics like The Shagwong and Gosman's Dock still offer the same family oriented entertainment that has defined this idyllic setting for decades. Cruising Old Montauk Highway to town was always a highlight of the week for us as it got us out of the campground and back for a few minutes to get ice, lobsters, and supplies for our week camping trip. During those days we didn't have to intentionally unplug our devices to get back to using our own creativity for entertainment.
Our 2013 trip to HH was over Columbus day weekend. We sought to chase the fall run of bait fish but unfortunately a the water temp was not quite right holding the bait fish off the coast and a nor'easter churned up the bottom too much and we have sustained 25 mph winds. We did however as always have a great family experience.
What to expect: HH is boondocking camping. That means there is no electric, sewer, or water service to plug your RV into. You can run a generator or use solar to charge the camper but expect to be self sufficient for the week. The campground is immaculately clean at all times and there is little worry about theft, crime, violence or well anything at all. Get into the Montauk Moment when you travel down 27 east and make the right into the park. Leave your old life behind for awhile and enjoy the smell of salt air, the sounds of surf, and the cries of hungry seagulls that will devour anything you happen to leave unattended on your picnic table.
Things to do. Well you any site in the park is a few steps away from amazing beaches. Sugar sand, clean, clean, clean. Bring the fishing poles, the surfboards, the boogie boards, or no boards. Bring bikes, take a hike, or have a sunset champagne toast in the picnic area overlooking the park. Take a walk on the beach at night and listen to the surf pound the sand, watch the moon glisten over the water and breathe the saline air. Head to the bay side, known as Hither Woods and explore the walking dunes, the lost boulder, or the three jumps. Want some local lure (pun intended). Head to Camp Hero and explore the ruins of the NIKE missile base but be sure to read up on the Montauk Experiment and the Montauk Monster. Eat at the Shagwong, get the fish and chips of local fresh caught fish. Head to Duryea's for lobsters and ice or Gosman's for a fish time lunch. Want art? You must hit the art barge. Where is it? For you to find but be sure to look for a small wooden sign on montauk highway, just west of the park on the north side. Head to the lighthouse, hike the rocks around it, and head out on the seal trail to the north harbor. Montauk is about discovery. You will discover more about yourself than you came with. Be open, breathe the clean air, inhale the brine, clear the mind. At night is when the magic happens, bed time is early for the kids. They are zonked from a day spent on the playground and the beach. Pop the cork and stoke the fire. Bust out a copy of Norton's Anthology of Poetry and pass it around. The best entertainment comes not from a tiny 4G connected screen but from the words of Robert Frost.
Must Have's-Sunscreen, hat, old clothing, bicycle, tarp for covering bicycles at night (heavy salted dew), fishing equipment, kite, large pot for steaming lobsters and clams, clam knife, steaks for surf and turf, seasoning for the fresh fish. A fire container to hold your campfire. Local wine from the winery (consume in privacy!!!)
Summation: Montauk is one of the finest campgrounds on the east coast. Not much has changed in the nearly 30 years that I have been visiting this epic park. The only drawback is that it is nearly impossible to book reservations and the demand far exceeds the availability. Enjoy this gem, this slice of Americana, this nostalgic throwback to a time much simpler than today. A time where social networking involved sitting around a campfire and reading poetry. When finding sand dollars on the shoreline was the prize of the week. When catching dinner really meant literally catching dinner. Enjoy, you're in a Montauk Moment.
Hither Hills still remains to be a cherished family vacation spot. Growing up I camped here every year during the last week of Aug. to fish, swim, surf, beachcomb, ride bikes, enjoy smores, and engage in the classic family social gathering known as camping. There is no other spot on earth that I hold so dear to my heart as Hither Hills and the hamlet of Montauk. Time has stood still as old classics like The Shagwong and Gosman's Dock still offer the same family oriented entertainment that has defined this idyllic setting for decades. Cruising Old Montauk Highway to town was always a highlight of the week for us as it got us out of the campground and back for a few minutes to get ice, lobsters, and supplies for our week camping trip. During those days we didn't have to intentionally unplug our devices to get back to using our own creativity for entertainment.
Our 2013 trip to HH was over Columbus day weekend. We sought to chase the fall run of bait fish but unfortunately a the water temp was not quite right holding the bait fish off the coast and a nor'easter churned up the bottom too much and we have sustained 25 mph winds. We did however as always have a great family experience.
What to expect: HH is boondocking camping. That means there is no electric, sewer, or water service to plug your RV into. You can run a generator or use solar to charge the camper but expect to be self sufficient for the week. The campground is immaculately clean at all times and there is little worry about theft, crime, violence or well anything at all. Get into the Montauk Moment when you travel down 27 east and make the right into the park. Leave your old life behind for awhile and enjoy the smell of salt air, the sounds of surf, and the cries of hungry seagulls that will devour anything you happen to leave unattended on your picnic table.
Things to do. Well you any site in the park is a few steps away from amazing beaches. Sugar sand, clean, clean, clean. Bring the fishing poles, the surfboards, the boogie boards, or no boards. Bring bikes, take a hike, or have a sunset champagne toast in the picnic area overlooking the park. Take a walk on the beach at night and listen to the surf pound the sand, watch the moon glisten over the water and breathe the saline air. Head to the bay side, known as Hither Woods and explore the walking dunes, the lost boulder, or the three jumps. Want some local lure (pun intended). Head to Camp Hero and explore the ruins of the NIKE missile base but be sure to read up on the Montauk Experiment and the Montauk Monster. Eat at the Shagwong, get the fish and chips of local fresh caught fish. Head to Duryea's for lobsters and ice or Gosman's for a fish time lunch. Want art? You must hit the art barge. Where is it? For you to find but be sure to look for a small wooden sign on montauk highway, just west of the park on the north side. Head to the lighthouse, hike the rocks around it, and head out on the seal trail to the north harbor. Montauk is about discovery. You will discover more about yourself than you came with. Be open, breathe the clean air, inhale the brine, clear the mind. At night is when the magic happens, bed time is early for the kids. They are zonked from a day spent on the playground and the beach. Pop the cork and stoke the fire. Bust out a copy of Norton's Anthology of Poetry and pass it around. The best entertainment comes not from a tiny 4G connected screen but from the words of Robert Frost.
Must Have's-Sunscreen, hat, old clothing, bicycle, tarp for covering bicycles at night (heavy salted dew), fishing equipment, kite, large pot for steaming lobsters and clams, clam knife, steaks for surf and turf, seasoning for the fresh fish. A fire container to hold your campfire. Local wine from the winery (consume in privacy!!!)
Summation: Montauk is one of the finest campgrounds on the east coast. Not much has changed in the nearly 30 years that I have been visiting this epic park. The only drawback is that it is nearly impossible to book reservations and the demand far exceeds the availability. Enjoy this gem, this slice of Americana, this nostalgic throwback to a time much simpler than today. A time where social networking involved sitting around a campfire and reading poetry. When finding sand dollars on the shoreline was the prize of the week. When catching dinner really meant literally catching dinner. Enjoy, you're in a Montauk Moment.
Written October 25, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
MJ10025
New York2 contributions
Family
There is no way that the vacancies can fill in one minute on the weekends. The 50 vacancies that become available each Friday and Saturday are not revealed until 9am. You can't complete steps to the booking process without knowing which site you are and completing all the steps takes longer than a minute. This whole idea that everyone has everything ready to go for the minute strike 9am is a farce.
Written November 16, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
K H
1 contribution
Are the bathrooms / shower facilities maintained and sanitized on a regular basis? I have an upcoming reservation to bring 4 children, ages 5-12, and I’m concerned about the kids using the restrooms and showers with COVID being a significant issue. In years past, the bathrooms were perfectly fine for a public park, but they were not clean and I’m concerned about the ability to use the bathrooms without taking unnecessary risks to potential COVID-19 exposure
Thanks
Hi Josephine, Thank you so much for your review. I was hoping you can give me an idea of the site location? I have 4 small boys and would like to be in a location simillar to what you described. Thank you
WhereIsCC
New York City, NY34 contributions
Hi,
Anything in particular, that you would like to know?
Melanie K
Baldwinsville, NY
Can you have a campfire at your site?
You can have a fire after the high season. I believe after Labor Day they allow fires.
Do the RV sites have full hook ups( electric, and water)?
RaechelFrat
Altamont, NY20 contributions
RVsites do not have full hookups. Each site doesn’t have its own water spicket either. There is one spicket every two sites and about 4-6 people share the water. We bring an inverter generator and we can only use it during specific hours.
dmfade
New York City, NY26 contributions
Are there electrical outlets in the bathrooms for a hairdryer?
Allen D
Bayside, NY35 contributions
Yes, they actually have a nice set up with electrical outlets. Unfortunately a lot of times they are being used for charging phones (kids cannot live w/o phones these days),but you can unplug then plug back in. That's essentially what I did.
Jessica V
3 contributions
If we book the whole week, are we allow to use the park only for 4 days?
G. Vera
16 contributions
Hi, I never reserved 7 days before but I’m planning to stay 7 days on July. I asked if it was fine to go for 3 days then leave for 2 days and come back for the remainder time, and they say yes. You can call the office and check. I believe if you do not go the first day they may give your spot to someone else.
Is there electric hook up at tent site
LinLinWestchester
New York City, NY75 contributions
I didn't see a hook up at the site.
Frequently Asked Questions about Hither Hills State Park
- Hotels near Hither Hills State Park:
- (0.03 mi) Great Montauk Summer Rental
- (0.27 mi) Gurney's Montauk Resort & Seawater Spa
- (0.22 mi) 180 Degree Ocean Views, Wide Deck with Fire Pit and Dining Table, Near...
- (0.22 mi) Perfect Family Retreat With Ocean Views, Heated Pool, And Private Beach Access!
- (0.25 mi) Perfect Beach-side Home with Ocean Views. Special August 29th-September 9th .
- Restaurants near Hither Hills State Park:
- (0.27 mi) Scarpetta Beach
- (0.25 mi) Corso Coffee
- (0.27 mi) Tillie's
- (0.25 mi) The Firepit
- (0.25 mi) The Beach Club