Nestled between Montauk and Amagansett on Long Island’s South Fork, Hither Hills State Park stretches across 1,755 acres of rolling dunes, maritime forests, and pristine Atlantic coastline. Established in 1924, this park offers one of the most coveted camping experiences on the East Coast — beachfront sites where you can fall asleep to the sound of crashing waves.

The park’s signature feature is its “walking dunes,” a rare geological phenomenon where parabolic sand dunes slowly migrate across the landscape, swallowing pitch pine forests in their path. The Phantom Forest trail lets you witness this surreal process firsthand, with ghostly tree trunks emerging from the sand.

Hiking trails wind through a surprisingly diverse landscape — from freshwater wetlands around Napeague Harbor to dense stands of oak and sassafras. Fishing is excellent along the oceanfront beach and at Fresh Pond, where anglers cast for largemouth bass and sunfish. The two-mile sandy beach draws swimmers, surfers, and beachcombers throughout the summer season.

The 168-site campground books up fast, often filling within minutes of reservations opening each January. Sites sit just steps from the beach, making this one of the few places on Long Island where you can camp directly on the ocean.

Visit between late May and mid-October for camping, though spring and fall shoulder seasons offer quieter trails and dramatic coastal light. Summer weekends are busy — weekday visits reward you with more space and the same stunning scenery. Bring layers; ocean breezes keep evenings cool even in July.

Explore Nearby

• Montauk Point Light — Lighthouse in New York
• Cedar Island Light — Lighthouse in New York
• Gold Mine Bridge — Covered Bridge in Connecticut
• Comstock’s Bridge — Covered Bridge in Connecticut
• Connecticut State Route 169 — Scenic Byway in Connecticut