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MONTAUK CAMPING - Guide to Hither Hills State Park Campground

Interested in camping in Montauk at Hither Hills State Park Campground? This is your guide! 

I'm going to share with you my experience of Montauk camping- everything from snagging Hither Hills camping reservations, how to get to the campgrounds, what it's like staying there, and things to do in Montauk. 

Keep reading to find out!


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There's a reason why Hither Hills camping is so popular. As you might know, the Manhattan glitterati flock to the North Fork, The Hamptons, Montauk, and even places like The Catskills in the warmer months. 

Hotels are pricey, so I don't blame people looking to experience Montauk on a budget. That's why I'm here to offer one of my favorite bougie-on-a-budget travel tips- 

Camping at Hither Hills State Campground in Montauk!

In fact, these Montauk NY campgrounds are the most clever way around the crazy sticker prices in the area. It's best value out there for experiencing Montauk and the Hamptons for cheap (and did I say cheap? I mean CHEEEEAAP!)

Camping in Montauk, NY has been a well-kept secret for locals, and those who want to experience all the area has to offer without the $500+ per night price tag. 

But don't worry. As someone who's stayed there for 3 years in a row, I'm here to spill the details for you!

Even if you’re the kind of traveler who enjoys their 10-step skincare routines and 300-thread count hotel sheets, you might want to give Hither Hills camping a second look.



Why Camp in Montauk?

First of all, this Montauk campground is literally right across from the beach. You get a front row seat to some of the best sunsets on the East Coast, and sound of the ocean lulls you to sleep at night.

Sick of sitting at the beach? Easy. Just drive 5 minutes down the road from your Hither Hills state park campground site to the heart of Montauk. Here, you'll have access to some of the most exclusive restaurants, bars, and clubs in New York.

But it’s not just beachside bonfires and glitzy nightlife that this Montauk campground offers. Hither Hills camping is a great way to get outdoors and spend quality time with family and friends. Especially if you’re a city dweller who is used to takeout, after-work happy hours, and blaring car horns.

Whether you’re tent camping or RV camping in Montauk, staying here offers a truly unique and worthwhile experience. 

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Where is Hither Hills Campground?

Hither Hills State Park Campground is at the eastern-most tip of Long Island’s ‘south fork’, next to Montauk's village. You’ll have a lovely ride through The Hamptons on the way there.

It's about a 2 1/2 hour drive from NYC. And you can also get there by ferry from Rhode Island or Connecticut.


How Much is a Spot at Hither Hills?

Believe it or not, booking a campsite at Hither Hills is only $35 Per Night and $245 Per Week! There's a few caveats though-

Depending on the dates, there's often restrictions of how many nights you can book-
  • Peak season is a 7 night minimum
  • Off-peak season is a 2-night minimum
  • 14 night maximum for any stay
Also note that typically, there is a 1 car per campsite rule. A second car is permitted, but there is an additional $20 charge, and must park in designated parking areas (though not too far from the other campsites.)



When to Book at Hither Hills?

Camping is seasonal in New York and Hither Hills is closed in the winter time. Therefore, the campground generally opens for the season in late April and closes in early November.

Peak season is considered to be from mid-June through early September.

When deciding on when to book your trip, don’t forget to consider the climate and weather! Montauk is after all, surrounded by water. The temperatures are lower at the start and end of peak season. 

For example, even though we always book in early June, it gets pretty chilly at night. Bring extra cozy sleeping bags!



How to Reserve a Spot at Hither Hills?

If there’s one section to study as your takeaway from this post, it’s this one!

Learning the tricks to secure your Montauk camping reservations is crucial. There is a first come first served approach, and the spots book up lightning-fast. You’ll need to out-click the person trying to grab the same spot!

So what's the best way to stay at the Hither Hills State Park campground in Montauk? Here’s a few secrets I know that can help you score that coveted spot…

  • You can only technically reserve one campsite per person
  • Hither Hills releases their camp spots 9 months ahead of time at 9am EST. In other words, 9 months before your desired date, log into the site a little before 9am and prepare to be quick… if you see a spot, grab it!
  • It’s possible that ALL the spots will be booked before you get a chance to snag something (yes, even at 9:01 am!) So be flexible with your schedule. If you’re having a tough time getting a spot, remember that weeknights are easier to book than weekends. Be open to a Tuesday-Thursday reservation instead of Friday-Sunday.
  • Keeping in mind flexibility, there’s a feature on the ReserveAmerica site where you’re able to see see 2-4 weeks at a time. If you’re not firm with your dates, you can scroll through and you might get lucky and find a few open days to snatch up.
  • Check for last-minute cancellations. If things didn’t go your way and you didn’t get a spot, no worries! Things come up and people cancel all the time. So if you’re flexible, you might be able to get something next week, next month, or even tomorrow night!

Check-in and Check-out

Okay, so the day has come. You managed to snag a reservation, waited the 9 months, your camping gear is packed and it’s time to go. Congratulations!
  • Check in starts at 3pm
  • Check out is at 11am

You’ll find the office by following the signs that say “Hither Hills” and pulling into the parking lot.

Depending on the campsite loop you stay in, you’ll get a key card that you’ll use to scan in and out of your campsite area (don’t lose the key card!)

You’ll also need to put down a deposit of $5 for the key card (cash only) that you’ll get back when you return it at checkout.

Note that the office closes at 9pm. So if you get there after that, you won’t be able to check in until the next morning.


What to Bring to Hither Hills

Hither Hills camping is unique, because not only do you want to pack the things you would normally bring camping, you should also treat it like a beach trip! This includes making sure to pack things like-
  • Extra sunscreen
  • Beach umbrellas
  • Bathing suits/ beach coverups
  • Beach chairs
  • Hats
  • Sunglasses
  • Water bottles
  • ** Canopy tent! I include this because this Montauk campground has no shaded areas. We have a 12-foot tent that we set up over our site. This gives us a reprieve from the sun during the day, and an area to eat meals and chill out under.

For your camping trip itself, you can bring the usual gear-
  • Tent
  • Sleeping bag
  • Pillow
  • Cooler with food supplies
  • Lawn chairs
  • Flashlights/ headlamps
  • Cooking supplies
  • Lantern lights
  • ** Small fire pits. These are allowed in the low season, but not the high season.
  • ** Portable grills- there are no grills available at Hither Hills, so you must bring your own if you want to cook food.

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Things to do in Montauk


I love the fact that Hither Hills is just a short drive to Montauk Village where you can find tasty restaurants, souvenir shops and a fun bars! A whole post can be made just on exploring things to do Montauk. But for the sake of keeping things brief, I’ll just relay a few of my favorites.


RESTAURANTS AND BARS

  • Joni's - Casual food & surfer vibes with outdoor seating.
  • Hampton Chutney - Vibe, location and food is great!
  • La Fondita - Fun tacos with twinkly lights.
  • Sole East Resort - Fancy spa day with eats and drinks.
  • The Surf Lodge - Super popular, classic Montauk spot. You might need reservations.
  • Sel Rose - Gorgeous oyster bar.
  • Ditch Witch - Cute food truck in the Ditch Plains parking lot. Fresh food & convenient!
  • Navy Beach - Scenic restaurant on a man-made beach.
  • Inlet Seafood Restaurant - Fresh seafood restaurant owned by 6 local fishermen.
  • Montauk Brewing Company - Not actually a brewery, but it's still a fun place to come have some Montauk beer! No inside area, just a few standing tables outside.



COFFEE

  • Hampton Coffee Company- this is always the first coffee place we hit up when we come to Montauk! It’s right in the village, so super convenient.
  • Left Hand Coffee- Located right next to Jonis, it's a cute place with friendly staff!
  • Corso Coffee at Gurney’s - cozy cafe in the lobby of one of Montauk’s most exclusive hotels! It’s right down the street from Hither Hills, so you don’t have to go that far!
  • Jack’s Stir Brew Coffee
  • Montauk Bake Shoppe

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ACTIVITIES

  • Camp Hero State Park - a decommissioned military base with a variety of nature activities. Including including woodsy picnic areas, scenic trails, beachfront, and cliffs. A lot of the old military structures are still there. It's rumored to have been the site of top-secret government experiments, and the inspiration for the mind control labs in the show Stranger Things! $8 entrance fee.
  • Walking Dunes - The namesake is because these dunes move 3.5 inches every year due to the wind! They have migrated a mile over the last 100 years. Either way, it's a very pretty trail for a small day hike.
  • Montauk Lighthouse- This is the eastern-most point of Long Island, it's a breathtaking lighthouse built in 1797. Parking is $8 (after 4pm it's free), and adult admission is $13.
  • Montauk Point State Park - Once you've parked near the lighthouse, you can also explore the area! There are lots of trails, as well as small beach areas.
  • Shadmoor State Park - A stunning park along the beach featuring bluffs, wetlands, and hiking trails. No parking fees, but the parking area is small. Come early.



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♥♥♥ Follow me on Instagram!  @chantillysongs




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Brunch at Serra by Birreria Eataly in NYC

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Are you looking to have a nice brunch at Serra by Birreria Eataly in NYC? You’re in the right spot!

Whether you’re a foodie, want to try out a unique place to dine in NYC, or are simply looking to grab a drink in Flatiron, Serra by Birreria is the perfect place!

This past fall and winter, I was invited to stop by Serra by Birreria at Eataly to experience their brunch menu and decor. Of course I said yes, as I’d been ogling this place on Instagram for such a long time!

Serra by Birreria has some well-known buzz on social media for their Instagrammable rooftop space. In fact, this place is an influencer hotspot. They even have a corner specifically designed so that people can take photos (and it's always immaculately decorated.)

However, this gorgeous NYC restaurant offers more than just a pretty interior. The menu is inspired by the Italian countryside. And if you're thinking that sounds delicious- it is!

Whether you’re coming here for fall, winter, spring, or summer- Serra by Birreria in New York is a great place to get an amazing meal and take home some amazing photos (and spoiler, everyone back at home will be jealous.)

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Dining at The Greens Pier 17 in NYC

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Are you looking to have a nice meal at The Greens Pier 17 NYC? You’re in the right spot!

If you’re anything like me, you've heard a lot of buzz about The Greens Pier 17 New York. The breezy rooftop space reconfigured itself in 2020, in an attempt to fulfill the demand for socially-distant dining. It was actually one of the first restaurants of its kind to adapt a full-scale overhaul to accommodate this need!

The original idea of The Greens at pier 17 NYC, is that people could go out and enjoy a nice meal, while also being safe.

Nowadays, the main reason that people love to visit The Greens at Pier 17 is its lavish seasonal setups. The rooftop switches from private mini-lawns in the summer to cozy cabins in the winter!

The menu changes as well- going from hearty dishes in the fall and winter, to light and refreshing fare in the warmer months.

Not to mention, the amount space you get while dining on this Pier 17 rooftop restaurant is positively luxurious for NYC dining. And the views of Manhattan and Brooklyn Bridge are unparalleled.

Whether you’re looking to experience the rooftop cabins at Pier 17, or see the Pier 17 rooftop lawns, you’ll find something to like here for sure!

Luckily, I’ve been to The Greens at Pier 17 New York both in the winter and summer seasons. I loved it both times. So I wanted to give you a little recap of my experiences!


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31 NYC Micro Influencers to Follow


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If you’re looking for some new NYC micro influencers to check out, boy have I got some good recommendations for you!

In case you’re not sure what a micro influencer is- it's simply someone who has trust and influence with a community that they’ve built on their social media platforms. It's just like traditional influencers with 1M+ followers, only on a smaller scale.

It’s no secret that I love following NYC micro influencers… I am one after all! These influencers on Instagram are giving fresh inspiration, knowledge, and entertainment every single day. Some of them have great product recommendations, some have interesting stories to tell, and others just have a killer aesthetic!

Every day, I wake up and look forward to what they're going to post next. That’s why I’ve had such a great time compiling this greatest-hits list of my favorite New York micro influencers

I’m so excited that I finally get to share my go-to girls with you!

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KJP Sweater Review - Big Cozy Leaf, Evergreen, & Cozy Cabin Moose

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Searching for a KJP sweater review? Good news- You’re in the right place!

Let me guess- you’ve been seeing Kiel James Patrick sweaters all over your Instagram for awhile now. Maybe you saw that famous video of the jack o’lantern pouring a latte into his face (while of course, wearing the KJP pumpkin sweater.)

Or maybe you’ve simply seen your favorite of influencer wearing their KJP leaf sweater while foliage peeping and pumpkin picking their way across the northeast.

I totally get it! I was charmed by the aesthetic too. Kiel James Patrick sweaters ooze New England charm and warmth. Makes you think of the coziest days having apple cider in the pumpkin patch, and hot cocoa watching the at home snow fall.

Like you, I’ve been seeing them year after year on my favorite bloggers and influencers, and searching for KJP sweater reviews. After so much time lusting, this is the year that I finally decided to pull the trigger order a KJP sweater of my very own!


And guess what else- I didn’t order just one… I ended up getting two! (three if you include the one I gifted to my husband then borrowed, haha.)

Since I've had them for awhile, I wanted to a review! I’ll be showing you three designs, two materials, and two fits.

I decided to do a Kiel James Patrick sweaters review for a few reasons-

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