Sandy Hook Campground Map (click to enlarge)

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Sandy Hook Unit Home Page

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LOCATION

The Sandy Hook Campground (aka Camp Gateway Sandy Hook) is located near Horseshoe Cove on the bay side of the peninsula.

SEASON AND HOURS

The campground at Sandy Hook is typically open from mid-May through mid-October.

TYPE OF CAMPING

Camp Gateway Sandy Hook has walk-in tent camping only. Vehicles are parked at a lot near the road and campers must carry their gear to the campsites. Distances to the sites range from 100 to 250 yards. The parking lot only holds 20 cars, and there are 20 campsites, so if you have multiple cars you may have to park elsewhere.

Each campsite can accommodate up to six people at two tents. No pets are allowed other than service animals.

NUMBER OF SITES

There are twenty campsites at Camp Gateway Sandy Hook that are laid out in five alcoves identified as A through E. Each alcove has at least one site with a covered picnic pavilion. This is not a pavilion that is shared by all campers in an alcove—it is a pavilion specifically for a particular campsite.

B10 at Camp Gateway Sandy Hook has a covered pavilion, Gateway National Recreation Area

Alcoves A and B are closest to the parking lot; E is the farthest from the parking lot.

There are four campsites in the A alcove (Ajax), including one handicap site with a covered pavilion. There is another covered pavilion at site A3.

Handicap site A1 at Camp Gateway Sandy Hook, Gateway National Recreation Area

The B alcove (Plum Beach) has six campsites. B7 and B10 have a covered pavilion. B10 is also one of the larger sites.

B alcove at Camp Gateway Sandy Hook, Gateway National Recreation Area

C alcove (Cannonball) has only two campsites. C11 has a pavilion.

Campsite C11 at Camp Gateway Sandy Hook, Gateway National Recreation Area

D alcove (Dune Grass) has four campsites. D13, D14, and D15 all have pavilions. D16 is the only site without one.

E alcove (Endicott) has four campsites. E18 has a pavilion. E20 is the largest site in the campground.

TERRAIN

All campsites at Camp Gateway Sandy Hook are on level terrain. They are backed up to a forest, so depending on the angle of the sun there may be shade, but none will have shade at all hours of the day. The ground is hard packed sand except for the E alcove, which is much sandier. Those who want to feel like they are on the beach may want to camp there.

AMENITIES

Each campsite has a picnic table, grill, and fire ring. As noted above, some have a covered pavilion for the picnic table. There is no electricity or water at the campsites, though there is a water spigot in front of the A alcove. There is a restroom building with modern toilets and sinks, but no showers. There are outdoor rinse-off showers at each of the beach concession areas.

There are no electrical outlets in the restroom.

RESERVATIONS

Reservations for Camp Gateway Sandy Hook can be made up to six months in advance on-line at Recreation.gov. No walk-ups are allowed. Credit and debit cards are accepted. You can also call Recreation.gov at 1-877-444-6777 to make a reservation on the phone.

FEES

At the time of this writing, camping fees at Camp Gateway Sandy Hook are $30/night. You can camp up to 14 days per year. Keep in mind that camping fees do not include fees for parking at beach parking lots B, C, D, E, G, I, J, and K from Memorial Day through Labor Day. However, you can always walk or bike to the beach for free. The closet beach is 1.5 miles away, but that’s the park’s unofficial nude beach, Gunnison Beach. The next closest beach, North Beach, is 2 miles away.

Current fees are posted on Recreation.gov.

CAMPGROUND RULES

• Check in is noon and check out is 10 AM

• Quiet hours are from 10 PM to 8 AM

• No alcohol or pets allowed

• Six people and two tents (or one tent and a covered shelter) per campsite

• Due to wild animals, place all trash in the dumpster and keep food secured

• Fires are only permitted in the fire ring provided at each campsite

• Firewood cannot be brought into the park. Purchase firewood at the camp store.

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