campground near Manhattan NY?

We have stayed at Liberty Harbor. Just across the river from Manhattan.

Not as close but we'll be staying in a county park on Long Island this summer and taking the train into Manhattan for the day. Really depends on what you are looking for (for us, the kids are going to love the train ride into the city so it's part of the trip)

I believe Liberty Harbor is easily the closest one but it's pretty much just a parking lot. Also it's not cheap, at 34' plus your tow vehicle, you'll be over the 45' site length so it will cost your $100/night.

If the purpose of the trip is to visit Manhattan, and if you are doing late-night stuff, then consider that the Liberty Harbor-Manhattan subway runs all night. New Jersey Light Rail (between Liberty Harbor and subway) runs until 2 am. (or it did when we were there 3 years ago). The area seemed safe, plus there was a 24-hour security guard.

michelb wrote:
I believe Liberty Harbor is easily the closest one but it's pretty much just a parking lot. Also it's not cheap, at 34' plus your tow vehicle, you'll be over the 45' site length so it will cost your $100/night.

When I put in the length of our trailer, I am quoted an online rate of about $90/ night. Are you saying that I will be charged extra to park my vehicle because it won't fit on the site or is the difference just the tax?

For those who have stayed there, are there any specific site numbers that you can recommend that will fit my 34' trailer and extended cab truck?

In addition, are there any sites that are preferred by those on this forum for their view, ease of entry, location etc.? Of course, overall length is my priority.

Thanks

Has anyone stayed at Liberty Harbor with at least a 34' long trailer plus extended cab tow vehicle, or equivalent? I am curious about the actual space available at the sites, from people who have experienced it.

kelvingrove wrote:

michelb wrote:
I believe Liberty Harbor is easily the closest one but it's pretty much just a parking lot. Also it's not cheap, at 34' plus your tow vehicle, you'll be over the 45' site length so it will cost your $100/night.

When I put in the length of our trailer, I am quoted an online rate of about $90/ night. Are you saying that I will be charged extra to park my vehicle because it won't fit on the site or is the difference just the tax?

For those who have stayed there, are there any specific site numbers that you can recommend that will fit my 34' trailer and extended cab truck?

In addition, are there any sites that are preferred by those on this forum for their view, ease of entry, location etc.? Of course, overall length is my priority.

Thanks

Stayed at Liberty Park a month ago for 4 nights. First of all-it's a gravel parking lot in front of boat storage. For that $90.00/night you get electricity and water. No sewer (dump station available) or cable TV. It's 5 blocks to the train. Safe to walk during the day - I would be back before dark or take a taxi after dark. It's slim pickings near NY for RV parks. They do reserve the right to charge you to park your tow vehicle if it doesn't fit in your space.

There is a market and mall close by to Liberty RV. You have TO PAY to park at the mall.

CKNSLS wrote:
Stayed at Liberty Park a month ago for 4 nights. First of all-it's a gravel parking lot in front of boat storage. For that $90.00/night you get electricity and water. No sewer (dump station available) or cable TV. It's 5 blocks to the train. Safe to walk during the day - I would be back before dark or take a taxi after dark. It's slim pickings near NY for RV parks. They do reserve the right to charge you to park your tow vehicle if it doesn't fit in your space.

There is a market and mall close by to Liberty RV. You have TO PAY to park at the mall.

CKNSLS - Thanks for your response. I was hoping to send you a PM but I am not able to...:(

You are paying $90 a night for the location. Anywhere you are in NY you will pay way more than you normally would anywhere else. Consider that commuter train tickets cost upwards of $20 each and you will spend an hour or more on the train each way, whether you are staying on Long Island at the County Campground in Bethpage or upstate at one of the campgrounds along the Hudson, unless you want to drive to Manhattan from the campground still over an hour and find a parking garage for $30 plus a day or less if you park in a city lot outside of Manhattan in one of the other boros. Nothing in NY is inexpensive from gas to restaurants to lodging - the lower ranking hotels outside of the city are $200 a night or more for a room, forget what they cost in Mahhattan. At least with Liberty Harbor for your $90 a night you have security where you are leaving your RV and vehicle and a subway ride (PATH from NJ across the river to Manhattan directly) for a few dollars that takes not much more than 15 minutes.

Thanks for your input 1775. You bring up some excellent, very valid points. You are absolutely right. I don't see an alternative that would work well for our family.

My concern is that I realize that the sites are 45', but having spoken to an employee of the park, it seems that certain sites are wider but shorter and other ones are longer but narrower. I have read reviews of the park and the general complaint is that the spots are really tight. I am trying to determine how tight I feel comfortable with. We have never done this type of camping and I don't know how safe I feel doing it without worrying about someone clipping our trailer or truck as they pull in or out. Some people have complained that they can't open their awning all the way (which won't be an issue for us since I imagine we will be sightseeing all day) and that the neighbor was within 2" of their slide out.

Did you get a sense that this is an issue? Our trailer is 34' plus an extended cab truck.

Many thanks, everyone, for your help!

I posted a picture of a typical site in a similar fopic (click) in General RVing Issues forum