Camp Gateway - Sandy Hook

What a beautiful place to camp, really. This is a great place to see the stars and enjoy everything Sandy Hook has to offer. In my experiences here, the other campers have been friendly and welcoming and the Rangers here are professional and helpful. Be sure to lock up your food and perishables in the provided steel boxes over night; the racoons here are VERY active and will steal provisions from right under your nose.

Must have a bike to really enjoy this place. Tons of raccoons. We camped there. Tough federal campsites and far parking not conducive to large groups of campers and people but, that's the point. For now...

Pretty basic campsite. That's not necessarily a bad thing, depending on what you're looking for though.nnTo start with, there's toilets, but no showers, and there's no power outlets to charge your phone.nnAlso, they sell firewood and tell you not to collect your own because of plant life in the surrounding woods that may cause rashes. The firewood is about 10 dollars a bundle if you want to buy it. There is some kindling around the campsite grounds you could collect without going into the woods, though, and I imagine that honors the spirit of the rule if not the letter.nnThe people who work here are quite friendly. I was a walk-in, didn't have a reservation, but was able to get a spot. It was $30 dollars, though, so if you're traveling solo it's not what I'd call cheap, but these camps cater mostly to groups and families. It's too small to get away with stealth camping, but you can probably find other areas around the peninsula to camp for free.nnAs a bike camper (as in I biked into Sandy Hook and camped), the area isn't ideal. I visited in early June so i don't know if things are different in the middle of the summer, but most of the buildings were shuttered and the only food and drink available was from food trucks that posted up during the day. I travel pretty light, but also don't require that much. I'm totally happy if I can find a place to charge my phone, buy some fruit and bread, and get some hot water for coffee. Both the campsite and the surroundings area don't measure up in this regard. So, while the place is lovely to bike around, if you camp you should come prepared or be prepared to live in a spartan manner.

This is at parking lot M,the fisherman's trail. Nice walk to the water. Saw seals at the point of Sandy Hook and had a great hike. Scenic views of the ocean,beach, and the New York City skyline. The gun inplacements shown are a special place in history.

There are 20 tent sites spread across four loops. There is NO beach access. Some sites have shelters, others do not. Pay attention when reserving. All sites have a fire pit and picnic table. Sites are walk-in (only about ¼ mile) and carts are available to haul gear. Two water spigots and bathrooms with flush toilets are also on-premise. No electric, hook-ups, or showers. The nearby beaches have outdoor shower facilities though. The racoons are fierce. They will eat through your tent. Use the bear lockers provided to store anything scented.nnActivities abound: hit the beaches for (non-motorized) water sports or sunbathing (Gunnison is the nude beach), learn about the military history of the area on an NPS tour, visit the oldest working lighthouse in the US, walk or bike the multi-use trails, go birding, and more! Nearby Hartshorne Woods Park (Monmouth County Park System) has great hiking and mountain bike trails too.