Camp Gateway - Sandy Hook

Welcome to Gateway National Recreation Area, Sandy Hook Unit. Sandy Hook is known for its beautiful beaches, the Fort Hancock and Sandy Hook Proving Ground National Historic Landmark, and the country's oldest continuing working lighthouse. There are a variety of cultural and recreational opportunities available, including history tours, living history demonstrations, hiking, birding, kayaking, camping, swimming and biking. This campground accommodates tent camping only. Be prepared to walk your gear up to a quarter mile into the sites from the parking area; no cars are permitted in the campground or campsites, and no pets are allowed. All campsites come equipped with a fire ring, charcoal grill, picnic table and food storage container. Flush toilets and running water are available. There are no showers, no electric outlets within the campground and no public wifi. Firewood is available for purchase at the camping check-in office. There is no day use permitted in the campground; all guests must be camping overnight. All Beach Centers have restrooms and outdoor rinse showers. Lifeguards are on duty from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day at five ocean beaches. Please swim only at guarded beaches and only when lifeguards are on duty, and when wading, be aware of sudden drop-offs. If you can't swim, don't go in. Surf fishing is permitted at all beaches except when lifeguards are on duty; the fishing beach and "M" lot are prime spots. Please stick to the posted signs for closures, as they do occur throughout the summer months for endangered shorebird nesting. For a great way to see Sandy Hook by bicycle, the seven-mile multi-use path starts at the park entrance and loops around Fort Hancock, shared by walkers, bicyclists and in-line skaters; bike rentals are available throughout the summer. Hiking trails begin at the Sandy Hook Visitor Center and at Area M near Nine Gun Battery. Walking ocean beaches is permitted, but in spring and summer shorebird nesting season closes some areas. Sandy Hook is a prime spot for birding: try Plum Island, the Spermaceti Cove boardwalk, the Horseshoe Cove salt marsh, North Pond or the fields at Fort Hancock. Non-motorized, car-top boats can be launched from Beach Area C and Horseshoe Cove, and Horseshoe Cove is popular with recreational boaters; landing on the beach with a motorized boat is prohibited. Surfing is allowed on beaches B and C, and windsurfing and kite-boarding are best on the bay across from Beach Area C, where kayak and paddleboard rentals are also available in summer. The North Beach Observation Deck has tables and a view of New York Harbor. Grilling outside of the campground is permitted only at Guardian Park in Fort Hancock. The Visitor Center is located in the Keeper's Quarters adjacent to the lighthouse, and free lighthouse tours with a ranger are offered seasonally; climbers must be at least 48 inches tall to climb. Gateway National Recreation Area exists within one of the most urbanized areas of the country, covering 26,000 acres of New Jersey and three New York City boroughs. Among the urban environment, the park boasts grasslands, woodlands, sand dunes, beaches, ponds, salt marshes and forests. Nearby, Twin Lights New Jersey Historic Site has stood 200 feet above sea level atop the Navesink Highlands as a sentinel over the treacherous coastal waters of northern New Jersey since 1828; named Navesink Lightstation, it became known as the "Twin Lights of Highlands" to those who used its mighty beacons to navigate, and its tower, museum, gift shop and other buildings are open daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. from Memorial Day through Labor Day and Wednesday through Sunday 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. from September through May. The Mount Mitchill Monmouth County Scenic Overlook in Atlantic Highlands sits at 266 feet on the highest natural elevation on the Atlantic seaboard (excluding islands) from Maine to the Yucatan, providing beautiful views of Sandy Hook, Sandy Hook Bay, Raritan Bay and the New York skyline. Hartshorne Woods is a hilly, forested 787-acre Monmouth County park overlooking the Navesink River, among the highest elevations along the Atlantic Coast and a former coastal defense site, known for its challenging trail system and scenic views. Holmdel Park is a 565-acre Monmouth County site featuring a historic farm, an arboretum, fishing, picnic areas, four tennis courts, two playgrounds, ice skating, sledding and 10 miles of trails, including a half-mile paved loop linking the Pond View and Forest Edge areas with group picnic facilities and playgrounds.