The Pleasure of Doing Something Not Usually Allowed.
City-Kid Review:
I liked when the dog took the fluff.
(There was someone walking their dog at night)
I liked dreaming I was on a boat.
I liked watching you set up the sent.
We did it!
Eight years ago, my partner and I stumbled upon some cosy, green domed tents up on the Great Hill in Central Park.
We enquired of the friendly rangers,’what was going on?’
Why were folks able to camp in Central Park? I mean, don’t the signs say ‘closes at dusk’? Isn’t camping in the park, illegal?
That’s when we discovered the New York Park Rangers Family Camping Programs. The park rangers have tons of great programs all over the city, and camping in city parks is one of them.
Now, to be fair, I only started researching actually how to do family camping a couple of years ago. Although, I passionately desired to get a spot in Central Park it didn’t work out. Camping spots are selected by lottery, so it’s….well…a lottery, if you get a spot.
We have been lucky enough to get spots the last two summers in other city parks. You can read about our Inwood experiences, here. But Central Park has always been the golden goose. Not surprisingly,Central Park is their most popular camping location.
I must say – camping in Central Park is the quietest city park in which we have camped. I guess it shows how well Central Park is paid attention to – it’s certainly well taken care of.
The rangers led us on a night hike through the North Woods, through the ravine, under the two bridges and up around the Pool.
At other family camping sites, Rangers usually light a small fire for the opportunity of making ‘smores. However, fires are not allowed in Central Park. Not to be deterred, the Rangers had an inflatable fire and the sound of a fire crackling on a smart phone. And the ‘smores were graham crackers and some sort of jarred fluff. The kids loved it.
I slept surprisingly well. A fresh breeze blew through the tent and it was peaceful and quiet. Hard to believe we were in the middle of Manhattan.
Birdsong? Breeze? Quiet? Ahhhh.
Need to Knows:
Location: Great Hill, Central Park
Nearest subway: 103rd and 110th Street on the B/C
Cost: Free.
Spots are decided by lottery. You sign up the week prior and they let you know if you have a space. We were waitlisted and then got a spot two days prior.
If it’s the Great Hill, there is a lovely cafe nearby on the corner of 110th and Frederick Douglass Circle – Cafe Amrita. It’s open for breakfast and dinner, so you eat prior to camping and grab a coffee and breakfast from there in the morning.
Information correct at time of writing.
Top-Tip
Apply for all the camping opportunities available – that you think you can access – you are bound to get one!
The season runs from June- September.
You can see all of the remaining opportunities here.
Here is the registration up page.
Do you have a favorite NYC park? Central? Prospect? Alley Pond? What is yours? Please tell us about it in the comments section.
If you go, can you take a photo and post in the CityKidAdventures group? Or post then below. Would love to see them!
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What a fantastic experience and you didn’t have to travel four hours away from home. You’ll be talking about this wonderful, relaxing camping adventure for years. Thanks for sharing.
😘—Jeanne