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Travel Forum / Travel Types / RV Travel / July 2008Camping on Long Island NY
Anyone ever camp on L.I. New York? My husband recently retired, no pensions, just Social Security and a bit of savings. We recently bought an old Doge class-B Xplorer and plan on a trip to NY in Sept. I looked up campgrounds on L.I. but they're all by resurvation and you need a Green Key card which we don't want the hassle and expense of getting. We also don't want to make resurvations because of my son's job. We may not be able to keep resurvations. There doesn't appear to be any truck stops or rest stops on L.I. either. It looks like we may end up in a WalMart parking lot while there. What was your experience camping on L.I. NY? >Anyone ever camp on L.I. New York? My husband recently retired, no pensions, >just Social Security and a bit of savings. We recently bought an old Doge [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > >What was your experience camping on L.I. NY? I'm sorry I have no answer or advice about LI, NY. But I would like to point out that most folks use Wal-Mart (as Wal-Mart intended) for a single overnight stop while traveling from one point to another rather than as a place to "camp." Staying longer than one overnight is generally discouraged anyway, and is one of the things that leads to municipalities' banning the practice altogether and hurting other RVers. So I hope you'll reconsider using W-M as a "destination." BTW, we have a '95 Dodge Class B (19') which is serving us very well. We bought it in '98 with 25,000 miles on it, and it now has over 186,000. I hope you enjoy yours as much as we enjoy ours. Safe travels. GB in NC >>Anyone ever camp on L.I. New York? My husband recently retired, no >>pensions, [quoted text clipped - 26 lines] > Safe travels. > GB in NC We would not spend more than one night at any one store parking lot as we're aware they're not campgrounds. We are Wal*Mart shoppers so would most likely be buying something most days, even if it's bread, milk, fresh fruit or bottled water for coffee. We would prefer campgrounds but they make it extremely difficult to find one without reservations or purchasing these Green Keys on Long Island. We're also planning to visit relatives upstate NY but campgrounds and rest stops and truck stops are not hard to find once away from the city itself. Our Dodge is 20 years old but in excellent condition, clean and no cigarette, mold or animal smells. I'm not sure of the length. Everything works except the radio. We have to replace that. It has 75,000 miles on it, if the thing hasn't been tampered with. I'm glad to hear you're enjoying yours. :^) Before our trip east we plan to camp at a few local campgrounds for over-nighters and maybe a weekend or two. This will give us a good ideas of what it will be like, what we forgot to load, what we miss etc. >>>It looks like we may end up in a WalMart parking lot while there. >> Staying longer than one overnight is generally discouraged anyway, and >> is one of the things that leads to municipalities' banning the practice >> altogether and hurting other RVers. So I hope you'll reconsider using >> W-M as a "destination." >We would not spend more than one night at any one store parking lot as we're >aware they're not campgrounds. Okay, good. Your statement quoted above wasn't clear about that. It made it sound as though you were planning to "stay" at one. >We would prefer campgrounds but they make it >extremely difficult to find one without reservations or purchasing these >Green Keys on Long Island. Just curious (since it's for sure I'll never be going to LI anyway <g>) -- what is a "Green Key" and how does that deal work? >Before our trip east ... (Where are you now? Just curious.) >... we plan to camp at a few local campgrounds for >over-nighters and maybe a weekend or two. This will give us a good ideas of >what it will be like, what we forgot to load, what we miss etc. Great idea. We should have done that when we bought ours. Instead, we went to a CW (and other RV places) and bought a lot of stuff that we thought we would need for camping. Once we had traveled a bit and learned what our preferred "style" is, we realized we didn't need some of that stuff after all. We had falsely assumed that we'd spend a lot of time in campgrounds. Turns out we're really "RV travelers," not "RV campers." An overnight stop for us is almost always just a convenient (and preferably free <g>) place to sleep while on the way to somewhere -- and it's almost never a campground. (In fact, I can't even remember the last night I stayed in one.) GB in NC >>>>It looks like we may end up in a WalMart parking lot while there. > [quoted text clipped - 18 lines] > >>Before our trip east ... They're some kind of card proving who you are apparently, and they cost around $40 for the season. We will only be in the city for 4 to 5 days, if that. They allow you the use of parks and allow you to make reservations at campgrounds. It sounds like a typical NY scam to make money, like they don't bleed NYers to death already. > (Where are you now? Just curious.) We live just outside of Nashville TN. >>... we plan to camp at a few local campgrounds for >>over-nighters and maybe a weekend or two. This will give us a good ideas [quoted text clipped - 15 lines] > > GB in NC We haven't bought much because we still had stuff from our tent camping trips. This includes a perk pot, bedrolls, camp chairs, pots and pans and the usual plastic "silverware" and cups. I don't think we'll need to buy much. We're not keen on campgrounds either. I don't know what people see in them outside the laundry room and showers. Some as I remember from my tent camping days were overcrowded, noisy and too may had children running wild through the campsites. The last time we camped we left at 2:30 AM to drive over 150 miles home to get some sleep. It was unreal. There was some guy with a radio he refused to shut off, crowing roosters not far from the campsites, a barking dog somewhere nearby, a large motorhome with a generator that ran almost constantly and the man in the tent next to us sounded like a buzz saw on steroids. So yes, even if they were free we wouldn't want to stay at one longer than to do some laundry and take a good shower. >> Just curious (since it's for sure I'll never be going to LI anyway <g>) >> -- what is a "Green Key" and how does that deal work? >They're some kind of card proving who you are apparently, and they cost >around $40 for the season. We will only be in the city for 4 to 5 days, if >that. They allow you the use of parks and allow you to make reservations at >campgrounds. It sounds like a typical NY scam to make money, like they don't >bleed NYers to death already. Wow. Yet another reason to stay away from NYC. I have a very long list already <g>. >We haven't bought much because we still had stuff from our tent camping >trips. This includes a perk pot, bedrolls, camp chairs, pots and pans and >the usual plastic "silverware" and cups. I don't think we'll need to buy >much. For example: We bought a water pressure regulator for hooking up to "city" water -- which we have never yet done (we use the water out of our fresh tank and refill it when it gets low). We also bought a cloth "shoe rack" to mount on the short "wall" under the sofa. Never went anywhere long enough to require that many pairs of shoes, and besides, the space got used by something more important. That kind of stuff. >We're not keen on campgrounds either. I don't know what people see in them >outside the laundry room and showers. Leave off the laundry room, for me. All I want is a clean, hot shower -- and I can get that at a Flying J for a reasonable charge. Nothing else at a campground appeals to me at all for a place to sleep overnight. We live in the middle of nearly 200 acres of dense woods (which we own), overlooking a creek, which I can see now from the huge screen porch where I'm sitting at this moment. We have complete peace and quiet, with a locked gate to ensure that -- and we don't have any neighbors close enough to hear. So I have no desire to pay money to sleep all jammed up against other campers I don't know and probably don't want to know (certain regulars here excepted <g>) and will never see again. In other words, why leave "free" heaven and pay money to go to hell <g>? GB in NC >>> Just curious (since it's for sure I'll never be going to LI anyway <g>) >>> -- what is a "Green Key" and how does that deal work? [quoted text clipped - 39 lines] > > In other words, why leave "free" heaven and pay money to go to hell <g>? Exactly how we feel. :^) You have quite a big place. Although there are others on this road we're also out in the country. It's quiet here and very peaceful. Our Dodge has one of those sit showers which are fine but I have long hair and would rather use a pay shower somewhere. Too much water used to rinse the shampoo out. A pair of decent shoes and a pair of comfy sneakers are all I plan to have onboard. Those with the big rigs probably have no choice but to seek out a campground. Or perhaps some people actually like campgrounds, although I can't imagine why. > GB in NC > Anyone ever camp on L.I. New York? My husband recently retired, no > pensions, just Social Security and a bit of savings. We recently [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > > What was your experience camping on L.I. NY? There was a truck stop on Long Island when I was out there in an 18 wheeler & there was a collection booth at the entrance that collected $5.00 just to enter & when I left they collected another $5.00 per hour that I stayed past 1 hour. Not a place to overnight, not even in a truck. I drove back to NJ to spend the night!! I would also not count on being allowed to overnight in a Wal-Mart parking lot either. "No Overnight Parking, violators will be towed" signs have started appearing at many stores in NY since the 1st of this year. Tom J >> Anyone ever camp on L.I. New York? My husband recently retired, no >> pensions, just Social Security and a bit of savings. We recently [quoted text clipped - 19 lines] > > Tom J Thank you for that information Tom. The only option in that case would be to find a quiet backstreet in one of the Boroughs and quietly spend the night. It is a van conversion, not an obvious motor-home. There are cars and things parked on the streets of NYC everywhere. I don't think it would be illegal to park it overnight where parking is legal. After all, people do visit from out of state and must park their vehicles somewhere. What do you think? >>> Anyone ever camp on L.I. New York? My husband recently retired, no >>> pensions, just Social Security and a bit of savings. We recently [quoted text clipped - 28 lines] > all, people do visit from out of state and must park their vehicles > somewhere. What do you think? You'll have to get up early because of alternate side of the street parking regulations in New York City.  SignatureJanet Wilder Bad spelling. Bad punctuation Good Friends. Good Life >>>> Anyone ever camp on L.I. New York? My husband recently retired, >>>> no [quoted text clipped - 36 lines] > You'll have to get up early because of alternate side of the street > parking regulations in New York City. Not only that, the cost of parking would stop me. Before I drove a truck for a few years after "retiring", I went to NYC 2 times a year for 12 years and never once ventured across the river from NJ in my vehicle. Unfortunately the campground we stayed at all 24 times is no longer there. How many remember New Yorker Trailer City in North Bergen? It was nothing but a paved parking lot with full hookups if you had enough cords & hoses to reach the poles. The transit bus stopped right at the gate and let you off at Grand Central Station 15 to 20 minutes later. It was a 15 minute walk from there to where I worked on 5th Ave when there. On several trips we took different tour bus trips right from the campground and saw NYC from top to bottom without the hassle of parking & cheaper than tolls and parking. BTW, even back then, it was common to see hoodlums breaking into all type vehicles in broad daylight. Tom J >>>>> Anyone ever camp on L.I. New York? My husband recently retired, no >>>>> pensions, just Social Security and a bit of savings. We recently [quoted text clipped - 44 lines] > parking. BTW, even back then, it was common to see hoodlums breaking into > all type vehicles in broad daylight. Crime in NYC is way down from what it once was I read online. Believe me, I wish my son would move somewhere else. > Tom J << brevity snip >> > You'll have to get up early because of alternate side of the street > parking regulations in New York City. Yeah, we're aware of that. That's why our first thought was a Wally World parking lot for the night. If that don't pan out then a sidestreet somewhere will have to do. >It looks like we may end up in a WalMart parking lot while >there. Walmart isn't meant to be used for longer than overnight. They aren't offering a campsite, they're offering a place to sleep. I've stayed on Long Island, but at a friend's place. The LIE will beat up your rig..... can you say potholes? It was so bad I paid over $100.00 to get on the Port Jeff ferry to Connecticut. Hunter >>It looks like we may end up in a WalMart parking lot while >>there. [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > > Hunter I would probably drive back to Texas just to get away from all those Yankees. Dmax >>It looks like we may end up in a WalMart parking lot while >>there. [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > > Hunter Unfortunately my son lives in an apartment building so we wont have access to someone's yard or driveway. He lives in Queens which would also make camping at a L.I. campground not only difficult, but inconvenient and expensive. Yes, I've driven on the L.I. Expressway, also called the longest parking lot in America. We don't relish the long drive from Queens to L.I. every night just to sleep. We're thinking of the gas usage @ $4gal also of a 120 mile round trip every day. I'm also wondering if it would be safe and legal to leave it parked on the street if we decide to stay at his apartment while we're there. Google didn't bring up anything specific as the city laws governing van conversions parked in any of the Boroughs. > Unfortunately my son lives in an apartment building so we wont have > access to someone's yard or driveway. He lives in Queens which would [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > bring up anything specific as the city laws governing van conversions > parked in any of the Boroughs. Not knowledgeable about the city -- dislike the place but have you considered staying north of the city and taking the train into the city. There are campgrounds in Dutchess county and the trains run from there into Grand Central. SignatureJim & Barb - Not all those who wander are lost >> Unfortunately my son lives in an apartment building so we wont have >> access to someone's yard or driveway. He lives in Queens which would also [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > There are campgrounds in Dutchess county and the trains run from there > into Grand Central. If we're going to be stuck in the city without a vehicle to get around, we may as well fly there and stay at a Hotel. The subway and buses don't go everywhere and it can be very time consuming to get around. We found that out the last time we flew there. We were lost without a vehicle and never did get to Rockaway and Coney Island. From where we were staying it was just too many buses and trains. > If we're going to be stuck in the city without a vehicle to get around, > we may as well fly there and stay at a Hotel. The subway and buses don't > go everywhere and it can be very time consuming to get around. We found > that out the last time we flew there. We were lost without a vehicle and > never did get to Rockaway and Coney Island. From where we were staying > it was just too many buses and trains. The main problem in the city as others have said is finding a parking place where you are going. Even if cost is not a factor it can be difficult at best. Your son should be able to help you determine the parking availability where you want to go better than those of us that are not there. SignatureJim & Barb - Not all those who wander are lost >> If we're going to be stuck in the city without a vehicle to get >> around, we may as well fly there and stay at a Hotel. The subway and [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > parking availability where you want to go better than those of us that > are not there. Having grown up o the west bank of the Hudson River, as well as attending high school for two years in Manhattan, I can tell you that parking in 4 out of the 5 boroughs is a challenge. Staten Island isn't too bad. Even if one is lucky enough to find a parking space, it still requires up to half a mile of walking to get from the parked car to the destination. (I had aunts in Sunnyside Queens and in the Flatbush and Coney Island areas of Brooklyn). I learned a long, long time ago to leave the car in Jersey and take public transportation. If the weather was good and I was in Mid-town Manhattan, I walked from Penn Station or the Port Authority bus station. Parking a van with out of state plates in New York City is looking for trouble, IMHO. If you are considering flying in and renting a car, you might check out the airport on Long Island via Southwest Airlines. It will be a lot cheaper than the other NY airports. I'm flying to Central Jersey in early August and am coming in to Philly. It's $250 cheaper and the car rental prices are a lot less, too. SignatureJanet Wilder Bad spelling. Bad punctuation Good Friends. Good Life >>> If we're going to be stuck in the city without a vehicle to get around, >>> we may as well fly there and stay at a Hotel. The subway and buses don't [quoted text clipped - 21 lines] > Parking a van with out of state plates in New York City is looking for > trouble, IMHO. I tend to agree. We're a little nervous about that. > If you are considering flying in and renting a car, you might check out > the airport on Long Island via Southwest Airlines. It will be a lot > cheaper than the other NY airports. I'm flying to Central Jersey in early > August and am coming in to Philly. It's $250 cheaper and the car rental > prices are a lot less, too. You're talking about McArthur airport. We're living on a limited income and can't afford to fly to NY and then pay for rental cars and Hotels. That would also necessitate paying a small fortune to drive up to the Cooperstown area to visit relatives (and pay for hotels or motels there) and back to the city in a rental car. We bought the Dodge so we could afford to take trips. Otherwise, why bother having it? Even with the cost of gas it's less than flying, renting cars, having to eat in restaurants and staying at hotels/motels. All our relatives are on the east cost. We don't plan on making trips west and staying in campgrounds. >> If we're going to be stuck in the city without a vehicle to get around, >> we may as well fly there and stay at a Hotel. The subway and buses don't [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > parking availability where you want to go better than those of us that are > not there. This is true. There is parking as he says. After all, residents there own cars and find spots away from meters. What he doesn't know are the laws, if any, regarding these van conversions and other types of motorhomes. > If we're going to be stuck in the city without a vehicle to get around, > we may as well fly there and stay at a Hotel. The subway and buses don't > go everywhere and it can be very time consuming to get around. We found > that out the last time we flew there. We were lost without a vehicle and > never did get to Rockaway and Coney Island. From where we were staying > it was just too many buses and trains. The subway goes to both Rockaway and Coney Island. BTDT Check out some of the motels near La Guardia Airport. They are usually a couple of cents cheaper than the ones closest to JFK. Both airports are in Queens. It's not difficult at all to get to a subway line from either airport. Rockaway is also in Queens. There used to be an awesome knish place on the boardwalk, but that was in 1964. SignatureJanet Wilder Bad spelling. Bad punctuation Good Friends. Good Life >> If we're going to be stuck in the city without a vehicle to get around, >> we may as well fly there and stay at a Hotel. The subway and buses don't [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > airport. Rockaway is also in Queens. There used to be an awesome knish > place on the boardwalk, but that was in 1964. If we ever inherit money from a long lost relative that will be the route we'll take. :^) Meanwhile our traveling will have to be done in the RV. Do you remember the Big Bow Wow and Pizza City on Woodhaven/Cross Bay Blvd? Both are now gone. I'm familiar with Queens because I grew up there years ago. It's changed so much since I left I no longer recognize many neighborhoods. When my mother still lived there, not far from LaGuardia, I would fly in and stay at her place. I constantly got lost using Public Transportation. I'm one of those unfortunates who can get lost walking around the block. I invariably got on the wrong bus or the subway going the opposite way I needed to go. My husband is totally unfamiliar with NYC. >> Unfortunately my son lives in an apartment building so we wont have >> access to someone's yard or driveway. He lives in Queens which would [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > city. There are campgrounds in Dutchess county and the trains run from > there into Grand Central. There are also campgrounds in New Jersey. Many are right off a bus route to NYC. SignatureJanet Wilder Bad spelling. Bad punctuation Good Friends. Good Life >>> Unfortunately my son lives in an apartment building so we wont have >>> access to someone's yard or driveway. He lives in Queens which would [quoted text clipped - 15 lines] > There are also campgrounds in New Jersey. Many are right off a bus route > to NYC. I don't think we'd care to have to take buses and trains from eastern Queens to NJ at night. That's quite a trip. My son isn't near Port Authority. That's why we bought the Van, so we would have the convenience of a vehicle while there. > >>> Unfortunately my son lives in an apartment building so we wont have > >>> access to someone's yard or driveway. He lives in Queens which would [quoted text clipped - 29 lines] > > - Show quoted text - NYC is not a good place to drive. It is especially difficult when you don't know where you are going. It is even worse when you are driving an oversized vehicle. NYC is not cheap and you cannot expect to 'do' NYC without spending bucks. You could compremise by staying elsewhere and using public transportation. The other alternative is to pick up your son and take him out of the city. Time away from the city can be a welcome relief for a NYC dweller. There are lots of great places to explore 100 miles in every direction from there. <brevity snipped> NYC is not a good place to drive. It is especially difficult when you don't know where you are going. It is even worse when you are driving an oversized vehicle. NYC is not cheap and you cannot expect to 'do' NYC without spending bucks. You could compremise by staying elsewhere and using public transportation.an armed guard is foolhardy. The other alternative is to pick up your son and take him out of the city. Time away from the city can be a welcome relief for a NYC dweller. There are lots of great places to explore 100 miles in every direction from there. ````````` We're familiar with Queens County. You're thinking of Manhattan. Our Dodge Xplorer is only slightly longer than a regular van. The average city person seeing it wouldn't realize it's some kind of camper type vehicle. Camping somewhere outside the city is a possibility for those who can afford to rent a car once in the city. But traveling from outside NYC into the city, then out to Queens is quite a trip by bus and train. Then to return to NJ or upstate after dark without an armed guard is plain foolhardy. No older couple in their right mind would do that. We would also be stuck without a vehicle while in the city unless we rented one. I think I mentioned that several times already. Queens is not like Manhattan. It's easier to get around by car or van there and there is parking off the main drags. When people think of NYC they think of Manhattan. Take my son out of the city for several days? He and his wife work fulltime so that's not an option. Also, the Xplorer is too small to sleep 4 people even if they could get the time off. The whole idea of buying the Xplorer was so we would have a vehicle while visiting relatives in NY, TN and GA and that we could avoid the high cost of flying, Hotels, Motels, renting cars, paying for cabs and eating in restaurants. > Anyone ever camp on L.I. New York? My husband recently retired, no > pensions, just Social Security and a bit of savings. We recently bought an [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > > What was your experience camping on L.I. NY? We stayed at one near Islip in the 1980's. Then took the LI railway into NYC. >> Anyone ever camp on L.I. New York? My husband recently retired, no >> pensions, just Social Security and a bit of savings. We recently bought [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > We stayed at one near Islip in the 1980's. Then took the LI railway into > NYC. Did you need a Green Key card and resurvations back then? Someone told me NY discourages people from out of state from camping there on the Island because they're so crowded and campgrounds are so few. We would need our vehicle for getting around the city, so taking the LIRR in and out is not an option. >>> Anyone ever camp on L.I. New York? My husband recently retired, no >>> pensions, just Social Security and a bit of savings. We recently bought [quoted text clipped - 17 lines] > We would need our vehicle for getting around the city, so taking the LIRR > in and out is not an option. Never heard of a green key, and using the car in the city is close to idiocy. I used to travel to NY for businsess and pleasure and rarely drove in the city. Bus, taxi and subway are much easier and lots cheaper. Except on a Sunday, you can not find cheap or free parking. >>>> Anyone ever camp on L.I. New York? My husband recently retired, no >>>> pensions, just Social Security and a bit of savings. We recently bought [quoted text clipped - 22 lines] > drove in the city. Bus, taxi and subway are much easier and lots cheaper. > Except on a Sunday, you can not find cheap or free parking. The last time we drove there, several years ago, we found parking in Queens. You have to look at the sidestreets away from the subway entrances and main blvds and Avenues. Most of the sidestreets still don't have meters. When we went into Manhattan, a real madhouse, a looney bin, we took the subway. >The last time we drove there, several years ago, we found parking in Queens. >You have to look at the sidestreets away from the subway entrances and main >blvds and Avenues. Most of the sidestreets still don't have meters. When we >went into Manhattan, a real madhouse, a looney bin, we took the subway. Since you seem to know all of the answers, what in the world did you ask for? Hunter >> We would need our vehicle for getting around the city, so taking the LIRR >> in and out is not an option. [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] >in the city. Bus, taxi and subway are much easier and lots cheaper. Except >on a Sunday, you can not find cheap or free parking. I echo that. It's been a few years since I had the unfortunate occasion to be in that hellhole. Absent a known paid parking place, I'd not dream of taking a car to NYC. Parking on the street is a crapshoot with the odds heavily in favor of the house. I'm a car guy to my core but when in NYC, I used taxis and the subway. If you really must go to that place, I suggest parking in an outer area, say, in PA, and taking the train in. Use taxis or the subway from there. John -- John De Armond See my website for my current email address http://www.neon-john.com http://www.johndearmond.com <-- best little blog on the net! Tellico Plains, Occupied TN Who is General Failure and why is he reading my disk? >Anyone ever camp on L.I. New York? My husband recently retired, no pensions, >just Social Security and a bit of savings. We recently bought an old Doge [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > >What was your experience camping on L.I. NY? There is state park camping at Hither Hills, Wildwood, Hecksherand probably more state parks. I did not check prices but they should not be too bad. Hmmm, tried a reservation. Hecksher is closed or full in September but Wildwood has space at $14/night. I make reservations often if I expect a busy time of year. OTOH they also take walkups though Reserveamerica doesn't mention it. We just did that through the Catskills a few weeks ago. LI is a pita to get to and heavily populated. If you really want to go there I would do it mid week and do the trip through NY in the wee hours of the morning. The campsite parks seem to be at the far end away from NYC. Make reservations as close as you can to when you are going but use the system. If you tell us a bit more about what you are trying to do there we might have better suggestions. nothermark >>Anyone ever camp on L.I. New York? My husband recently retired, no >>pensions, [quoted text clipped - 28 lines] > > nothermark We're planning to visit our son in Queens, one of the city boroughs where there are no campgrounds. Our Class-B Dodge is a little longer than the large vans seen all over cities so we believe it would be legal to park in on the streets with other cars, vans and trucks. From the websites we've looked at, the campgrounds on L.I. all require "Green Key" cards and reservations. We don't want to make reservations since we're working around my son's job. If we make them and he's out of state we will lose our money or go and not see our son. Unless we can visit with him and his family, there is no reason to take the trip. We're on a limited income and not willing to pay for a Green Key and pay for reservations we can't cancel. It's also quite a hassle just getting a GK card from what I understand. The other issue is the inconvenience of driving at least 60 miles one way from Queens just to sleep at a campground, then another 60 miles back to the city in the morning. Gas in NYC is now over $4g and when you're worn out from a day of sight-seeing and visiting, you don't want to deal with a 60 mile drive in heavy traffic just to sleep somewhere. I think anyone can understand that. The other option is to stay at my son's apartment and leave the Dodge on the street. But is it legal to leave a Van conversion on the street with other vehicles? It should be. I've seen some large vehicles parked on the streets there on my past visits. >>>Anyone ever camp on L.I. New York? My husband recently retired, no >>>pensions, [quoted text clipped - 49 lines] >street with other vehicles? It should be. I've seen some large vehicles >parked on the streets there on my past visits. Parking in NY - Legal is one question, smart is another. I woud not leave a vehicle on the street in NY overnight and expect it to there and in the same condition as I left it in the next day. The green key cards are Suffolk County for county parks. I was looking at state parks. Two different systems. The card is for one year but either way you end up at the east end of the island. Check New Jersey or Connecticut, they are closer to where you want to be. I think you should rethink what you want. There are good reasons why parking outside the city and using Public transportation would be a lot smarter. Either go in or have him come out and meet you. Take a tent for him if he needs one and have a nice visit. >>But is it legal to leave a Van conversion on the >>street with other vehicles? It should be. I've seen some large vehicles >>parked on the streets there on my past visits. >Parking in NY - Legal is one question, smart is another. I woud not >leave a vehicle on the street in NY overnight and expect it to there >and in the same condition as I left it in the next day. You took the words right off my fingertips. I hate to leave my van anywhere that I can't see it. (Obviously, I have to sometimes, but I do it very reluctantly.) It's just too tempting -- with good reason. There are a heck of a lot of toys, tools, gadgets, etc., in there. Even at my house (in a rural area, way back in the woods behind a locked gate) I keep it in a locked garage. Several years ago it was broken into in the parking lot of a nice motel near Chapel Hill, NC, while I was sleeping in a room some 50' away. Everything was rifled through and $1800 worth of my stuff was stolen. I know what that feels like, and I don't want it to happen again. I especially wouldn't park it for long on a city street, even in daylight. And there's no way in hell would I leave it overnight in NYC. A motor home is a thief's jackpot. At least mine would be.... GB in NC >>>But is it legal to leave a Van conversion on the >>>street with other vehicles? It should be. I've seen some large vehicles [quoted text clipped - 22 lines] > > GB in NC So you don't think spending the night in a Wal*Mart parking lot to sleep would be safe? The stores are open 24/7 with constant people coming and going, even in the smaller towns around Nashville. We'll have a cellphone with us in case someone tries to get "in" our RV. >> I especially wouldn't park it for long on a city street, even in >> daylight. And there's no way in hell would I leave it overnight in NYC. >> A motor home is a thief's jackpot. At least mine would be.... >> >> GB in NC >So you don't think spending the night in a Wal*Mart parking lot to sleep >would be safe? The stores are open 24/7 with constant people coming and >going, even in the smaller towns around Nashville. We'll have a cellphone >with us in case someone tries to get "in" our RV. You misunderstood. I was talking about leaving our van unattended on a city street while we sleep somewhere else. We've spent any number of nights all over the eastern US in Wal-Mart parking lots, truck stops, highway rest areas (parked right in front of signs that said "No overnight parking" <g>), police department parking lots, etc. We never felt unsafe at any of them -- if we had, we would have moved on. GB in NC >>> I especially wouldn't park it for long on a city street, even in >>> daylight. And there's no way in hell would I leave it overnight in NYC. [quoted text clipped - 17 lines] > >GB in NC "What he said". Seriously, it's NY City, not Walmart that I don't trust. Too many folks who think you are part of the world that owes them a living. Do you know that the trucking companies prohibit parking overnight near NYC? You are an easier target than a truck. How long does it take 4 or 5 men and a crowbar to do serious damage just getting into the vehicle to find out that you are in it? Or to clean out anything interesting whether you are there or not. You really need to figure out the transit system. One of the many reasons NY state sucks is that most of the 12 million greater NY city residents don't drive, get everywhere on mass transit, and think we all should do the same so they pass stupid laws penalizing the 6 million of us upstaters who can't get most places without a car. nothermark Here's a thought. Call some bed and breakfasts, explain the situation.... making sure they understand you don't have a big motorhome. If you throw some money at them, especially during the week, I bet one would let you stay in their parking lot/driveway. I would try that. Hunter > Here's a thought. > [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > > Hunter Bed and breakfasts in NYC? There are hotels, hostels and perhaps still a few motels, but I never heard of B&B's there. >Bed and breakfasts in NYC? There are hotels, hostels and perhaps still a >few motels, but I never heard of B&B's there. Um, the subject line says camping on Long Island. Hunter >>Bed and breakfasts in NYC? There are hotels, hostels and perhaps still a >>few motels, but I never heard of B&B's there. > > Um, the subject line says camping on Long Island. > > Hunter Yes, I asked if anyone here camped there. Apparently no one on this group has. >>>Bed and breakfasts in NYC? There are hotels, hostels and perhaps still a >>>few motels, but I never heard of B&B's there. [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] >Yes, I asked if anyone here camped there. Apparently no one on this group >has. I have concluded from the thread early on, that there are few, if any, practical camping opportunities on Long Island. There is an RV Park in Jersey City but nothing else very close of note. That being said, you have had dozens of comments and suggestions but have waved off every one. This is a huge thread with virtually no solution and you really don't seem to want one. Why don't you pay for your son's plane fair to come visit you? It would be easier overall. But, I have concluded that you are merely trolling. --- $$$$$$$$$%% Yours truly, Johnny Dollar! >>>Bed and breakfasts in NYC? There are hotels, hostels and perhaps still a >>>few motels, but I never heard of B&B's there. [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > Yes, I asked if anyone here camped there. Apparently no one on this group > has. You got answers from people who camped on LI, and you blew them all off with stating you could only camp in the city. Troll. http://nysparks.state.ny.us/parks/info.asp?parkID=153 Cheaper and much easier to get on the train to Penn Station and use the subway, etc to get a round. >>>> I especially wouldn't park it for long on a city street, even in >>>> daylight. And there's no way in hell would I leave it overnight in NYC. [quoted text clipped - 31 lines] > all should do the same so they pass stupid laws penalizing the 6 > million of us upstaters who can't get most places without a car. NYC sure isn't the best place to have to drive through, that's for sure. But without a car there are many places very difficult to get to using public transportation. I couldn't find any way to get to Keil Bros. in Douglaston for example. One time I was staying in Rego Park and to get to another friend's house in Bayside took almost 3 hours plus a long walk from the bus stop. What an aggravating hassle. By car it would have been less than an hour. Keil Bros. only 30 minutes. So you can see why I would rather have a vehicle when there. 2 years ago when I flew there for a visit an old friend with a car and I went on what we called a nostalgia tour of all the places we hung out as teenagers. We covered a good part of Queens in an afternoon. Using public transportation, it wouldn't have been possible. > nothermark >>> I especially wouldn't park it for long on a city street, even in >>> daylight. And there's no way in hell would I leave it overnight in NYC. [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > You misunderstood. I was talking about leaving our van unattended on a > city street while we sleep somewhere else. Oh, now I see. I know what you mean. :^) That's why we planned to stay in the van overnight. I wouldn't be comfortable with leaving it on most streets, especially since I'm not familiar with the neighborhoods there anymore. Some are quite safe with little crime and others you wouldn't want to walk through in broad daylight. > We've spent any number of nights all over the eastern US in Wal-Mart > parking lots, truck stops, highway rest areas (parked right in front of > signs that said "No overnight parking" <g>), police department parking > lots, etc. We never felt unsafe at any of them -- if we had, we would > have moved on. What where you traveling in? > GB in NC >> We've spent any number of nights all over the eastern US in Wal-Mart >> parking lots, truck stops, highway rest areas (parked right in front of >> signs that said "No overnight parking" <g>), police department parking >> lots, etc. We never felt unsafe at any of them -- if we had, we would >> have moved on. >What where you traveling in? Our Class B. GB in NC >>> We've spent any number of nights all over the eastern US in Wal-Mart >>> parking lots, truck stops, highway rest areas (parked right in front of [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > > GB in NC Where did you dump your black water and refill your water tank? We're figuring to stop at regular campgrounds to dump our blackwater, refill the water tank and take real showers as needed. As you probably sensed from my past posts we're not fond of campgrounds. :^) >Where did you dump your black water and refill your water tank? We're >figuring to stop at regular campgrounds to dump our blackwater, refill the >water tank and take real showers as needed. Our black tank is almost always just a "yellow tank" <g>. (Public restrooms, for more serious "business," are abundant.) We don't use much water when we flush, so even thought the tank is small it takes a while to fill up. And we don't put paper into it, so I usually dump it as I drive along my long gravel driveway through the woods on the return home. (It's mostly just water anyway. No big deal.) As for showers, we use truck stops. We have no inside shower in our Class B, although we do have an outside one that we use when privacy permits (which isn't often, given our traveling style). And to refill a fresh water tank, all it takes is a faucet and a person willing to let you hook up your hose to it. (Virtually every business has water and an outside faucet.) I've done this at truck stops and once at a small-town LP gas dealer after we refilled. I've also done it at Wal-Marts -- they usually have a faucet at the back side of the building near the auto repair department. I find that a polite request always works. I've never been turned down for water. And I've always offered to pay for it and have never been charged. >As you probably sensed from my >past posts we're not fond of campgrounds. :^) Well, you were subtle, but I picked up on it. GB in NC > >>> We've spent any number of nights all over the eastern US in Wal-Mart > >>> parking lots, truck stops, highway rest areas (parked right in front of [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > water tank and take real showers as needed. As you probably sensed from my > past posts we're not fond of campgrounds. :^) Try the marinas on the south shore. > So you don't think spending the night in a Wal*Mart parking lot to sleep > would be safe? The stores are open 24/7 with constant people coming and > going, even in the smaller towns around Nashville. We'll have a cellphone > with us in case someone tries to get "in" our RV. I really don't think you're going to find many WalMarts that will allow you to park overnight. Local ordinances are very likely to prohibit that. SignatureYou can trust me; I'm not like the others. >> So you don't think spending the night in a Wal*Mart parking lot to sleep >> would be safe? The stores are open 24/7 with constant people coming and [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > you to park overnight. Local ordinances are very likely to prohibit > that. That crossed my mind of course, but I somehow doubt they pay someone to keep track of all the vehicles there during the night. We may be better off just finding a nice quiet sidestreet of private homes and park there. With no lights on and the curtains all closed no one would know someone was in the van. The thought of leaving the van somewhere upstate or in NJ and taking PubTrn into the city, then out to my sons place, then travel back to NJ or upstate is a real turn off. Among numerous posts expressing outrage that NYC/LI is the way it is, it writes: >That crossed my mind of course, but I somehow doubt they pay someone to keep >track of all the vehicles there during the night. We may be better off just [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] >PubTrn into the city, then out to my sons place, then travel back to NJ or >upstate is a real turn off. Yo, bonehead! Get a clue. NYC is NOT a "camping destination". Get over it. Your son too busy to schlep outa to metro area to see you? Maybe there is a message there. Think you can "stealth camp" in a residential area? Try it in MY "residential area" without permission and I will run you off, with or without the "help" of the law. NYC's attitude towards non-resident campers is basically "go away". Will - The self-appointed Curmudgeon of Sill Hill >> I really don't think you're going to find many WalMarts that will allow >> you to park overnight. Local ordinances are very likely to prohibit >> that. >That crossed my mind of course, but I somehow doubt they pay someone to keep >track of all the vehicles there during the night. If it's a local ordinance, the police will be watching the lot and could even arrest you. (Do you want to risk being woke up and arrested in the middle of the night? I sure wouldn't.) It's not W-M's responsibility -- they probably couldn't care less, even if they noticed. If there's an ordinance, it was put in place because local citizens demanded it (for whatever reason), so there will probably be police enforcement. >We may be better off just >finding a nice quiet sidestreet of private homes and park there. With no >lights on and the curtains all closed no one would know someone was in the >van. There are many people in such neighborhoods who would call the police to report a strange vehicle -- and especially a camper van with the curtains closed -- parked on their street late at night. I probably would too, if I lived in an urban or suburban neighborhood. Most people just don't want strangers sleeping in vehicles on their neighborhood streets. And when the cops come and see an out-of-state license plate on a camper, they're not going to be too happy, nor will you. You belong in a parking lot, with permission. Try a police department. We've never been turned down there, either, and you can't get much safer than that. But I've never asked to "camp" there -- just to park overnight to get some sleep before moving on the next morning. I hate to be the bearer (or one of many of them) of bad news, but I think you're asking for trouble even trying this scheme. The greater NYC area is obviously not a good place for a camper, for a lot of reasons that have already been enumerated for you here. I realize you bought the camper just so you could do this sort of thing, but sometimes things don't work out the way we expect them to. You may have to just deal with that reality and make other arrangements. GB in NC To the OP: From what I keep reading here, it appears that you really can't afford to make this trip safely. If your son and his family really want to see you so badly, have them send you airline tickets and put you up at their place. Then you can afford to go to Rent-A-Wreck and get a cheap rental for the time you are there. There are just so many ways to argue the same points over and over. There are lots of people who are changing their travel plans because of economic factors. Maybe you should, too. JMTCW SignatureJanet Wilder Bad spelling. Bad punctuation Good Friends. Good Life >That crossed my mind of course, but I somehow doubt they pay someone to keep >track of all the vehicles there during the night. We may be better off just [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] >PubTrn into the city, then out to my sons place, then travel back to NJ or >upstate is a real turn off. Don't try this trick in the Phoenix area. It carries a nice $250 ticket, IIRC. --- $$$$$$$$$%% Yours truly, Johnny Dollar! > >> So you don't think spending the night in a Wal*Mart parking lot to sleep > >> would be safe? The stores are open 24/7 with constant people coming and [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > That crossed my mind of course, but I somehow doubt they pay someone to keep > track of all the vehicles there during the night. If the parking lot is supposed to be empty, one vehicle stands out. Either private security or the police will be by to look. You should *not* attempt this trip in the way you are trying to do it. SignatureYou can trust me; I'm not like the others. >>>Anyone ever camp on L.I. New York? My husband recently retired, no >>>pensions, [quoted text clipped - 49 lines] >street with other vehicles? It should be. I've seen some large vehicles >parked on the streets there on my past visits. |
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