Camping at Floyd Bennett Field
This article is part of a 30-day series exploring adventurous living near Rockaway Beach, Queens.
11th Day in Rockaway: Urban Camping
A bus drops you off at the edge of a driveway to a complex of some sort. You walk in, past the guard at the front and continue a mile by foot across concrete and an old airplane runway until you see the sign "CAMP STORE" etched in wood in front of you. To your left trees fill in where the field leaves off. Entering through the opening you find a well trodden trail to a dozen or so campsites complete with a fire pit, picnic table and space for a tent.
While the stars may still be hard to see, there is the quiet of the outdoors and occasional wildlife sighting. You've made it to Floyd Bennett Field in Brooklyn, one of a handful of Gateway National Park areas within the confines of NYC.
Fire pits and grills are scattered throughout the campgrounds
For only $30 a night you can rent a camp site, cook over the open fire and explore nearby trails; all accessible via public transportation. Sure it may not be the wild expanses of Patagonia but then again, you're camping in the middle of one of the largest cities in the world.
A quick guide to camping at Floyd Bennett Field
1) Reserve your campsite at Reserve America (we recommend Goldenrod or Tamarack areas)
2) Pack up your bag and get ready for a night in the woods. Don't forget these Camping Essentials.
3) Hop on the 2 or the 5 train to Flatbush/Brooklyn College where you'll catch the Q35 to Floyd Bennett/Ryans Visitors Center
4) Walk on in and make yourself at home (Note: if the campsite office is still open you need to check in!)
5) Enjoy a night in the woods... of Brooklyn (map here)!
By Sarah Knapp as part of the 30 Days in the Rockaways series on outdoor living in NYC.