Camping Out: Humble Digs, Great Location

Southampton’s Meadow Lane is known as “Billionaires’ Lane,” where the likes of Calvin Klein and David Koch have second homes and the median house price is $18 million.

A drive down Meadow Lane offers a beautiful, grassy view of Shinnecock Bay to the right, glimpses of extravagant seasonal homes on the ocean to the left. Arrive at the end of the road, and the mansions give way to more humble recreational vehicles.

For those lucky enough to snag a campsite for a self-contained RV, Shinnecock East, a county park at the end of Meadow Lane, offers views of both the ocean and the bay for as little as $15 a night.

Shinnecock East is one of many county and state parks on the East End where the accommodations may not be palatial, but the price is affordable and the location, divine.

Hither Hills State Park in Montauk is another one. Families, couples and single camping enthusiasts flock each summer to the state park, off Old Montauk Highway on the ocean, which welcomes tents, motor homes and screen houses. Like Shinnecock East, it fills up extremely fast.

When the camping season was just getting started, on Monday evening of Memorial Day weekend, six members of the Gilch family were gathered around a picnic table at Hither Hills for a round of “Heads Up,” a high-energy word game played on a smartphone. Their laughter could be heard several campsites away.

The White Plains natives were visiting with a family member from California, Theresa Kerr, as part of their annual mecca to The End. With the white sandy beach just a stone’s throw away, the Gilch family enjoys fishing when they visit, and another member of the family, Kelly Pigula, that day they had had tremendous luck catching a 4-foot shark and a 20-inch striped bass.

“This one is so unique,” Mary Gilch said about the Hither Hills campground. “It’s on the beach. I love how the wind blows and how we’re outside 24/7.” Ms. Gilch said her family can’t afford to rent or buy a home in the Hamptons, but has been able to make it out to Montauk each year since the 1970s.

Around their picnic table, three tents were pitched, fishing poles leaned against the nearest tree and an American flag billowed in the wind.

Not far away, Jerry and Paula Brinker were packing up a pop-up trailer on Sunday evening while their three children continued to play, riding bikes and scooters on a traffic-free roadway. It had been a good weekend.

“It’s a beautiful spot,” said Ms. Brinker, whose family was ending their second stay there. A playground stands between the campsites and a path to the ocean. “There’s the beach, the lighthouse and it’s nice the kids can do whatever and still be safe.”

At the same time, newcomers Karl and Cat Eichenfeldt were unpacking an SUV filled with food and camping necessities.

“This is definitely a great way to spend a little stay in Montauk,” Mr. Eichenfeldt said as he stood next to his four-person sleeper tent. “We’ve rented [a house] before, but this is definitely cheaper. We’ve got the beach right here and you can hear the waves.”

As is the case at Hither Hills, many who camp at Shinnecock East have been doing so for quite some time, often generations. Over Memorial Day weekend at the Southampton campground, Linda Gregory of Yaphank and her family were sleeping a few nights in their decades-old RV, which Ms. Gregory said is like her “second home.”

Their camper sleeps eight and includes the usual accommodations such as a bathroom, kitchenette, small living area, bedrooms and storage space. “It reminds you that you shouldn’t leave the water running,” Ms. Gregory said. “It reminds you of a simpler way of being.”

Larger RV campers can sleep more people, with “slide-outs” that create more space. At some county camping spots—Shinnecock East and Montauk County Park among them—only “self-contained” campers—that is, campers with their own waste and water systems, unlike tents—are permitted.

RVs can be rented for about $800 to $1,150, generally run about 30 to 35 feet long, and often include dual-powered refrigerators and freezers, microwaves, outdoor showers, and master bedrooms with queen beds. Larger, more expensive campers include remote control AC and heat.

Nancy Astuto of Bay Shore, who has been camping at Shinnecock East with her husband for more than 15 years, said they had had a number of campers before the latest, a white Flagstaff complete with a queen bedroom and two queen beds, parked at their campsite on Memorial Day weekend. It also had an outdoor living area set up with plastic table and chairs, beach lounges and a cooler.

“The camper has everything,” Ms. Astuto said. “It’s a nice little getaway.”

Lying on a picnic table bench across from the Eichenfeldts at Hither Hills, Daniel “Little Dan” Paolicelli was listening to rock music with Renee Galasso, and could hardly be seen until he sat up to talk.

The owners of a tattoo shop in Bayport called Little Dan’s Olde Tyme Tattoo Parlor, he and Ms. Galasso were both covered in tattoos. They said they had been coming out to Montauk for more than nine years—ever since they have been together.

Their Northwest Territory tent had come apart during heavy wind on Monday, but they were cheerful and said they wouldn’t have it any other way.

“If we got a hotel room, I’d feel like I’m cheating on my tent,” Ms. Galasso said. “We refuse to go to a camper home. We’ve camped in worse, but now we’re older and crabby.”

They couldn’t afford to rent a house in the Hamptons, they said, but why should they?

“Camping is good for the soul,” said Mr. Paolicelli.