Think you need to drive three hours north to go camping? New York City would like a word. NYC Parks is giving New Yorkers the chance to sleep under the stars for free, proving that you can escape the concrete jungle without actually leaving it.
The city’s Family Camping program, run by the Urban Park Rangers, offers free overnight camping experiences in parks across the five boroughs. This summer’s campouts included locations such as Central Park, Orchard Beach, Inwood Hill Park and Rockaway Beach, with guided hikes, campfires, s’mores, nature activities and plenty of opportunities to temporarily forget that you’re surrounded by millions of people.
And you don’t necessarily need to own a tent. For the special free camping experience beneath the Unisphere at Flushing Meadows Corona Park, NYC Parks provided tents and sleeping bags, along with activities led by Urban Park Rangers.
That Unisphere campout is particularly wild: 200 New Yorkers were selected for two special overnight experiences on September 25 and October 9, with 100 participants each night. The lottery ran September 10–13, so unfortunately this particular opportunity has already closed—but it shows just how creative NYC Parks can get with its camping program.
So how do you get free camping in NYC? Keep an eye on the NYC Parks Urban Park Rangers and Family Camping announcements. Registration is typically required, and spots can be limited because, apparently, everyone wants to roast a marshmallow while staring at the Manhattan skyline.
The best part is that the experience is much more than simply sleeping outside. Past NYC Parks campouts have featured night hikes, wildlife viewing, nature lessons, storytelling, campfires and s’mores.
Basically, NYC has figured out how to combine camping with the one thing every New Yorker loves:
Not paying for it.
