State Parks Near Hempstead, New York
73 state park units lie within 50 miles of Hempstead, including 16 parks across the line in New Jersey and Connecticut. The closest is Hempstead Lake State Park, about 2 mi southwest of town. 30 parks are within 25 miles, close enough for an evening visit.
- Closest park
- Hempstead Lake State Park2 mi southwest
- Within 25 miles
- 30of 73 within 50 mi
- With camping
- 42 with cabins
- Dog-friendly
- 11 with free entry
State parks near Hempstead, nearest first
Straight-line distance from central Hempstead; driving distance is usually longer. Showing the nearest 60 of 73.
Hempstead Lake State Park
Covering about 490 acres, Hempstead Lake State Park lies in Nassau County, in Rockville Centre.
Hours, fees and rules for Hempstead Lake State Park →Valley Stream State Park
In Nassau County, in Valley Stream, Valley Stream State Park covers about 78 acres.
Hours, fees and rules for Valley Stream State Park →Bethpage State Park
The park supports horseback riding, golf, winter sports, biking, and hiking.
Hours, fees and rules for Bethpage State Park →Jones Beach State Park
Things to do include surfing, golf, canoeing and kayaking, swimming, and fishing. On the water side, there is a swimming beach and a swimming pool.
Hours, fees and rules for Jones Beach State Park →Bayswater Point State Park
In Queens County, about 3 miles west of Cedarhurst, Bayswater Point State Park covers about 17 acres.
Hours, fees and rules for Bayswater Point State Park →Trail View State Park
Covering about 482 acres, Trail View State Park lies in Nassau County, about 3 miles south of Laurel Hollow.
Hours, fees and rules for Trail View State Park →Planting Fields Arboretum State Historic Park
Things to do include historic sites and hiking.
Hours, fees and rules for Planting Fields Arboretum State Historic Park →Walt Whitman Birthplace State Historic Site
Popular activities here are historic sites and picnicking.
Hours, fees and rules for Walt Whitman Birthplace State Historic Site →Shirley Chisholm State Park
Visitors come for biking, fishing, hiking, and picnicking.
Hours, fees and rules for Shirley Chisholm State Park →Cold Spring Harbor State Park
Popular activities here are hiking.
Hours, fees and rules for Cold Spring Harbor State Park →Belmont Lake State Park
Things to do include horseback riding, boating, biking, fishing, and hiking. Its trail network totals roughly 7.6 miles, according to the park. On the water side, there is boat or kayak rentals.
Hours, fees and rules for Belmont Lake State Park →Gilgo State Park
In Suffolk County, about 4 miles southeast of Lindenhurst, Gilgo State Park covers about 2,800 acres.
Hours, fees and rules for Gilgo State Park →Caumsett State Historic Park Preserve
Things to do include horseback riding, winter sports, biking, fishing, and hiking.
Hours, fees and rules for Caumsett State Historic Park Preserve →Gantry Plaza State Park
Visitors come for fishing.
Hours, fees and rules for Gantry Plaza State Park →Marsha P. Johnson State Park (East River State Park)
Marsha P. Johnson State Park (East River State Park) is a park in Kings County, about 4 miles southeast of Hoboken.
Hours, fees and rules for Marsha P. Johnson State Park (East River State Park) →Jay Heritage Center
Jay Heritage Center is a state historic site in Westchester County, in Rye.
Hours, fees and rules for Jay Heritage Center →Franklin D. Roosevelt Four Freedoms State Park
Franklin D. Roosevelt Four Freedoms State Park is a park in New York County, about 4 miles east of Hoboken.
Hours, fees and rules for Franklin D. Roosevelt Four Freedoms State Park →Roberto Clemente State Park
In Bronx County, about 2 miles southeast of Englewood Cliffs, Roberto Clemente State Park covers about 24 acres.
Hours, fees and rules for Roberto Clemente State Park →Brentwood State Park
In Suffolk County, about 7 miles northeast of Babylon, Brentwood State Park covers about 52 acres.
Hours, fees and rules for Brentwood State Park →Captree State Park
In Suffolk County, about 5 miles southeast of Babylon, Captree State Park covers about 472 acres.
Hours, fees and rules for Captree State Park →Robert Moses State Park - Long Island
Things to do include surfing, golf, canoeing and kayaking, swimming, and fishing. Water access includes a swimming beach.
Hours, fees and rules for Robert Moses State Park - Long Island →Riverbank State Park (Denny Farrell Riverbank State Park)
Riverbank State Park (Denny Farrell Riverbank State Park) is a park in Manhattan County, in Edgewater.
Hours, fees and rules for Riverbank State Park (Denny Farrell Riverbank State Park) →Hudson River Park
In New York County, in Hoboken, Hudson River Park covers about 320 acres.
Hours, fees and rules for Hudson River Park →Philipse Manor Hall State Historic Site
Philipse Manor Hall State Historic Site is a 1-acre historic site in Westchester County, in Yonkers.
Hours, fees and rules for Philipse Manor Hall State Historic Site →Liberty State Park
Visitors come for historic sites, boating, fishing, biking, and picnicking. Facilities for water recreation include a boat ramp.
Hours, fees and rules for Liberty State Park →Caleb Smith State Park Preserve
Visitors come for winter sports, fishing, and hiking.
Hours, fees and rules for Caleb Smith State Park Preserve →Heckscher State Park
Covering about 2,108 acres, Heckscher State Park lies in Suffolk County, about 9 miles southwest of Patchogue.
Hours, fees and rules for Heckscher State Park →Nissequogue River State Park
Popular activities here are winter sports, canoeing and kayaking, boating, fishing, and hiking. Facilities for water recreation include a boat ramp.
Hours, fees and rules for Nissequogue River State Park →Bayard Cutting Arboretum State Park
Bayard Cutting Arboretum State Park is a 730-acre park in Suffolk County, about 7 miles west of Patchogue.
Hours, fees and rules for Bayard Cutting Arboretum State Park →Connetquot River State Park Preserve
The park supports horseback riding, winter sports, boating, fishing, and hiking. The official site lists about 50 miles of trails. Facilities for water recreation include boat or kayak rentals.
Hours, fees and rules for Connetquot River State Park Preserve →Steuben House Historic Site
Popular activities here are historic sites.
Hours, fees and rules for Steuben House Historic Site →Tallman Mountain State Park
Things to do include winter sports, swimming, biking, and hiking. Facilities for water recreation include a swimming pool.
Hours, fees and rules for Tallman Mountain State Park →Twin Lights Lighthouse Historic Site
Popular activities here are historic sites.
Hours, fees and rules for Twin Lights Lighthouse Historic Site →Rockefeller State Park Preserve
In Westchester County, about 2 miles northeast of Sleepy Hollow, Rockefeller State Park Preserve covers about 1,775 acres.
Hours, fees and rules for Rockefeller State Park Preserve →Blauvelt State Park
Blauvelt State Park is a 624-acre park in Rockland County, in Nyack.
Hours, fees and rules for Blauvelt State Park →Boxwood Hall Historic Site
Visitors come for historic sites.
Hours, fees and rules for Boxwood Hall Historic Site →Sherwood Island State Park
Popular activities here are historic sites, swimming, fishing, hiking, and picnicking.
Hours, fees and rules for Sherwood Island State Park →Nyack Beach State Park
The park supports winter sports, boating, biking, fishing, and hiking. Water access includes a boat ramp.
Hours, fees and rules for Nyack Beach State Park →Hermitage House Historic Site
Popular activities here are historic sites.
Hours, fees and rules for Hermitage House Historic Site →Rockland Lake State Park
Covering about 1,142 acres, Rockland Lake State Park lies in Rockland County, in Upper Nyack.
Hours, fees and rules for Rockland Lake State Park →Clay Pit Ponds State Park Preserve
Popular activities here are horseback riding and hiking.
Hours, fees and rules for Clay Pit Ponds State Park Preserve →Old Croton Aqueduct State Historic Park
Visitors come for horseback riding, winter sports, historic sites, biking, and hiking.
Hours, fees and rules for Old Croton Aqueduct State Historic Park →Grover Cleveland Birth Place Historic Site
The park supports historic sites.
Hours, fees and rules for Grover Cleveland Birth Place Historic Site →Proprietary House Historic Site
Visitors come for historic sites.
Hours, fees and rules for Proprietary House Historic Site →John Jay Homestead State Historic Site
John Jay Homestead State Historic Site is a 84-acre historic site in Westchester County, about 5 miles northeast of Mount Kisco.
Hours, fees and rules for John Jay Homestead State Historic Site →Cheesequake State Park
Popular activities here are hunting in season, fishing, wildlife watching, biking, and picnicking. Facilities for water recreation include a swimming beach.
Hours, fees and rules for Cheesequake State Park →High Tor State Park
Covering about 702 acres, High Tor State Park lies in Rockland County, in West Haverstraw.
Hours, fees and rules for High Tor State Park →Ramapo Mountain State Forest
The park supports horseback riding, historic sites, hunting in season, biking, and hiking.
Hours, fees and rules for Ramapo Mountain State Forest →Franklin D. Roosevelt State Park
In Westchester County, about 6 miles east of Peekskill, Franklin D. Roosevelt State Park covers about 846 acres.
Hours, fees and rules for Franklin D. Roosevelt State Park →Stony Point Battlefield State Historic Site
In Rockland County, about 2 miles southwest of Buchanan, Stony Point Battlefield State Historic Site covers about 101 acres.
Hours, fees and rules for Stony Point Battlefield State Historic Site →Brookhaven State Park
Covering about 1,650 acres, Brookhaven State Park lies in Suffolk County, about 10 miles east of Port Jefferson.
Hours, fees and rules for Brookhaven State Park →Sebago Cabin Camp - Harriman State Park
Visitors come for winter sports, boating, biking, fishing, and hiking. Facilities for water recreation include boat or kayak rentals. Roofed lodging includes cabins.
Hours, fees and rules for Sebago Cabin Camp - Harriman State Park →Lake Welch Beach - Harriman State Park
The park supports snowmobiling, ice fishing, winter sports, boating, and swimming. On the water side, there is a swimming beach and a boat ramp.
Hours, fees and rules for Lake Welch Beach - Harriman State Park →Harriman State Park
The park supports ice fishing, winter sports, hunting in season, boating, and swimming. The official site lists about 200 miles of trails. Water access includes a swimming beach and a boat ramp. Roofed lodging includes cabins.
Hours, fees and rules for Harriman State Park →Ringwood State Park
Visitors come for horseback riding, historic sites, hunting in season, boating, and biking. Water access includes a boat ramp.
Hours, fees and rules for Ringwood State Park →Silver Sands State Park
Popular activities here are snorkeling and diving, horseback riding, historic sites, boating, and swimming.
Hours, fees and rules for Silver Sands State Park →Washington Rock State Park
Things to do include biking, picnicking, and hiking.
Hours, fees and rules for Washington Rock State Park →Wooster Mountain State Park
Things to do include hunting in season and hiking.
Hours, fees and rules for Wooster Mountain State Park →Norvin Green State Forest
The park supports horseback riding, historic sites, hunting in season, biking, and hiking.
Hours, fees and rules for Norvin Green State Forest →
Best picks by activity
Camping near Hempstead
- Cheesequake State Park 39 mi southwest · Campground listed
- Sebago Cabin Camp - Harriman State Park 43 mi northwest · Campground listed
- Lake Welch Beach - Harriman State Park 44 mi northwest · Campground listed
- Harriman State Park 45 mi northwest · Campground listed
Cabins and lodging near Hempstead
- Sebago Cabin Camp - Harriman State Park 43 mi northwest · Cabins or other roofed stays
- Harriman State Park 45 mi northwest · Cabins or other roofed stays
Dog-friendly state parks near Hempstead
- Gantry Plaza State Park 18 mi west · Pets allowed under park rules
Swimming near Hempstead
- Jones Beach State Park 9 mi southeast · Beach, pool or swim area
- Robert Moses State Park - Long Island 20 mi east · Beach, pool or swim area
- Tallman Mountain State Park 27 mi northwest · Beach, pool or swim area
- Sherwood Island State Park 32 mi northeast · Beach, pool or swim area
- Cheesequake State Park 39 mi southwest · Beach, pool or swim area
+ 3 more in the list above
Hiking near Hempstead
- Bethpage State Park 9 mi east · Hiking trails listed
- Planting Fields Arboretum State Historic Park 11 mi north · Hiking trails listed
- Shirley Chisholm State Park 14 mi west · Hiking trails listed
- Cold Spring Harbor State Park 14 mi northeast · Hiking trails listed
- Belmont Lake State Park 15 mi east · Hiking trails listed
+ 20 more in the list above
Fishing near Hempstead
- Jones Beach State Park 9 mi southeast · Fishing listed
- Shirley Chisholm State Park 14 mi west · Fishing listed
- Belmont Lake State Park 15 mi east · Fishing listed
- Caumsett State Historic Park Preserve 17 mi northeast · Fishing listed
- Gantry Plaza State Park 18 mi west · Fishing listed
+ 12 more in the list above
Free state parks near Hempstead
- Wooster Mountain State Park 45 mi north · No entrance fee listed
Questions about state parks near Hempstead
What is the closest state park to Hempstead?
Hempstead Lake State Park is the closest, about 2 miles southwest of Hempstead in a straight line. Next are Valley Stream State Park and Bethpage State Park.
How many state parks are near Hempstead?
73 state park units are within 50 miles, and 30 within 25 miles. That includes parks, recreation areas, historic sites and natural areas run by the state.
Which state parks near Hempstead have camping?
4 parks list camping, the nearest being Cheesequake State Park, Sebago Cabin Camp - Harriman State Park and Lake Welch Beach - Harriman State Park. Check each park page for site types, hookups and how to reserve.
Are dogs allowed at state parks near Hempstead?
Yes, at 1 park, including Gantry Plaza State Park. Dogs usually must be leashed, and some areas such as beaches or buildings may be off-limits.
Are there free state parks near Hempstead?
1 park list no entrance fee: Wooster Mountain State Park. Camping and some activities can still cost extra.
State parks near other cities
- Near Valley Stream, NY5 mi southwest
- Near Great Neck, NY9 mi northwest
- Near Glen Cove, NY13 mi north
- Near Lindenhurst, NY13 mi east
- Near New York, NY17 mi west
- Near Mamaroneck, NY17 mi north
- Near Fort Lee, NJ21 mi northwest
- Near Yonkers, NY21 mi northwest
Or see all New York state parks, New Jersey state parks, Connecticut state parks or every city we cover.
Built from official park data and updated as parks change; this list was last rebuilt Oct 30, 2026. Features shown are those the official source lists. Filter these parks on the map.