Where to stay on Eastern Long Island: Ideas (& Eating)
May, 2002 last major update
In the summer, many motels, B & B's & campgrounds get booked far ahead,
especially near the water. Some places likely to be less busy in season are
listed in bold below.
In the Fall, call campgrounds for closing date (Indian Island is beautiful - open
year round for self-contained campers, but water off late Oct. or Nov. 1).
Always DOUBLE CHECK dog policy and room rates ahead!
1. Smith Point Motel 165 William Floyd Parkway, Shirley NY
Take LIE to 68S. Go south ~ 6 miles on Wm. Floyd
(631) 281-8887 20 minutes to grounds. (Must be affiliated with a
dog show/event--will take only 6 -7 dogs, except in winter, when it
should not be a problem.) $65-75/day $10 extra/day for dogs.
Probably in late October, more dogs rooms available
Helpful on the phone; I've not seen the motel, howver,
Howard Johnson's Motel 450 Moreland Road (Wicks Rd) Commack
NY. 631-864-8820. Used for LIGRC's February, 2003 Specialty.
30-35 minute from the site Just north and east of Sagitkos Pkway &
the LIE (exit 53). Ask motel for details. I think dogs OK...ask!
SUFFOLK COUNTY PARKS CAMPGROUNDS:
(Suffolk Co. Parks main # is 631-854-4949 weekdays or 631-854-4961
(manager of GreenKey card and reservations info)
Non-residents can use the call-in reservation system for weekdays and
for non-holiday weekends - 4 night minimum(?) if they get a Tourist
GreenKey Card $35/year. County residents need GreenKey Card to reserve.
Touch-tone reservation # is 631-244-7275. Be sure to double check park
policies on walk-ins, non-residents, site capacity, dogs, etc.
2. Cathedral Pines County Park (Exit 66N/Sills Rd off LIE, Middle
Island, NY) Walk-ins only, (no reservations), 105 camp sites ...so,
maybe a good chance of space Memorial Day weekend if you come Wed.or Thurs.
No problem in the Fall. (25 min. to grounds). Self-contained campers Thurs-Sunday only,
end of Oct.- April. Take the LIE to Exit 66. Basically, go north (you'll end
up on RT. 21 North/Yaphank-Middle Island Rd). Entrance to campgrounds on left.
631-852-5502, 631-852-5500
3 Indian Island County Park (Riverhead, NY) Take LIE to Exit 71South
Route 24 (S/E) towards Hampton Bays for ~4 miles, to Rte 105 Exit (North)
the park entrance is ~1 mile up (631-852-3232) Camping, hiking, beach, dogs
allowed. 20 min. to the grounds. May have to arrrive Wed. PM to get a spot
Memorial Day weekend. 50% reserved sites, 50% walk-ins. May be extra busy
in summer if some other Suffolk Co. parks remain closed.
4. Smith Point County Park (Shirley, NY) Exit 68S on LIE, south on
Wm. Floyd Pkway, several miles over bridge to ocean campgrounds.. Yes, dogs
allowed on leash. (25 min. to Manorville grounds) Tent camping in season.
Self-contained camping vehicles only at other times. $24 non-resident, $14
resident (Suffolk Co. GreenKey residents: reserve via touch tone 631-244-7275).
631-852-1315 (campground itself) In Spring/Fall no reservations needed.
5. Other Suffolk County Parks:
Blydenburg has only 50 sites, but does take reservations for ~25 sites.
Southaven is said to be abit rowdy in some sites.
Dogs are NOT allowed in any NY STATE parks on Long Island or near NYC
6. Wading River Motel 5890 Middle Country Rd. (Rte 25) Wading River,
NY (631-727-8000) Closest to Manorville grounds, 5-10 min. away.
Rates $90-110/night. Pool. Directions to motel: Exit 69 N on the LIE; turn
left/north to cross over LIE after exiting. Then go ~4 miles north (Schultz Rd.),
past the |\ sign (which is the turn for the test grounds), past Grumman Blvd, to
Rte 25 (light/trailer sales) Right/east onto Rte 25 for ~1.5 miles, motel on left,
before Calverton Nat'l Cemetary (631-727-8000). Dogs NOT allowed in rooms.
7. The Farm (Sound Ave. Calverton/Baiting Hollow, NY, on N Fork of Long Island)
(631) 369-1094 15 min. away. Recently sold - no longer open, I suspect.
The Red Barn (B & B) Herricks Rd. off Sound Ave. in Jamesport NY
Linda & Jim Slezak, proprietors (631) 722-3695. They'll allow dogs
to stay outside, be SURE to ask--there is shade; historical landmark,
excellent. Ask for rates ~ 20-25 min. to the grounds.
About B & B's - often booked ahead even in the Fall (pumpkin season).
Note to foodies: The closest farm stand is Fink's on Rt 25 east
of the test site. Further away, north of Riverhead, is Briermere Farms,
known for its pies(!) at Rt 105 & Sound Ave. And beyond the North Fork wineries!
Where to eat? Try:
*Paumonok Deli, on Rt 25 just west of Wading River-Manor Rd(Schultz Rd) Great deli
*Carving Board, on Rt 25, ~ 2 mi east of Wading River-Manor Rd. Good.
*Appleby's - Rt 58 Riverhead, not far from Tanger Outlet.
*Cooperage Inn - Sound Ave. near Edwards Ave. Baiting Hollow - good, ~8 miles east
*Lobster Inn North - Sound Ave. W of Roanoke Ave. Baiting Hollow - new, good
*Roadhouse Pizza - W. Main St.(Rt. 25) near Mill Rd., west of downtown Riverhead,
great pizzas, great salads. About 9 miles east of the test grounds.
*Hy Ting Main St (Rt 25) downtown Riverhead - good Chinese
*Tweeds Main St (Rt 25) downtown Riverhead - expensive, very good
*Modern Snack Bar - Main Rd (25) Aquebogue, just east of Riverhead, very good,
moderate prices, no reservations, but I've never had to wait long.
*Meeting House Creek Inn, Main Rd (25) Aquebogue (go south at the deli/light
to the water) good, not as busy as some (call ahead in summer), early bird $29
*Jamesport Country Kitchen, Rt 25 small, wonderful food, reserve well ahead
About 15 miles east of the grounds
Also there are places to eat in Wading River, north of the grounds
Here's a map of the Manorville-Wading River area.
The Otis Pike field trial grounds are bottom left (see the unlabeled road
running southeast off Schultz Rd., you turn there).
East-West roads: Sound Ave ("the North Road") runs east from Wading River
through Baiting Hollow and beyond. Rt 25 ("the Main Road") also runs east,
but it dips down into downtown Riverhead (W. Main St.) at the Rt 58 Bypass,
then swings up again and east into Aquebogue and Jamesport.
This is a map of the North Fork area,
Riverhead and the villages east of there. Also shows antique stores in case you're interested.
8. Manorville grounds: Occasionally folks in campers have stayed overnight
on the grounds across from the dog ponds in the headquarters area.
9. Northwoods B & B BED 2860 N. Wading River Rd. Wading River, NY
11792 (631) 929-6671 unlikely to take dogs in rooms.
NOTE to all DOG HANDLERS/DOG OWNERS
Not many motels/places accept dogs here on Long Island. So, please, for
everybody's sake and for our public relations, clean up after your dogs
and be a considerate guest wherever you stay.
List compiled by Sally Hobson, for LIGRC and its friends,
email hobson@adelphi.edu
Driving times are to the Otis Pike Preserve/Manorville (DEC dog
training/field trial grounds) Long Island, NY. DIRECTIONS to the grounds:
Exit 69 N on the LIE, go left (north) ~ 2.5 miles on Wading River-Manor Rd
(aka Schultz Rd. I think) and then sharp right after the |\ sign.
Headquarters/parking is 1/4 mile down on the left. If you are coming from
Eastern LI and need directions, email me.