Camp Gateway - Sandy Hook

Start of the 2024 season and happy to report many of the same Rangers have returned. Fortunately, none of the Bugs that plagued the end of 2023 have returned! All the facilities are working fine, the grass has been cut just enough to make pitching a tent easy but keeping the wild look of the site. From what I experienced in my three days, I am looking forward to a great 2024 season.

We love Sandy Hook campground
was our first experience camping close to the beach
quite clean very convenient location
we had the chance to go fishing
and enjoy the quite time at the bay and Atlantic Ocean
Then we did BBQ and bonfire
I would like to come back soon and also highly recommend it .

We love Sandy Hook campground
was our first experience camping close to the beach
quite clean very convenient location
we had the chance to go fishing
and enjoy the quite time at the bay and Atlantic Ocean
Then we did BBQ and bonfire
I would like to come back soon and also highly recommend it .

I have always loved this place, but on my recent trip, I couldn't believe the amount of bugs ..Really roaches, that we were encountering. In my about 7 years of camping here I have never experienced this. At first my wife and I were like , well maybe its because there were a few days of rain, but no, it only got worse to the point of us leaving 2 days earlier than we were suppose to, and even canceling another weekend we had scheduled, that I had reserved back in February . Its a shame, because this place has always been a great experience for us. Like other reviews which I've read, we also spent a good amount of time cleaning out our equipment, but not before we went to a local supermarket and picked up some bug killer, spray and a home sized broom. All which helped to the best of our ability clean out our stuff, because these bugs were everywhere. I have seen recently that the park has acknowledged that there is a problem and closed the campground down, which will no doubt prevent anyone else this headache . I hope that Sandy Hook, along with the state of NJ will be able to alleviate this problem, but my senses tell me that it wont be easy and one of my favorite campgrounds may be shut down for quite a while. So sad.

I have always loved this place, but on my recent trip, I couldn't believe the amount of bugs ..Really roaches, that we were encountering. In my about 7 years of camping here I have never experienced this. At first my wife and I were like , well maybe its because there were a few days of rain, but no, it only got worse to the point of us leaving 2 days earlier than we were suppose to, and even canceling another weekend we had scheduled, that I had reserved back in February . Its a shame, because this place has always been a great experience for us. Like other reviews which I've read, we also spent a good amount of time cleaning out our equipment, but not before we went to a local supermarket and picked up some bug killer, spray and a home sized broom. All which helped to the best of our ability clean out our stuff, because these bugs were everywhere. I have seen recently that the park has acknowledged that there is a problem and closed the campground down, which will no doubt prevent anyone else this headache . I hope that Sandy Hook, along with the state of NJ will be able to alleviate this problem, but my senses tell me that it wont be easy and one of my favorite campgrounds may be shut down for quite a while. So sad.

The host greeted me when I arrived to tell me that there was a German (wood) Roach infestation. I didn't see any at night, but when I woke up the next morning I saw them on the picnic table and getting into my gear. I shook everything out but I still had some hitchhikers. When I got home I unpacked outside so I could kill them before I brought anything into the house.

The bathrooms were closed; there were port-o-sans and foot-pump sinks. There was water from a spigot on the building. There are outdoor showers and indoor restrooms at North Beach, about 2 miles away.

That said the campground is not far from the lighthouse, old fort buildings and a convenience store.

The host greeted me when I arrived to tell me that there was a German (wood) Roach infestation. I didn't see any at night, but when I woke up the next morning I saw them on the picnic table and getting into my gear. I shook everything out but I still had some hitchhikers. When I got home I unpacked outside so I could kill them before I brought anything into the house.

The bathrooms were closed; there were port-o-sans and foot-pump sinks. There was water from a spigot on the building. There are outdoor showers and indoor restrooms at North Beach, about 2 miles away.

That said the campground is not far from the lighthouse, old fort buildings and a convenience store.

Ordinarily, I would boast about this campsite (which is usually a great little campsite in the perfect location). It’s my second time camping here. If you can, go to Sandy Hook and support the park! There is so much history and beauty there. However, do not camp here until they get the cockroach infestation in order. I am not easily phased by bugs, but the campground is overrun with wood roaches. Every surface was covered with hundreds, if not thousands of them. Could not use the picnic table or really any surface. All of our equipment was immediately full of them when the sun went down and our only refuge was near the fire (although we were constantly shining flashlights on ourselves and flicking them off of our bodies all night). Luckily, we slept well because we managed to keep them out of our tent but neighbors weren’t so lucky. Fast forward and it’s our check out time. Took us two hours to shake our stuff out at the site and all day to shake, wash/scrub, and quadruple check all our stuff back home. I left some of my stuff outside for a whole week and threw a few things out to be safe but here I am….a week and a half later, finding a PA wood roach in my BED. I feel defeated and scared that there are more and honestly, I can’t even imagine how much trouble that will be…not to mention the expense. When/if this problem clears up, I would say definitely check it out, but I think it’s irresponsible to have the grounds open the way things are.

Ordinarily, I would boast about this campsite (which is usually a great little campsite in the perfect location). It’s my second time camping here. If you can, go to Sandy Hook and support the park! There is so much history and beauty there. However, do not camp here until they get the cockroach infestation in order. I am not easily phased by bugs, but the campground is overrun with wood roaches. Every surface was covered with hundreds, if not thousands of them. Could not use the picnic table or really any surface. All of our equipment was immediately full of them when the sun went down and our only refuge was near the fire (although we were constantly shining flashlights on ourselves and flicking them off of our bodies all night). Luckily, we slept well because we managed to keep them out of our tent but neighbors weren’t so lucky. Fast forward and it’s our check out time. Took us two hours to shake our stuff out at the site and all day to shake, wash/scrub, and quadruple check all our stuff back home. I left some of my stuff outside for a whole week and threw a few things out to be safe but here I am….a week and a half later, finding a PA wood roach in my BED. I feel defeated and scared that there are more and honestly, I can’t even imagine how much trouble that will be…not to mention the expense. When/if this problem clears up, I would say definitely check it out, but I think it’s irresponsible to have the grounds open the way things are.

There’s a serious infestation of wood cockroaches and German cockroaches at Gateway this season. It is almost impossible to keep them out of your gear. Even after a careful, 4-hour breakdown trying to avoid bringing them home, we still ended up throwing away two camp chairs that we could not get clear of bugs. On top of all that, the batgrooms were out of commission and porta-potties-also infested-were the only option. We abandoned our campsite and left early. Shame on Gateway for not warning campers before arrival!