→ Book now: Collective Governors Island
Ever since the U.S. Coast Guard vacated Governors Island—a tiny 172-acre island just off the tip of downtown Manhattan—back in 1996, it has undergone a spectacular transformation from a military installation into a public park enjoyed by locals and visitors alike. Each summer since 2005, thousands of visitors have been able to bike, eat, and enjoy the views from the island during the day. But starting in 2018, they also got the chance to spend the night there when Collective Retreats’s glamping site opened.
Traditionally, Collective Retreats is known for opening luxury camping sites in more remote locations, including Vail, Yellowstone, Texas Hill Country, and New York’s Hudson Valley. Collective Governors Island marks the first time it’s built one of its campgrounds in an urban setting.
Here’s a look inside what it’s like at the Governors Island glamping retreat.
The great lawn at the center of Collective Governors Island
Photo by Lyndsey Matthews
How to get there
It only takes eight minutes on a ferry from downtown Manhattan to reach Governors Island and the campsite is about a 10-minute walk or 5-minute golf cart ride from the ferry terminal. With rates starting at $150 per night, this ultimate city-meets-outdoors experience is a far cry from pitching a tent in the Adirondacks, but it certainly beats spending hours stuck in a car trying to leave the city on a summer Friday. Plus, did we mention there are views of the Manhattan skyline and the Statue of Liberty outside each luxury canvas tent?
Journey Tents start at $150 per night.
Photo by Lyndsey Matthews
Inside the tents
Guests can choose to spend the night in one of 27 “Journey” tents or 10 “Summit” tents within the retreat. Both types of tent feature real beds and mattresses, fully functional electricity, and French Press coffee bars. The Journey tents offer a slightly cozier option and shared bathrooms within a two-minute walk of each campsite.
For those looking for a truly over-the-top camping experience, Summit tents each come with a private en-suite bathroom with rain shower, spacious deck with Adirondack chairs, and other amenities like Yeti coolers. Breakfast is also included in the Summit tent rates and can be brought directly to your bed for an extra fee.
For those who prefer more cabin-like structures, the Outlook Shelter and Outlook Liberty Suite are temperature-controlled, come with private bathrooms and well as proper doors and windows instead of tent flaps.
Local New York state residents, ages 21 and up, can apply to a lottery system to win $50 Community Night rates for the Journey tents via Collective’s email database. Upcoming Community Nights include August 21, 2023, September 5, 2023, and October 2, 2023. Booking dates will be announced later for those dates.
Summit Tents start at $450 per night.
Photo by Lyndsey Matthews
The Three Peaks dining tent is open to the public while the ferries are running.
Photo by Lyndsey Matthews
Is it open to the public?
While the tent areas are restricted to overnight guests, public visitors who take the ferry over to Governors Island can relax on the great lawn and eat at the Three Peaks dining tent at the center of Collective Governors Island during the day. Guests and visitors can choose between a set menu or à la carte offerings at the restaurant, which include short-rib ragu pasta and a pan-roasted catch of the day. There’s also a BBQ-in-a-Box option for those who want to do some of their own grilling out on the lawn.
Those paying to stay at Collective Governors Island will have the entire campsite to themselves for late-night s’mores around the campfire. However, for safety reasons, they will also be asked to stay inside the campground until 7 a.m., when they’ll be allowed to explore the entire island as they choose before everyone else arrives on the first ferries at 10 a.m.
This article was published in 2018; it was updated on June 22, 2023, with current information.
