The Urban Park Rangers in Queens.
Photo by Daniel Avila/NYC Parks
A first-ever overnight family camping experience at Flushing Meadows Corona Park will give 200 New Yorkers the chance to camp beneath an iconic Queens landmark, the NYC Parks Department and Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced on Thursday.
There will be two new “special-edition overnight camping experiences” at the Unisphere in the iconic park, located near the Grand Central Parkway and Van Wyck Expressway, on Sept. 25 and Oct. 9. The experiences will allow 200 New Yorkers to spend a night under the stars at one of the city’s most recognizable landmarks — for free.
“S’mores just got even sweeter in New York City,” Mamdani said. “There’s no better way to cap off an incredible summer than by gathering around the campfire, looking up at the stars and making memories with our neighbors. This fall, we’re bringing that experience to the heart of Queens during this special edition of our beloved family camping program. I hope families across the city take the chance to join us and experience our parks in a whole new way.”
According to NYC Parks officials, each evening will begin with “icebreaker activities” before campers pitch their tents and gather for dinner. Throughout the night, participants will join Urban Park Rangers for a night hike and wildlife viewing, nature games, hear stories around the campfire, make s’mores and take part in other activities.
NYC Parks said it will provide tents and sleeping bags for all campers. Sleeping bags can be taken home at the end of the program. Dinner and breakfast options will be available for purchase from a food truck, and families are “welcome to bring their own food and snacks,” the department said.
“New York City is home to some of the most extraordinary parks and landmarks in the world, and the Unisphere offers an unforgettable backdrop for an outdoor adventure,” NYC Parks Commissioner Tricia Shimamura said. “With our Urban Park Rangers, we’re giving New Yorkers the chance to experience Flushing Meadows Corona Park in a whole new way — under the stars, around a campfire, and alongside their neighbors.”
The overnights build on the success of the NYC Parks’ Urban Park Rangers’ long-running Family Camping series, officials said.
The overnight events on Sept. 25 and Oct. 9 can accommodate 100 campers each. Participants will be chosen through an online lottery, which is open Sept. 10 through Sept. 13. New Yorkers can enter the lottery through the NYC Parks website at, and find out more information, at nycgovparks.org.