By Vicky · Published Sep. 8th, 2022 · Updated Jan. 28th, 2024
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Spend the night camping by the beach and under the stars in East Coast Park. Read on to find out how.
Page Contents:
Location
East Coast Park is on the southeast coast of Singapore, between Marina Bay and Changi Airport. Camping spots are by the beach within Area D and Area G of East Coast Park. Area D is in the middle of the park and Areas G is towards the park’s eastern end.
How to get to East Coast Park for Camping
There are several car parks both near camping areas D and G. If coming by public transport, the nearest MRT station is Bedok. Bus 401 leaves from here and goes along the road just behind the park. However, it only operates on Saturdays, Sundays and Public Holidays. Bus 36 operates every day and stops near Camping Area G, but it comes directly from Changi Airport and is only really convenient if you are coming from there.
On weekdays, to get to East Coast Park by public transport, the quickest way is to take a bus to one of the many bus stops in the city behind East Coast Park. From these stops, you will have to walk for roughly 10 minutes to reach the park.
Map of Camping at East Coast Park
Tips for East Coast Park Camping
- You must reserve a (free) camping permit
- If you want to barbecue, you must also book a BBQ pit ($16-$20)
- Tourists are not allowed to camp anywhere in Singapore.
- If you want a much fancier experience, try Glamping in East Coast Park*.
- To get some activity, hike to the park from Bedok or hike from Rochor Canal
- Check out other great hikes on our Singapore Hiking Page
How to go camping in East Coast Park
To go camping in East Coast Park you need to:
- Decide which area to camp in
- Reserve a camping permit
- Make sure you have all the camping gear
- Sit back, relax and enjoy the activities on offer while camping in East Coast Park
Read on to discover how to do these things!
Where to camp in East Coast Park?
There are two camping areas in East Coast Park, Areas D and G. You have to pick one of these areas when you reserve a camping permit. Inside your designated area you can set up anywhere, but tents are officially meant to be at least 5 metres apart. Most people set up tents just above the sandy beaches, so you get great views over the ocean. On Fridays and especially Saturdays you should arrive early at East Coast Park to guarantee a good camping spot. You’re allowed to set up your tent anytime from 9 am.
Facilities for Camping
In both areas there are several clean toilets and outdoor showers. There are also many picnic areas and BBQ pits (you must reserve BBQ pits in advance). If you don’t want to cook for yourself, there are a few restaurants in the park. You are not allowed to cook by your tent on a camping stove or portable barbecue. You can however just eat picnic food you don’t need to heat up.
East Coast Park Camping Area D
- Just over 1 km of coastline in the centre of the park, between Siglap Canal and the Wake Park Lake
- A busy area with lots of people enjoying this area of the park
- Car parks and bus stops nearby (Bus 401)
- Many BBQ pits you can book (Pits 25-40, 20-24 also nearby)
- Nearby toilets
- Near a shop (7-Eleven) and two restaurants
East Coast Park Camping Area G
- Roughly 600 m of coastline in the east of the park, between Outward Bound and the Sailing Club
- A much quieter area
- Car parks and one bus stop nearby (Bus 36)
- Many BBQ pits you can book (Pits 59-80)
- Nearby toilets
- No shop nearby but there is one restaurant
Reserving a Camping Permit in Singapore
To camp in Singapore, you must first reserve a permit. These are free, but you need a valid residential address in Singapore to book them. This means tourists are not allowed to camp anywhere in Singapore
Camping Permit Rules
- Tourists cannot get camping permits in Singapore
- You must be over 16 to reserve a permit
- You can camp for a maximum of four nights each month
- Permits are valid from 9 am on the day you book for and until 9 am the following day
- You are allowed one camping permit per person per night
- You are allowed one tent per camping permit so if you have multiple tents you need multiple permits (under different names)
- Up to six people are allowed per tent
- You must clearly display your permit on your tent at all times
- You are not allowed to cook by your tent, you can only cook at official BBQ pits.
- You need a separate permit to reserve a BBQ pit and these cost $16-20 depending on the size of the pit.
How to reserve a camping permit
You can reserve camping permits online for East Coast Park, Pasir Ris Park, West Coast Park and Pulau Ubin. You can also apply at an AXS machine. There are many of these machines scattered over Singapore and you can find their locations on google maps. The nearest one to East Coast Park is here.
If instead you want to camp on the Southern Islands, you must apply through the Singapore Land Service, and apply at least one week in advance.
Reserving a BBQ Pit
You can book in a similar way to the campsite above, either online or at an AXS machine. Single pits are $16, while double pits are $20. On the weekends, BBQ pits can be booked out so plan in advance.
Things to bring Camping in East Coast Park
- Tent: you can get cheap tents on Amazon, or a small two-person tent for under $50 from Decathlon. Decathlon also has family tents for up to four people. If you don’t want the hassle of putting together tent poles, they also have some cool inflatable tents that are super easy to set up.
- Sleeping Mattress & Pillow: a blow-up mattress or simple roll mat is enough to keep you comfy. You can buy a small blow-up pillow, or just bring one from home.
- Sleeping Bag: it’s never that cold, but you’ll definitely want a light sleeping bag for the middle of the night.
- Headlamp*: rather than using a phone for light, it’s nice to have your hands free when camping after dark.
- Lanterns*: set a few of these up around your tent to create a really cosy atmosphere.
- A large backpack: You’ll need to somehow bring all your gear to the campsite.
- Food & Drink: bring some snacks and enough water to last the night. Also remember to bring trash bags – you don’t want to leave any rubbish behind.
- Mosquito repellent: this is always useful in Singapore. Remember to reapply if you go swimming.
Where to Buy Camping Gear in Singapore
Decathlon has a large array of products at unbeatable value. These include tents under $50 and all the gear you can imagine. You can buy online and use click-and-collect for most items or free delivery if you spend at least $60.
The Big Country is a fancier shopping experience with more stylish gear. You get free shipping with a $50 spend.
Amazon* has a wide variety of camping gear. For example, they sell super comfy inflatable pillows* and cute lanterns you can hang on trees*.
Activities to Enjoy while Camping in East Coast Park
- Watch the sunset and….
- Watch the sunrise
- Cool off in the water
- Build a sandcastle on the beach
- Rent a kayak or a bicycle for the day
- Read a good murder mystery book set in Singapore*
- Have a BBQ or….
- Eat in the nearby restaurants
- Be fancy and go glamping* in the park for a much fancier experience
Want to explore more Islands of Singapore? Check out our hiking trail on Sentosa Island, or walks on Pulau Ubin, Coney Island or the Southern Islands. For other hiking ideas check out our Singapore Hiking page.
FAQs: East Coast Park Camping
To reserve a camping spot in East Coast Park you can either book online, or visit an AXS machine.
You can definitely camp at East Coast Park in Singapore, as long as you have a valid residential address in Singapore (i.e. you’re not a tourist). It’s a lovely, peaceful experience to lounge by the beach in your cosy tent.
You are not allowed to cook outside your tent in Singapore. The camping regulations do not allow this. You are not allowed to use either a small camping stove or a portable barbecue. You can book a nearby BBQ pit for cooking, or just bring picnic food you don’t need to heat up.
Camping at East Coast Park is free, as is camping at any of the campsites in Singapore. However, you do have to reserve a permit and have to have a valid residential address in Singapore, i.e. tourists are not allowed to camp.
In East Coast Park the Single BBQ pits are $16 to book and the Soudble BBQ pits are $20 to book.
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Hello, Not sure people are allowed to do loud music system or loud singing with speaker on or after 11pm?
Hello, that’s correct, you’re not allowed loud music after 11pm.
Hi there,
Thanks for the informative post.
I’d like to check if it’s allowed to set up a Tent near BBQ Pit 44 Area E.
As I know camping only in Area D & G for overnight stays, I just wanna use a tent for my children to play only during the daytime(3 PM – 9 PM) while adults are cooking bbq.
Thanks,
Kan
Hi Kan,
Unfortunately you can only set up a tent in areas D and G, and you need a permit to set up a tent even if it’s only during the daytime. However, you are allowed to set up a little wind break with a rug, or something like that.
I hope that helps,
Vicky