Leo C.
Scout
ScoutWinding Hills Park
Nice but dated
Nice campground, bathrooms are clean but dated, first come first serve for the sites.
Camping near Allendale, NJ
123 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
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Camping options near Allendale, New Jersey range from developed campgrounds to primitive sites within an hour's drive. The region includes several established campgrounds like Beaver Pond Campground in Harriman State Park and Camp Glen Gray in New Jersey, offering accommodations for tents, RVs, and cabins. Harriman State Park, located approximately 15 miles northwest of Allendale, features multiple camping areas including Sebago Cabin Camp and the Stephen & Betsy Corman AMC Harriman Outdoor Center. Primitive camping is available at sites like Stonetown Circular Trail, while family-friendly developed campgrounds can be found at Mahlon Dickerson Reservation and Campgaw Mountain Reservation.
Seasonal considerations affect campground availability throughout the region, with many sites operating from April through October. Campgaw Mountain Reservation requires permits for camping, while other areas like Mahlon Dickerson offer reservable sites with amenities including electric hookups, showers, and sanitary dump stations. A visitor noted that "Mahlon Dickerson Campgound is a perfect place to spend a few nights or a couple of weeks. The campsites are paved and mostly level. They are wooded and large." Access to most campgrounds is straightforward via drive-in routes, though some primitive sites require hiking in. Weather conditions vary significantly between seasons, with summer being the most popular camping period. Cell phone reception can be limited at more remote locations, particularly in the mountainous areas west of Allendale.
Waterfront camping receives consistently positive reviews from visitors to the area. Several campgrounds feature lake access, including sites at Round Valley State Park. According to one camper, "Round Valley is certainly a must see for any type of outdoors person, or someone who appreciates relaxation in a gorgeous landscape. It is a semi-mountainous, forested setting with a very large lake." Wildlife viewing opportunities abound throughout the region's campgrounds, with visitors reporting sightings of deer, various bird species, and small mammals. Campgrounds in the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, though slightly farther from Allendale, provide riverside camping with excellent hiking access. Noise levels vary significantly between campgrounds, with more remote sites offering greater solitude compared to those near highways or urban areas. Most developed campground areas enforce quiet hours to ensure a peaceful experience.
Best Campgrounds near Allendale (123)
1. Beaver Pond Campground in Harriman State Park
"Drive-in tent campgrounds. Adequate restroom facilities sprinkled amongst tent sites. Some campsites have raised platforms. All sites have picnic tables and fire ring with flip-top grill."
"The grounds are just steps away from Welch Lake, offering a lifeguard monitored sandy beach which is open during the summer season for swimming, fishing, and small boat craft further out."
from $21 - $24 / night
Check Availability2. Sebago Cabin Camp — Harriman State Park
"It is a step up from cabin camping. They also have a beach behind it."
"This place is only an hour away from NYC with so much to do and see. These cabins are VERY rustic, four walls, a cot, and a fridge."
from $130 / night
Check Availability3. The Stephen & Betsy Corman AMC Harriman Outdoor Center — Harriman State Park
"This was beautiful campground with an even nicer lake. You are able to do a hike around the lake."
"Great trails to hike for novices looking to branch out but not too large that you'll be lost forever lol highly recommend and can't do so enough 👍🏽"
4. Camp Glen Gray
"One rustic place with many hiking trails to choose from. Camp also provides trucking of gear weather permitting. No vehicles allowed to drive through camp. Trading Post for treats and other items."
"Lots of hiking trails. Trading post is well stocked and volunteers are always friendly and able to answer any questions"
from $5 - $200 / night
Check Availability5. Croton Point Park
"Tent sites are very private with some dirt roads to exit out but thats what make it unique experience! Bathrooms with shower is near by and has plenty porta potties all around."
"Was close to bear mountains state part and the train station is right there!"
from $30 - $60 / night
Check Availability6. Mahlon Dickerson Reservation
"Located in the Skylands of New Jersey, Mahlon Dickerson Campgound is a perfect place to spend a few nights or a couple of weeks. The campsites are paved and mostly level. They are wooded and large."
"It's beautiful and quiet, and close to beautiful hiking trails, lakes, and other outdoor recreation opportunities."
7. Campgaw Mountain Reservation
8. Liberty Harbor RV Park
"This is all about location. The closest RV park to NYC. It's basically a parking lot with a dump station. Not much else. Pick one of the larger end row sites to get a little extra elbow room."
"Basicly a parking lot, but the location can't be beat. 2 ferries that run to Manhattan. Path train is a 12 minute walk away that will take you yyo manhatten."
from $145 - $180 / night
Check Availability9. Stonetown Circular trail Primitive #1
"Stonetown Circular trail is a 11 mile medium/high difficulty loop trail. This is the first of two primitive sites along the trail. The trailhead is across the street from a large parking lot."
10. Stonetown Circular trail Primitive #2
"Stonetown Circular trail is a 11 mile medium/high difficulty loop trail. This is the second of two primitive sites along the trail. The trailhead is across the street from a large parking lot."
Drive Time
- 22 min from Kiryas Joel, NY
- 25 min from New York, NY
- 1 hr 1 min from Kingston, NY
- 1 hr 4 min from Bridgeport, CT
Recent Camping Photos near Allendale, NJ
447 Photos of 123 Allendale Campgrounds • uploaded by The Dyrt campers
Campgaw Mountain Reservation
Beaver Pond Campground in Harriman State ParkJ
Croton Point Park
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Moon Valley CampgroundD
Mahlon Dickerson Reservation
Black Bear RV ParkT
Woodland Trails
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Recent Reviews near Allendale, NJ
801 Reviews of 123 Allendale Campgrounds
Thomas B.
RangerNeversink River Resort
Cool Riverside Campground
I'll start by saying this is a site-specific review (C20). I booked using Campspot and didn't select my own site but put in the criteria for my rig (30ft TT plus truck) and got a 50A back-in spot. The site was big but abnormal. Between the picnic table placement and the trees, I ended up right around 50ft from the electric and water, and the water spigot was so low I could barely put on my camco filter. With the uneven dirt roads, I had to unhitch with my truck in a gigantic puddle (lol). The site was otherwise fine aside from my gate code not working on Day 2. As for the campground as a whole, I thought it was pretty unique place by the river that offered several good amenities and activities, like downstream river tubing, an arcade, bathroom/shower facilities, a small store, little trails, and more. I would say this place borders the more primitive side.
Edwin R.ScoutCheesequake State Park Campground
Park uses county cops to shut down park by 9pm.
On Friday, September 4, 2026, I rented a trailer and brought my family to Cheesequake State Park to celebrate our 10th wedding anniversary over the extended Labor Day weekend. Around 9:20 PM—well before the park's designated 10:00 PM quiet hours—we were sitting inside our canopy, playing Jenga, and listening to low background music. Two officers from the Matawan Police Department approached our campsite. They were polite and courteous, simply offering a standard reminder to wrap things up by 10:00 PM. Before they could leave, however, a third, senior officer intervened. Wanting to"show them how it's done," he made the two polite officers return and stand by to watch as he demonstrated how to aggressively harass campers. Flashlight in hand, the senior officer approached with an immediate hostile attitude, treating us like criminals as he demanded to know who rented the site. He began reiterating rules and claimed we had too many vehicles. We had three cars, one belonging to my brother-in-law's girlfriend, who was visiting with her daughter. She had paid the$10 visitor fee at the main office and was instructed by staff to obtain the gate access code from us, the primary renters, if she got locked in. No staff member ever informed her of an 8:00 PM visitor departure deadline, leading us to reasonably assume visitors were permitted until quiet hours began at 10:00 PM. The officer rudely snapped that she had been given wrong information. The senior officer then used profanity in front of three small children, aggressively telling her to ("get her shit and get the fuck out!") in that manner or use profanity, the officer went from hostile to furious. He angrily declared that these were official violations and threatened that he could be issuing us tickets instead. Desperately searching for anything and everything to throw at us, he demanded that we turn off our idling car—which was supplying power to our campsite—and instructed us to make sure the campfire was doused before shutting down for the night. He then proceeded to shine his flashlight into our private setup—including our canopy, tents, and the inside of our trailer—searching for any other possible violation while the two polite officers were forced to watch. What was supposed to be a special 10th wedding anniversary celebration with my family was completely ruined by a senior officer misusing his authority to put on an unnecessary display of intimidation. Worse than just ruining our night, he spent that evening teaching those two police officers how to be bad cops. He corrupted two officers in real time, demonstrating firsthand exactly why most people have lost faith in the police force. The next day we was ready for them. We turned off our lights and quietly by the fire while they went next door to harass an asian family that had just set up camp and had their leds lights on.
- eedgar V.Scout
Black Bear RV Park
Super clean and quiet
Past reviews has mentioned that the office seems to be closed often, while I found that to be true I had no reason to contact anyone. This is definitely one of the cleanest quiets site I’ve ever visited
- KKelly B.
GuideClarence Fahnestock State Park Campground
Check site photos first
Definitely a wide variety of sites—look at the site pictures before booking—there are two areas where it’s just an open field with bonfires and picnic tables that I’d avoid. I could see a large group going there or something but personally it doesn’t offer any privacy.
BUT if you book one of the other sites that DOES have privacy you’ll be in camping heaven. The “hike in” sites are more like “walk-in,” I was worried at first but it’s some are as little as a few yards from the road. The most annoying part was lugging the cooler back and forth, but totally worth it
- KKelly B.Guide
Stephens State Park Campground
Great last min getaway
Booked the day before—even on the holiday weekend! Just 1.5 hours outside of NYC, site was a bit close to the neighbors (fire pit was very far back and basically in the neighbors’ campsite, but we put up a “privacy clothesline” and hung a tarp over it for a bit of extra coverage.
The staff was friendly and helpful, they said it was the busiest they’ve seen the campground all year (there were lots of large groups but everyone seemed to settle down by 9:30pm
Poison ivy was EVERYWHERE at our site so make sure to stick to the open areas and the paths. Lots of families around, we felt very safe Bathrooms were fine—it was my impression they’re usually cleaner but the high traffic of the weekend left a bit to be desired, (lots of families around=dirty diapers in the bathroom trash bin) but it’s camping! I’m not gonna argue w a flushing toilet!
- KKevin F.
TravelerTri-State RV Park
A place to stay in an area lacking campgrounds.
This area seems to be devoid of campgrounds except for this one. It’s basically just a large parking lot with hook ups. Completely open, which is great for Starlink. Bathrooms were slightly above average; fairly clean and places to hang clothes for your shower. Has a laundry but be sure to bring quarters. It is about 100 yards from the interstate so you’ll get a lot of noise and diesel exhaust fumes.
- Sue B.Ranger
Delaware Water Gap / Pocono Mountain KOA
Great off season camping
We camped here in our pop up for our Anniversary in November. We were impressed with the cleanliness and available amenities for the time of year we were camping in! Close proximity to DWG and PA AND NJ attractions.
- JJayTraveler
Delaware Water Gap / Pocono Mountain KOA
Large sites & friendly staff!
Another great experience. Sites were large. Staff was friendly with many different things for kids to do. Great base camp for local hikes.
Guide to Allendale
Camping near Allendale, New Jersey offers options ranging from primitive sites to platform camping within a 30-mile radius. The region sits within the Ramapo Mountains and surrounding Highlands where elevations range from 200 to 1,000 feet. Fall camping brings vibrant foliage displays, while summer visitors often contend with humidity levels between 65-85% in July and August.
What to do
Hiking trail access: Stonetown Circular Trail features two primitive camping sites along its 11-mile loop. The second site is approximately 4 miles into the hike "right next to a flowing stream with fresh water. The site is marked by a sign on a tree that says 'The Island'. This is a pretty spread out site with plenty of level space to set up multiple tents."
Water activities: Many campgrounds near Allendale provide lake access for swimming and boating. Sebago Cabin Camp features "a huge lake and great beach area. It was perfect for lounging and swimming in during a hot summer day." Some campers recommend visiting nearby Lake Welch as "phenomenal for easy nearly-beach like camping."
Winter recreation: Several campsites stay open year-round or offer winter activities. Campgaw Mountain Reservation operates a ski area in winter months. The campground itself has "super popular hiking trails that run right through all the camps" and offers disc golf when snow isn't covering the ground.
What campers like
Platform camping: Several campgrounds offer raised platforms for tent setup. At Beaver Pond Campground, "the biggest positive is how spread out it was. You definitely feel like you have your own space and are not camping on top of your neighbor. Many of the camping options were on platforms which is especially nice if it recently rained or if you are expecting rain during your stay."
Wildlife sightings: Black bears inhabit the forests surrounding Allendale. One camper at Beaver Pond noted: "Welcome to Bear Mountain grumbles the park ranger as he sits in complete darkness! He is in his ranger hut, checking in the late evening arrivals to the campground... He offers us a highlighted map to our site, wishes us a good stay, and gives us the run down on bear activity in the area."
Camp amenities: Basic facilities at many campgrounds make extended stays comfortable. Beaver Pond provides "free hot showers in the bathrooms, with plenty of room to change" and "a communal sink which made it very convenient and easy to wash dishes and fill up water."
What you should know
Off-season advantages: Camping during shoulder seasons offers more solitude. One visitor to Beaver Pond mentioned: "Ranger said that during summer weekends the grounds fill up and can be quite noisy, but mid-week during the off-season it was great. Expect to purchase firewood, although scrounging for kindling was possible."
Reservation requirements: Most developed campgrounds require advance booking. Mahlon Dickerson Reservation is "super easy to book. Easy to find on a gps and even if you lose service there are signs marking the reservation campground!"
Noise levels: Sound experiences vary widely between campgrounds. At Campgaw Mountain Reservation, "the sites themselves are fairly close to the road and there are super popular hiking trails that run right through all the camps. If you like being woken up by folks walking their dog at 7 AM, this is the spot for you."
Tips for camping with families
Child-friendly campgrounds: Seek out camps with specific youth amenities. Croton Point Park offers "a playground within sight of our camper" making it easier to supervise children while setting up camp or preparing meals.
Educational opportunities: Some camps near Allendale provide structured activities. At Harriman State Park's Stephen & Betsy Corman AMC Outdoor Center, "the lake is very peaceful, and home to beavers we watched from the dining hall patio."
Cell service considerations: Connectivity varies throughout the region. At Croton Point Park, one camper noted the "site does not have Wi-Fi and street address didn't work correctly with multiple GPS apps." However, another campground reported "your phone will have signal," allowing families to stay connected when needed.
Tips from RVers
Site dimensions: Many campgrounds accommodate modest-sized RVs. Mahlon Dickerson Reservation is "easy to navigate our 38 ft. RV. Easy to dump and fill." Sites are "paved and mostly level. They are wooded and large. Water and electric hookups and a dump station."
Hookup logistics: Water and electric availability differs between campgrounds. At Mahlon Dickerson, "website lists water hook ups at long distances but they have hose reels to help with that. Our site (15) said 75' however the 50' hose reel made it to our rv connection."
Reservation timing: Booking patterns impact RV camping experiences. One visitor noted Mahlon Dickerson is "quiet and spacious" with police patrols ensuring security. Weekends tend to fill faster than weekdays across most campgrounds near Allendale, particularly during summer months.
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Allendale, NJ?
What camping is available near Allendale, NJ?
According to TheDyrt.com, Allendale, NJ offers a wide range of camping options, with 123 campgrounds and RV parks near Allendale, NJ and 4 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Allendale, NJ?
Which is the most popular campground near Allendale, NJ?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Allendale, NJ is Beaver Pond Campground in Harriman State Park with a 4.2-star rating from 41 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Allendale, NJ?
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Allendale, NJ?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 4 free dispersed camping spots near Allendale, NJ.
What parks are near Allendale, NJ?
What parks are near Allendale, NJ?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 11 parks near Allendale, NJ that allow camping, notably Gateway National Recreation Area and Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area.
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