Best Cabin Camping near Avenel, NJ

Several cabin rentals near Avenel provide comfortable alternatives to tent camping in New Jersey's state and county parks. Turkey Swamp Park offers cabin accommodations with forest views, each equipped with basic amenities and outdoor fire rings. The cabins at Allaire State Park feature wood stoves for heating, picnic tables, and bunk beds. According to one visitor, "Cabins are no frills yet very nice with no electricity, they are equipped with 4 bunks, a large picnic table and a wood stove for heat." Most cabins include porches, fire rings, and charcoal grills for outdoor cooking.

Rustic cabins predominate at state parks like Stokes State Forest, where units include wood-burning stoves, bunk beds, and basic kitchen facilities. More developed options exist at private campgrounds such as Panther Lake Camping Resort and Pine Cone Resort, which typically offer electricity and indoor plumbing. A camper noted, "The cabins are reasonably priced and well-appointed, if a bit rustic. The interior features are just what you'd expect for getting away for the weekend." Reservation requirements vary, with most public park cabins booking months in advance during summer and fall seasons.

Cabin amenities differ significantly between locations. State park cabins generally provide mattresses covered in vinyl for easy cleaning but require visitors to bring bedding, pillows, and cooking equipment. Private resorts may include more furnishings and kitchen supplies. Wood for heating stoves is available for purchase at most park offices, though supplies can be limited. Nearby stores in Freehold, Jackson, and other towns offer groceries and camping supplies. One visitor advised, "You'll need that wood stove to heat up the cabin. I went through two bundles of wood in one night, and could have used more in the morning."

Best Cabin Sites Near Avenel, New Jersey (34)

    1. Staten Island — Gateway National Recreation Area - CLOSED for 2025

    4 Reviews
    Bayonne, NY
    11 miles
    Website
    +1 (718) 354-4655

    $30 / night

    "You have a clear view of the Narrow bridge and at night the city lights light up your surroundings light a nigh light. The camp here has 7 campsites here and it fill up really fast."

    "this place is awesome when it comes to finding an affordable place to stay while in NY, this camp ground isnt your usual forest camp sites, however there are some beautiful views, and it is located in"

    2. Collective Governors Island

    6 Reviews
    Jersey City, NY
    15 miles
    Website
    +1 (970) 445-2033

    $529 - $1200 / night

    "The article also mentions the benefits of camping on Governor Island, such as feeling close to nature, relaxing and enjoying a peaceful space, away from the noise of the city."

    3. Turkey Swamp Park

    28 Reviews
    Freehold, NJ
    27 miles
    Website
    +1 (732) 462-7286

    $42 - $79 / night

    "Spacious sites but lacks privacy. All sites have electric and water. Cabin rentals available. Hiking and biking galore. Beautiful lake for canoeing and fishing. Archery range available."

    "General: Smallish (64-site) county park campground. There are also three cabins. As soon as you turn off the main road to the park, all roads are dirt, which was a bit surprising."

    4. Allaire State Park - TEMPORARILY CLOSED

    18 Reviews
    Allenwood, NJ
    30 miles
    Website
    +1 (732) 938-2371

    "I've stayed in the cabins here a couple times. Love the area lots to do hiking fishing nature walks, something for everyone."

    "I habe stayed in all the spots they offer, yurt, cabin and the pull up sites. It is well maintained with numerous trails to hike."

    5. Mahlon Dickerson Reservation

    18 Reviews
    Jefferson, NJ
    33 miles
    Website
    +1 (973) 697-3140

    "There are level padded sites with electric and water (in warmer months). Sites were spaced out with beautiful woods in the background. Hiking trail goes right through the campground."

    "Fire pit with grill and picnic table."

    6. Pine Cone Resort

    7 Reviews
    Freehold, NJ
    28 miles
    Website
    +1 (732) 462-2230

    "Camp sites are close together with no privacy but decent sized. You get a table, fire ring with out a grill, water, electric, and enough room for a large cabin tent or a few small tents."

    7. Spruce Run Recreation Area

    15 Reviews
    Bethlehem, NJ
    36 miles
    Website
    +1 (908) 638-8572

    "We stayed in the "Shelter" which was a nice little cabin with a wood stove, table w/benches and two bunkbeds (one of which was nestled behind a partition)."

    "This was our second visit to the sleepy NJ park and campground and our first time renting a shelter along with a campsite to accommodate different levels of camping comfort."

    8. Panther Lake Camping Resort

    17 Reviews
    Andover, NJ
    36 miles
    Website
    +1 (973) 347-4440

    "Fire rings and picnic tables provided at each site and cabin. Lots of family activities on the weekend. Enjoyed the pool and hot tub, Hiking trails and paved roads to ride bike."

    "Fun camping place to books groups. Very kid and pet friendly, lake to fish and kayak on, lots of activities, great pool and awesome hot tub."

    9. Timberland Lake Campground

    12 Reviews
    Cream Ridge, NJ
    33 miles
    Website
    +1 (732) 928-0500

    "Plenty of activities for kids with park area and pool. They do also offer golf cart rental for those wanting explore the park. The park consists of permanent trailers, many tents for places to camp."

    "They do their own haunted walk through that is just awesome! Everyone decorates. They have a dj every Saturday! Plenty of activities for the kids. They have cool raffles!"

    10. Butterfly Camping Resort

    10 Reviews
    Toms River, NJ
    34 miles
    Website
    +1 (732) 928-2107

    $64 - $78 / night

    "4½ Stars Quick Weekend Getaway 

    We stayed at Butterfly Camping Resort in Jackson, New Jersey, for a 2-night weekend in late-August. We’re so glad we did! "

    "Large playground and lots of activities for the kids. Site was large, and had trees and shrubs separating the sites (we had stayed on 105A). Friendly staff and clean bathrooms."

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Cabin Reviews near Avenel, NJ

332 Reviews of 34 Avenel Campgrounds


  • Erik M.
    May. 1, 2020

    Allaire State Park - TEMPORARILY CLOSED

    Close getaway

    I've stayed in the cabins here a couple times. Love the area lots to do hiking fishing nature walks, something for everyone. Cabins are no frills yet very nice no electricity they are equipi with 4 bunks a LG picnic table and a wood stove for heat. Also a nice porch fire ring and a charcoal grill

  • charles C.
    Aug. 5, 2021

    Turkey Swamp Park

    Swamp adventure

    Clean bathrooms, friendly staff. Spacious sites but lacks privacy. All sites have electric and water. Cabin rentals available. Hiking and biking galore. Beautiful lake for canoeing and fishing. Archery range available. Playground for kids.

  • A
    Apr. 22, 2021

    Sebago Cabin Camp — Harriman State Park

    No RV sites a step up from tent camping.

    They have rustic cabins. Theae do not have plumbing or heat. It is a step up from cabin camping. They also have a beach behind it.

  • W L.
    Jan. 8, 2022

    Stokes State Forest

    Cozy Cabins and Serene Trails

    Rented a cabin in November (#009) and again in December (#008) of 2021. I favored Cabin 8, the kitchen and bathroom were separated from the main room.

    The cabins are reasonably priced and well-appointed, if a bit rustic. The interior features are just what you'd expect for getting away for the weekend. THe main room has a bunk bed and two twins, a table with benches, two Adirondack chairs, a wood stove set into a fireplace (some cabins still feature a fireplace only, but these two did not), hot/cold water, electric stove with oven, refrigerator, toilet, bathroom sink, mirror, plenty of hooks to hang jackets and coats, storage cabinets in the kitchen area, overhead lighting, wall outlets, and screened windows.

    The doors feature deadbolt locks - so be sure to always take the key or set the lock to be unlocked all the time.

    The mattresses are vinyl covered, so you can wipe them down with your own sanitizing wipes. There was hand sanitizer in each cabin as well.

    Outside is a picnic table, fire ring, and grill. There are hooks near the door to hang a lantern.

    The park office is not nearby, about 2(?) miles away. They sell wood, and there are a few road stands near the campground, but that wood is wet. You'll need to find some birch to get your fire going if, like me, you didn't buy wood on the way (plenty of signs for wood as you approach the park office) and the office was closed upon arrival. I bought wood from a house across the street from the entrance to the cabins and it was damp, but in November, I wasn't complaining, it took awhile but I got a nice blaze going. You need that wood stove to heat up the cabin. Turning on the oven is a help, but not a good solution. The wood stove definitely heats the room up nicely. I went through two bundles of wood in one night, and could have used more in the morning. (There's plenty of fallen wood around but it was damp/raining both times I visited). The second time I took six bundles of wood and used them all from Friday to Sunday morning, and 7 would've have been better.

    The trails nearby are varied, read the maps (especially NY NJ Trail Conference Maps) to get an idea of difficulty/elevation. We went in November when there was a light rain that turned into a thunderstorm with hail and sleet! It was certainly an adventure. The area was  incredibly peaceful in December with many cabin reservations abandoned due to rain in the forecast. It did rain, but was still a great trip. The photos of the tent sites were taken in December.

  • Dwight D.
    Sep. 26, 2021

    Jenny Jump State Forest

    Cute Comfortable Shelter

    This is the first time we decided to forgo tent camping and reserve a shelter at a state park. We had a much better experience than we were expecting! The "shelter" is what we would describe as a "cabin"; four walls, a roof, locking door, locking windows, large picture frame front window, four beds(two bunks), a wood burning stove, and a porch. Even compared to our glamping this was luxury!!

    There are eight shelters at Jenny Jump State Park. Shelter 2 is a minute walk from the restroom with sink/shower and water. Shelters 7 & 8 are even closer while 4 & 5 are the furthest, may an extra 5 minutes walk? The dead end means there isn't too much traffic, though the road is right there so you can wave to the other campers heading to the restroom or for hikes. There is a trail head at one of the parking lots. During the day the parking lots filled up and there was some overflow parking for day-hikers across the road. We got to see their dogs, so that was a bonus for us! Otherwise, this shelter is not situated too close to the other shelters and feels very private.

    We brought battery-powered lights since there is no electricity. There were coat hooks and a built-in shelf for our snacks, games, and other supplies. There was a picnic table and benches inside. We brought camping chairs for relaxing on the porch. We spent most of our time on the porch; cooking, chatting, and crafting while enjoying the sunshine and breeze.

    Oh, this shelter is wheelchair accessible. Some of the others are not.

  • Lee D.The Dyrt PRO User
    Feb. 18, 2025

    Turkey Swamp Park

    Nicely wooded park with many activity options

    General: Smallish (64-site) county park campground. There are also three cabins. As soon as you turn off the main road to the park, all roads are dirt, which was a bit surprising. They were well-maintained and in dry weather, not a problem, but probably not if it was rainy. The campground is in five loops with the bathhouse located in the D Loop. 

    Site Quality: Sites in Loops B-E all have pull-thru driveways. Sites are all level, very generous in size, and reasonably spaced apart for privacy. A lantern hook, picnic table, and fire ring complete each site. As mentioned, all roads and camper pads are dirt. There are some ADA sites but the only thing distinguishing them from others is their proximity to the bathroom. 

    Bath/Shower House: Very clean. Soap and paper towels are provided. The only thing missing were hooks or shelves for toiletries but there was a large bench that could be used. Since it is located in the D Loop it would have been helpful to have pathways leading from the other loops. Did not use the shower so cannot comment. 

    Activities/Amenities: There is a lake with a boat dock and a small boardwalk. Kayaking/Canoeing, fishing, and swimming. In the summer, canoe, kayak, paddle boats, and row boats are available for rental. Several short (longest one is 2.5 miles) hiking trails that are fairly well-marked but can be a bit confusing at times. Some sections of the trails were muddy due to swamps and bogs but passable. There is also a fitness trail. There is an archery range and a council ring (campfire). There is a dump station and laundry facility with brand-new washers and dryers (however, you need to pay using an app on your phone). The office is open until 9 pm and sells ice, firewood, and bait. There are age-appropriate playgrounds both in the campground and by the office. 

    There are not a lot of camping opportunities in NJ, and this was a nice one. The campground was only about 20% occupied when we were there at the end of April, so our stay was a quiet one.

  • B
    Jul. 29, 2018

    Tohickon Valley County Park

    One stop shop for adventure!

    This place is amazing! everything you could want, from tent and RV camping to cabin rentals. They also have a pool and playground. some of my favorite parts of this park are a good 100’ rack wall perfect for climbing, great fishing, trails for miles that even connects to the AT, and when scheduled they open the dam up stream for som world class whitewater rafting.

    As for some things that aren’t listed. this is no alcohol permitted in the park due to it being a state park, however that all depends on how open you are about it and the Park rangers. Cell phone service is limited last time I was up there in 2012 only people with Verizon Wireless had any reception. Also there is no WiFi. No hookups or camp store.

  • Maureen F.
    Dec. 4, 2020

    Tohickon Valley County Park

    Great stop for a Bikepacker

    No electrical and no pets allowed in camp sites. But plenty of trees and huge fire rings in each spot. An RV would have a tough time but for car camping it’s great. The Delaware Canal is nearby with the tow path for biking. That makes this a nice Bikepacking stop.

  • Trip Over Life
    Oct. 23, 2018

    Stokes State Forest

    Ranger Review: humangear FlexiBowl and GoBites at Steam Mill Campground

    Campground Review

    Stokes State Forest has four campgrounds. The Steam Mill Camping Area is tucked out the of the way and is the most primitive. It is the smallest of the campgrounds with 27 sites only suitable for tents or small trailers/campervans. No pets or alcohol allowed.

    The campground has a pit toilet and a well. Each large campsite has a picnic table, fire pit, and lantern hook. Some sites also have a tent platform. Many sites are a bit rocky.

    We selected site T219. It was a solid choice: private but close to the toilet and water. Some sites located around the opposite side of the ring back up to a babbling brook. The rushing water will soothe you to sleep.

    Remember, this is bear country so proper food storage is a must. Bear lockers are not provided. The area also has ticks and rattlesnakes.

    Outdoor activities in the area abound. Go fishing, hiking, biking, horseback riding, kayaking, and more. There are 21 marked trails that cover over 63 miles within the boundaries of Stokes State Forest. Twelve miles are part of the Appalachian Trail. Pick up a hiking map at the park office or download the Avenza Maps app.

    This visit we hiked the Tillman Ravine trail (tip: make the trail a loop and visit both the ravine and the nearby old cemetery).

    You can also drive or hike to Sunset Mountain Scenic Overlook for a view of High Point Monument. High Point Monument is the highest elevation in New Jersey and is located in High Point State Park which borders Stokes State Forest on the north. High Point State Park also offers camping, hiking, sightseeing opportunities. And, on the western border of Stokes State Forest is the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. So, there is lots of outdoors to get out and explore!

    Product Review

    We camped at the Steam Mill Camping Area in Stokes State Forest in our campervan over a chilly autumn weekend. We had the opportunity to cook some soup on our stovetop and chill out by the campfire. And, as Rangers for The Dyrt, we get products to test from time to time so we were psyched to try out some new dinnerware and cutlery. This included the FlexiBowl and GoBites from humangear.

    What made these humangear products pretty awesome? Well, the fun colors to start. I mean, seriously, my orange bowl rules. The FlexiBowl also has some neat features: it’s flexible - just like the name suggests - and foldable. The bowl can be squished and stuffed anywhere. And, the top section can be folded down to create a smaller bowl. The FlexiBowl is versatile yet durable. It held my hearty, warm soup just perfectly.

    I paired the FlexiBowl with one of the GoBites utensils (the Uno model). The Uno model is my favorite - it has a fork on one side and a spoon on the other side. Very simple and convenient. The other GoBites models include the Duo (separate fork and spoon that can snap together) and the Trio (a fork, spoon, and knife - with bottle opener - in a case).

    PRO TIP: I keep the Trio GoBites model in my travel pack at all times. It recently came in handy on a (non-camping) trip to Sardinia. The knife on the Trio allowed me to slice some delicious local cheese to pair with bread, jam, and wine that was purchased from the grocery store. YUM.


Guide to Avenel

Cabin accommodations near Avenel, New Jersey provide shelter options throughout the year with varying amenities based on location. Seasonal availability shifts with most state park cabins open from April through October, while some private resorts maintain year-round operations. Winter cabin rentals typically require advance booking due to limited heating capabilities and maintenance schedules at public facilities.

What to do

Lake activities: accessible options at Turkey Swamp Park include fishing, kayaking, and canoeing. The park features rental equipment during summer months for visitors without personal watercraft. According to one camper: "Turkey Swamp is a great spot, a lot of different things to do. Fishing, Tent Camp, Van Camping, Open Field, BBQ, Kayaking, Canoeing. The list goes on."

Outdoor recreation: year-round options at Mahlon Dickerson Reservation feature hiking trails that connect directly to cabin areas. Visitors can access multiple trail difficulty levels within walking distance of their accommodations. A visitor noted: "There are plenty of trails, water (creeks, pond, lake) views and even if the place is packed there is PLENTY of room."

Historic exploration: educational opportunities near cabin sites include restored villages and historic buildings. Butterfly Camping Resort offers proximity to regional historic sites with interpretive programs. One camper mentioned: "The property is quiet and they have lots of amenities for families and kids (arcade, mini golf, playground, pool, horse show rig)."

What campers like

Privacy between sites: Many campers value the separation at Spruce Run Recreation Area where cabins and tent sites maintain adequate distance. According to a review: "Campsites well spaced apart. Staff friendly. Boats/Kayaks can be rented."

Access to nature with basic amenities: Campers appreciate the balance of rustic settings with necessary facilities. One visitor to Timberland Lake Campground shared: "This campground has a pretty lake with good fishing and they sell bait at the Ranger office. There are lots of trails and the packed dirt roads are nice for bike riding."

Clean bathhouse facilities: Multiple reviewers highlight the importance of well-maintained bathroom facilities. A guest at Turkey Swamp Park stated: "Bath/Shower House: Very clean. Soap and paper towels are provided."

Winter cabin experiences: Some visitors specifically seek off-season cabin stays for different outdoor experiences. A camper at Mahlon Dickerson noted: "Just best place I have ever been and plenty to do near by."

What you should know

Cabin heating considerations: Wood stoves require proper management and fuel planning. A camper at Panther Lake Camping Resort advised: "Love the place! People were nice. Bathrooms were clean. Only issue is the internet is terrible u have to be near the wifi zones."

Seasonal pest awareness: Ticks and other insects require preventative measures, especially in warmer months. One Turkey Swamp Park visitor warned: "By the 2nd day I had 3 ticks on me. My dog had one and by the end my husband had 2. That was so crazy because we were just sitting by our camper."

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular cabin campsite near Avenel, NJ?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular cabin campground near Avenel, NJ is Staten Island — Gateway National Recreation Area - CLOSED for 2025 with a 4.3-star rating from 4 reviews.

What is the best site to find cabin camping near Avenel, NJ?

TheDyrt.com has all 34 cabin camping locations near Avenel, NJ, with real photos and reviews from campers.