141 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Camping near Bernards, NJ ranges from primitive wilderness campsites to RV accommodations and cabin rentals at state parks and private recreation areas. Round Valley State Park Campground, located in Lebanon approximately 12 miles northwest of Bernards, provides primitive camping accessible only by boat or a challenging hike. Other options include Spruce Run Recreation Area in Clinton and Voorhees State Park Campground in Glen Gardner, both offering tent sites, RV accommodations, and cabin rentals. Most developed campgrounds in the region operate seasonally from April through October, with several private resorts like Panther Lake Camping Resort and Great Divide Campground extending slightly later into the fall.
Seasonal considerations affect camping availability throughout the region. Most state park campgrounds, including Spruce Run, Voorhees, and Stephens State Park, maintain a consistent April 1 to October 31 operating season. Several campgrounds feature electric hookups, potable water, and shower facilities, though amenities vary significantly between locations. Round Valley stands apart with its boat-in or hike-in access requirement, providing a more remote wilderness camping experience than other options in the region. The trail to Round Valley's campsites presents a moderate challenge, as one visitor noted: "The hike to get to the campground is a bit long (4 miles; we did it in ~2h). Since there were 95 degrees, it was challenging."
Waterfront sites receive consistently positive reviews, particularly at Round Valley State Park where several campsites offer direct reservoir access. These sites provide scenic views and immediate water access, though visitors should note swimming restrictions at certain locations. The campgrounds surrounding Bernards range from more developed facilities with modern amenities to primitive wilderness experiences. Round Valley's unique access requirements create opportunities for solitude that are uncommon in the region. According to one camper, "This place is exceptional for the Northeast Coast. Not too far from NYC or Philadelphia. It is hike-in or canoe-in only. I'd opt for canoeing for the most enjoyment. It's very secluded once arriving at a campsite." Most established campgrounds in the region require reservations, especially during summer weekends and holidays when sites frequently reach capacity.
"The crystal-clear water is home to huge lake trout and the forests are bursting with wildlife. The sunsets across the lake are to die for."
"Once you get to the campground trail it’s pretty easy going on asphalt surface."
"Park employees and park police drive around through the day. Some big groups of campers got a little rowdy at night. The bathrooms were absolutely disgusting."
"The actual site was nice and was close to the bathrooms. There was plenty of shade as the sun moved throughout the day."
"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."
"Panther lake was a pretty good campground with lots of spots to camp at. Our campsite had a picnic bench and a fire ring. They offer both RV and primitive camping."
"The Lake is the gem of the campground with a really nice beach, good for fishing and kayaking. The negatives were the bathrooms. They are very primitive and quite dirty."
"I stayed at Cheesequake at the beginning of August and had a very positive experience."
"This park is on the list of 50 top NJ Hikes, and it has a few great trails. The trails range from easy to moderate with quite a few lookout locations."
from $200 / night
Check Availability"Our 4rth state in our 5 state trip is New Jersey! We wanted to see Delaware Water Gap NRA & I found a campground by Newton called The Great Divide. This is a private campground."
"All the positive reviews about this place are accurate! Beautiful, clean, well maintained, lots to do, great value for your $$"
"The bathroom/shower was only a few steps away which was convenient and clean."
"All the sites are set up nearby the office where people are all day should you ever need anything. The workers are super friendly and regularly make rounds of the grounds."
"The pit latrines were clean, the water spigots worked fine, and there was plenty of wildlife to see roam through the surrounding areas. It was home away from home."
"There are many things to do close by too like the observatory, Round Valley beach, Grounds for Art, etc. We all really enjoyed ourselves and plan on returning."
"There are dumpsters but no recycling (not sure if New Jersey segregates recycling after pickup). ATT had some reception but we forgot to check the Verizon phone. "
"Was a bit hard to locate the office to check in but finally found it. The camp site was spacious. The bathrooms were struggling with the plumbing but were fairly clean."
"We were kindly escorted to our site (a nice refreshing change from having to wander around to find the sites ourselves), which was the one farthest away from the entrance."
"Close by to a couple of nice state parks. Cute sheep and goats that wander about during the day! Sweet little spot, we'll definitely be back!"
TravelerThis 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.
RangerWe 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.
TravelerAnother great experience. Sites were large. Staff was friendly with many different things for kids to do. Great base camp for local hikes.
RangerWe came here 4th of July weekend, and this is one of the things I love about these sites...they had availability! Our site was very big, and was perfect with sone shade and also lots of sun!
RangerOur travel trailer and our friends' pop up both fit on this site with no problem. The only issue we had is that there is a bit of a ditch that turns to mud after a rain. We were off the beaten path so very little traffic. There was a bathroom with pit toilets down the street. Plenty of places to hike and fish also. We loved it here!
RangerWe came here to ride our ATV's...since it is more than 3 hours from home, we decided to book this spot for the night. We have stayed in a bunch of the DWSF sites. This one was kinda meh. Nearer to the road so traffic at all hours. Picnic table and fire ring, and as always, evidence of people chopping down live trees for firewood. Ugh! We set up our tent and had a nice fire, albeit there was broken glass on the ground. Biting flies worked overtime on us. Not a terrible stay, but we prolly won't book this one again. And these sites are no longer free. As out of state-rs, we paid $21 for one night. Still a good deal.
ScoutAs far as experience it was good. The main issue was the campsite where we were was uneven and caused many of the sleeping arrangements that we had to be not level. This seems to be a specific issue to the group campsite number two as when we went inwards it seemed like everything else was much better.
GuideTwo night stay, large loud parties make it hard to enjoy but once most of them left it was nice to walk down to the river. Bath house with toilets and showers, not all lights working. No swimming access but boat access and trails for hiking.
ScoutNo hookups. It was wooded, quiet and dark at night. I used the dump station on my way out. The first time I ever saw a poop fountain. The sewer opening sticks up above ground level. The cover swivels away, so I couldn't put it on top of my hose. And then, when I tried to rinse it, there was nowhere for it to go, because the inlet is elevated.
Central New Jersey's camping terrain transitions from the piedmont plateau in the east to the ridge-and-valley landscape in the west. Most campgrounds near Bernards, New Jersey operate seasonally, typically closing between late October and early April, with a few private facilities extending slightly later. The region experiences humid summer conditions with temperatures frequently exceeding 85°F during peak camping season, while spring and fall offer milder temperatures in the 60-75°F range.
Hiking at Mahlon Dickerson Reservation: The campground connects to multiple trail systems with varying difficulty levels, including access to the Headley Overlook with views of the surrounding highlands. One camper noted, "We always hike to the lake here, it's a very easy hike and also very peaceful."
Explore NJ Skylands region: Mahlon Dickerson Reservation provides access to the unique landscape of northern New Jersey's highland region. According to a visitor, "Located in the Skylands of New Jersey, Mahlon Dickerson Campgound is a perfect place to spend a few nights or a couple of weeks... Convenient for hiking and exploring, it's also only a 20 minute drive to a large mall in Rockaway."
Observatory access: Voorhees State Park Campground features an astronomical observatory that opens for public viewing sessions on select dates. As one camper mentioned, the park offers "well Maintained hiking trails, camp sites, with play grounds and an observatory."
Privacy and isolation: Jenny Jump State Forest offers secluded sites that feel more remote than their actual location. A camper reported, "This place was great, they allow dogs and had hiking trails with beautiful views you could enjoy right from your campground. It's also close to other local hikes like Mt. Tammany."
Lakefront sites: Spruce Run Recreation Area features waterfront campsites directly on the reservoir. One camper shared, "Our spot was on the water and it was really nice. A duck visited us every morning." Another noted, "The sites are large, many have nice mix of sun and shade. You can launch your kayak easily from the shore."
Proximity to water activities: Most top-rated campgrounds in the region provide easy access to water recreation. At Mountain View Campground, a visitor remarked, "Close to the Delaware River, Spruce Run Reservoir, and Round Valley Reservoir."
Wildlife encounters: Bear activity is present in the northern New Jersey region. At Mountainview Campground, a visitor described significant wildlife activity: "Only shortly after we settled into our tent did we hear foxes fighting right outside our tent, the snorts of deer, and there were bats right above us all night making noise!"
Bathroom facilities vary significantly: Campground bathroom quality ranges widely across the region. At Spruce Run, one camper warned, "The bathrooms were absolutely disgusting. I thought with COVID they were cleaning them more, but for the entire weekend, someone's #2 remained all over the toilet, floor, and corner wall."
Highway noise: Several campgrounds experience road noise despite their natural settings. At Jenny Jump State Forest, a reviewer cautioned, "My only complaint is that the noise from the highway was quite loud at night."
Activities for children: Great Divide Campground offers organized children's programming and recreational facilities. A visitor noted, "Great family run campground. Owners are a blast... Nice small lake with boats to use. Nice small beach. Lots of weekend activities."
Playground access: Multiple campgrounds feature dedicated children's play areas. At Panther Lake, one camper shared, "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."
Consider cabin rentals for first-time camping families: Several parks offer cabin accommodations as an alternative to tent camping. At Voorhees State Park, a visitor mentioned, "We stayed 2 nights in Cabin Z for our anniversary getaway and we loved having the whole place to ourselves."
Site leveling challenges: Panther Lake Camping Resort receives mixed reviews from RVers regarding site conditions. One camper advised, "Majority of sites are season all campers with LOTS of cottages... Only a handful of full hook up sites surrounded by seasonal cottages. Other area of the place had water and electric but it would be hard to get in/out of if it had rained a lot as it was all on soft grass."
Electric and water hookup limitations: Most state park campgrounds offer limited hookup options. At Spruce Run, one camper recommended, "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."
RV size restrictions: Many campgrounds in the region cannot accommodate larger RVs. Stephens State Park notes that the "campground as a whole and the individual sites are kind of tricky for bigger rigs... I can imagine a big class A or 5th wheel having a tough time."
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Bernards, NJ?
According to TheDyrt.com, Bernards, NJ offers a wide range of camping options, with 141 campgrounds and RV parks near Bernards, NJ and 3 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Bernards, NJ?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Bernards, NJ is Round Valley State Park Campground with a 4.6-star rating from 25 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Bernards, NJ?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 3 free dispersed camping spots near Bernards, NJ.
What parks are near Bernards, NJ?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 8 parks near Bernards, NJ that allow camping, notably Gateway National Recreation Area and Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area.
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