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Camping options around Brookside, New Jersey range from state forests to private resorts, all within a short drive of town. Mahlon Dickerson Reservation and Panther Lake Camping Resort offer cabin camping alongside tent and RV sites, while Jenny Jump State Forest and Stephens State Park provide more rustic camping experiences. The region includes several mixed-use campgrounds with options for glamping, yurts, and traditional camping, particularly in the northwestern portion of New Jersey near the Delaware Water Gap and along various lakes and waterways.
Most campgrounds in the area operate seasonally from April through October, with limited winter availability. Many state parks require advance reservations, especially for summer weekends and holidays. A review noted that "the campground was wonderful. Our site was plenty big enough for a large tent and a hammock. We could have easily fit another large tent." Panther Lake Camping Resort and Great Divide Campground both offer full hookups for RVs, while state forest campgrounds typically provide more basic amenities. Cell service can be spotty throughout the region, with several reviews mentioning poor connectivity, particularly at Panther Lake where "there's no wifi or phone signal anywhere other than near the entrance."
Water access stands out as a significant draw for campers in the Brookside area. Stephens State Park Campground features proximity to fishing streams, with one camper highlighting that "the river is just a small walk down the hill... You can hear the babbling of the river when it's quiet at camp which provided an extra layer of relaxation." Panther Lake's beach and boating opportunities receive frequent mention in positive reviews. For RV travelers, site sizes vary considerably between campgrounds, with state parks generally offering smaller sites with fewer hookups compared to private resorts. The area's campgrounds balance natural settings with accessibility, most being within 15-30 minutes of shopping and dining options while still providing forest or lakeside environments.
"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."
"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."
"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."
"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."
"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."
"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."
"Full bathrooms are located behind campsite #15 (clean flushing bathrooms, with motion-sensed lighting, showers, dishwashing sink), but easily accessible from campsites nearby."
"Bathrooms with flush toilets are conveniently located centrally every so often."
"We had our 3 Labs with us and they had plenty of walking space. We were within walking distance of Chili's. Close to shopping if you needed something. Reasonably quiet."
"We booked a campsite at the far end of the loop by the lake, which looked to be the right spot for some privacy, but a longer walk to the bathroom and water spigot."
"The campsites are slightly separated from the lake (maybe 8 min walk to lake) but that also means you aren’t bothered by day guests. The lake is beautiful! Great for swimming and fishing."
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.
RangerWe booked a cabin at the last minute and were pleasantly surprised that the cabin had heat and electricity! It was very close to the awesome heated bathroom also! We were also able to catch a beautiful sunset! Great camp all around!
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.
Camping options near Brookside, New Jersey include several state forests and private campgrounds within a 30-minute drive. The region sits at elevations ranging from 800-1,500 feet in the northwestern highlands, creating cooler summer temperatures than nearby urban areas. Winter camping availability is limited to a few locations like Worthington State Forest, which remains open through December 31, while most close by late October.
Hiking trails with water views: At Jenny Jump State Forest, trails lead to Ghost Lake and offer lookout points across the highlands. "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," notes one visitor who appreciated the convenient access to nature.
Fishing in local streams: Stephens State Park Campground offers trout fishing just a short walk from camp sites. "The river is just a small walk down the hill... You can hear the babbling of the river when it's quiet at camp which provided an extra layer of relaxation," shares a camper. The park stocks its waters with trout, and officers check for required fishing permits.
Kayaking on reservoirs: At Round Valley State Park, the 2,350-acre reservoir provides excellent paddling opportunities. "Beautiful and quaint..a nice place to get away and enjoy some nature," writes one reviewer. The water is exceptionally clear, with one camper noting, "The water is crystal clear, the area is clean. There's bathrooms and pumps but we just filtered the water from the reservoir instead which tasted a million times better."
Secluded wilderness options: For those seeking true isolation, Round Valley offers wilderness camping accessible only by hiking or boating. "This is a great campground that is super private and quiet - great for getting out to enjoy the sights and sounds of nature. It's a pretty strenuous hike, but you'll be rewarded for the effort!" shares one visitor who appreciated the remoteness.
Spacious sites with privacy: Mahlon Dickerson Reservation earns praise for its site layout. "The campsites are paved and mostly level. They are wooded and large," writes a reviewer. Another notes, "Our site is easily the nicest- all the way in the back with only one neighbor. It is so quiet here...The sites are spaced well and have a nice bonus of large fire rings set back in the woods a bit from the pad."
Clean, well-maintained facilities: Stephens State Park receives positive feedback for its upkeep. "The campground was wonderful. Our site was plenty big enough for a large tent and a hammock. We could have easily fit another large tent. The bathrooms and showers were clean. The sink for dishes was clean and well maintained," reports a satisfied camper who stayed at site 29.
Cell service limitations: Service can be spotty throughout the region, especially in valleys and remote areas. At Great Divide Campground, one camper notes, "We found plenty of trails to hike with our two dogs. Staff were very helpful and kind. Bathrooms clean and shower was warm and clean as well. They even have a heater to keep you comfortable in and out of the shower."
Bear activity guidelines: Several campgrounds post bear warnings and require proper food storage. At Worthington State Forest, campers are advised to "practice safe routines and leave no trace!" One visitor at Swartswood State Park shared, "Three black bears strolled by the campsite next to ours in the early morning — gave us more of an energy boost after a sleepless night than our coffee!"
Reservation requirements: Most campgrounds fill quickly during summer weekends. A Jenny Jump visitor recommends, "My husband and I tent camped in #34 with our dog. The space was reasonably priced, but we did have to pay an extra $5/day for our dog. However, we didn't mind as it was so private we felt like we had the entire Park to ourselves."
Swimming options: Swartswood State Park offers a designated beach area with lifeguards in season. "One of my favorite camping locations to go with my family. Swimmers can come to the the main beach area without camping," shares a regular visitor. The park also provides "a pavilion, picnic spots right on the lake if you want to spend the afternoon."
Playground accessibility: Great Divide Campground features recreational facilities for children. "The common area, along with the pool, had a small soccer field and volleyball court. They also had scheduled activities for kids," reports a visitor who appreciated the structured activities despite rainy weather during their stay.
Noise considerations: Some campgrounds experience varying noise levels. At Spruce Run Recreation Area, a camper observed, "Late at night you can hear the drone of a major highway." Another noted, "It was very loud and rowdy into the late night. There were campers making lots of noise, arming/disarming their car alarms, slamming doors, cars driving in/out, bright lights flashing, etc. all PASSED 2am!!"
Site size variations: Many campgrounds have mixed reviews regarding RV accommodation. At Worthington State Forest Campground, one RVer advises, "We did a family dry camp trip here. We had two campers, a 28 ft tow behind and a 38 ft mobile home. We stayed at sites 62 & 63. This place, and these sites, were perfect for a little disconnect from society."
Hookup availability: Mahlon Dickerson offers good infrastructure for RVs. "Easy to navigate our 38 ft. RV. Easy to dump and fill. Peaceful. Close to train to N.Y. City," writes one RVer who appreciated the convenience. Another mentions, "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."
Terrain challenges: Some campgrounds have difficult access roads. At Stephens State Park, a visitor cautions, "Lovely campground, but maybe not the best for big rigs. The campground as a whole and the individual sites are kind of tricky for bigger rigs. We are in a 26ft class c and we squeezed through, and there were a few sites where we could have made it work, but I can imagine a big class A or 5th wheel having a tough time."
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Brookside, NJ?
According to TheDyrt.com, Brookside, NJ offers a wide range of camping options, with 157 campgrounds and RV parks near Brookside, NJ and 3 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Brookside, NJ?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Brookside, NJ is Mahlon Dickerson Reservation with a 4.6-star rating from 19 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Brookside, NJ?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 3 free dispersed camping spots near Brookside, NJ.
What parks are near Brookside, NJ?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 8 parks near Brookside, NJ that allow camping, notably Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area and Gateway National Recreation Area.
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