Butler, New Jersey camping areas feature wooded terrain at 700-1,100 feet elevation with access to multiple lakes and reservoirs. RV sites near Butler typically operate from April through October due to the northeast's cold winters. Campgrounds in this region range from basic county parks to full-service resorts with varying degrees of accessibility.
What to do
Lake activities: 15-minute drive from most campgrounds to Lake Welch for swimming with lifeguard-monitored beaches. "The beach is secured with lifeguards and shower and bathroom facilities are available," notes a visitor to Beaver Pond Campground.
Revolutionary War history trails: Explore historic sites around Bear Mountain State Park with trails rated from easy to challenging. "It terminates at Iona Island Bird Sanctuary, a lovely long grassed marshland. The trails in the area are friendly to hikers, bikers, and the non arthritic kneers," explains a camper from Beaver Pond.
NYC day trips: Use public transportation from select campgrounds to visit Manhattan. "This is a great spot with views of Manhattan, Statue of Liberty, etc. Expect to pay pretty good to be here, but from here you can pretty much easily get anywhere in NYC," reports a camper at Liberty Harbor RV Park.
What campers like
Pet-friendly policies: Most area campgrounds welcome leashed dogs with designated walking areas. At Pleasant Acres Farm RV Resort, one visitor noted, "This is a great place to get away and bring your family and dogs."
Farm animals on-site: Some campgrounds offer unique animal interaction opportunities. "The farm has goats, a donkey, and a pony within the campground. Very cool," mentioned a Pleasant Acres camper.
Wooded campsites: Shaded sites provide natural privacy and temperature regulation. At Mahlon Dickerson Reservation, one camper shared, "The sites are wooded and large. It's so quiet here. No amenities or extras here, just really pleasant camping in the woods."
Off-season tranquility: Camping outside summer months offers a different experience. "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," noted a September visitor to Beaver Pond Campground.
What you should know
Seasonal campground closures: Many campgrounds near Butler operate approximately April through October. At Mountain Top RV Park, a winter visitor mentioned, "The restrooms were closed for the winter, so we didn't get to use or see those."
Site drainage concerns: Heavy rains can affect lower elevation sites. "If you're booking, it may be best to book on the upper levels because the lower area where we were did flood pretty bad a couple times when there was a lot of rain," advised a Mountain Top RV Park camper.
Wildlife awareness: Bear activity requires proper food storage. A visitor to Beaver Pond noted, "The wildlife do roam around your campsite so be mindful of putting food and garbage away before sleeping."
Limited bathroom facilities: Some smaller campgrounds have minimal bathroom capacity. At Skyline RV Camp, one camper pointed out, "There was only 1 bathroom with small shower for all guests, however they are in the process of adding 5 more."
Tips for camping with families
Farm animal experiences: Children enjoy interacting with animals at select campgrounds. "My daughter loved the horses and goats," shared a visitor to Pleasant Acres Farm RV Resort.
Kid-friendly programming: Some campgrounds offer scheduled activities. "Lots of seasonals and lots of cabins, many RV sites I think all with full hookups. There were some organized activities which was nice," noted a Pleasant Acres camper in October.
Playground access: Multiple campgrounds provide play equipment. At Tri-State RV Park, a visitor mentioned, "There is a small playground, a mini golf, and a large dog walk."
Winter-friendly locations: For cold-weather camping with kids, seek year-round facilities. "Open during the winter. Easy on, easy off. Lots of pull through sites. Next to grocery store. CLEAN bathrooms, showers, laundry," reported a winter visitor to Tri-State RV Park.
Tips from RVers
Platform sites for stability: Some campgrounds offer raised platforms for RVs. "The biggest positive about Beaver Pond is how spread out it was. Many of the camping options were on platforms which is especially nice if it recently rained," shared one RVer.
Dump station planning: Not all campgrounds offer on-site sewer connections. At Liberty Harbor RV Park, a camper noted, "There is a dump station, but not the easiest to use."
Generator restrictions: Policies vary between campgrounds. A Beaver Pond visitor explained, "This is an off-grid camping experience. You can use your generator at certain hours."
Tree clearance challenges: Some wooded campgrounds present navigation issues. At Pleasant Acres Farm RV Resort, one RVer warned, "When you leave you have to drive the wrong way in the campground because of the low hanging trees the correct direction."
