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 Caldwell, NJ
130 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
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Campgrounds near Caldwell, NJ span a 30-mile radius, ranging from developed RV sites with water and electric hookups to primitive tent camping in state forests. The Skylands region hosts several well-regarded destinations including Mahlon Dickerson Reservation, which features paved, level sites with water and electric hookups. Campers seeking water-based recreation can explore High Point State Park with its lakeside sites, while those preferring more rustic experiences might consider Stokes State Forest's primitive camping areas. The Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, approximately 45 minutes west of Caldwell, offers boat-in camping on islands and riverbanks, providing a more secluded experience despite proximity to urban areas.
Camping regulations vary significantly between public and private lands in the region. Most state park campgrounds operate seasonally from April through October, with limited winter availability. As one camper noted, "Stokes is nestled in a beautiful part of New Jersey and it's just remote enough that you can get away from the crowds while still being in a short driving distance of restaurants and grocery stores." Advance reservations are strongly recommended, particularly for summer weekends when facilities reach capacity. Bear country precautions apply in many northern New Jersey camping areas, requiring proper food storage. Weather conditions can change rapidly, with summer humidity and occasional severe storms requiring preparation.
Lakefront and riverside sites consistently receive the highest ratings from visitors to the region. At Round Valley Recreation Area, campsites accessible only by hiking, biking, or boating offer what one reviewer called "breathtaking scenery" with "crystal-clear water" and "forests bursting with wildlife." Private campgrounds like Great Divide Campground provide more amenities including full hookups, swimming pools, and organized activities, though at higher prices. Cell service varies dramatically across the region, with better connectivity at developed campgrounds closer to population centers. Wildlife encounters are common, with campers reporting deer, various birds, and occasional bears. Many campgrounds enforce quiet hours strictly, creating family-friendly environments that balance natural experiences with accessibility.
Best Campgrounds near Caldwell (130)
1. 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 Availability2. 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."
3. 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 Availability4. 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. Panther Lake Camping Resort
"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."
6. Cheesequake State Park Campground
"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 Availability7. Great Divide Campground
"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 $$"
8. Round Valley State Park Campground
"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."
9. Staten Island — Gateway National Recreation Area - CLOSED for 2025
"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"
from $30 / night
Check Availability10. 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."
Drive Time
- 33 min from New York, NY
- 48 min from Kiryas Joel, NY
- 1 hr 5 min from Trenton, NJ
- 1 hr 24 min from Bridgeport, CT
Recent Camping Photos near Caldwell, NJ
476 Photos of 130 Caldwell Campgrounds • uploaded by The Dyrt campers
Campgaw Mountain Reservation
Mahlon Dickerson Reservation
Staten Island — Gateway National Recreation Area - CLOSED for 2025
Wawayanda Group Shelter
Camp Gateway- Brooklyn NY - CLOSED — Gateway National Recreation Area
Kittatinny Valley State Park Campground
Cheesequake State Park CampgroundK
Tentrr Signature Site - Appalachian Trail Hilltop Hideaway - Coleman Cooking Site
Moon Valley CampgroundD
Stephens State Park Campgroundj
Great Divide Campground
Beaver Pond Campground in Harriman State Park
Recent Reviews near Caldwell, NJ
881 Reviews of 130 Caldwell 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 Caldwell
Camping in the region surrounding Caldwell, New Jersey spans elevations from 150 feet to over 1,400 feet across the Watchung Mountains and Highland regions. The area experiences distinct seasons with summer temperatures averaging 75-85°F and frequent afternoon thunderstorms. Many camping areas require advance reservations up to 11 months prior, particularly for summer weekend dates.
What to do
Hiking on varied terrain: At Mahlon Dickerson Reservation, campers enjoy access to extensive trail systems. "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," notes reviewer Jeff W.
Boating and paddling: Round Valley State Park offers boat-in camping experiences with clear water. "If you get a site on the water, you can take a boat across to to your site (check the site for regulations/restrictions) - in-season rentals should be available on-site," advises Agbi B. The park requires either a 3-6 mile hike or boat access to reach campsites.
Urban exploration: For campers wanting proximity to New York City, Liberty Harbor RV Park provides unique urban camping. "This is a great spot with views of Manhattan, Statue of Liberty, etc. Expect to pay pretty good to be gear, but from here you can pretty much easily get anywhere in NYC," shares John G. The location offers ferry access to Manhattan just 100 yards from the campground.
What campers like
Value-focused amenities: Great Divide Campground receives praise for its inclusive facilities. "Beautiful, clean, well maintained, lots to do, great value for your $$," reports Jesse C. The campground provides free kayak use and scheduled weekend activities without additional fees.
Off-grid experiences: For those seeking seclusion, Round Valley State Park delivers true wilderness camping. "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!" explains Agbi B. The primitive sites feature minimal facilities with just vault toilets and water pumps.
Spacious, wooded sites: Several campgrounds offer larger-than-average sites. "The campground is small but also secluded. We always hike to the lake here, it's a very easy hike and also very peaceful," notes Paulene-Amanda M. about Mahlon Dickerson Reservation. Sites typically include platforms for tent campers and level, paved surfaces for RVs.
What you should know
Urban camping limitations: When staying at Liberty Harbor RV Park near NYC, understand the trade-offs. "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. If it's packed, your neighbor with be within inches of your rig," advises Keith and Tia S. Sites cost approximately $120 per night due to the prime location.
Bear activity: Black bears are common in northern New Jersey campgrounds. "There is a dump station, but not the easiest to use. The laundry was not working properly and ate a good $5 of our quarters," reports Shawn B. about Liberty Harbor RV Park, highlighting maintenance challenges that can occur.
Weekend crowds: Expect busier conditions Friday through Sunday. "We went on 4th of July weekend so the place was packed. We were able to get a secluded spot in the woods which was great!" shares Jojo P. about Panther Lake Camping Resort. Midweek reservations typically provide quieter experiences with better site selection.
Tips for camping with families
Look for organized activities: Panther Lake Camping Resort offers structured programming. "Great atmosphere for families. Liitte crowded for couples who want peace and quiet the staff was great to deal wwith," notes Joseph R. The resort provides a lake, pool, hot tub and recreational facilities designed for children.
Consider noise levels: Some campgrounds maintain stricter quiet hours than others. At Beaver Pond Campground in Harriman State Park, one camper observed, "There is a constant buzz in the air of conversation, music, laughter and shrieking toddlers. Quiet time at night is laughable as the enjoyment of being in nature rages on into the early morning." Families sensitive to noise should research enforcement policies.
Weather preparation: Summer thunderstorms develop quickly in the region. Pack waterproof gear and prepare for temporary shelter needs. Temperatures can vary significantly between day and night, especially in higher elevation campgrounds.
Tips from RVers
Site specifications: At Mahlon Dickerson Reservation, RV sites provide important amenities. "Very clean and quiet. 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," explains reviewer "antruze." Sites feature electric hookups and paved, level pads.
Dump station access: Most campgrounds offer dump stations rather than sewer hookups. Plan accordingly for longer stays, as weekend departure times often create lines at dump stations. Some facilities close seasonally, typically from November through March.
Urban RV navigation: When visiting Liberty Harbor RV Park, follow specific routing instructions. "Getting in and out of the city is an adventure. Stay right off the highway to avoid the $30 tunnel toll. Follow RV life pro and not Waze," advises Joe R. Many RVers report GPS routing to this location is problematic due to low clearances on some routes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Caldwell, NJ?
What camping is available near Caldwell, NJ?
According to TheDyrt.com, Caldwell, NJ offers a wide range of camping options, with 130 campgrounds and RV parks near Caldwell, NJ and 3 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Caldwell, NJ?
Which is the most popular campground near Caldwell, NJ?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Caldwell, NJ is Liberty Harbor RV Park with a 3.8-star rating from 16 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Caldwell, NJ?
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Caldwell, NJ?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 3 free dispersed camping spots near Caldwell, NJ.
What parks are near Caldwell, NJ?
What parks are near Caldwell, NJ?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 9 parks near Caldwell, NJ that allow camping, notably Gateway National Recreation Area and Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area.
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