122 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Cedar Grove, New Jersey provides access to mixed-use campgrounds within a reasonable driving distance, though immediate options are limited in this urban area. Camping near Cedar Grove ranges from developed campgrounds with full hookups and cabin rentals to primitive tent sites along rugged hiking trails, with Mahlon Dickerson Reservation about 25 miles west and Camp Glen Gray approximately 15 miles north. Many sites accommodate tent camping, RVs, and cabin rentals, with some offering glamping options. Liberty Harbor RV Park in nearby Jersey City provides urban camping with views of the Statue of Liberty and Manhattan skyline.
Reservations are recommended for most developed campgrounds in the region, particularly during peak summer months and fall foliage season. Many campgrounds operate seasonally, with Cheesequake State Park open from April through October and Panther Lake Camping Resort available from April to November. Terrain varies significantly across the region, from relatively flat coastal areas to the more challenging rocky terrain found along hiking trails like Stonetown Circular. Cell service is generally reliable at developed sites but may be spotty in more remote areas. A review noted, "Stonetown Circular trail is a 11 mile medium/high difficulty loop trail with primitive sites about 2-4 miles into the hike, so be ready for a difficult uphill rock scramble and pack light."
Campers seeking more rustic experiences gravitate toward Camp Glen Gray, which earned five-star reviews for its natural setting and hiking opportunities. One visitor mentioned that "cabins are always clean and stocked with firewood" and that the "trading post is well stocked." For those prioritizing urban convenience, Liberty Harbor RV Park serves as a base camp for NYC exploration despite its parking lot-like setting. While not offering traditional nature-focused camping, it provides practical access to public transportation and city attractions. Campgaw Mountain Reservation offers budget-friendly camping but reviews indicate trails run through campsites, affecting privacy during daylight hours. The region's campgrounds generally provide a mix of natural settings with varying levels of development and amenity access.
"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 Availability"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."
"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 $17 - $20 / night
Check Availability"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 Availability"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"A little intimidating driving in to a nondescript gate at the end of a narrow street but the overall experience exceeded expectation."
from $130 / night
Check Availability"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."
"It is a step up from cabin camping. They also have a beach behind it."
"This place is only an hour away from NYC with so much to do and see. These cabins are VERY rustic, four walls, a cot, and a fridge."
from $74 - $130 / night
Check Availability"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 Availability
ScoutThis 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 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.
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.
ScoutWe reserved for a day. Very bad service. The river is super dirty and they did not even clean the trash cans. Besides, the fire ring has no grill cooking grate, so if you don’t bring your own NO GRILLING. Ryan was the person in front that took care of us, he was rude, my kids felt weird because he was not welcoming at all. Also, we try to ask for a partial refund since we did not felt comfortable since the beginning, and they said NO. We have experience camping, but this one was simply THE WORST. We lost the money but we won’t put our kids in a difficult situation. Thanks.
TravelerWe’ve been to Camp Taylor twice now for tent camping: September 2021 and May 2023. We stayed at the rustic tent sites both times, and there was room for 2 cars and 2 tents. Depending on how you want your setup, there are some that are more secluded and others that are close together and would be great for group camping.
The staff are all lovely and take the time to explain the rules both in-person at check-in and on the forms they provide at the time of booking. They are not hiding how seriously they take rules like quiet hours, and it will keep campers like me coming back. If you are respectful of the folks around you and especially during the posted quiet hours, you will have no problems.
The office and shop keep supply of snacks, firewood, and gifts. There are flush toilets mapped in spots of the tent sites (SUCH a pleasant surprise! I was expecting a porta-potty or vault toilet), and hot showers are available at the same complex as the office.
ScoutI spent 4 days and 3 nights with my 6th grade Girl Scouts. We were at sites 23 and 24 which worked out great because they back up against each other. The bathrooms were super clean and well maintained. There are outlets at the bathroom building by the sink to charge any electronics. The playground is adequate and the field is big for playing. 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.
Camping options near Cedar Grove, New Jersey range from rustic mountain sites to more developed campgrounds with amenities. The area sits at the northern edge of the Newark Basin, with elevations ranging from 200-500 feet in most camping areas. Seasonal considerations impact campground availability, with most facilities operating from April through October when average temperatures range from 60-85°F during camping season.
Hiking opportunities: Beaver Pond Campground offers access to numerous trails in Harriman State Park. "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," notes Rebecca S., highlighting the timing advantage for trail access.
Water activities: Panther Lake Camping Resort features a substantial lake for swimming, fishing, and boating. "Big campground, lots of sites, nice pool, big community hot tub, boating is great, good fishing, nice playground, basketball court and great amenities," according to Richard V.
City exploration: Use campgrounds as a base for visiting NYC. At Liberty Harbor RV Park, "There is a ferry 100-yards away that takes you to Wall Street M-F. There is a great market about 1/4 of a mile away, and the path that can take you to WTC or 33rd Street area is only a mile away," explains Shawn B.
Outdoor education: Several campgrounds offer ranger-led programs during summer months. At Sebago Cabin Camp, visitors can participate in "movie nights they do big bon 🔥 on Saturday very kid friendly ranger Joe is 👌 with the kids," as Hashim C. mentions.
Budget-friendly options: Mahlon Dickerson Reservation offers affordable camping with good amenities. One visitor noted it as "Very cheap as well. $15/night on Memorial Day weekend! You won't be disappointed!" according to Christina L.
Privacy and space: Campers appreciate sites that provide separation from neighbors. At Beaver Pond, "The biggest positive about Beaver Pond is how spread out it was. You definitely feel like you have your own space and are not camping on top of your neighbor," according to Ethan K.
Urban accessibility: The convenience of reaching New York City attractions while camping draws many visitors. Karen S. notes that Liberty Harbor has "2 ferries that run to Manhattan. Path train is a 12 minute walk away that will take you to Manhattan. Jersey city has a lot of restaurants and bars walking distance."
Rustic camping: For those seeking a more primitive experience, Campgaw Mountain Reservation offers basic sites. Jake R. notes, "Once the sun goes down, the campsite becomes a ghost town... There was also plenty to do during the day, like joining the hikers on those trails, disc golf, and sitting by the water."
Seasonal operations: Most campgrounds in the region have limited operating seasons. Sebago Cabin Camp is typically open during summer months, with one visitor mentioning "This place is only an hour away from NYC with so much to do and see. These cabins are VERY rustic, four walls, a cot, and a fridge."
Varying amenities: Facilities differ significantly between campgrounds. At Cheesequake State Park, "The campsites are basic. You get flat land and a fire ring. There is only one bathroom facility on the property which we did not love. The facilities were clean," according to Kendra P.
Noise levels: Urban-adjacent campgrounds often have traffic noise. At Cheesequake, "We camped here once because it was easy for part of our family to get to from NYC. Sites were a little too close together... If you're truly looking to get away from it all I would go elsewhere since the parkway runs through/over the park," reports Katrina Z.
Wildlife encounters: Bears and other wildlife are present in the area. At Panther Lake, "Only issue was a skunk that visited our campsite multiple times in one night. Was not afraid of humans," reports Colleen C.
Activity planning: Look for campgrounds with structured recreation. 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 grounds were fairly large and each campsite gets their own space with decent privacy," notes Ethan K.
Weekend considerations: Some campgrounds transform on weekends. At Panther Lake, "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! 2 teenage girls had a blast in the lake and riding their bikes around," says Jojo P.
Lake options: Sebago Cabin Camp provides excellent swimming opportunities. "Sebago has a huge lake and great beach area. It was perfect for lounging and swimming in during a hot summer day," according to Ethan K., who also noted "It was definitely more on the pricier end for just a weekend camping getaway."
Educational possibilities: Several parks offer nature programs for children. At Sebago, "There's a few very cute small towns nearby with surprisingly modern restaurants and friendly people. In the same state park (Harriman) is several other lakes for swimming, hiking, and paddle boating (up the road)," mentions Sara P.
Site selection: At Liberty Harbor RV Park, "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.
Urban convenience: Some sites offer excellent city access despite basic facilities. "We spent 3 nights here last week. I was in NYC for business and we took our RV. Very convenient location. My wife visited Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. The sites had electric and water and were in a fenced off section of the marina parking area," reports Kevin A.
Hookup arrangements: Note that some campgrounds have unusual utility setups. At Mahlon Dickerson, "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," reports antruze.
Seasonal considerations: Many RV campers note off-season stays provide better experiences at the best places to camp near Cedar Grove, New Jersey. As one visitor to Beaver Pond noted, "Clean and quiet. Trash dumpster is an easy walk and the dump station has a flush hose point. Nice and easy little campground."
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Cedar Grove, NJ?
According to TheDyrt.com, Cedar Grove, NJ offers a wide range of camping options, with 122 campgrounds and RV parks near Cedar Grove, NJ and 3 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Cedar Grove, NJ?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Cedar Grove, NJ is Liberty Harbor RV Park with a 3.8-star rating from 16 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Cedar Grove, NJ?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 3 free dispersed camping spots near Cedar Grove, NJ.
What parks are near Cedar Grove, NJ?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 9 parks near Cedar Grove, NJ that allow camping, notably Gateway National Recreation Area and Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area.
Keep Exploring
