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Best Campgrounds near Clark, NJ

705 Reviews

Camping options near Clark, New Jersey range from established state parks to private campgrounds within a short drive of the urban area. Cheesequake State Park Campground, located about 10 miles southeast of Clark in Matawan, offers tent and RV sites with electric hookups in a wooded setting. Turkey Swamp Park in Freehold Township provides pull-through sites with forest views, as well as cabin rentals. The region includes several water-oriented camping areas, with Round Valley State Park offering boat-in and hike-in tent sites around its reservoir, while Sandy Hook at Gateway National Recreation Area provides oceanfront camping.

Most campgrounds in the area operate seasonally, typically from April through October or November. Reservations are strongly recommended, especially for weekend stays during summer months. "Sites are paved and mostly level. They are wooded and large," noted one visitor about Mahlon Dickerson Reservation. Many campgrounds enforce quiet hours and have restrictions on alcohol consumption, with several state parks prohibiting it entirely. Cell service varies considerably across the region, with some campgrounds offering limited connectivity. Weather conditions can change rapidly, particularly at waterfront locations like Sandy Hook, where wind warnings should be heeded by boaters and campers alike.

Campers consistently praise the natural settings available despite proximity to urban areas. Several visitors mentioned the contrast between developed amenities and natural surroundings as a key benefit. "This is a really nice campground with inviting pool and facilities," wrote one camper about Butterfly Camping Resort. Waterfront sites at Round Valley State Park receive particularly high ratings for their scenic views and access to fishing. The region's campgrounds vary significantly in privacy levels, with some offering well-separated sites with vegetation buffers, while others have more open layouts. Wildlife sightings are common, with deer, various birds, and small mammals frequently observed at campgrounds throughout the area. Traffic noise can be an issue at some locations, particularly those near major highways like Cheesequake State Park, which sits near the Garden State Parkway.

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Best Camping Sites Near Clark, New Jersey (106)

    1. Cheesequake State Park Campground

    19 Reviews
    Matawan, NJ
    14 miles
    Website
    +1 (732) 566-2161

    $200 / night

    "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."

    2. Liberty Harbor RV Park

    14 Reviews
    Jersey City, NJ
    15 miles
    Website
    +1 (201) 516-7500

    $149 / night

    "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."

    3. Sandy Hook — Gateway National Recreation Area

    19 Reviews
    Atlantic Highlands, NJ
    21 miles
    Website
    +1 (347) 630-1124

    $30 - $150 / night

    "Once you are there, you can walk right across the street to a bayside inlet and sandy shore that is not highly trafficked because no one can park there except those using the campground."

    "Rangers at the entrance regulate admittance thus, providing a safe environment within the confines of the base."

    4. Collective Governors Island

    6 Reviews
    Jersey City, NY
    16 miles
    Website
    +1 (970) 445-2033

    $529 - $1200 / night

    "The article also mentions the benefits of camping on Governor Island, such as feeling close to nature, relaxing and enjoying a peaceful space, away from the noise of the city."

    5. Staten Island — Gateway National Recreation Area - CLOSED for 2025

    4 Reviews
    Bayonne, NY
    14 miles
    Website
    +1 (718) 354-4655

    $30 / night

    "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"

    6. Round Valley State Park Campground

    25 Reviews
    Lebanon, NJ
    28 miles
    Website
    +1 (908) 236-6355

    "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."

    7. Turkey Swamp Park

    28 Reviews
    Freehold, NJ
    31 miles
    Website
    +1 (732) 462-7286

    $42 - $79 / night

    "   We stayed in New Jersey for our 5th campground on the East Coast: Turkey Swamp Park in Freehold. This is a County park.

     Near some Revolutionary War battlefields.

     I really liked this park!"

    "Heavily wooded and supremely quiet, it’s located not far from anywhere you’d want to be. 30 minutes to the shore. Every site is a pull-through, large and spacious with great woodland views. 30amp and"

    8. Mahlon Dickerson Reservation

    18 Reviews
    Jefferson, NJ
    29 miles
    Website
    +1 (973) 697-3140

    "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."

    9. Pleasant Valley Lavender

    1 Review
    Aberdeen, NJ
    19 miles
    Website
    +1 (732) 740-4832

    $35 - $50 / night

    "So pleasant to sleep near the blooming fields. Campsite is tucked in the woods with. Tent camping in peace and quiet with easy access to major roads and highways to explore central NJ"

    10. Panther Lake Camping Resort

    17 Reviews
    Andover, NJ
    32 miles
    Website
    +1 (973) 347-4440

    "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."

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Recent Camping Photos near Clark, NJ

425 Photos of 106 Clark Campgrounds

Recent Reviews near Clark, NJ

705 Reviews of 106 Clark Campgrounds

  • EThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 17, 2025

    Liberty Harbor RV Park

    friendly staff at the office

    Gave us a welcome folder with lots of helpful info, can walk to get food up the street, short drive to Liberty Park where we got out and walked at night to admire the city skyline and Statue of Liberty at night. They have hook ups and big laundry room.

  • Stuart K.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 5, 2025

    Round Valley State Park Campground

    Get Your Hard-Core Hiking In To Enjoy This CG

    Located just south of I78 and near the small hamlets of Clinton and Lebanon, what I love most about Round Valley SP is the fact that it has its very own eponymous fresh water reservoir, which spanning some 2,350 acres and is 180 feed deep in the middle, this body of water provides a solid amount of upside for anyone wanting to kayak, canoe or swim. One of the greatest assets at this particular SP CG are the wonderful rangers who keep this place in such tip-top condition year-round. From the North Picnic Area, Bray’s Hill Preserve and Round Valley Beachhead to the East Picnic Area, Round Valley Farm on the eastern side of the reservoir as well as Round Valley Rec Area, there’s a lot to explore at this SP.

    One interesting fact about this place– believe it or not– it is the only NJ SP that actually offers up true wilderness camping(a.k.a. primitive), which can only be accessed by hiking 3 to 6 miles– or if you come with your own boat, you can access by water– and can be found on the SE corner of the reservoir. There is a second area nearby called Spruce Run Recreation Area that can be accessed by driving to this location, which is on the other side of I78 NW of Round Valley SP. That said, if you’re looking to camp here at Round Valley, I highly recommend you boat in as the hiking path is incredibly difficult to manage without hauling all of your camping gear, so coming in with a ton of gear is even more difficult/ prohibitive.

    When you finally do arrive to this primitive CG immersed in NJ’s thick wild foliage, you’ll experience waterfront bliss with a crystalline bevy of trout-infused reservoir water, and you won’t get much in the way of amenities, apart from a few random water pumps and some rocks piled in a circle that, um, I guess makes up a fire ring. While there are backwoods-style bathroom pits, these are very ill-managed and you’ll come across the‘stank’ well before actually even arriving here, so we just didn’t use them. There’s picnic tables, but the one we had was in pretty rough condition. The thing I found odd about the place is that after hiking so far in to get to this location, you’re not allowed to swim in the reservoir, which kind of defeats the entire point IMHO. That said, the views are amazing and because there’s nothing else in these parts, you will experience true peace in nature.

    Insider’s tips? Here’s a few:(1) Whether hiking or kayaking to this CG, you will want to bring as little with you as possible– packing too much to come here just isn’t worth the work;(2) We found parking in the Southern Lot to be perfectly fine and while we were initially worried about leaving our vehicle parked there for a few nights, we were reassured by the park rangers who patrol the lot constantly;(3) While the water in the reservoir may look crystal clear, it is not crystal clean and I would STRONGLY encourage anyone who thinks that it is OK to drink from the reservoir to at least use a Life Straw to ensure they don’t get sick;(4) I have hiked throughout the entire US and consider myself somewhere between a moderate to skilled hiker and I found these trails challenging and uneven, so while the hike we made was only 3 miles, it was not easy and I would be worried about someone breaking an ankle getting to this CG– so at a minimum, ensure you are wearing proper hiking boots. Seriously, for what this SP puts you through to access this CG one really needs to question why they’re being charged anything at all in the first place.

    Happy Camping!

  • J
    Aug. 31, 2025

    Turkey Swamp Park

    Fantastic camping ground

    We went camping with our 2- and 3-year-old kids. We were worried about bugs, but we didn’t even use mosquito repellent and didn’t get a single bite! The campground was super clean too. It was perfect!

  • Damia F.
    Aug. 29, 2025

    High Point State Park Campground

    Relaxing and Well-Maintained

    Stayed 2 nights and it was really nice. Camping for summer is pretty limited to Sawmill Lake, as the other locations are for groups or winter camping. Camps are secluded from each other and most if not all have an elevated space to put tents or chairs. Each place comes with a lamp hang, a fire pit, and a picnic table. Bathrooms are spaced out. No running water except for pump founded outside of the bathrooms. Toilets are pump flushed. Showers are only located INSIDE High Point State Park, not throughout the campsites, but entry is free for campers. One hiking trail is accessible in Sawmill campground, 3 others are accessible on the road outside of the campground and the rest are located inside the park. When you arrive you have to check in with the park office for your campsite tag. Hours are 8-4. Park officials come through the campsites pretty regularly, a few times a day which is nice. Areas are clean and well maintained.

  • Paul K.
    Aug. 26, 2025

    Croton Point Park

    Not the Best Place to Go in the Northeast By a Longshot

    Croton Point Campground is a modest little campground, located along the Hudson River within Croton Point Park in NY. In addition to camping, the park itself offers many of its own attractions, including swimming, hiking, kayaking, cabin rentals, and a host of other family-oriented activities just along the Hudson. 

    The park, which is honestly probably the largest attraction here, is located just an hour and a half outside of the city. This proximity is both its perk and its downfall, as the park itself, but particularly the campground, has become laden with all sorts of inexplicable and burdensome rules, endless guidelines, and restrictions only a New York State-run bureaucracy could ever make sense of, let alone hope to justify. 

    This includes all manner of restrictions on how you can camp, where you can camp, what equipment can be used, and use in relation to what particular site you may have been lucky enough to reserve. Much of this you can understand while imagining what may have taken place here to bring them to such measures, but it doesn't make it any easier to contend with. 

    In terms of the actual camping conditions Both the tenting section and RV sites are each very clustered together, and quite crowded, with regular patrols🚓(actual patrols) being made day and night, by both the Park Rangers and what appears to be general park staff members, all looking to see if you or your family might be doing something that they might consider outside of the guidelines or not in compliance with the many restrictions. 

    This is not to say you can't possibly have a good time here. It just might mean being a bit more diligent toward reviewing the potential legitimacy of your normal camping routine to ensure it meets with many restrictions and guidelines imposed, while also making yourself comfortable with some fairly regular surveillance during your stay here. These all being things we hoped to get away from while camping ourselves It just turned out to be a bit much for our particular liking.

  • Adeline M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 19, 2025

    Worthington State Forest Campground — Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area

    Nice campground loud campers

    Great open spot with some shade, depending on when you go we have noticed there tends to be a lot of loud disrespectful people who are there to party not camp. It’s nice to be on the Delaware and not many campgrounds have water access or a boat ramp so that’s a plus. Showers, sinks, and toilets are available.

  • Bob F.
    Aug. 10, 2025

    Moon Valley Campground

    Very unique smaller private campground

    This was a great campsite nestled in the foothills of Northern NJ on the NY border. Small, clean with great views and great location for hiking , cruising etc. Bring your tent or use the existing glamping tents. Headed back for a fall weekend in the "dome" which has incredible views. Try it you won't be sorry.

  • Carrie H.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 12, 2025

    Panther Lake Camping Resort

    Horrid showers

    Probably the worst shower ever. The lights are timed. The water is a button. The space is small as hell.

  • Dan M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 30, 2025

    Worthington State Forest Campground — Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area

    Good for the river

    It’s on the Delaware so that’s nice, but being so attracts a lot of tourists. Which seems like most of them never have any courtesy for other campers. Always a few sites blasting music till late hours. Cars speeding around the campsite. In the three weekends we’ve been here the park rangers only patrolled one night each time.

Guide to Clark

Camping near Clark, New Jersey, offers a mix of beautiful nature and fun activities for everyone. Whether you're looking for a peaceful retreat or an adventurous getaway, there are several campgrounds nearby that cater to different tastes.

What to do:

  • Hiking: Explore the scenic trails at Harriman State Park - Beaver Pond. One camper mentioned, "I enjoy the beach/lakefront, option for platform sites, and regularly cleaned bathroom and shower facilities."
  • Fishing: At Round Valley State Park Campground, you can fish in the beautiful reservoir. A visitor shared, "The water is beautiful and clean, although there is no swimming."
  • Biking: Ride along the trails at Turkey Swamp Park. One reviewer noted, "Biking and hiking trails are located in the park so no need to travel beyond the park."

What campers like:

  • Clean Facilities: Campers appreciate the well-maintained restrooms and showers at Stokes State Forest. A visitor remarked, "Bathrooms are clean, and the staff was polite."
  • Spacious Sites: Many enjoy the roomy campsites at Mountain Vista Campground. One camper said, "All sites have ample room. Lots of pull-through for bigger rigs."
  • Family-Friendly Atmosphere: Campers love the activities for kids at Camp Taylor Campground. A family shared, "The kids are kids!!! They play in the creek, get dirty, build fires and hike on the premises."

What you should know:

  • Noise Levels: Be mindful of noise regulations, especially at High Point State Park Campground. One camper experienced issues, stating, "We received complaints about the volume of our music and karaoke around 7 pm."
  • Roach Problem: Campers at Sandy Hook - Gateway National Recreation Area reported issues with roaches. One visitor noted, "We woke up to our tent and everything left out of the tent covered in roaches."
  • Limited Amenities: Some campgrounds, like Worthington State Forest Campground, do not offer showers or electric hookups. A camper mentioned, "The bathrooms were decently clean and had flush toilets."

Tips for camping with families:

  • Choose Family-Friendly Campgrounds: Look for places like Camp Taylor Campground that offer activities for kids. A parent said, "The kids immediately took to exploring the creek and woods behind our campsite."
  • Plan for Quiet Hours: Make sure to respect quiet hours, especially at Beaver Pond Campground. One camper advised, "When I plan my trip around the spring, fall, or summer weekends that look sparse it is quiet, clean."
  • Pack Extra Supplies: Bring along extra snacks and activities to keep kids entertained. A family shared, "We filled our days with the perfect amount of activity and relaxation."

Tips from RVers:

  • Check Site Sizes: Make sure your RV fits the site dimensions at places like Stokes State Forest. One RVer noted, "The campsites themselves are a little too close together in some spots."
  • Be Prepared for Terrain: Some campgrounds have rugged terrain, so be ready for a bit of a hike to your site. A visitor at Round Valley State Park Campground mentioned, "The hike to get to the campground is a bit long."
  • Bring a Good Tow Vehicle: If you're towing, ensure your vehicle can handle the hills. A camper at Camp Taylor Campground said, "Make sure if you’re towing, you have a good tow vehicle because the hills on the way there are epic."

Camping near Clark, New Jersey, has something for everyone, from families to RV enthusiasts. Just remember to plan ahead and enjoy the great outdoors!

Frequently Asked Questions

What camping is available near Clark, NJ?

According to TheDyrt.com, Clark, NJ offers a wide range of camping options, with 106 campgrounds and RV parks near Clark, NJ and 2 free dispersed camping spots.

Which is the most popular campground near Clark, NJ?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Clark, NJ is Cheesequake State Park Campground with a 3.7-star rating from 19 reviews.

Where can I find free dispersed camping near Clark, NJ?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 2 free dispersed camping spots near Clark, NJ.

What parks are near Clark, NJ?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 8 parks near Clark, NJ that allow camping, notably Gateway National Recreation Area and Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area.

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