Camping spots near Clinton, New Jersey provide access to multiple waterways including the Delaware River, Raritan River, and reservoir recreation areas. The region sits within the Highlands physiographic province with elevations ranging from 200 to 1,000 feet. Most campgrounds operate from April through October with average summer temperatures between 75-85°F, while spring and fall camping experiences moderate 50-70°F days.
What to do
Reservoir activities: Round Valley Recreation Area offers a 2,350-acre reservoir for water recreation. "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 than the well water," notes a visitor at Round Valley State Park Campground.
Rock exploration: Just across the Delaware River in Pennsylvania, unique geological formations await. "Lovely trails and the rocks are something else," explains a camper about Ringing Rocks Family Campground, referencing the nearby boulder field where rocks ring like bells when struck with a hammer.
Hiking challenges: For more adventurous campers, some sites require effort to reach. "The hike up in the cushetunk mountain is really nice as well. If you're looking for a getaway without doing backcountry planning this is the place," writes a Round Valley camper about the trail system.
What campers like
Waterfront camping: Sites along the water consistently receive positive feedback. "Our site was on the water and it was really nice. A duck visited us every morning," shares a camper at Spruce Run Recreation Area, highlighting the wildlife encounters possible at waterfront sites.
Seclusion options: Several campgrounds offer more remote experiences. "Beautiful and quaint..a nice place to get away and enjoy some nature," writes a visitor about Round Valley Recreation Area. Another camper at Mountainview Campground describes it as "a smallish campground with many seasonal spots and some rental spots. Our spot was #27 and pretty spacious."
Night sky viewing: Limited light pollution creates opportunities for astronomy. "Stayed at one of the primitive sites. Very clean and quite. Great spot for stargazing," mentions a Mountainview Campground visitor, noting the dark sky conditions found at some campgrounds in the region.
What you should know
Bathroom facilities vary widely: Quality and maintenance of restrooms differs significantly between campgrounds. "The bathrooms were absolutely disgusting. I thought with COVID they were cleaning them more, but for the entire weekend, someone's #2 remained all over the toilet, floor, and corner wall," reports a Spruce Run visitor, while another notes "Showers were cold water only and very cold at that."
Access challenges: Some campgrounds have difficult approach roads or challenging terrain. "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," explains a Round Valley reviewer about the hike-in sites.
Noise considerations: Proximity to highways affects some campgrounds. "The only con to this campground is it's proximity to the highway. You can hear 78, especially at night once the campground settles down," notes a camper at Spruce Run. At Colonial Woods Family Resort, reviews mention "It was very loud and rowdy into the late night."
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Several campgrounds feature dedicated play areas for children. "There were a decent amount of people on Friday, but significantly more on Saturday. Park employees and park police drive around through the day," notes a camper at Spruce Run, which has multiple playgrounds, boat launches, and a lifeguarded swimming area.
Educational opportunities: Tohickon Valley County Park offers unique learning experiences. "Some of my favorite parts of this park are a good 100' rack wall perfect for climbing, great fishing, trails for miles that even connects to the AT, and when scheduled they open the dam up stream for some world class whitewater rafting," writes one visitor.
Fishing spots: Multiple campgrounds offer fishing access for children. "We've tent camped here three or four times. It's a quiet wooded campground. Easy to get to, and friendly family ownership," notes a Mountainview Campground visitor, mentioning proximity to fishing opportunities.
Tips from RVers
Site selection strategy: RV campers recommend researching site layouts before booking. "If bringing your RV, the safest bet is to reserve a spot with no shade as the other spots often times have very low hanging tree limbs," advises a camper at Colonial Woods, pointing out potential clearance issues.
Water and hookup limitations: Most campgrounds offer partial hookups only. "The campsites don't have sewer, only a dump station is available," notes a visitor at Jugtown Mountain Campsites, adding "The campground was very clean. Easy to use the dump station."
Seasonal considerations: Water systems may be affected by usage patterns. "There was some issue with the water pressure during the daytime. Only had 1psi of water pressure. Couldn't take a shower or wash dishes. Should have filled my tank," recommends a Jugtown Mountain camper who visited during a busy Memorial Day weekend.
