Several state parks and private campgrounds within driving distance of Cranford, New Jersey offer rustic cabin rentals with varying amenities. Stokes State Forest provides well-appointed cabins with bunk beds, tables with benches, Adirondack chairs, wood stoves, hot/cold water, electric stoves, refrigerators, toilets, and screened windows. Turkey Swamp Park in Freehold Township features three forest-view cabins available from April 1 to November 15. Jenny Jump State Forest offers eight shelter-style cabins, some with wheelchair accessibility, equipped with bunk beds, wood-burning stoves, and porches. According to one visitor at Stokes State Forest, "The cabins are reasonably priced and well-appointed, if a bit rustic. The main room has a bunk bed and two twins, a table with benches, two Adirondack chairs, a wood stove set into a fireplace."
Cabin types range from basic shelters to more equipped units with varying levels of comfort and amenities. Allaire State Park (currently closed) previously offered no-frills cabins with four bunks, picnic tables, wood stoves for heat, porches, fire rings, and charcoal grills, but no electricity. Spruce Run Recreation Area provides shelter cabins with wood stoves, tables with benches, and bunkbeds, plus front porches with awnings. Most state park cabins require advance reservations, especially during summer months. Pet policies vary by location, with some parks like Mahlon Dickerson Reservation allowing pets while others prohibit them. A camper at Jenny Jump noted, "The 'shelter' is what we would describe as a 'cabin'; four walls, a roof, locking door, locking windows, large picture frame front window, four beds, a wood burning stove, and a porch."
Most cabin rentals require visitors to bring their own bedding, pillows, towels, and toiletries. Wood stoves are common heating sources in forest cabins, so bringing or purchasing firewood locally is essential during cooler months. Cabins with kitchens typically provide basic cookware, but guests should confirm what's available before arrival. Stokes State Forest sells firewood at the park office, though roadside vendors near campgrounds offer alternatives. Visitors staying in cabins without electricity should pack battery-powered lights, as one Jenny Jump Forest camper mentioned, "We brought battery-powered lights since there is no electricity." Some cabins have limited privacy, so window coverings may be necessary. Grocery stores are available in towns surrounding the parks, making it convenient to stock up on supplies before arrival.
$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."
$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"
$42 - $79 / night
"Spacious sites but lacks privacy. All sites have electric and water. Cabin rentals available. Hiking and biking galore. Beautiful lake for canoeing and fishing. Archery range available."
"General: Smallish (64-site) county park campground. There are also three cabins. As soon as you turn off the main road to the park, all roads are dirt, which was a bit surprising."
"There are level padded sites with electric and water (in warmer months). Sites were spaced out with beautiful woods in the background. Hiking trail goes right through the campground."
"Fire pit with grill and picnic table."
"Fire rings and picnic tables provided at each site and cabin. Lots of family activities on the weekend. Enjoyed the pool and hot tub, Hiking trails and paved roads to ride bike."
"Fun camping place to books groups. Very kid and pet friendly, lake to fish and kayak on, lots of activities, great pool and awesome hot tub."
"Not only is it in a beautiful setting, but the sites have a nice amount of space and everything is so clean. The pool was great and the laundry room was immaculate."
"The campgrounds were very big and spread out and the campsites have their own space so you can enjoy quiet at night. Each site had a water spout and electric plug in."
"We stayed in the "Shelter" which was a nice little cabin with a wood stove, table w/benches and two bunkbeds (one of which was nestled behind a partition)."
"This was our second visit to the sleepy NJ park and campground and our first time renting a shelter along with a campsite to accommodate different levels of camping comfort."
"I've stayed in the cabins here a couple times. Love the area lots to do hiking fishing nature walks, something for everyone."
"I habe stayed in all the spots they offer, yurt, cabin and the pull up sites. It is well maintained with numerous trails to hike."
"The "shelter" is what we would describe as a "cabin"; four walls, a roof, locking door, locking windows, large picture frame front window, four beds(two bunks), a wood burning stove, and a porch."
"If you want, they have the option of renting a small cabin/shelter that you can stay in if you are not into tent camping."
$7 - $55 / night
"The cabins are reasonably priced and well-appointed, if a bit rustic. The interior features are just what you'd expect for getting away for the weekend."
"No pets or alcohol allowed. The campground has a pit toilet and a well. Each large campsite has a picnic table, fire pit, and lantern hook. Some sites also have a tent platform."
RangerI've stayed in the cabins here a couple times. Love the area lots to do hiking fishing nature walks, something for everyone. Cabins are no frills yet very nice no electricity they are equipi with 4 bunks a LG picnic table and a wood stove for heat. Also a nice porch fire ring and a charcoal grill
TravelerClean bathrooms, friendly staff. Spacious sites but lacks privacy. All sites have electric and water. Cabin rentals available. Hiking and biking galore. Beautiful lake for canoeing and fishing. Archery range available. Playground for kids.
TravelerThey have rustic cabins. Theae do not have plumbing or heat. It is a step up from cabin camping. They also have a beach behind it.
RangerRented a cabin in November (#009) and again in December (#008) of 2021. I favored Cabin 8, the kitchen and bathroom were separated from the main room.
The cabins are reasonably priced and well-appointed, if a bit rustic. The interior features are just what you'd expect for getting away for the weekend. THe main room has a bunk bed and two twins, a table with benches, two Adirondack chairs, a wood stove set into a fireplace (some cabins still feature a fireplace only, but these two did not), hot/cold water, electric stove with oven, refrigerator, toilet, bathroom sink, mirror, plenty of hooks to hang jackets and coats, storage cabinets in the kitchen area, overhead lighting, wall outlets, and screened windows.
The doors feature deadbolt locks - so be sure to always take the key or set the lock to be unlocked all the time.
The mattresses are vinyl covered, so you can wipe them down with your own sanitizing wipes. There was hand sanitizer in each cabin as well.
Outside is a picnic table, fire ring, and grill. There are hooks near the door to hang a lantern.
The park office is not nearby, about 2(?) miles away. They sell wood, and there are a few road stands near the campground, but that wood is wet. You'll need to find some birch to get your fire going if, like me, you didn't buy wood on the way (plenty of signs for wood as you approach the park office) and the office was closed upon arrival. I bought wood from a house across the street from the entrance to the cabins and it was damp, but in November, I wasn't complaining, it took awhile but I got a nice blaze going. You need that wood stove to heat up the cabin. Turning on the oven is a help, but not a good solution. The wood stove definitely heats the room up nicely. I went through two bundles of wood in one night, and could have used more in the morning. (There's plenty of fallen wood around but it was damp/raining both times I visited). The second time I took six bundles of wood and used them all from Friday to Sunday morning, and 7 would've have been better.
The trails nearby are varied, read the maps (especially NY NJ Trail Conference Maps) to get an idea of difficulty/elevation. We went in November when there was a light rain that turned into a thunderstorm with hail and sleet! It was certainly an adventure. The area was incredibly peaceful in December with many cabin reservations abandoned due to rain in the forecast. It did rain, but was still a great trip. The photos of the tent sites were taken in December.
RangerThis is the first time we decided to forgo tent camping and reserve a shelter at a state park. We had a much better experience than we were expecting! The "shelter" is what we would describe as a "cabin"; four walls, a roof, locking door, locking windows, large picture frame front window, four beds(two bunks), a wood burning stove, and a porch. Even compared to our glamping this was luxury!!
There are eight shelters at Jenny Jump State Park. Shelter 2 is a minute walk from the restroom with sink/shower and water. Shelters 7 & 8 are even closer while 4 & 5 are the furthest, may an extra 5 minutes walk? The dead end means there isn't too much traffic, though the road is right there so you can wave to the other campers heading to the restroom or for hikes. There is a trail head at one of the parking lots. During the day the parking lots filled up and there was some overflow parking for day-hikers across the road. We got to see their dogs, so that was a bonus for us! Otherwise, this shelter is not situated too close to the other shelters and feels very private.
We brought battery-powered lights since there is no electricity. There were coat hooks and a built-in shelf for our snacks, games, and other supplies. There was a picnic table and benches inside. We brought camping chairs for relaxing on the porch. We spent most of our time on the porch; cooking, chatting, and crafting while enjoying the sunshine and breeze.
Oh, this shelter is wheelchair accessible. Some of the others are not.
LegendGeneral: Smallish (64-site) county park campground. There are also three cabins. As soon as you turn off the main road to the park, all roads are dirt, which was a bit surprising. They were well-maintained and in dry weather, not a problem, but probably not if it was rainy. The campground is in five loops with the bathhouse located in the D Loop.
Site Quality: Sites in Loops B-E all have pull-thru driveways. Sites are all level, very generous in size, and reasonably spaced apart for privacy. A lantern hook, picnic table, and fire ring complete each site. As mentioned, all roads and camper pads are dirt. There are some ADA sites but the only thing distinguishing them from others is their proximity to the bathroom.
Bath/Shower House: Very clean. Soap and paper towels are provided. The only thing missing were hooks or shelves for toiletries but there was a large bench that could be used. Since it is located in the D Loop it would have been helpful to have pathways leading from the other loops. Did not use the shower so cannot comment.
Activities/Amenities: There is a lake with a boat dock and a small boardwalk. Kayaking/Canoeing, fishing, and swimming. In the summer, canoe, kayak, paddle boats, and row boats are available for rental. Several short (longest one is 2.5 miles) hiking trails that are fairly well-marked but can be a bit confusing at times. Some sections of the trails were muddy due to swamps and bogs but passable. There is also a fitness trail. There is an archery range and a council ring (campfire). There is a dump station and laundry facility with brand-new washers and dryers (however, you need to pay using an app on your phone). The office is open until 9 pm and sells ice, firewood, and bait. There are age-appropriate playgrounds both in the campground and by the office.
There are not a lot of camping opportunities in NJ, and this was a nice one. The campground was only about 20% occupied when we were there at the end of April, so our stay was a quiet one.
GuideIts our first stop of many and we wanted to shake out any glitches with our new camper at a public campground. The staff are very helpful and accommodateing. This campground although dated offers all the necessary comforts-Wifi, hot showers, electric etc. Currently, there are various updates occurring: additional sites, new tiny cabins, WIFI and electric are also being modernized. We opted to relocate to a site with less construction occurring and although you can still hear back hoes etc-our view has much improved. We wish there was easier access to bike and hike trails so we didn't have to drive to a location but overall a comfortable and positive experience.
ScoutThis place is amazing! everything you could want, from tent and RV camping to cabin rentals. They also have a pool and playground. 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 som world class whitewater rafting.
As for some things that aren’t listed. this is no alcohol permitted in the park due to it being a state park, however that all depends on how open you are about it and the Park rangers. Cell phone service is limited last time I was up there in 2012 only people with Verizon Wireless had any reception. Also there is no WiFi. No hookups or camp store.
GuideStayed 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.
Within driving distance of Cranford, New Jersey, several state parks and private campgrounds provide rustic cabin accommodations for weekend getaways or longer stays. These cabins range from 30 to 70 miles from Cranford, typically requiring a 45-90 minute drive depending on traffic conditions. While summer temperatures average 75-85°F, spring and fall cabin camping offers comfortable 50-70°F temperatures with fewer crowds.
Hiking access: Stokes State Forest connects to 21 marked trails covering over 63 miles, including 12 miles of the Appalachian Trail. "We drove down the road and were able to get in a nice 5 mile hike up to the fire tower," notes one visitor who stayed at Lake Ocquittunk.
Lake activities: At Spruce Run Recreation Area, cabin guests can enjoy fishing and water recreation at the reservoir. "There is a pretty lake with good fishing and they sell bait at the Ranger office," explains a camper who visited in June. The park also offers boat rentals during summer months.
Seasonal events: Winter cabin rentals provide unique opportunities for cold-weather activities. At Panther Lake Camping Resort, campers can participate in organized weekend events from April through October. One visitor mentions, "There are lots of weekend activities. The ceramic class was fun for the girls."
Privacy levels: Jenny Jump State Forest offers secluded cabin sites with minimal neighbor interaction. "We felt like we had the entire Park to ourselves. The space was reasonably priced, but we did have to pay an extra $5/day for our dog," reports a camper who stayed in site #34.
Rustic amenities: Cabins at Turkey Swamp Park balance rustic charm with practical features. "Sites are in the woods and widely spaced apart to give you privacy and the feeling of being out in the Forrest," reports a visitor who appreciated the thoughtful layout.
Cost effectiveness: Multiple state park cabins offer affordable options under $100 per night. One Stokes State Forest visitor noted, "The cabins are reasonably priced and well-appointed, if a bit rustic." Many parks offer winter cabin discounts of 10-20% compared to peak summer rates.
Bear safety: Proper food storage is mandatory in northern New Jersey cabin areas. "Remember, this is bear country so proper food storage is a must. Bear lockers are not provided," warns a Stokes visitor, highlighting the importance of bringing appropriate containers.
Reservation timing: State park cabins book 6-12 months in advance for summer weekends. Fall and winter availability improves significantly with 2-4 week advance booking often sufficient.
Insect preparedness: Tick prevention is critical, especially at certain parks. A Great Divide Campground visitor advises, "We found plenty of trails to hike with our two dogs," while another camper at Turkey Swamp warned about ticks: "My dog had one and by the end my husband had 2. That was so crazy because we were just sitting by our camper."
Limited connectivity: Cell service is inconsistent at most cabin locations. One Panther Lake visitor noted, "Only issue is the internet is terrible u have to be near the wifi zones," while another mentioned, "good luck getting cell service! its like a black hole of signals there."
Kid-friendly amenities: Mahlon Dickerson Reservation offers accessible family facilities. "This county park has large, wooded campsites with electric and water. It's beautiful and quiet, and close to beautiful hiking trails, lakes, and other outdoor recreation opportunities," reports a camper who appreciated the convenient layout.
Age-appropriate activities: Look for parks with dedicated children's programming. Turkey Swamp Park features "age-appropriate playgrounds both in the campground and by the office," making it ideal for families with young children.
Safety considerations: Choose cabins with appropriate safety features for your family's needs. A Jenny Jump visitor noted, "Oh, this shelter is wheelchair accessible. Some of the others are not," highlighting the importance of researching accessibility options when booking.
Hookup availability: Spruce Run Recreation Area offers limited hookup options near cabins. "You can bring a camper, tent, or use one of the cabins. Many sites have a lovely water view of the reservoir," explains a visitor who enjoyed the flexibility.
Site selection: Research specific pad sizes before booking. "We really like this campground. Quiet and spacious," notes a Mahlon Dickerson visitor, while another advised, "Easy to navigate our 38 ft. RV. Easy to dump and fill."
Seasonal considerations: Cabin availability often improves when RV sites are less desirable. Spring and fall weekends typically offer 30-40% more cabin openings compared to summer weekends.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular cabin campsite near Cranford, NJ?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular cabin campground near Cranford, NJ is Collective Governors Island with a 4-star rating from 2 reviews.
What is the best site to find cabin camping near Cranford, NJ?
TheDyrt.com has all 43 cabin camping locations near Cranford, NJ, with real photos and reviews from campers.
Keep Exploring
