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 Emerson, NJ
97 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
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Camping opportunities around Emerson, New Jersey primarily center on established campgrounds within a 30-mile radius, with several state parks and recreational areas offering varied accommodations. Harriman State Park, located approximately 15 miles northwest, features multiple camping facilities including Beaver Pond Campground and Sebago Cabin Camp, which provide tent camping, cabin rentals, and some RV sites. Closer to Emerson, Camp Glen Gray and Campgaw Mountain Reservation offer tent sites and cabin options within the densely forested northern New Jersey landscape. These campgrounds typically operate from spring through fall, with a few facilities maintaining year-round operations.
Most camping areas require reservations, particularly during summer weekends when demand peaks. "This is a great spot to set up camp because it has a wide area and an amazing view," noted one visitor about primitive sites along the Stonetown Circular trail, where access requires moderate hiking skills. Access varies significantly between locations, with some sites like Camp Glen Gray restricting vehicle access to designated parking areas. Campgaw Mountain offers free camping but requires permits and provides minimal amenities. Cell service can be unreliable throughout the region, particularly in valley campgrounds and remote sites within Harriman State Park. Elevation changes are moderate but significant, with some primitive sites requiring challenging rock scrambles with full packs.
The camping experience in this region balances proximity to urban centers with natural settings. Several visitors highlight the convenience of these campgrounds for New York City residents seeking quick nature escapes. "Sebago has a huge lake and great beach area. It was perfect for lounging and swimming in during a hot summer day," one camper reported. Waterfront access represents a major attraction at locations like Croton Point Park, which sits directly on the Hudson River. Campgrounds in Harriman State Park feature swimming lakes and hiking trails connecting to the larger Appalachian Trail system. Noise considerations vary significantly by location, with train noise affecting some Croton Point campers, while sites deeper in Harriman offer greater solitude. Wildlife encounters commonly include raccoons, rabbits, and occasionally black bears, with most established campgrounds providing appropriate food storage options.
Best Campgrounds near Emerson (97)
1. 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 $17 - $20 / night
Check Availability2. 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 Availability3. Croton Point Park
"Tent sites are very private with some dirt roads to exit out but thats what make it unique experience! Bathrooms with shower is near by and has plenty porta potties all around."
"Was close to bear mountains state part and the train station is right there!"
from $30 - $60 / night
Check Availability4. Sebago Cabin Camp — Harriman State Park
"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 $130 / night
Check Availability5. The Stephen & Betsy Corman AMC Harriman Outdoor Center — Harriman State Park
"This was beautiful campground with an even nicer lake. You are able to do a hike around the lake."
"Beautiful lakes all over the place. The AMC camp in Harriman is fantastic too! Those are reserved and paid cabins and platforms."
6. 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 Availability7. Campgaw Mountain Reservation
8. 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."
9. 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."
10. Clarence Fahnestock State Park Campground
"When you are camping with a large group of friends and don't all have access to a car, this is the perfect spot."
"We were right next to the entrance for hiking trails which was convenient. The facilities are a bit of a walk, but that means it is spread out and there's plenty of room to relax and have fun."
from $17 / night
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Drive Time
- 25 min from New York, NY
- 35 min from Kiryas Joel, NY
- 1 hr 5 min from Bridgeport, CT
- 1 hr 21 min from New Haven, CT
Recent Camping Photos near Emerson, NJ
348 Photos of 97 Emerson Campgrounds • uploaded by The Dyrt campers
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Recent Reviews near Emerson, NJ
643 Reviews of 97 Emerson 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.
- JJoyceScout
Beaver Pond Campground in Harriman State Park
Bare bones
No 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.
Deiludi P.ScoutKittatinny Campground
AWFUL
We 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.
Guide to Emerson
Camping spots near Emerson, New Jersey range from rustic tent sites to well-equipped RV parks within a 30-mile radius. The region sits at moderate elevations between 200-1,200 feet with mixed deciduous forests dominating the landscape. Summer temperatures typically range from 70-85°F during camping season, with periodic afternoon thunderstorms common from June through August.
What to do
Hiking to viewpoints: At Stonetown Circular trail, accessible primitive sites reward moderate effort with stunning vistas. "This site is about 2 miles into the hike. This is a great spot to set up camp because it has a wide area and an amazing view. You will find the site right next to the American Flag at the top of the mountain," notes Ethan K. about the first primitive site.
Water activities: Swimming beaches provide relief during summer months. Kelvin from Beaver Pond Campground shares, "The campsites are a bit close to one another but if you have a big group you can book several sites near each other and have a great time with family and friends. Hike trails are all over the place and the lake is nearby."
History exploration: Revolutionary War sites dot the region near Bear Mountain. Steve W. describes trails near Beaver Pond: "Bear Mountain State Park offers some of the Appalachian Trail, with various smaller trail heads for this historic (Revolutionary Times 1770s) part of the region including the one to Doodle Town. Long since the last resident left, the area is a ruins with markers showing where a house was."
What campers like
Platform tent sites: Several campgrounds feature raised platforms, providing better protection from ground moisture. "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. Many of the camping options were on platforms which is especially nice if it recently rained," explains Ethan K.
Lakefront access: Many camping areas include swimming beaches with lifeguards during summer. At Sebago Cabin Camp, Sara P. found disconnection a benefit: "Absolutely zero phone service (for T-Mobile) which was AMAZING. 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."
Off-season solitude: Fall and spring camping provides quieter experiences. Rebecca S. explains about Croton Point 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. Expect to purchase firewood, although scrounging for kindling was possible."
What you should know
Bear activity: Black bears are common in the region, requiring proper food storage. "Welcome to Bear Mountain" grumbles the park ranger as he sits in complete darkness," shares Steve W. about check-in procedures at Beaver Pond, where rangers provide "the run down on bear activity in the area. I mean, we are in Bear Mountain, what do you expect?!"
Seasonal crowding: Summer weekends fill quickly at most sites. Jonathan C. warns about Campgaw Mountain Reservation: "The sites themselves are fairly close to the road and there are super popular hiking trails that run right through all the camps. If you like being woken up by folks walking their dog at 7 AM, this is the spot for you."
Noise considerations: Train tracks near some campgrounds create periodic disturbances. Andrew A. notes about Croton Point Park: "Only down side is there is a train depot right outside and you can hear them shunting trains all night."
Tips for camping with families
Look for playground access: Some campgrounds offer dedicated play areas. Zorina N. recommends Beaver Pond: "Short distance from the NYC, very organized, clean pond, has a playground, showers, bathroom. Your phone will have signal."
Consider rustic cabins: Basic cabins offer a middle ground between tenting and RVs. Hashim C. describes Camp Glen Gray accommodations: "Great Camp! 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."
Pack for wildlife encounters: Raccoons frequently visit campsites after dark. Anil S. advises at Croton Point Park: "Keep your food in the dry bag and away from the tent or benches provided or face the packs of fearless racoons at night. Fire is allowed and has no issues of mosquitoes."
Tips from RVers
Length restrictions: Most campgrounds near Emerson limit RV size. At Mahlon Dickerson Reservation, Jeff W. notes: "This county park has large, wooded campsites with electric and water. The campsites are paved and mostly level."
Long water hose requirements: Some hookup sites require extended hoses. The "antruze" reviewer at Mahlon Dickerson observed: "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."
Limited sewer hookups: Most campgrounds offer dump stations rather than site hookups. Nancymike K. found Mahlon Dickerson suitable: "Easy to navigate our 38 ft. RV. Easy to dump and fill. Peaceful. Close to train to N.Y. City."
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Emerson, NJ?
What camping is available near Emerson, NJ?
According to TheDyrt.com, Emerson, NJ offers a wide range of camping options, with 97 campgrounds and RV parks near Emerson, NJ and 2 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Emerson, NJ?
Which is the most popular campground near Emerson, NJ?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Emerson, NJ is Beaver Pond Campground in Harriman State Park with a 4.2-star rating from 41 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Emerson, NJ?
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Emerson, NJ?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 2 free dispersed camping spots near Emerson, NJ.
What parks are near Emerson, NJ?
What parks are near Emerson, NJ?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 11 parks near Emerson, NJ that allow camping, notably Gateway National Recreation Area and Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area.
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