Gateway National Recreation Area, NJ is a great camping destination for adventurers of all types. There's so much to see and do, from exhilarating hikes or bike rides to exploring the local dining and shopping. You're sure to find the perfect spot for your New Jersey camping adventure.
$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."
$42 - $79 / night
"we hiked one of the few trails in the morning and it was clean and well marked. we kayaked after that and the one thing that wasnt very great was that we brought our own kayaks so we had a decent walk"
"Nicely wooded with water and electric. Be sure to bring extra hose because the water spigot is a distance from the electric. sites are level and well maintained."
"Love the area lots to do hiking fishing nature walks, something for everyone."
"Lots of walking paths surround the park & you are also close to Belmar, Point Pleasant, Manasquan (all fun shore towns)."
"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."
"Fire pit had a medal grate to cook on. Beautiful area. we paddled in, the water is very clean and crystal clear"
"Arrived to campsite late but easily found. Campsite and lean to was clean. Fire pit with grill and picnic table."
"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."
"They do their own haunted walk through that is just awesome! Everyone decorates. They have a dj every Saturday! Plenty of activities for the kids. They have cool raffles!"
"Stayed here from June 24th-27th on site 38. It was a really nice size, and the kids could fish right off the dock on the back."
"Very kid and pet friendly, lake to fish and kayak on, lots of activities, great pool and awesome hot tub."
"The campground is clean, the people who live there are friendly, very well organized, sites are big, street are easy to travel, the amnesties are good, the welcome center store is has the basic needs,"
"My wife and I, residing near the Commodore Barry, sought a brief respite. Our thirteen-year-old son was unable to join us, so we proceeded without him."
$5 - $200 / night
"Cabins are always clean and stocked with firewood. Lots of hiking trails. Trading post is well stocked and volunteers are always friendly and able to answer any questions"
"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."
LegendWe stayed at Adventure Bound Tall Pines in Elmer, New Jersey, for Memorial Day weekend for a quick getaway. Despite reserving and paying for a“Premium” site, it fell far short. But there were still a few things we liked…
THINGS I LIKED:
1. Super-friendly staff, especially Allie, who was courteous and seemed to try to make things right
2. Lots of mature shade trees
3. DJ at the pool Saturday and Sunday and live band Saturday evening
4. Close proximity to Delsea Drive-in Theatre and Cohenzick Zoo
THINGS I DIDN’T LIKE SO MUCH:
1. I reserved and paid-in-full for a premium site which listed 50-amp service and a concrete pad. Nope. Only 30-amp service and no concrete pad. When I called the office, assuming there must’ve been a mistake, I was told by two different staff members that their website is“wonky.” I wouldn’t mind as much, but this weekend was 90-degrees each day and humid, so it would’ve been good to have air conditioning.
2. The entire park was dirty sand with weeds growing everywhere
3. This place is not big-rig friendly, difficult to navigate some of the turns in our 45’ motorhome and taking scratches from tree branches that should be trimmed
4. I paid$432 for 3-nights and feel like I was taken
WOULD WE COME BACK?
Nope. I’m sticking with campgrounds that give you what you paid for.
TravelerI stayed at turkey swamp for just one night we had to pack it in early because a storm was rolling in but otherwise a great campground! we hiked one of the few trails in the morning and it was clean and well marked. we kayaked after that and the one thing that wasnt very great was that we brought our own kayaks so we had a decent walk from the parking lot to the lake. the lake itself wasnt huge and we paddled it in about an hour but it was still beautiful, fun and clean. the way the camp sites are set up is great because it give you some solid privacy. the roads are one way and each camp site is a horseshoe off the road. we stayed on site C4 and it was less then a 1 minute walk to the bathroom which was very clean! the only complaint we had was some of our neighbors didnt respect quiet hour. otherwise a fantastic campground for a small group or family!
ScoutWe LOVE camping here in the fall!! They do their own haunted walk through that is just awesome! Everyone decorates. They have a dj every Saturday! Plenty of activities for the kids. They have cool raffles! Very close to Six Flags Great adventure. You can hear the lions in the morning. There is a road that goes between the campground and the Safari you can drive, walk, or bicycle down and see the animals! This campground has a pretty lake, a bridge and is very woodsy, not just a camper parking lot like some other campgrounds! The staff and seasonals friendly! The only reason I didn't give 5 stars is because the bathrooms need a deep cleaning.
GuideFirst time camping with my 10 yr old son during covid restrictions. Park rangers were nice. Check in was easy. $36 per night includes water and electricity on site. Didn't have anything to compare it to but the sites were kind of small and close together. If your neighbors have a barking dog or a crying baby you can kiss tranquility goodbye. Spiders in the bathroom, mold on the shower curtains. Because of covid-19 restrictions you couldn't rent a boat, (supposed) to wear masks in the bathroom, and the picnic grounds were supposed to be closed. The lake was nice. Plenty of trails to walk. Wouldn't exactly call it hiking though. You can fish the lake, bring your own kayak, and there's an archery range on site, and also some huge beautiful fields for whatever. The rangers come around and enforce quiet time and make you put fires out around 10 or 11 pm. All in all was a good time and we'll probably go back.
TravelerArrived to campsite late but easily found. Campsite and lean to was clean. Fire pit with grill and picnic table.
GuideThis campground has all pull-through sites. Nicely wooded with water and electric. Be sure to bring extra hose because the water spigot is a distance from the electric. sites are level and well maintained. They also allowed us to put the car tent on the same site as a friend's camper. There's a nice lake to kayak or paddle boat on. each site has a fire pit, picnic table and garbage can
TravelerLocated 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. Water and electric hookups and a dump station. Convenient for hiking and exploring, it's also only a 20 minute drive to a large mall in Rockaway.
LegendWe 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! They have 2283 acres. A 17 acre lake. Some hiking trails & a nice campground! The sites are all pullthrough. There's lots of vegetation for "privacy". We had a site on the perimeter, which are forest views. Only problem is none of the roads are paved. All are packed sand. We could tell it rained recently because of the muddy tracks. Fortunately it didn't rain while we were there!
Shower/bathrooms are clean, but dated. They're checked regularly. The bath house is for the entire campground. 3 out of the 4 women's were working. There's a shared dressing area.
There's a laundry that doesn't take quarters. EPay.
There's a nice playground in the campground.
They have 3 cabins for rent, with forest views.
The lake has fishing & boat rentals. No gas motors. There's no swimming at the lake. Cell service was fair.. No WiFi.
They have an archery range.
This was my favorite campground on our trip! I really enjoyed camping here! There's a rustic retro quality to the place. I adored the campsites & I didn't see any really bad ones.
GuideMahlon Dickerson Campground is a true gem. It is a small campground nestled in the woods. 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. There is a bathroom with showers that is heated in the colder months. There is a water spigot at the bathrooms to fill up your water tanks. Dump station also on site. Each site has a nice picnic table and fire ring. I really enjoyed this campground and would go back again.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular glamping campsite near Gateway National Recreation Area?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular glamping campground near Gateway National Recreation Area is Collective Governors Island with a 4-star rating from 5 reviews.
What is the best site to find glamping camping near Gateway National Recreation Area?
TheDyrt.com has all 11 glamping camping locations near Gateway National Recreation Area, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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