Turkey Swamp Park
Water/power at the campsite, and and centrally located dump station. Lots of trees and nice separation of sites
6 campgrounds with availability next weekend
Campgrounds near Glen Ridge, NJ range from state parks to private resorts, with options spanning tent sites, RV hookups, and cabin rentals within 10-40 miles. Mahlon Dickerson Reservation and Camp Glen Gray offer tent camping, RV sites, and cabin accommodations approximately 30-40 miles from Glen Ridge. Liberty Harbor RV Park in Jersey City provides urban camping with Manhattan skyline views just 10 miles east, while more natural settings can be found at Cheesequake State Park and Panther Lake Camping Resort. Most campgrounds in the region feature a mix of tent sites, RV hookups, and cabin rentals with varying levels of amenities.
The New Jersey camping season typically runs from April through October, with many state park campgrounds closing during winter months. Reservations are essential during summer weekends and holiday periods when facilities reach capacity. "Mahlon Dickerson Campground 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," noted one visitor. Many campgrounds near Glen Ridge prohibit alcohol consumption and some have pet restrictions, particularly at tent sites. Cell service can be unreliable at more remote locations, especially in the Delaware Water Gap area where terrain affects coverage. Campground amenities vary significantly, from primitive sites with pit toilets to developed facilities with electric hookups, showers, and dump stations.
Water features represent significant draws at many campgrounds in the region. Panther Lake Camping Resort and Turkey Swamp Park offer lake access for recreational activities, while sites along the Delaware River provide boat-in camping opportunities. A camper observed that "Turkey Swamp Park has 2283 acres, a 17-acre lake, some hiking trails and a nice campground! The sites are all pullthrough with lots of vegetation for privacy." Most developed campgrounds provide fire rings and picnic tables, though fire bans may be implemented during dry periods. Visitors frequently mention site spacing and privacy as important considerations, with county and state parks generally offering more separation between campsites than private campgrounds. Proximity to hiking trails, particularly sections of the Appalachian Trail, adds recreational value to many camping areas in northern New Jersey.
"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
"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."
"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."
Campground full next weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $21 - $24 / 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."
from $200 / night
Available next weekend
from $85 - $120 / 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"
Campground full next weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $30 / night
"A little intimidating driving in to a nondescript gate at the end of a narrow street but the overall experience exceeded expectation."
Available next weekend
from $130 / 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."
Campground full next weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $30 - $50 / night
from $529 - $1200 / night
"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












Water/power at the campsite, and and centrally located dump station. Lots of trees and nice separation of sites
Nestled along the picturesque Delaware River in beautiful Bucks County, Washington Crossing Historic Park is one of those destinations where American history practically jumps out from behind every tree. This sprawling, beautifully preserved historic park commemorates George Washington's daring Christmas night crossing of the Delaware in 1776, with charming colonial buildings, expansive green spaces, shaded walking paths and lovely riverfront scenery. Divided into Upper and Lower sections, the park offers plenty to explore, from historic homesteads and interpretive exhibits to scenic picnic areas and the impressive Bowman's Hill Tower. Unfortunately, while the park delivers a wonderful outdoor experience, traditional overnight camping isn't part of the equation unless your a Boy Scout or accompanying one of their troops.
HIGHLIGHTS: (1) Spectacular Revolutionary War history at the very site of Washington's legendary Delaware River crossing; (2) Beautifully maintained grounds featuring mature trees, open lawns and scenic riverfront views; (3) Fascinating colonial-era buildings, historic demonstrations and educational exhibits that bring America's founding history to life; (4) Wonderful recreational opportunities, including walking, cycling, fishing, kayaking and picnicking; and (5) Convenient proximity to charming New Hope, the Delaware Canal towpath and Bowman's Hill Tower, offering plenty of opportunities to extend your adventure.
LOWLIGHTS: (1) No conventional public tent or RV camping, with overnight group camping restricted to organized Scout groups by prior arrangement; (2) No dedicated RV campsites, electrical hookups, water connections or dump station; (3) Park grounds generally close at sunset, limiting opportunities to linger into the evening; (4) Some historic buildings and attractions require admission fees or operate on limited schedules; and (5) Periodic restoration projects and special events can restrict access to certain areas, while the historic Washington Crossing Bridge's three-ton weight limit makes it unsuitable for larger RVs.
Happy Camping!
Located just off US Route 1 in the upscale Princeton area, this spacious Lowe's serves up a surprisingly pleasant patch of pavement for weary road warriors looking to catch some shut-eye. Set back roughly 80 yards from the highway, this big blue home improvement retailer offers a generously sized parking lot with relatively manageable traffic, good maneuverability and a quieter atmosphere than you might expect from such a busy suburban retail corridor. The western and southern edges of the lot are particularly appealing for an overnight stay, and with Trader Joe's, Starbucks and several other retailers nearby, convenience certainly isn't in short supply. Better yet, the store management was friendly and accommodating when we called ahead to arrange our overnight visit.
HIGHLIGHTS: (1) Spacious, paved parking lot with plenty of room to maneuver larger rigs; (2) Convenient access to US Route 1 and nearby I-95; (3) Western and southern parking areas offer quieter spots away from the busiest customer traffic; (4) Excellent nearby conveniences, including Trader Joe's, Starbucks and several dining options; and (5) Friendly store management that welcomed our overnight stay, plus surprisingly good opportunities for outdoor recreation nearby.
LOWLIGHTS: (1) Some daytime retail traffic and occasional road noise, although nothing terribly disruptive; (2) No RV hookups, dump station or dedicated overnight camping facilities; (3) Parking areas closest to the store can become crowded during business hours; (4) Limited greenery and little of the scenery you'd expect from a traditional campground; and (5) While the overnight experience was excellent, this is still a commercial parking lot rather than a destination for an extended stay.
Happy Overnighting!
There's something wonderfully special about escaping into nature where the only sounds are rustling leaves, birds singing and the gentle movement of water along the shoreline. Nestled among the wooded hills surrounding the beautiful Round Valley Reservoir, this rustic SP campground offers families a chance to disconnect from everyday distractions and enjoy a little wilderness adventure together. Unlike traditional campgrounds, the campsites are accessible only by hiking or boating, so getting anywhere here requires some planning and a willingness to travel light. Once you've arrived, you'll find secluded, wooded campsites with picnic tables, fire rings and plenty of opportunities to enjoy the great outdoors. Amenities are basic, with pit toilets and no showers, but the beautiful reservoir, scenic hiking trails, fishing and kayaking opportunities more than make up for the lack of modern conveniences. Our kids loved exploring the woods, spotting wildlife and gathering around a crackling campfire at night to share stories beneath the stars. For families comfortable with the hike, I'd recommend choosing one of the campsites along the reservoir shoreline for the lovely water views and peaceful surroundings. Just remember that swimming is limited to the park's designated beach area. Round Valley isn't your typical family campground, but for adventurous families who enjoy hiking, camping under the stars and making wonderful memories together, it's a beautiful place to experience nature at its finest!
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.
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.
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
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
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!
Camping areas near Glen Ridge, New Jersey, span across several counties within a 40-mile radius. Most camping options operate from April through October, with limited winter availability. Northern New Jersey camping terrain includes both highland forests in the northwest and coastal plains to the east, creating diverse camping environments within an hour's drive.
Hiking at Cheesequake State Park: The park offers several trails ranging from easy to moderate difficulty with multiple lookout points. The elevation changes aren't overly strenuous, making them accessible for most skill levels. "This park is on the list of 50 top NJ Hikes, and it has a few great trails. While also walking the trails, people are able to come across many picnic and resting areas," notes one visitor to Cheesequake State Park.
Urban exploration at Fort Wadsworth: Explore abandoned historical military structures while camping. "There are abandoned buildings here and you can do urban exploring. There are rangers taking you on a trek and exploring the abandoned building," reports a camper who stayed at Staten Island Gateway National Recreation Area.
Water activities at Panther Lake: The large lake provides opportunities for fishing, kayaking, and boating. "Boating is great, good fishing," mentions a review. Panther Lake Camping Resort offers boat rentals for those who don't bring their own watercraft, allowing easy access to lake activities.
NYC skyline views: Several campgrounds offer unique urban views while still providing camping amenities. "Having a view of Lady Liberty out your window is priceless," states a camper at Liberty Harbor RV Park. This park positions campers just across from Manhattan with convenient transportation options into the city.
Large, separated campsites: Many campers appreciate the spacing between sites at county parks. "The campground is small but also secluded," mentions a visitor to Mahlon Dickerson Reservation. Another notes, "The campsites are paved and mostly level. They are wooded and large."
Off-season quietness: Visiting during non-peak times provides a more peaceful experience. A camper at Beaver Pond Campground notes, "We stayed here on a Thursday night in September prior to taking off backpacking. The campground was clean and quiet. 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."
Transportation options: When staying near the city, public transit is often more practical than driving. At Liberty Harbor, "The light rail is a block away, and the path train is about 8. Getting in and out of the city is an adventure. Stay right off the highway to avoid the $30 tunnel toll."
Bear safety concerns: Bears are active in northern New Jersey forests. "Welcome to Bear Mountain" grumbles the park ranger as he sits in complete darkness! He offers us a highlighted map to our site, wishes us a good stay, and gives us the run down on bear activity in the area," reports a visitor to Beaver Pond Campground.
Seasonal site limitations: Many campgrounds convert significant portions of their property to seasonal rentals. At Panther Lake, "Majority of sites are seasonal campers with LOTS of cottages. Went early in the season so many had not been maintained in months. Only a handful of full hook up sites surrounded by seasonal cottages."
Activity options: Look for campgrounds with multiple recreation facilities. "Fun camping place to book groups. Very kid and pet friendly, lake to fish and kayak on, lots of activities, great pool and awesome hot tub," recommends a camper who visited Panther Lake Camping Resort.
Noise considerations: Many campgrounds near urban areas experience traffic noise. At Cheesequake State Park, "The parkway runs through/over the park, you will be able to hear traffic noises. That said, this is probably a great place for those who have not camped before, it's easy to get to and close to civilization."
Weather-ready platforms: Raised tent platforms provide better camping conditions during wet weather. At Camp Glen Gray, "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." Another camper notes the rustic quality with many camp options including "Cabins - Leanto - Tent Sites."
Site utilities: Water connections at some campgrounds require planning. "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. Trash dumpster is an easy walk and the dump station has a flush hose point," reports an RVer at Mahlon Dickerson.
Urban RV parking limitations: Urban campgrounds often have tight spacing. At Liberty Harbor RV Park, a visitor notes 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. If it's packed, your neighbor with be within inches of your rig."
Cell service and connectivity: Signal strength varies significantly throughout the region. At Panther Lake, a camper warned "Only issue is the internet is terrible u have to be near the wifi zones," while another stated "it's like a black hole of signals there."
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Glen Ridge, NJ?
According to TheDyrt.com, Glen Ridge, NJ offers a wide range of camping options, with 123 campgrounds and RV parks near Glen Ridge, NJ and 2 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Glen Ridge, NJ?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Glen Ridge, NJ is Liberty Harbor RV Park with a 3.8-star rating from 16 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Glen Ridge, NJ?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 2 free dispersed camping spots near Glen Ridge, NJ.
What parks are near Glen Ridge, NJ?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 9 parks near Glen Ridge, NJ that allow camping, notably Gateway National Recreation Area and Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area.
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