127 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Campgrounds near Green Brook, New Jersey range from developed state parks to private camping resorts within driving distance of the area. Tent and RV camping options span electric-hookup sites at developed parks to boat-in and hike-in campsites along reservoirs, giving campers a wide range of settings to choose from. Cheesequake State Park Campground, located in Matawan, provides tent and RV camping with electric hookups and showers, while Turkey Swamp Park in Freehold Township offers more diverse accommodations including tent sites, RV spots, and cabins. The region includes several options for water-based recreation, with Round Valley State Park Campground providing boat-in and hike-in tent camping along its reservoir, and Spruce Run Recreation Area featuring boat-in, drive-in, and walk-in access for various camping styles.
Most campgrounds in the New Jersey region operate seasonally, typically from April 1 to October 31, with some extending slightly into November. Reservations are strongly recommended, especially for weekend stays during summer months when sites fill quickly. Many campgrounds prohibit alcohol consumption, though enforcement varies by location. The terrain throughout the area ranges from wooded settings to lakefront properties, with varying levels of privacy between sites. Cell service can be inconsistent in more remote areas, particularly at Round Valley and other wilderness-focused campgrounds. A camper noted, "Round Valley is certainly a must see for any type of outdoors person, or someone who appreciates relaxation in a gorgeous landscape. It is a semi-mountainous, forested setting with a very large lake, which is really a man-made reservoir in the middle of a valley."
Several visitors highlight the natural features as standout aspects of camping in this region. Mahlon Dickerson Reservation receives praise for its spacious, wooded sites with water and electric hookups. Turkey Swamp Park earns high marks for its pull-through sites and forest views, with one camper describing it as having "a rustic retro quality to the place." Water access represents a significant draw at many locations, with Round Valley's crystal-clear reservoir and Spruce Run's multiple water activities frequently mentioned in reviews. Campers should be prepared for varying bathroom facilities across campgrounds, from well-maintained shower buildings at developed campgrounds to primitive pit toilets at more remote locations. Wildlife sightings are common throughout the region, with deer, various birds, and small mammals frequently spotted from campsites.
"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
Check Availability"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."
"Once you get to the campground trail it’s pretty easy going on asphalt surface."
"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 Availability"We 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!"
"Electrical and water are at the outer edge of each site so you might want an extension cord and/or hose."
from $42 - $79 / night
Check Availability"Park employees and park police drive around through the day. Some big groups of campers got a little rowdy at night. The bathrooms were absolutely disgusting."
"The actual site was nice and was close to the bathrooms. There was plenty of shade as the sun moved throughout the day."
"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."
"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."
from $30 - $50 / night
Check Availability"Panther lake was a pretty good campground with lots of spots to camp at. Our campsite had a picnic bench and a fire ring. They offer both RV and primitive camping."
"The Lake is the gem of the campground with a really nice beach, good for fishing and kayaking. The negatives were the bathrooms. They are very primitive and quite dirty."
"We were kindly escorted to our site (a nice refreshing change from having to wander around to find the sites ourselves), which was the one farthest away from the entrance."
"Close by to a couple of nice state parks. Cute sheep and goats that wander about during the day! Sweet little spot, we'll definitely be back!"
"Our 4rth state in our 5 state trip is New Jersey! We wanted to see Delaware Water Gap NRA & I found a campground by Newton called The Great Divide. This is a private campground."
"All the positive reviews about this place are accurate! Beautiful, clean, well maintained, lots to do, great value for your $$"
ScoutRestrooms are filthy with mold and mildew.
Water puddled on the restroom floor.really gross.
Cabin was mostly clean. The windows were full of dirt and bugs on the tracks.mattresses were terrible.The fireplace was nice. Kitchen was clean.
Can t wait to move on to a cleaner park.
ScoutOn 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.
ScoutPast 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
RangerWe stayed just a couple nights here on our way north. The camp host was helpful before our stay and during check-in. Our site was pretty isolated from the others, so it was very quiet (no complaints here). There is a decent mix of sunny sites by the river and shady sites under the trees. The weather was perfect mid September. There wasn't anything spectacular for me, but it was a good experience and it was a nice taste of fall PA scenery. Beware that the roads are tight for a big rig. Side note, it did seem like most campers lived there.
GuideBooked 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!
GuideBeautiful campground but made the mistake of going on a holiday weekend, the campgrounds next to us were screaming and blasting music all day and throughout the night so we ended up leaving early. A beautiful campground when there aren’t noisy capers ruining it.
RangerWe camped here in our pop up for our Anniversary in November. We were impressed with the cleanliness and available amenities for the time of year we were camping in! Close proximity to DWG and PA AND NJ attractions.
TravelerAnother great experience. Sites were large. Staff was friendly with many different things for kids to do. Great base camp for local hikes.
RangerWe came here to ride our ATV's...since it is more than 3 hours from home, we decided to book this spot for the night. We have stayed in a bunch of the DWSF sites. This one was kinda meh. Nearer to the road so traffic at all hours. Picnic table and fire ring, and as always, evidence of people chopping down live trees for firewood. Ugh! We set up our tent and had a nice fire, albeit there was broken glass on the ground. Biting flies worked overtime on us. Not a terrible stay, but we prolly won't book this one again. And these sites are no longer free. As out of state-rs, we paid $21 for one night. Still a good deal.
Located within a 30-mile radius of New York City, Green Brook camping options feature diverse terrain from reservoir shorelines to wooded mountain settings. The region typically experiences mild spring and fall temperatures between 50-75°F, making April-October the prime camping season when most facilities are fully operational. Weekend reservations often fill 2-3 months in advance during summer months.
Paddling opportunities: At Turkey Swamp Park, campers can rent various watercraft during summer months. One visitor mentioned, "Kayaking/Canoeing, fishing, and swimming. In the summer, canoe, kayak, paddle boats, and row boats are available for rental." The park maintains a small lake with a boat dock and boardwalk.
Urban exploration access: Liberty Harbor RV Park offers unique city access with minimal travel. A camper shared, "Minutes walk to the Statue of Liberty, Liberty Science center. Two blocks away from NJ Path train into Manhattan or take the ferry to Wall Street!" Another added, "There is a ferry 100-yards away that takes you to Wall Street M-F."
Archery options: Some campgrounds maintain dedicated archery facilities. As one Turkey Swamp Park visitor noted, "Plenty to do over a 2 night stay. Archery, boating, fishing, and hiking. Boat rental rates are acceptable and there are four different styles to choose from."
Wildlife viewing: The mountainous camping areas offer excellent wildlife encounters. A camper at Mountainview Campground described, "Shortly after we settled into our tent did we hear foxes fighting right outside our tent, the snorts of deer, and there were bats right above us all night making noise!"
Reservoir access: Round Valley State Park Campground receives consistently high ratings for its water quality. A reviewer noted, "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."
Spacious wooded sites: Many campers praise the privacy at Mahlon Dickerson Reservation, with one reviewer commenting, "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."
Alternative transport options: Some campgrounds offer bicycle-friendly environments. A camper at Staten Island Gateway National Recreation Area mentioned, "Brought scooters & had a great stay! Plus you can see the Statue of Liberty from there!"
Balance of remoteness and convenience: Several campgrounds provide a wilderness feel while maintaining proximity to services. One visitor to Mountainview Campground commented, "Not that remote, but feels like a million miles away."
Restroom variability: Bathroom facilities differ significantly between locations. At Spruce Run Recreation Area, a camper warned, "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."
Noise levels: Highway proximity affects some camping experiences. A reviewer mentioned about Spruce Run, "Late at night you can hear the drone of a major highway." Similarly, at Cheesequake State Park, a camper noted, "The Parkway is right there so its not a nice quiet place."
Access challenges: Some campgrounds require significant effort to reach. At Round Valley, a visitor explained, "Located just south of I78 and near the small hamlets of Clinton and Lebanon... hiking path is incredibly difficult to manage without hauling all of your camping gear."
Wildlife encounters: Ticks are a serious concern in some areas. One Turkey Swamp Park camper reported, "By the 2nd day I had 3 ticks on me. My dog had one and by the end my husband had 2. That was so crazy because we were just sitting by our camper."
Playground access: Several family-friendly options have dedicated play areas. A Turkey Swamp Park camper mentioned, "There are age-appropriate playgrounds both in the campground and by the office."
Water activities for kids: Panther Lake Camping Resort offers diverse water options for families. A visitor shared, "Big campground, lots of sites, nice pool, big community hot tub, boating is great, good fishing, nice playground, basketball court and great amenities."
Beginner-friendly sites: Some campgrounds specifically cater to novice campers. A reviewer at Cheesequake State Park noted, "This is a great site for those who are not avid campers. It's close to town if you forget something and it has all the facilities you may need, bathroom, shower, etc."
Off-peak timing: For quieter family experiences, avoid holiday weekends. One Spruce Run visitor observed, "Stayed here 2 nights in May, Friday-Sunday. There were a decent amount of people on Friday, but significantly more on Saturday."
Site selection strategy: At Liberty Harbor RV Park, an RVer advised, "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."
Water hookup challenges: Some RV sites require equipment planning. At Mahlon Dickerson Reservation, a camper reported, "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."
Navigation considerations: Road conditions vary significantly between campgrounds. A Mountainview Campground reviewer warned, "The drive to our site had some inclines and was relatively rocky and some vehicles would surely struggle."
Weather preparation: Unpaved sites can create challenges in wet conditions. One camper noted about Turkey Swamp, "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."
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Green Brook, NJ?
According to TheDyrt.com, Green Brook, NJ offers a wide range of camping options, with 127 campgrounds and RV parks near Green Brook, NJ and 3 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Green Brook, NJ?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Green Brook, NJ is Cheesequake State Park Campground with a 3.6-star rating from 21 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Green Brook, NJ?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 3 free dispersed camping spots near Green Brook, NJ.
What parks are near Green Brook, NJ?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 7 parks near Green Brook, NJ that allow camping, notably Gateway National Recreation Area and Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area.
Keep Exploring
