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Best Campgrounds near Hillsborough, NJ

729 Reviews

Campgrounds near Hillsborough, New Jersey range from state park facilities to private resorts, with most offering seasonal access from April through October. Round Valley State Park Campground provides primitive boat-in and hike-in tent camping along a reservoir, while Turkey Swamp Park offers full-hookup RV sites, tent camping, and cabin rentals. Many camping areas in this region are situated around lakes and reservoirs, providing both water recreation opportunities and wooded settings within reasonable driving distance of New York City.

Access to most campgrounds is straightforward via paved roads, though sites like Round Valley require either hiking or boating to reach camping areas. The camping season generally runs April through October, with many facilities closing for winter. Several campgrounds require advance reservations, particularly for weekend stays during summer months. Electric hookups and water connections are available at most developed campgrounds, though primitive options exist for those seeking a more rustic experience. Cell service varies throughout the region, with better coverage at campgrounds closer to towns. "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."

Campgrounds in the Hillsborough vicinity frequently feature a mix of tent sites, RV hookups, and cabin rentals, catering to various camping preferences. Several visitors note the spaciousness and privacy of sites at Turkey Swamp Park, where pull-through sites are surrounded by vegetation for privacy. Water access represents a significant draw for many campers, with fishing, kayaking, and canoeing available at Round Valley Recreation Area and Spruce Run Recreation Area. According to one camper, "Turkey Swamp Park has 2283 acres, a 17-acre lake, some hiking trails and a nice campground. The sites are all pull-through with lots of vegetation for privacy." While most campgrounds maintain clean facilities, several reviews mention that quieter, more nature-immersive experiences can be found at the boat-in and hike-in sites compared to the more developed camping areas that accommodate RVs with full hookups.

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Best Camping Sites Near Hillsborough, New Jersey (108)

    1. Round Valley State Park Campground

    25 Reviews
    Lebanon, NJ
    16 miles
    Website
    +1 (908) 236-6355

    "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."

    2. Cheesequake State Park Campground

    19 Reviews
    Matawan, NJ
    20 miles
    Website
    +1 (732) 566-2161

    $200 / 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."

    3. Turkey Swamp Park

    28 Reviews
    Freehold, NJ
    26 miles
    Website
    +1 (732) 462-7286

    $42 - $79 / night

    "   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!"

    "Heavily wooded and supremely quiet, it’s located not far from anywhere you’d want to be. 30 minutes to the shore. Every site is a pull-through, large and spacious with great woodland views. 30amp and"

    4. Spruce Run Recreation Area

    15 Reviews
    Bethlehem, NJ
    21 miles
    Website
    +1 (908) 638-8572

    "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."

    5. Washington Crossing State Park - TEMP CLOSED FOR 2024

    8 Reviews
    Titusville, NJ
    18 miles
    Website
    +1 (609) 737-0623

    $50 - $100 / night

    "I always look forward to going because it is consistently clean, great for riding bikes and taking pets for a walk and children for a stroll PLUS it is significant  historically and it is enjoyable for"

    "Good for biking and dog walking."

    6. Mountainview Campground

    16 Reviews
    Bloomsbury, NJ
    25 miles
    Website
    +1 (908) 996-2953

    "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!"

    7. Camp Carr Campground

    4 Reviews
    Clinton, NJ
    17 miles
    Website

    $37 / night

    "Both times it was a positive experience. Excellent view of the South Branch and extremely relaxing. Only negative was the rest rooms closed sometime soon after the day camps let out."

    "We’re total newbs but we had a great time parked next to the raritan river. Spot 21 was open on the one side since they weren’t allowing tents during Covid."

    8. Tohickon Valley County Park

    10 Reviews
    Point Pleasant, PA
    24 miles
    Website
    +1 (215) 597-0754

    "Easy to drive in and out. No “camp store/ features” but there’s a local pool with swing sets within walking distance and lots of manageable trails along the cliffs."

    "The Delaware Canal is nearby with the tow path for biking. That makes this a nice Bikepacking stop."

    9. Timberland Lake Campground

    12 Reviews
    Cream Ridge, NJ
    26 miles
    Website
    +1 (732) 928-0500

    "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!"

    "As a kid - close to 6 flags where we had season passes... it was Jellystone yogi bear at the time.

    Very close to 6 flags great adventure."

    10. Ringing Rocks Family Campground

    13 Reviews
    Kintnersville, PA
    27 miles
    Website
    +1 (610) 982-5552

    "Store has most, if not all you essentials. ( had to get an extension cord because I forgot one of mine) so, if everything was positive, why did I give it four stars??"

    "There are many beautiful sights around including the Delaware River, ringing rocks Park, and Nockamixon. The park is clean and well-maintained, the facilities are clean as well."

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Recent Camping Photos near Hillsborough, NJ

335 Photos of 108 Hillsborough Campgrounds

Recent Reviews near Hillsborough, NJ

729 Reviews of 108 Hillsborough Campgrounds

  • EThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 17, 2025

    Liberty Harbor RV Park

    friendly staff at the office

    Gave us a welcome folder with lots of helpful info, can walk to get food up the street, short drive to Liberty Park where we got out and walked at night to admire the city skyline and Statue of Liberty at night. They have hook ups and big laundry room.

  • RThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 16, 2025

    Tohickon Family Campground

    Wonderful campground!

    Great camping, great hiking, pretty close to stores if you need anything. Staff is incredible!! Very polite, helpful, and just all around awesome People!!! They make sure your stay is exactly what you’d want it to be.. getting here was a little tricky having to go around the covered bridge but not anything that would ever deter me and my family from coming back. Overall very impressed!! They even were able To get us in very last minute WITH full hook ups for my trailer!!!!

  • Jessica V.
    Sep. 13, 2025

    Tohickon Family Campground

    Great weekend spot

    We went with friends for a weekend. Both families have little kids and it was a great spot with a playground, construction digging area, and a bunch of activities for the kids to do. We went in September so the pool was closed but it looked like a nice size. Full hook ups which was great! Also they have a nice stream that everyone went fishing at. They are building some new sites at the end of the property.

  • Stuart K.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 5, 2025

    Round Valley State Park Campground

    Get Your Hard-Core Hiking In To Enjoy This CG

    Located just south of I78 and near the small hamlets of Clinton and Lebanon, what I love most about Round Valley SP is the fact that it has its very own eponymous fresh water reservoir, which spanning some 2,350 acres and is 180 feed deep in the middle, this body of water provides a solid amount of upside for anyone wanting to kayak, canoe or swim. One of the greatest assets at this particular SP CG are the wonderful rangers who keep this place in such tip-top condition year-round. From the North Picnic Area, Bray’s Hill Preserve and Round Valley Beachhead to the East Picnic Area, Round Valley Farm on the eastern side of the reservoir as well as Round Valley Rec Area, there’s a lot to explore at this SP.

    One interesting fact about this place– believe it or not– it is the only NJ SP that actually offers up true wilderness camping(a.k.a. primitive), which can only be accessed by hiking 3 to 6 miles– or if you come with your own boat, you can access by water– and can be found on the SE corner of the reservoir. There is a second area nearby called Spruce Run Recreation Area that can be accessed by driving to this location, which is on the other side of I78 NW of Round Valley SP. That said, if you’re looking to camp here at Round Valley, I highly recommend you boat in as the hiking path is incredibly difficult to manage without hauling all of your camping gear, so coming in with a ton of gear is even more difficult/ prohibitive.

    When you finally do arrive to this primitive CG immersed in NJ’s thick wild foliage, you’ll experience waterfront bliss with a crystalline bevy of trout-infused reservoir water, and you won’t get much in the way of amenities, apart from a few random water pumps and some rocks piled in a circle that, um, I guess makes up a fire ring. While there are backwoods-style bathroom pits, these are very ill-managed and you’ll come across the‘stank’ well before actually even arriving here, so we just didn’t use them. There’s picnic tables, but the one we had was in pretty rough condition. The thing I found odd about the place is that after hiking so far in to get to this location, you’re not allowed to swim in the reservoir, which kind of defeats the entire point IMHO. That said, the views are amazing and because there’s nothing else in these parts, you will experience true peace in nature.

    Insider’s tips? Here’s a few:(1) Whether hiking or kayaking to this CG, you will want to bring as little with you as possible– packing too much to come here just isn’t worth the work;(2) We found parking in the Southern Lot to be perfectly fine and while we were initially worried about leaving our vehicle parked there for a few nights, we were reassured by the park rangers who patrol the lot constantly;(3) While the water in the reservoir may look crystal clear, it is not crystal clean and I would STRONGLY encourage anyone who thinks that it is OK to drink from the reservoir to at least use a Life Straw to ensure they don’t get sick;(4) I have hiked throughout the entire US and consider myself somewhere between a moderate to skilled hiker and I found these trails challenging and uneven, so while the hike we made was only 3 miles, it was not easy and I would be worried about someone breaking an ankle getting to this CG– so at a minimum, ensure you are wearing proper hiking boots. Seriously, for what this SP puts you through to access this CG one really needs to question why they’re being charged anything at all in the first place.

    Happy Camping!

  • J
    Aug. 31, 2025

    Turkey Swamp Park

    Fantastic camping ground

    We went camping with our 2- and 3-year-old kids. We were worried about bugs, but we didn’t even use mosquito repellent and didn’t get a single bite! The campground was super clean too. It was perfect!

  • Kylie R.
    Aug. 30, 2025

    Mountain Vista Campground

    A mix of being able to unplug but also have the ammenities avavilble if wanted/needed

    This campground is very clean, staff and campers are very friendly. It’s a great spot if you have kids because they have many different activities(pool/arcade games/movie nights/ and more.)

  • j
    Aug. 27, 2025

    Cranberry Run Campground

    Don’t Stay here!!

    It’s not a campground. It’s where people stash their rvs, some of whom seem to live here permanently. Caretaker was rude. Sites were all rocky and many on steep inclines. Complete waste of our time. Plus, the site looks nothing like the pictures they post, which is an area you can’t camp at. Don’t stay here.

  • Adeline M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 19, 2025

    Worthington State Forest Campground — Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area

    Nice campground loud campers

    Great open spot with some shade, depending on when you go we have noticed there tends to be a lot of loud disrespectful people who are there to party not camp. It’s nice to be on the Delaware and not many campgrounds have water access or a boat ramp so that’s a plus. Showers, sinks, and toilets are available.

  • Erik W.
    Jul. 21, 2025

    Boulder Woods Campground

    Amazing campground with helpful staff and disc golf course

    The name says it all. It has boulders and woods.  The spots are tight to get into but the staff will offer to park your camper using your vehicle. I let them park mine and I'm really glad I did.  It was super tight.  Gorgeous place though.  They also have a disc golf course and they rent and sell discs.  That's where we fell in love with disc golf.

    We stayed there in August 2017.

Guide to Hillsborough

Camping near Hillsborough, New Jersey, offers a mix of beautiful nature and fun activities for everyone. Whether you're looking for a peaceful retreat or an adventurous getaway, there are plenty of campgrounds to explore.

What to do:

  • Hiking: Many campgrounds have great trails. For example, at Round Valley State Park Campground, one camper mentioned, "The hike in was a tough one! Weather was 95 and sunny on the hike in, which didn't make it any easier."
  • Fishing and Boating: At Turkey Swamp Park, you can enjoy fishing and boat rentals. A visitor shared, "The lake has fishing & boat rentals. No gas motors."
  • Exploring Historical Sites: Allaire State Park has a historical village where you can learn about the past. One reviewer said, "In addition to their tent sites and group gathering areas, we enjoy all the activities!"

What campers like:

  • Clean Facilities: Campers appreciate well-maintained restrooms. At Mahlon Dickerson Reservation, a visitor noted, "The campground is clean, paved nicely and well run."
  • Spacious Campsites: Many campgrounds offer roomy sites. A camper at Mountainview Campground said, "Sites are huge and very private. You didn’t even know that there were people around you."
  • Friendly Staff: Campers often mention helpful staff. At Great Divide Campground, one visitor remarked, "The customer service is fantastic."

What you should know:

  • Limited Amenities: Some campgrounds may lack certain amenities. A camper at Spruce Run Recreation Area mentioned, "Showers were cold water only and very cold at that."
  • Noise Levels: Be prepared for some noise from nearby highways. A visitor at Cheesequake State Park Campground noted, "While the campsite is fairly well protected from highway noise, you're still going to hear it at least a little."
  • Wildlife Caution: Some areas have wildlife warnings. At Mahlon Dickerson Reservation, a camper said, "There are a lot of bear warnings here so that gave us a bit of pause with our three little boys."

Tips for camping with families:

  • Choose Family-Friendly Campgrounds: Look for places with activities for kids. Turkey Swamp Park has a playground, and a reviewer said, "There’s a nice playground in the campground."
  • Plan for Meals: Bring easy-to-cook meals. A camper at Driftstone Campground mentioned, "The store has a little of everything."
  • Pack for Comfort: Bring extra blankets and pillows for a cozy stay. A visitor at Mountainview Campground said, "The cleanest port-a-potty and bath house I have ever used!"

Tips from RVers:

  • Check Hookups: Make sure your site has the right hookups. A camper at Great Divide Campground noted, "The RV sites were all full hookup on our loop."
  • Be Prepared for Muddy Roads: Some campgrounds have unpaved roads. A visitor at Turkey Swamp Park mentioned, "None of the roads are paved. All are packed sand."
  • Arrive Early: Popular campgrounds can fill up fast. A camper at Round Valley State Park Campground said, "The necessary carry in and out for 3 miles is a huge downfall."

Camping near Hillsborough, New Jersey, has something for everyone. Whether you're hiking, fishing, or just enjoying the outdoors, you'll find a spot that fits your needs.

Frequently Asked Questions

What camping is available near Hillsborough, NJ?

According to TheDyrt.com, Hillsborough, NJ offers a wide range of camping options, with 108 campgrounds and RV parks near Hillsborough, NJ and 2 free dispersed camping spots.

Which is the most popular campground near Hillsborough, NJ?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Hillsborough, NJ is Round Valley State Park Campground with a 4.6-star rating from 25 reviews.

Where can I find free dispersed camping near Hillsborough, NJ?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 2 free dispersed camping spots near Hillsborough, NJ.

What parks are near Hillsborough, NJ?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 7 parks near Hillsborough, NJ that allow camping, notably Gateway National Recreation Area and Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area.

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