Camping near Hardyston, NJ

Located in the Highlands Region of northern New Jersey at 900-1,400 feet elevation, Hardyston Township's camping sites offer cooler summer temperatures than urban areas, with evening lows often dropping into the 50s even in July. The township sits at the edge of Kittatinny Mountain, part of the Appalachian Mountains, and borders the forested ridge of Hamburg Mountain with its distinctive hiking trails through rocky terrain.

What to do

Swimming options: Each lake has different rules. Lake Marcia at High Point State Park Campground provides a supervised swimming area with lifeguards on duty during summer months. "I spent two nights camping with my niece and this campground was perfect... We fit in a hike up to the Appalachian Trail from our campsite, swam at the pond (Lake Marcia), and got in a fishing session at Steeny Kill Lake," reports Justin P. Swimming access requires a short drive from the camping area.

Trail connections: Hike from your tent. Many camping areas connect directly to trail networks. Stokes State Forest offers 21 marked trails covering over 63 miles, including 12 miles of the Appalachian Trail. A camper notes, "We stayed at site 11 on Lake Ocquittunk... After packing up we drove down the road and were able to get in a nice 5 mile hike up to the fire tower."

Farm experiences: Animals for the kids. Pleasant Acres Farm RV Resort maintains goats, a donkey, and a pony within the campground. Families can interact with the animals at designated times. "The farm has goats, a donkey, and a pony within the campground. Very cool," reports Faith D., while another camper mentions, "Plenty to occupy the kids. Playground, hayride, animals to feed (goats, chickens, donkey and pony)."

What campers like

Platform tent sites: Elevated camping. Several area campgrounds provide wooden platforms for tent set-up, keeping equipment dry during wet weather. At Harriman State Park's Beaver Pond Campground, "Many of the camping options were on platforms which is especially nice if it recently rained or if you are expecting rain during your stay," notes Ethan K. These platforms measure approximately 10-12 feet square.

Wildlife viewing: Bears are common. Morning hours offer the best chance to spot wildlife safely. "Three black bears strolled by the campsite next to ours in the early morning — gave us more of an energy boost after a sleepless night than our coffee!" reports Kaitlyn S. at Swartswood State Park. Proper food storage is mandatory throughout the region.

Hot showers at select parks. Not all campgrounds provide shower facilities, so check before booking. At Harriman State Park, visitors appreciate "free hot showers in the bathrooms, with plenty of room to change." Another camper mentions "Bathrooms were clean. And shower was warm and clean as well. They even have a heater to keep you comfortable in and out of the shower."

What you should know

Some campgrounds have no privacy between sites. Campsite spacing varies dramatically between parks. At Swartswood State Park Campground, "The park was incredibly noisy at night and there is little to no privacy between campsites. Everything could be seen by your neighbors. We were kept up all night because we could hear other campers snoring and talking." Sites 1-30 are described as "wide open with ZERO privacy," while sites in the 30-45 range have more separation.

Trash disposal systems vary. Some campgrounds require you to pack out trash or drive to collection points. At Pleasant Acres Farm, "The garbage situation was the worst. Most campsites have a service, they tell you to leave it at a specific location by a certain time or they have many garbage cans throughout. This place had their garbage and recycling very far away."

Pet policies may change without notice. Always confirm current pet rules when booking. "When my partner and I drove up to the campground there were multiple signs posted reading, 'NO DOGS ALLOWED IN CAMPGROUND'. The pet friendly policy must be new so maybe they just haven't gotten around to updating the signage," notes one visitor to Swartswood.

Tips for camping with families

Book sites 8-14 at Stokes for lake views. These sites at Lake Ocquittunk provide the best balance of access and privacy. "Site was located on a small hill next to the lake with the road directly in front and water about 50 yards away and the bathrooms about 100 yards away." Consider that "sites 8-11 are adjacent to the road and in peak times probably have a fair about of foot and vehicle traffic."

Consider cabins for off-season camping. Mahlon Dickerson Reservation offers cabin options that extend camping opportunities into cooler seasons. Cabins at Stokes State Forest feature small kitchens that families find useful: "We stay in the cabins. It's great to have the small kitchen when camping with the family." Most cabins require a two-night minimum stay and book months in advance for summer weekends.

Free water activities at select campgrounds. Some campgrounds include complimentary water recreation. At Great Divide Campground, "Kids had lots of fun on the free kayaks and pool." However, not all parks permit personal watercraft launching, so verify policies before bringing equipment.

Tips from RVers

Leveling challenges in mountainous terrain. Many sites require significant leveling due to the hilly landscape. At High Point State Park, "The gravel driveway is on a 30-40 degree incline. The tent was too long for the 12'x10' platform, so we had to set it up on the flattest part and hope not to roll down the hill in the night." RVs over 25 feet may struggle at several area campgrounds.

Hookup options are limited. Full-service RV sites are concentrated at private campgrounds. A visitor to Great Divide Campground reports, "Each site had a water spout and electric plug in," but notes "you are not allowed to keep your car at your site. You have to drop your supplies off and drive it back to the parking lot which was slightly annoying."

Roads require careful navigation. Many campgrounds feature narrow, winding access roads that can challenge larger RVs. At Pleasant Acres Farm, "When you leave you have to drive the wrong way in the campground because of the low hanging trees the correct direction." RVers should check campground maps for turning radius limitations before arrival.