Highlands is an ideal place for camping adventures of all kinds. Enjoy the scenic camping, fun activities, and sights and sounds of Highlands. Find the best campgrounds near Highlands, plus reviews and photos from other campers like you.
PARK ADVISORY: Allaire State Park Family Camping is closed until further notice. The NJ Department of Environmental Protection will start work on the construction of a new bathroom/shower facility. Group Camping will re-open April 1st.
Campsites: There are forty-five tent and trailer sites with fire rings and picnic tables. Flush toilets and shower facilities are within walking distance. Trailer sanitary station is open April 15 through October 15. Campsites are open from April 1 - December 15.
Shelters: There are ten shelters. Shelters are cabin-like structures with wood stove for heat and two double-deck bunks, which sleep up to four people. Each site includes a fire ring and picnic table. Accessible to persons with disabilities. Shelters are open from April 1 - December 15.
Group campsites: Six group sites with fire rings, picnic tables. Sites A, B, C, and D hold a maximum capacity of 50 people. Fee: New Jersey Resident $100 per night; Non Resident $200, per night. Sites E and F hold a maximum capacity of 25 people. Fee: NJ Resident $50 per night; Non Resident $100 per night. Open open from April 1 - December 15.
$42 - $79 / night
You’ve never experienced New York City like this before. A quick ferry ride from downtown Manhattan, our peaceful oasis is nestled in the hills of historic Governors Island. You’ll be surrounded by sprawling green spaces, with unparalleled views of the Statue of Liberty across the New York Harbor. It’s a retreat unlike any other in the world. The retreat includes Three Peaks Lodge dining and group activities space, a great lawn, and a collection of luxury outdoor accommodations (Summit Tents and Outlook Shelters) with en-suite bathrooms and entry level Journey Tents that offer a private dedicated bathroom that can be locked and that includes full flush toilets, showers, hot running water and amenities.
**Getting Here: **Collective Governors Island is located eight minutes from Lower Manhattan and five minutes from Brooklyn via ferry. All guests must arrive at Collective Governors Island on one of these ferries. The full ferry schedule can be found here.
Manhattan ferries run daily: 10 a.m.- 4:15 p.m. (Monday-Friday) and 10 a.m.- 6 p.m. (Saturdays and Sundays)
Brooklyn ferries run: 10:15 a.m.- 4:15 p.m. (Saturdays and Sundays)
*Note above schedules are subject to changes or time variations depending on time of year. Please confirm the most current ferry schedule here.
MORNINGS BACK TO WORK:Governors Island Ferry only starts transporting back to Manhattan at 10AM to 10 South St., however Collective Retreats guests may take exclusive morning ferries back to 10 South St. at 7:15AM, 7:45AM, 8:15AM, 8:45AM, 9:15AM, and 9:45AM. No reservations are required in advance, see front desk for more info.
$529 - $1200 / night
Brendan Byrne State Forest is in the Pine Barrens of New Jersey, a unique ecosystem known for its sandy soils, acidic waters and diverse plant and animal life. Campers can explore the forest's numerous hiking and biking trails or go fishing or boating in the nearby streams and lakes. The forest also offers a range of educational programs and interpretive displays, providing visitors with the opportunity to learn about the region's natural and cultural history. Visitors can also enjoy a meal at one of the forest's many picnic areas, or spend the day exploring the nearby towns and attractions. There’s also disc golf and guided nature walks.
$3 - $60 / night
STARTING FEB 2024 - CLOSED TEMPORARILY FOR IMPROVEMENTS. SEE WEBSITE FOR DETAILS.
Washington Crossing State Park is the site of General George Washington’s historic 1776 Christmas night crossing of the icy Delaware River. For almost ten hours, boats and ferries moved continuously back and forth carrying men, horses and cannon to the Jersey side. By midnight a strong storm had developed, hurling sleet, hail and snow at the rebel army. Landing at Johnson’s Ferry, the Continental Army still faced an arduous nine mile march to Trenton as the storm continued with a vengeance. Reaching Trenton in the early morning of December 26th, the American Army surrounded, defeated and captured over 900 Hessian mercenaries and secured a morale boosting victory of immeasurable proportions.
Group campsites: Four group campsites are located in the Phillips Farm area of the park. Each site contains picnic tables, fire rings and a composting toilet. These are designated as primitive campsites with no water or electric utilities available on site. Total combined capacity of all four sites: 115. We highly recommend that group leaders carefully estimate their group size so not to overestimate as refunds cannot be made.
$50 - $100 / night
$37 / 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! 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.
We stayed on a mon/tues at the end of August and the campground was fairly empty and quiet except for a few generators running & air planes/ helicopters going over. There is an air force base in the area.
Site 33 is the back corner so we did get a bit more traffic going past to get on the sand trails. There is also background noise from the road, but not too loud. There are not many RV sites in the 3 loops - just a handful which is a shame because many of the sites marked as tent only look like they could easily accommodate most RVs, especially smaller rigs.
The dump station is locked so get the combo from the office if you want to use it. The ranger station is a bit of a drive from the camping area so if you don’t have cell service make sure you get it at check in.
Go down to the pond and check out the carnivorous plants- one of the most unique things in this area!
Several choices for hiking, but it’s the pine barrens so it is flat and sandy and ticks can be overwhelming at some times of the year.
Overall this is one of the nicer & quieter options for pine barrens camping
Doing this review because a lot of them feel extremely outdated, so here we go.
Access: There are two ways to get to your campsite, boating and the great 3 mile trek. Starting with the hike, the path is not the best, filled with a ton of rocks placed by the lands-men. It makes the hike extremely difficult which could have been avoided. Moreover, theres a few points on the trail where you’re walking side by side from a highway, crossing driveways, passing construction zones, and past fencing. Extremely awkward and takes you out of the hiking experience immediately. Not ideal especially since you have to pay to camp on the site. I was extremely dissatisfied. Boating may be more worth it to avoid these downfalls and get your moneys worth.
Amenities: There are two water pumps. One at the beginning of the camp site and one at the end. They tend to get far if you plan on camping further into the campsite so I would plan ahead. The primitive restrooms aren’t maintained at all but if you’re there more for the"outdoorsy" experienced not a huge downfall. Most of the campsites have access to a picnic table and fire ring which is a huge plus.
Overall: For starters, the water is beautiful and clean, although there is no swimming, swim at your own risk and don’t get caught? I had a wonderful time at this location, the sites were big enough for play and privacy. The water was clean and provided a lovely view in the morning and it was quiet and dark as expected by sundown. But this site just missed with the awful trail of three miles. Although there were service roads throughout the campsite, visitors were not able to use them. The necessary carry in and out for 3 miles is a huge downfall. Moreover, the hike itself along highways, across roads, and down strategically places pebbles and rocks were a huge miss and made it extremely difficult and slippery. I highly recommend boating as hiking will probably make the experience a lot more sour than wanted. It shouldn’t be a"choose between the two" considering you’re paying but what can you do… pick boating if you really want to see it for yourself.
Pros: 50 AMP, sewer & water hookup Nice amenities
Cons: Sand sites Overpriced Tight site & hard to get in/out for big rigs
The hike to get to the campground is a bit long (4 miles; we did it in ~2h). Since there were 95 degrees, it was challenging. The campsite was really nice, even if the pic nic table was almost completely broke
We 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.
A Peaceful Retreat with Room for Improvement
I recently had the pleasure of staying here, and I wanted to share my experience with fellow travelers. Overall, it was a tranquil and secure place, but there were a few aspects that could use some attention.
Pros: Serene and Secure: One of the standout features is the peaceful environment it offers. During my weeks-long stay, I never once had to contend with loud noises or intrusive traffic, creating a truly peaceful atmosphere that's perfect for those seeking a quiet getaway.
Cons: Bathroom Facilities: Unfortunately, the campsite falls short in terms of its bathroom facilities. The stall doors are quite small and lack privacy, which can be a discomfort for many guests. Moreover, only one stall has a functioning lock, which can be inconvenient during peak times. Limited Showers: The campsite has only two showers, and they are not designed for simultaneous use. To make matters more challenging, you must pass through one shower to access the other, limiting the privacy and convenience for guests. Additionally, the absence of temperature regulation can be a drawback.
Maintenance Concerns: During my two-week stay, I noticed a cleanliness issue that needs addressing. There was persistent trash in one of the showers throughout my visit, which was disappointing.
Recommendations: If you're considering a stay here I'd recommend opting for their cabins. Having stayed in them previously, I found them to be clean, spacious, and overall delightful accommodations. They provide a more comfortable and enjoyable experience compared to the campsite facilities.
Additional Note: One aspect to be aware of is that the owner doesn't seem to like dogs. If you're traveling with furry companions, it's essential to plan accordingly.
In conclusion, They offers a peaceful and secure retreat, but there are areas in need of improvement, particularly regarding the bathroom facilities. For a more comfortable stay, I highly recommend their cabins. With some attention to the mentioned concerns, this campsite could become an even more appealing destination for nature enthusiasts like myself.
Allaire State Park is a favorite spot of mine. In addition to their tent sites and group gathering areas (we have had several family reunions here), we enjoy all the activities! There is a historical village where you can visit a blacksmith shop and other spaces to learn about the history. They have a flea market many weekends in the summer months and in early fall. They also. Have Halloween themed events like a hayride. Lots of walking paths surround the park & you are also close to Belmar, Point Pleasant, Manasquan (all fun shore towns). Bathroom maintenance could use some sprucing up, but other than that- great place to visit.
This has been closed way before August of 2023. My wife said she seen feds or some type of authority there with hound dogs when she was driving by one day when they closed it. The park said it’s for “bathroom renovations” but a bathroom renovation with a simple design like they have shouldn’t take over a year to do. I want to camp here with my kids since it’s close and every time I drive by it’s still closed. What the heck is going on here???
Other than that the experience we had camping for a weekend was pretty nice and enjoyable. There was a cold spell that came through for the weekend we were there and it was very cold at night, but we ruffed it out.
This was definitely a unique camping experience for me. The forest is absolutely beautiful, but not by any design. Instead, nature is just doing its thing. Sand roads crisscross the whole area and navigation can be a bit tricky the first time around.
The campgrounds are clean and simple. Some reviews mentioned that the borders between sites are a bit murky, which I agree with. In the larger loop, one site easily blends into another. I stayed in the smaller loop (1-13), which was simple and a bit more private. The bathrooms nearby were immaculately clean, which hasn’t been the case at many other state campgrounds. There was some occasional road noise, but nothing that kept me up at night. However, there was some low flying air traffic going in to the joint base nearby. It wasn’t terrible, but it was definitely noticeable.
In a pinch, there’s a Wawa about 5 minutes away from the campground. Beyond that, there’s a bar and a gas station a bit further away. Anything else is a bit of a hike. If you want to get away and feel like you’re truly in nature, this is a good spot to visit.
We stayed here on our first night with the campervan. Had lots of room. The ranger were really nice.
That's NJ.
Everything is "against the rules" though many of us inform them that governments don't own water.
What kind of camping is going to bed at 10:00? No dogs no fun no music no booze You might as well just stay home lol.
Absolutely wonderful time
Turkey Swamp is a county park located in Monmouth County, NJ. This beautiful park has some of the nicest campsites in a wooded area. Biking and hiking trails are located in the park so no need to travel beyond the park. If you want to travel, Freehold, NJ is nearby offering restaurants, breweries, shopping, and more.
My experience was just what I needed. It was quiet, the one family I met was so kind. It was late fall so not many campers. The energetically outlet was so important and the bathrooms were clean. No complaints at all.
There’s a large amount of seasonal RV campers that definitely rule the place. It’s like golf cart Daytona 500. We didn’t have a bad time, we were looking for nature and got King of the Hill.
The hike in was a tough one! Weather was 95 and sunny on the hike in, which didn't make it any easier. Couple of steep hills and a little rocky. Lots of breaks recommended! It was 3 miles to the camp site trail and then a mile and a half ish to campsite 16.
Once we reached the campsite it was absolute perfection. Perfectly secluded from the trail, plenty of trees to set up a hammock, and a nice little walk down to the water. The two negatives of the area I could possibly have (and I'm really digging here) is there was a bunch of carpenter ants and you sink right into the mud when wading in the water. We filtered water right from the reservoir instead of walking back to the spigot. Mostly quiet except for a big party group a couple sites over, but expected for 4th of July weekend!
This is a place I'd definitely want to return to.
But it absolutely looks amazing to use super user friendly
Wooded sites, restrooms with showers clean and well stocked. Peaceful family campground. Lake for kayaking and paddle boats to rent.
Just like any other organized camp ground part of your experience is who is near you. The site itself is exactly what you want/expect but this state forest has a 12-13 mile loop with a nice lake area about 3/4 of the way through that is really nice. Have been here on many occasions. Like anywhere in this area the mosquitoes are bad in the summer for plan for that but if you are looking for a straightforward camping experience with a nice trail network this is your place.
A bit close to each other but we winter camp so it was empty super clean and easy to get too
Ok Park, only 30 amps, a little hard with a larger rv but did see some 5ers come in. Make sure you have 100 feet of water hose! You share a spigot with another site and you park lengthwise.
Much more suited to RV Camping, but not terrible for a couple nights of tent camping
A long hike in, but the campsites are well maintained and facilities are easy to get to.
The camp ground is secluded and right on the Delaware River. Very enjoyable
My experience here was okay but not the best. The park office was easy to find but finding the campground wasn’t. There wasn’t an address for it (only the Park entrance) and there was no signs for which way the campground was once you pull out of the office. Once we finally found the campground, it was quite crowded! We pulled it and found our campsite. It was in the middle of the loop but not heavily shaded so it was very exposed and opened. There was the standard picnic table, fire ring, etc. There was unfortunately many small pieces of trash left by previous campers that we took the time to clean. The bathrooms could tell it was the end of the day when we went but only got worse the next day. It didn’t appear to be cleaned the entire time we were there. By next day, there was feces on the floor and no toilet paper in many of the stalls.
Not a ton of RV’s or children for the most part. Clean and quiet spot.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular glamping campsite near Highlands, NJ?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular glamping campground near Highlands, NJ is Allaire State Park - TEMPORARILY CLOSED with a 3.6-star rating from 18 reviews.
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TheDyrt.com has all 12 glamping camping locations near Highlands, NJ, with real photos and reviews from campers.
