29 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Several pet-friendly campgrounds near Highlands offer wooded tent sites and RV accommodations with full hookups. Turkey Swamp Park accommodates pets at tent, RV, cabin, and glamping sites with water and electric hookups, thirty-amp service, and a picnic table at each site. Cheesequake State Park Campground provides shaded campsites with picnic tables and fire rings where pets can stay with their owners, though the bathhouse facilities are dated and sometimes lack adequate cleaning. The Liberty Harbor RV Park in Jersey City allows pets at its 90 RV sites with electric and water hookups, providing convenient access to New York City.
Allaire State Park offers pet-friendly camping options along bike paths that lead to nearby beach towns. The park features various accommodation types including tent sites, RV spots, cabins, and yurts, though it is currently temporarily closed. Pleasant Valley Lavender provides a unique camping experience where pets can join owners in tent sites tucked into wooded areas, offering peace and quiet despite proximity to major roads. Butterfly Camping Resort welcomes pets at their tent, RV, and cabin sites with full hookup options. Campers report bathrooms can vary in cleanliness across these campgrounds, and most enforce standard leash policies to ensure all guests and their pets have an enjoyable experience.
"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"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"
from $42 - $79 / night
Check Availability"Lots of walking paths surround the park & you are also close to Belmar, Point Pleasant, Manasquan (all fun shore towns)."
"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."
"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"So pleasant to sleep near the blooming fields. Campsite is tucked in the woods with. Tent camping in peace and quiet with easy access to major roads and highways to explore central NJ"
from $35 - $50 / night
Check Availability"Small campground W/ 8 spaces in the main area and 7 in an adjacent area. All spaces are level concrete With fill hookups and attached concrete patio."
"It’s basically a parking lot, but it’s steps away from some of the greatest waves on the east coast. Showers are clean, there’s a dog park nearby, and the island is very bikable to get around."
"They have a dog park basketball courts playground swimming just about everything."
"Just from walking around I saw the two pools, an RC track, bocci, shuffle and board. They did have organized activities set up as well."
"It feels like you're camping out in a field with mostly sand around. But having said that, I'd still recommend it for all of the positive they do have."
"My husband and I came to this campground for a quick weekend getaway with our dogs. We had a great time! The campground was very well taken care of."
"Fishing lake is on the smaller side, but people were catching fish. Definitely in our top 5 New Jersey Campgrounds."
from $64 - $78 / night
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GuideI grew up in Long Beach. If you’re looking for a spot to camp so you can surf, this is perfect! It’s basically a parking lot, but it’s steps away from some of the greatest waves on the east coast. Showers are clean, there’s a dog park nearby, and the island is very bikable to get around.
benefits: allows dogs childrens playground beach programs like movie nights throughout the summer
LegendWashington Crossing Historic Park, straddling Pennsylvania and New Jersey along the Delaware River, is one of those rare places where you can literally camp in history. The Pennsylvania side is all about historic buildings, museums and picnic spots, while the New Jersey side (Washington Crossing State Park) offers organized group tent camping. This isn’t the place for a cushy RV getaway or individual tenters looking to sneak in for the night, but rather a structured, group-style camping steeped in Revolutionary War atmosphere. First impressions? More Boy Scout jamboree than weekend getaway, but if you’re here for camaraderie and heritage, you’ve hit the mark.
Facilities are deliberately minimal. On the Pennsylvania side, camping is limited to a handful of Scout-designated sites with portable toilets, no running water and zero frills. Across the river in New Jersey, the official group camping area provides open tent-only sites with no hookups, no pets and strict quiet hours. Think old-school camping: fire rings, pit toilets and a heavy dose of ‘leave no trace’ ethos. Reservations are required, permits are non-negotiable and the max stay tops out at 14 nights. What you do get is a wide, peaceful forest setting with plenty of space for tents, youth groups or scout troops along with the kind of simplicity that makes you feel like you’ve stepped back in time.
Beyond the tent pads, the surrounding parks are rich with history and outdoor options. On the Pennsylvania side, you’ll find the visitor center, historic McConkey’s Ferry Inn, Bowman’s Hill Tower, and interpretive programs that bring the Revolutionary War era to life. Picnic areas and a boat launch offer ways to enjoy the Delaware River. In New Jersey, miles of wooded trails lead you through rolling hills and historic landscapes, perfect for hiking and birdwatching. It’s a spot where history buffs, scouts and nature seekers can all find common ground.
Insider Tips? Here’s a handful: (1) The best group sites are the ones tucked furthest from the trailhead as (surprise, surprise) they’re quieter and offer more privacy; (2) Stock up before arriving, as there are no supply stores inside the park, so head on over to nearby Weis Markets in Langhorne or ShopRite in Fairless Hills, both of which are on the PA-side; (3) Be sure to bring all your own water as none is available onsite; (4) Kayakers should launch from the Pennsylvania side’s boat access for an iconic paddle on the Delaware River; (5) Visit the park’s historic reenactments, especially the Christmas Day Crossing event as it’s easily the most memorable history lesson you’ll ever get outdoors; and (6) When you’re done camping, fuel up at It’s Nutts Restaurant on the Jersey side in Titusville for classic diner-style comfort food or Francisco’s on the River for Italian fare with Delaware River views.
Happy Camping!
GuideMy family and I stayed at Tip Tam this weekend. The owners and staff were very friendly and accommodating. The camp store was great also. As it is very early in the season the pools were not yet open but appear to be very nice. There are alot of activities with in the campground as well that were impressive. Just from walking around I saw the two pools, an RC track, bocci, shuffle and board. They did have organized activities set up as well. There is also a pavillion in the middile of the campground with a Ms Pacman/Galaga classic arcard game, as well as a small library and soda machine. AT&T cell service was good. Te site are very close together, and you can hear your neighbors easily. There is not currently a dog park, but the owner told me that they were going to be constructing one in the future. There is a Monmouth County dog park under five minutes away that is huge. There are many close by food options and stores as well.
ScoutVery nice family oriented, places the beach, which is great except for the birds watch out they come at you. They have a dog park basketball courts playground swimming just about everything.
TravelerMy husband and I came to this campground for a quick weekend getaway with our dogs. We had a great time!
The campground was very well taken care of. The sites had good tree coverage and we didn’t feel like we were right on top of the next site. There was tons of stuff to do. There’s a pond to fish, trails to walk/bike, basketball, sand volleyball, the list goes on and on. Both nights we were there, there were events being put on (a tractor ride, kickball, and a pool movie night). There was also a dog park which was very nice!
The staff was extremely kind and helpful and took great care of us!
Overall I highly recommend this campground, very family friendly. We’ll be going back!
ScoutThis was our first trip to Butterfly and we will be back! Large playground and lots of activities for the kids. Site was large, and had trees and shrubs separating the sites (we had stayed on 105A). Friendly staff and clean bathrooms. Fishing lake is on the smaller side, but people were catching fish. Definitely in our top 5 New Jersey Campgrounds.
RangerThe park itself is lovely and close to some other green areas. The nice thing about this campsite is that it’s so close to NYC. The bad thing about this campsite is that it’s so close to NYC. If you live in NYC this is a good, cheap, super quick escape accessible by public transport. If you’re visiting the area I’d recommend staying in Manhattan/Queens in an AirBNB for the full NYC experience or heading to Long Island, Pennsylvania, “Upstate” New York, or New Jersey for a better nature camping experience. For what it is, this site is a nice green little oasis. It’s National Park Service land and they try really hard to keep things clean and working well with so much traffic. Bring earplus for the airport traffic and the noisy neighbors. Tent sites are pretty and wooded, but there is also a TON of concrete from an old WW2 airfield.
LegendWe 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.
LegendWe 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.
Campgrounds near Highlands, New Jersey offer diverse experiences from wooded settings to coastal access, with many accommodating four-legged companions. These dog friendly campgrounds near Highlands typically operate from April through October, with some extending into November. Temperatures in the region average 70-85°F in summer with occasional high humidity, making swimming pools and water access popular amenities.
Hiking diverse trails: Cheesequake State Park features trails ranging from easy to moderate with lookout locations. A reviewer notes, "The 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. The elevation of the trails is not too strenuous."
Archery practice: Turkey Swamp Park offers archery facilities where campers can practice their skills. As one visitor mentioned, "Bring your bow and shoot at the hay barrels. Ice skate on the lake in the winter or just enjoy a gorgeous walk in the woods."
Winter camping options: Several campgrounds in the region remain open during cooler months. A camper at Allaire State Park reported, "We found this campground one night when we were in NJ. It ended up snowing that night. The bathrooms were clean and warm. There is a lot to do in the area."
Water recreation: Multiple parks feature lakes and ponds for boating and fishing. A Turkey Swamp visitor shared, "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."
Privacy between sites: Butterfly Camping Resort offers sites with natural barriers. A camper observed, "The sites are cozy and each lined with natural shrubbery and in some cases fencing. They're well maintained and raked between campers."
Wooded camping experience: Shade and forest setting create a more secluded feel at certain campgrounds. One camper at Turkey Swamp Park noted, "Sites are in the woods and widely spaced apart to give you privacy and the feeling of being out in the Forrest."
Clean facilities: Many campgrounds maintain their restrooms and shower areas well. A visitor to Butterfly Camping Resort wrote, "This was our first trip to Butterfly and we will be back! Large playground and lots of activities for the kids. Site was large, and had trees and shrubs separating the sites. Friendly staff and clean bathrooms."
Pet-friendly amenities: Dog parks and dedicated pet areas appear at several locations. One camper mentioned, "There was also a dog park which was very nice!" when describing Butterfly Camping Resort's facilities.
Noise considerations: Some campgrounds experience road noise that might affect light sleepers. A Cheesequake State Park visitor reported, "Located between two busy roads. Stayed in the family campground in a travel trailer. Used a fan in the trailer to block out the sound of traffic with the exception of some sports cars/motorcycles speeding loudly."
Tick awareness: Wooded areas may have ticks, particularly in warmer months. A camper at Turkey Swamp Park warned, "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."
Ground conditions: Several campgrounds have sandy or dirt sites rather than grass. One Butterfly Camping Resort visitor noted, "The site was sandy. The whole place is sandy. This is messy, especially after a bit of rain, and makes it a constant challenge to keep the sand out of the RV."
Urban proximity: While convenient for city access, some campgrounds reflect their urban setting. A camper described Cheesequake State Park as "Urban Camping in crazy town. The physical facilities are in good condition and are well maintained. The park is very big and is located inside an urban area."
Playgrounds and activities: Tip Tam Camping Resort offers multiple recreation options. A visitor shared, "The place was fun. They have peddle cars and playgrounds. They deliver wood to your site by the truck full! Nice little store and staff are all friendly."
Bug-free seasons: Consider timing visits to avoid peak insect periods. One family reported at Turkey Swamp Park, "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!"
Beginner-friendly options: First-time campers might prefer sites with more amenities. A Cheesequake State Park visitor advised, "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."
Early risers note: Some campgrounds become active very early. A Tip Tam visitor cautioned, "The only downside I saw was people here are up way too early. 7am place was already loud. 7:45am a propane truck pulled in to fill the propane and was extremely loud. Don't expect to sleep past 7:30am."
City access options: Liberty Harbor RV Park provides convenient transportation to New York City. A visitor noted, "The location is very convenient. 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."
Water hose preparation: Hookup positioning may require extra equipment. A Turkey Swamp Park visitor advised, "Nice, remote, private. Some sites unlevel. Bring a LONG water hose."
Limited site separation: RV sites at some parks offer minimal privacy. One Liberty Harbor visitor observed, "Pick one of the larger end row sites to get a little extra elbow room. If it's packed, your neighbor will be within inches of your rig."
Utility placement challenges: Some RV sites have awkwardly positioned hookups. A visitor to Turkey Swamp Park commented, "All spaces are level concrete with full hookups and attached concrete patio. Power is at the far back & sewage is in the middle. A longer camper will be parked over the sewage connection."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Highlands, NJ?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Highlands, NJ is Cheesequake State Park Campground with a 3.7-star rating from 20 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Highlands, NJ?
TheDyrt.com has all 29 dog-friendly camping locations near Highlands, NJ, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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