175 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Campsites surrounding Hopatcong, New Jersey provide a mix of established campgrounds, state forest options, and lakeside settings throughout northwestern New Jersey. Within 30 miles of Hopatcong, several camping areas accommodate diverse preferences, including Panther Lake Camping Resort in Andover and Mahlon Dickerson Reservation in Jefferson Township. These mixed-use campgrounds offer tent and RV sites along with cabin rentals. Many properties feature lake access or forest settings, typical of the region's Appalachian foothills landscape. The state forests and camping resorts in the area generally accommodate both primitive camping and full-hookup RV options.
Seasonal considerations strongly impact camping availability, with most campgrounds operating April through October. "We went early September and it was lovely. The staff were very friendly and helpful," noted one visitor at Panther Lake. Winter camping is limited primarily to Stokes State Forest, which remains open year-round, while most other facilities close for winter. Road access generally requires no special vehicles, though some tent-only areas may involve short walks from parking areas. Cell service varies significantly across the region, with several reviewers mentioning poor connectivity at multiple locations. Many campgrounds require reservations, especially for weekend stays during summer months when the area becomes particularly busy with visitors seeking respite from nearby urban centers.
Water features represent key attractions at campgrounds in the Hopatcong area, with several properties built around lakes or ponds. A camper remarked that "The Lake is the gem of the campground with a really nice beach, good for fishing and kayaking." Campground experiences vary widely between weekdays and weekends, with many reviews noting peaceful midweek stays contrasted with busy, sometimes noisy weekend environments. Panther Lake, Great Divide Campground, and other mixed-use facilities offer organized activities and amenities like swimming pools, while state forest campgrounds provide more rustic experiences focused on natural surroundings. Bathroom and shower facilities receive mixed reviews across campgrounds, with some visitors commenting on cleanliness issues during busy periods. Most camping options provide fire rings and picnic tables as standard amenities, though alcohol policies differ between private campgrounds and state-managed properties.
"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."
"There is a very nice network of trails in the reservation, most if not all were leashed dog friendly."
"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 $$"
"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."
"It was a solid choice: private but close to the toilet and water. Some sites located around the opposite side of the ring back up to a babbling brook. The rushing water will soothe you to sleep."
"We stayed at the campsite at Lake Ocquittunk Area. Campsite was very spacious and had a platform where we were able to fit two tents. There was plenty of space on the site for more tents."
from $7 - $55 / night
Check Availability"We booked a campsite at the far end of the loop by the lake, which looked to be the right spot for some privacy, but a longer walk to the bathroom and water spigot."
"The campsites are slightly separated from the lake (maybe 8 min walk to lake) but that also means you aren’t bothered by day guests. The lake is beautiful! Great for swimming and fishing."
"The bathroom/shower was only a few steps away which was convenient and clean."
"All the sites are set up nearby the office where people are all day should you ever need anything. The workers are super friendly and regularly make rounds of the grounds."
"Full bathrooms are located behind campsite #15 (clean flushing bathrooms, with motion-sensed lighting, showers, dishwashing sink), but easily accessible from campsites nearby."
"Bathrooms with flush toilets are conveniently located centrally every so often."
"Positives: sites are decent sized with fire pits and picnic tables. easy access to hiking, convenient to a beautiful vineyard, peaceful region, and the most amazing wolf preserve is right next to you. "
"They were knowledgeable about the surrounding towns, their campground, and basically everything nature related. This was our very first night camping in an RV (we were renters at the time)."
from $33 - $42 / night
Check Availability"Site A is the best for seclusion and a spot closer to the lake (also amazing sunsets)"
"There are dumpsters but no recycling (not sure if New Jersey segregates recycling after pickup). ATT had some reception but we forgot to check the Verizon phone. "
"Was a bit hard to locate the office to check in but finally found it. The camp site was spacious. The bathrooms were struggling with the plumbing but were fairly clean."
ScoutThis area seems to be devoid of campgrounds except for this one. It’s basically just a large parking lot with hook ups. Completely open, which is great for Starlink. Bathrooms were slightly above average; fairly clean and places to hang clothes for your shower. Has a laundry but be sure to bring quarters. It is about 100 yards from the interstate so you’ll get a lot of noise and diesel exhaust fumes.
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.
RangerWe booked a cabin at the last minute and were pleasantly surprised that the cabin had heat and electricity! It was very close to the awesome heated bathroom also! We were also able to catch a beautiful sunset! Great camp all around!
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 4th of July weekend, and this is one of the things I love about these sites...they had availability! Our site was very big, and was perfect with sone shade and also lots of sun!
RangerOur travel trailer and our friends' pop up both fit on this site with no problem. The only issue we had is that there is a bit of a ditch that turns to mud after a rain. We were off the beaten path so very little traffic. There was a bathroom with pit toilets down the street. Plenty of places to hike and fish also. We loved it here!
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.
ScoutAs far as experience it was good. The main issue was the campsite where we were was uneven and caused many of the sleeping arrangements that we had to be not level. This seems to be a specific issue to the group campsite number two as when we went inwards it seemed like everything else was much better.
GuideTwo night stay, large loud parties make it hard to enjoy but once most of them left it was nice to walk down to the river. Bath house with toilets and showers, not all lights working. No swimming access but boat access and trails for hiking.
Camping spots near Hopatcong, New Jersey are scattered throughout the wooded Skylands Region at elevations between 400-1,600 feet. The area's rolling terrain features numerous water bodies including Lake Hopatcong, the state's largest lake at 2,658 acres. Winter camping remains limited with average January temperatures around 25°F, though Stokes State Forest stays open year-round with unheated facilities.
Hiking the Appalachian Trail access points: Several campgrounds near Hopatcong connect to sections of the famous AT. At Stokes State Forest, "There are 21 marked trails that cover over 63 miles within the boundaries of Stokes State Forest. Twelve miles are part of the Appalachian Trail," notes a camper who recommends the Tillman Ravine trail.
Wolf preserve tours: Unique wildlife viewing opportunities exist minutes from camping areas. At Camp Taylor Campground, visitors can access the Lakota Wolf Preserve. One camper mentioned, "The wolf preserve at the same location was just amazing - we learned so much and could hear the wolves howl from the campsite." Tours leave twice daily on weekends.
Paddling multiple waterways: Lakes and rivers provide varied water activities. The Delaware River borders several parks, and lakes offer calmer waters. "The Lake is the gem of the campground with a really nice beach, good for fishing and kayaking," reports a visitor to Panther Lake. Boat rentals are available at many locations, with kayaks and paddleboats being most common.
Secluded tent platforms: Elevated camping spots keep tents dry and level. Mahlon Dickerson Reservation features these popular amenities. One camper noted, "They have these 12x12 platforms to put your tent on. This was pretty cool especially since some of the sites are all gravel with surrounding dirt." Another reviewer recommended, "Make sure to visit Headley overlook and hike the awesome trials that surround the campsites!"
Easy water access: Many campers appreciate shoreline camping with immediate water access. "Our campsite was located along the Delaware river with a short walk down to be able to launch our canoe and kayak," reports a visitor at Worthington State Forest. Swimming options range from natural lakes to maintained pool facilities at private campgrounds.
Clean shower facilities: Bathroom quality varies widely between locations. Swartswood State Park receives positive reviews for maintenance. "Clean bathrooms with flush toilets and showers," reports a recent visitor. At Stephens State Park, a camper noted, "Showers here are nice and free and clean, water runs continuously (no button to push), and you can adjust the temperature."
Black bear presence: All camping areas in northwestern New Jersey have active black bear populations. "Remember, this is bear country so proper food storage is a must. Bear lockers are not provided," warns a camper at Stokes State Forest. Another visitor reported a bear encounter: "Three black bears strolled by the campsite next to ours in the early morning."
Weekend vs. weekday experience: Crowding patterns affect the camping experience significantly. Great Divide Campground gets particularly busy on weekends. "We had two campers, a 28 ft tow behind and a 38 ft mobile home. We stayed at sites 62 & 63," noted a visitor who appreciated the spaciousness despite the weekend crowd. Midweek visits offer much quieter experiences at all locations.
Varying alcohol policies: Rules differ by location, particularly between state and private facilities. "There are multiple signs posted reading 'NO ALCOHOL ALLOWED IN CAMPGROUND'" noted a visitor to Swartswood State Park. In contrast, Camp Taylor and most private campgrounds permit alcohol, though excessive noise remains prohibited.
Kid-friendly water features: Look for campgrounds with swimming areas designed for children. Jenny Jump State Forest offers a more secluded experience. "We stayed at site T219. It was a solid choice: private but close to the toilet and water. Some sites located around the opposite side of the ring back up to a babbling brook." The rushing water provides natural white noise for better sleeping.
Playground proximity: Some campsites offer direct views of play areas. "This place was great, they allow dogs and had hiking trails with beautiful views you could enjoy right from your campground," notes a Jenny Jump visitor. At Worthington State Forest, a family noted, "These two sites were next to the shower house and playground. The facilities were clean, stocked, and warm."
Cabin alternatives: For families new to camping or during shoulder seasons, cabins provide comfort. Stokes State Forest cabins include basic amenities. "The cabins are reasonably priced and well-appointed, if a bit rustic. The interior features are just what you'd expect for getting away for the weekend," explains a fall visitor who adds, "The mattresses are vinyl covered, so you can wipe them down with your own sanitizing wipes."
Limited full-hookup options: RV sites with complete services are scarce in state parks. "There are only a handful of full hook up sites surrounded by seasonal cottages," notes a Panther Lake visitor. Some campgrounds have added infrastructure recently, as one camper at Mahlon Dickerson noted: "Website lists water hook ups at long distances but they have hose reels to help with that."
Navigating narrow access roads: Larger rigs face challenges at several locations. Stephens State Park has particularly tight access. "The campground as a whole and the individual sites are kind of tricky for bigger rigs. We are in a 26ft class c and we squeezed through... but I can imagine a big class A or 5th wheel having a tough time," reports an RVer who explored but didn't stay.
Off-season considerations: Some RV sites remain accessible outside peak season. "We went in early September and it was lovely," mentioned a visitor to Panther Lake Camping Resort. At Great Divide Campground, an October visitor noted, "This was our second visit to the campground and the first weekend they opened to RVs after Covid. No amenities were open but we had a great time fishing in the lake."
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Hopatcong, NJ?
According to TheDyrt.com, Hopatcong, NJ offers a wide range of camping options, with 175 campgrounds and RV parks near Hopatcong, NJ and 4 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Hopatcong, NJ?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Hopatcong, NJ is Mahlon Dickerson Reservation with a 4.6-star rating from 19 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Hopatcong, NJ?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 4 free dispersed camping spots near Hopatcong, NJ.
What parks are near Hopatcong, NJ?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 10 parks near Hopatcong, NJ that allow camping, notably Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area and Gateway National Recreation Area.
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