Best Campgrounds near Jersey City, NJ
Camping options within reach of Jersey City, New Jersey range from urban RV parks to more traditional state park campgrounds. Liberty Harbor RV Park, located directly in Jersey City, offers 90 sites with basic amenities and serves primarily as a convenient base for exploring Manhattan, with ferry and train access just minutes away. As one camper noted, "Basically a parking lot, but the location can't be beat. Two ferries that run to Manhattan. Path train is a 12 minute walk away." More natural settings can be found at Cheesequake State Park (25 miles south) and Sandy Hook in Gateway National Recreation Area (18 miles southeast), where both tent and RV camping are available with varying levels of hookups and amenities.
Most campgrounds in the region operate seasonally, typically from April through October, with Cheesequake State Park specifically open April 1 to October 31. Advance reservations are strongly recommended, especially for summer weekends when sites fill quickly. Weather conditions vary significantly by season, with humid summers reaching into the 90s and winters that can drop below freezing. Highway noise affects some campgrounds, particularly those near major routes like the Garden State Parkway. Campers at Cheesequake have reported: "While the campsite is fairly well protected from highway noise, you're still going to hear it at least a little." Cell service is generally reliable throughout the region, though some more remote areas may have spotty coverage.
Visitors frequently mention the contrast between urban-adjacent and more natural camping experiences. At Liberty Harbor, proximity to urban attractions comes at the expense of natural surroundings, with sites placed close together in a utilitarian setting. "If it's packed, your neighbor will be within inches of your rig," notes one RVer. State parks like Cheesequake offer more traditional camping with "fully shaded sites" and "small forested areas" between neighbors. Wildlife encounters are limited near the city but increase at parks farther from urban centers. Facilities vary widely, from the basic but functional amenities at Liberty Harbor to more comprehensive offerings at state parks, which typically include showers, restrooms, and recreational facilities like swimming areas and hiking trails.