Within an hour's drive of Jersey City, wilderness camping opportunities range from secluded forest settings to reservoir-adjacent sites with water views. The region sits at the intersection of the Appalachian Mountain range and coastal plains, creating diverse terrain options from flat lakeshores to more challenging elevated sites. Several campgrounds remain open year-round with cabins offering heating options, while tent camping experiences are typically available from April through late October.
What to do
Hiking diverse trails: Round Valley State Park Campground offers wilderness camping with hiking trails ranging from 3 to 6 miles to reach campsites. A reviewer noted, "It's a pretty strenuous hike, but you'll be rewarded for the effort! If you get a site on the water, you can take a boat across to to your site."
Water recreation activities: Spruce Run Recreation Area provides multiple water activities at its reservoir. "You can bring a camper, tent, or use one of the cabins. Many sites have a lovely water view of the reservoir. Several playgrounds, boat launches, and life guarded swimming area," shares one camper.
Wildlife observation: Watch for local fauna at multiple parks. At Turkey Swamp Park, one visitor mentioned "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!" Note that other parks like Mahlon Dickerson have bear warnings posted.
What campers like
Peaceful water views: Many campers highlight the tranquil settings near water. At Round Valley State Park Campground, a reviewer praised the "Really nice spot to camp very peaceful and quit. Gorgeous sunset, beautiful views. Really helpful people at the office."
Privacy between sites: Stokes State Forest offers well-spaced campsites. "We enjoyed a great weekend at Stokes State Forest. 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."
Convenient amenities: Turkey Swamp Park provides amenities that enhance comfort without sacrificing the outdoor experience. A camper reported, "The campground is clean, paved nicely and well run. Our site is easily the nicest- all the way in the back with only one neighbor. It is so quiet here."
What you should know
Varying bathroom conditions: Bathroom cleanliness varies widely between campgrounds. A Spruce Run visitor warned, "The bathrooms were absolutely disgusting. I thought with COVID they were cleaning them more, but for the entire weekend, someone's #2 remained all over the toilet, floor, and corner wall."
Wildlife concerns: Ticks can be an issue at some sites. One camper at Turkey Swamp Park reported, "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."
Noise levels: Highway noise impacts some campgrounds. At Spruce Run, "You can hear 78, especially at night once the campground settles down." Other campgrounds like Allaire State Park have similar issues: "Sites are a little too close together. Noisy with highway traffic. Well maintained though."
Tips for camping with families
Boating options for kids: Multiple campgrounds offer family-friendly water activities. Turkey Swamp Park provides "Archery, boating, fishing, and hiking. Boat rental rates are acceptable and there are four different styles to choose from."
Activity scheduling: Great Divide Campground plans regular entertainment for younger campers. "Lots of weekend activities. Nice small lake with boats to use. Nice small beach," reports one visitor. Another adds, "They had live music which was actually really good!!! A reggae band."
Weather preparation: Spring camping requires extra planning. At Stokes State Forest, one family encountered "a light rain that turned into a thunderstorm with hail and sleet! It was certainly an adventure." Booking cabins during uncertain weather periods provides a reliable backup.
Tips from RVers
Site selection advice: For RVs, choose sites carefully as many aren't fully optimized. At Spruce Run Recreation Area, "If bringing your RV, the safest bet is to reserve a spot with no shade as the other spots often times have very low hanging tree limbs."
Hookup availability: Water and electric hookups vary significantly. An RVer at Spruce Run noted, "This review would be 5 stars if only they would knock the present facilities down and rebuild really nice ones, that were kept clean. Also if all the sites had Water & electric hook ups."
Hose length preparation: At Mahlon Dickerson Reservation, water connections may require extra equipment. "Website lists water hook ups at long distances but they have hose reels to help with that. Our site (15) said 75' however the 50' hose reel made it to our rv connection."
