Liberty Harbor RV Park provides the closest RV camping option to New York City that allows pets. Located in Jersey City with views of the Statue of Liberty, this fenced facility offers water and electric hookups for RVs with pets. While primarily an RV park, a small area is available for tent camping. Pet-friendly campgrounds near Jersey City, NJ range from urban RV parks with full hookups to dog-friendly tent sites and cabin accommodations at state reservations. Security is tight throughout the park, creating a safe environment for walking dogs despite its urban setting. Other pet-friendly options within driving distance include Cheesequake State Park Campground, which welcomes pets at its campsites from April through October, and Mahlon Dickerson Reservation, which accepts pets at tent sites, RV spots, and cabin accommodations.
Sites at Liberty Harbor are closely spaced on a gravel parking lot, described by campers as functional rather than scenic. The location compensates for basic amenities, with easy access to Manhattan via nearby ferry and train options. Dogs must remain leashed throughout the camping areas. Nearby Cheesequake State Park offers pet-friendly hiking trails ranging from easy to moderate difficulty, though some trail markers may be inconsistent. For those willing to travel farther, Turkey Swamp Park and Round Valley State Park Campground also permit pets. Skyline RV Camp has moved from its original waterfront location to Noble Street in Brooklyn, no longer offering the advertised NYC skyline views. Most dog-friendly campgrounds near Jersey City enforce standard pet policies including proper waste disposal, noise control, and keeping pets attended at all times.
$145 - $180 / night
"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."
"Very plain & functional, no frills but right on the harbor & on the very edge of Jersey City, close to a ferry & the train that takes u across to New York City."
$200 / night
"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."
$130 / night
"A little intimidating driving in to a nondescript gate at the end of a narrow street but the overall experience exceeded expectation."
$85 - $120 / night
$21 - $24 / night
"Drive-in tent campgrounds. Adequate restroom facilities sprinkled amongst tent sites. Some campsites have raised platforms. All sites have picnic tables and fire ring with flip-top grill."
"The grounds are just steps away from Welch Lake, offering a lifeguard monitored sandy beach which is open during the summer season for swimming, fishing, and small boat craft further out."
"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."
"Police patrolled, and dog friendly."
$42 - $79 / 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!"
"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"
"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."
"Very close to everything."
"The crystal-clear water is home to huge lake trout and the forests are bursting with wildlife. The sunsets across the lake are to die for."
"Once you get to the campground trail it’s pretty easy going on asphalt surface."
$35 - $50 / night
"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"
TravelerBasicly 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. Jersey city has a lot of restaurants and bars walking distance. Wonderful state park, liberty park, a bike ride ride away. Our experience was very good.
They also have a clean laundry room on site.
RangerVery plain & functional, no frills but right on the harbor & on the very edge of Jersey City, close to a ferry & the train that takes u across to New York City. Shopping & restraunts are right next door. We brought scooters & had a great stay! Plus you can see the Statue of Liberty from there!
LegendOur 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. Very scenic with a small lake, a pond & surrounded by woods. This is also the most expensive campground on our trip at $96.11 a night.
Lots to do for families- they have kayaks for camper use. Horseshoes, tether ball, volleyball, a pool, a playground, a dog park. There's a swimming beach.
One strange thing is there's a lot of tent sites & they seemed popular. For the amount of tent/popup sites they only have 1 shower per loop. They are very clean & checked often, but they're used heavily during the weekend. I had better luck Sunday evening. A bench outside the bathroom would have been nice to sit & wait.
The rv sites were all full hookup on our loop.
We came in on a Friday & found out this campground ROCKS!!! They have live bands every Friday & Saturday night during the warm months. This might explain the higher rates. Party on!
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
LegendLovely campground, but maybe not the best for big rigs. We drove through here thinking we’d stay a night, but saw the “no pets” in the list of rules and didn’t stay. Later, when I was looking at the closeup of the picture of the campground map we took, I saw that some of the sites are designated as pet sites. Would have been nice to know that. Also, no alcohol allowed here.
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, and there were a few sites where we could have made it work, but I can imagine a big class A or 5th wheel having a tough time.
Showers here are nice and free and clean, water runs continuously (no button to push), and you can adjust the temperature. There’s a playground and volleyball court. 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.
Didn’t see any instructions for how to pay if you don’t have a reservation. Reserved sites were marked, so maybe you just pick an empty unreserved site and a ranger will come collect the fees- but I’m just guessing. We drove through at the end of October and only saw one camper there, and another that might have been the host.
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.
TravelerLocated 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. Water and electric hookups and a dump station. Convenient for hiking and exploring, it's also only a 20 minute drive to a large mall in Rockaway.
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.
Pet friendly camping near Jersey City, New Jersey offers practical options for urban campers. The area sits at sea level along the Hudson River with humid subtropical climate conditions, bringing hot summers and mild winters. Several campgrounds within driving distance accept pets with specific leash and waste disposal requirements.
Hiking with dogs: Cheesequake State Park Campground's trails range from easy to moderate. "The trails range from easy to moderate with quite a few lookout locations. The elevation of the trails is not too strenuous," notes one visitor on The Dyrt. The park is open April through October.
Archery practice: Turkey Swamp Park offers an on-site archery range for campers. "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," reports Dan W. The park maintains hay barrels for target practice.
Waterfront activities: Beaver Pond Campground at Harriman State Park sits near Welch Lake. "The grounds are just steps away from Welch Lake, offering a lifeguard monitored sandy beach which is open during the summer season for swimming, fishing, and small boat craft further out," explains Steve W. The lake is supervised by lifeguards during summer months.
Accessibility to NYC: Liberty Harbor RV Park provides direct transportation options to Manhattan. "The light rail is a block away, and the path train is about 8. We had some issues with our converter and they wanted to extort a 20% commission to allow our repair man in," mentions Joe R. The path train connects directly to the World Trade Center or 33rd Street areas.
Large, private sites: Mahlon Dickerson Reservation offers spacious camping areas. "The campsites are paved and mostly level. They are wooded and large. Water and electric hookups and a dump station," writes Jeff W. Sites include electrical and water connections with paved pads for easy setup.
Wilderness feel near urban areas: Round Valley State Park Campground requires effort to reach but rewards with solitude. "This is a great campground that is super private and quiet - great for getting out to enjoy the sights and sounds of nature. It's a pretty strenuous hike, but you'll be rewarded for the effort!" reports Agbi B. The campground is only accessible by hiking 3-6 miles or by boat.
Bear activity: Harriman State Park experiences regular wildlife encounters. "Welcome to Bear Mountain grumbles the park ranger as he sits in complete darkness! He is in his ranger hut, checking in the late evening arrivals to the campground... He offers us a highlighted map to our site, wishes us a good stay, and gives us the run down on bear activity in the area," recounts a camper. Proper food storage is essential.
Limited facilities at some sites: Round Valley State Park Campground offers primitive camping only. "You won't get much in the way of amenities, apart from a few random water pumps and some rocks piled in a circle that, um, I guess makes up a fire ring. While there are backwoods-style bathroom pits, these are very ill-managed," reports Stuart K. Campers should pack in all essentials.
Location changes: Skyline RV Camp has relocated from its original position. "Be advised that Skyline RV Camp has moved to: 50 Noble St, Brooklyn, NY 11222. The original property location at 2 Oak St was sold and is now private property," warns John T. The new location no longer offers waterfront views despite website photos.
Playground access: Beaver Pond Campground — Harriman State Park offers dedicated children's areas. "Camp amenities include: a moderately stocked store, public bath houses, a laundry facility, playground for the kids and camp-sinks with access to water," explains a reviewer. The campground is approximately 45 minutes from NYC.
Beginner-friendly options: Cheesequake State Park works well for new campers. "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. The best part is all the trails," shares Maggie A. The park's proximity to urban areas provides security for families new to camping.
Tick prevention: Some parks have significant tick populations. "I was so excited when we got here. The sites are spacious and it's really beautiful. But by the 2nd day I had 3 ticks on me. My dog had one and by the end my husband had 2," warns Laura Y. about Turkey Swamp Park. Bring appropriate repellent and perform regular tick checks.
Water hookup distances: Mahlon Dickerson Reservation has long water connections. "Very clean and quiet. 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," notes a camper. The campground provides hose reels to bridge the gap.
Toll avoidance: When driving RVs to Jersey City, route planning saves money. "Getting in and out of the city is an adventure. Stay right off the highway to avoid the $30 tunnel toll. Follow RV life pro and not Waze," advises Joe R. The Holland and Lincoln Tunnels charge substantial tolls for RVs.
Site selection strategy: At Liberty Harbor, end sites offer slightly more room. "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," suggests Keith and Tia S. Regular sites place RVs extremely close together, often within inches.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Jersey City, NJ?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Jersey City, NJ is Liberty Harbor RV Park with a 3.8-star rating from 16 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Jersey City, NJ?
TheDyrt.com has all 52 dog-friendly camping locations near Jersey City, NJ, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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