Best Campgrounds near Little Falls, NJ
The Little Falls area in northern New Jersey provides camping access within a region characterized by both developed facilities and natural settings. Campgrounds within driving distance include Mahlon Dickerson Reservation in Jefferson, offering tent sites, RV hookups, and cabins with picnic tables and fire rings. Camp Glen Gray, located approximately 15 miles northwest of Little Falls, provides tent camping and cabin accommodations in a wooded environment. Most locations in this region fall within the New Jersey Highlands, offering a mix of forest and lake settings that contrast with the nearby urban development.
Several campgrounds in this region maintain seasonal operations, typically from April through October, with some offering extended seasons depending on weather conditions. Campgaw Mountain Reservation requires permits for camping and offers free sites with limited amenities including toilets and water hookups. Most developed campgrounds provide electric hookups, drinking water, and toilet facilities, while primitive sites have minimal infrastructure. Many locations enforce quiet hours strictly, with regulations against alcohol consumption common throughout state park properties. A visitor to Mahlon Dickerson Reservation described it as "a perfect place to spend a few nights or a couple of weeks" with "paved and mostly level" campsites that are "wooded and large."
Water access represents a significant draw for campers in the region, with several campgrounds offering lake or riverside settings. Sites at Panther Lake Camping Resort provide both tent and RV accommodations with amenities including electric hookups, sanitary dump stations, and showers. The Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, approximately 30 miles west of Little Falls, features boat-in campsites along the river that provide more primitive experiences. Campers consistently mention the contrast between more developed facilities and rustic options. As one reviewer of a riverside site noted, "Nightfall is great. Once the darkness sets in you easily forget your closeness to civilization. No traffic noise, usually there are no other campers close by, which allows you to just sit and enjoy the sounds of the river and the wildlife around you."