Rustic cabins and furnished cabin accommodations are available at several campgrounds within an hour's drive of Madison, New Jersey. Mahlon Dickerson Reservation and Panther Lake Camping Resort offer cabin options with varying amenities. Stokes State Forest provides well-appointed cabins equipped with bunk beds, tables, wood stoves, hot/cold water, electric stoves with ovens, refrigerators, and toilets. Most cabins include basic furnishings like picnic tables, fire rings, and lantern hooks. "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," noted one visitor who stayed in a Stokes State Forest cabin.
KOA-style cabins and more rustic state park shelters provide options for different comfort levels. Jenny Jump State Forest offers cabin-like shelters with four walls, locking doors and windows, four beds with two bunks, wood burning stoves, and covered porches. Camp Taylor Campground provides cabin rentals with electric hookups in a forested setting. Spruce Run Recreation Area features shelters with wood stoves, tables with benches, and bunkbeds. According to one camper, "We stayed in the 'Shelter' which was a nice little cabin with a wood stove, table with benches and two bunkbeds. There was a front porch with awning, fire ring and picnic table."
Most cabin facilities require guests to bring their own bedding, pillows, and toiletries. Cooking equipment varies significantly between locations - some offer full kitchen setups with refrigerators and stoves while others provide only outdoor fire rings. Pet policies differ by location; Mahlon Dickerson Reservation and Camp Taylor allow pets in cabins, while others like Spruce Run Recreation Area prohibit pets. Firewood is typically available for purchase at campground offices or from nearby vendors. Many cabins feature vinyl-covered mattresses that can be sanitized between guests. Winter visitors should plan to bring sufficient firewood for heating, as one reviewer noted: "You need that wood stove to heat up the cabin. I went through two bundles of wood in one night."
"There are level padded sites with electric and water (in warmer months). Sites were spaced out with beautiful woods in the background. Hiking trail goes right through the campground."
"Fire pit with grill and picnic table."
"Fire rings and picnic tables provided at each site and cabin. Lots of family activities on the weekend. Enjoyed the pool and hot tub, Hiking trails and paved roads to ride bike."
"Fun camping place to books groups. Very kid and pet friendly, lake to fish and kayak on, lots of activities, great pool and awesome hot tub."
"Not only is it in a beautiful setting, but the sites have a nice amount of space and everything is so clean. The pool was great and the laundry room was immaculate."
"The campgrounds were very big and spread out and the campsites have their own space so you can enjoy quiet at night. Each site had a water spout and electric plug in."
$529 - $1200 / night
"The article also mentions the benefits of camping on Governor Island, such as feeling close to nature, relaxing and enjoying a peaceful space, away from the noise of the city."
"The "shelter" is what we would describe as a "cabin"; four walls, a roof, locking door, locking windows, large picture frame front window, four beds(two bunks), a wood burning stove, and a porch."
"If you want, they have the option of renting a small cabin/shelter that you can stay in if you are not into tent camping."
"We stayed in the "Shelter" which was a nice little cabin with a wood stove, table w/benches and two bunkbeds (one of which was nestled behind a partition)."
"This was our second visit to the sleepy NJ park and campground and our first time renting a shelter along with a campsite to accommodate different levels of camping comfort."
$7 - $55 / night
"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."
"No pets or alcohol allowed. The campground has a pit toilet and a well. Each large campsite has a picnic table, fire pit, and lantern hook. Some sites also have a tent platform."
$30 / night
"You have a clear view of the Narrow bridge and at night the city lights light up your surroundings light a nigh light. The camp here has 7 campsites here and it fill up really fast."
"this place is awesome when it comes to finding an affordable place to stay while in NY, this camp ground isnt your usual forest camp sites, however there are some beautiful views, and it is located in"
"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."
"This campsite, CS52, was in the woods and we were able to get the illusion of privacy by parking the cars along the road as a makeshift wall and pitching our tents beside them, facing inward."
$42 - $79 / night
"Spacious sites but lacks privacy. All sites have electric and water. Cabin rentals available. Hiking and biking galore. Beautiful lake for canoeing and fishing. Archery range available."
"General: Smallish (64-site) county park campground. There are also three cabins. As soon as you turn off the main road to the park, all roads are dirt, which was a bit surprising."
RangerI've stayed in the cabins here a couple times. Love the area lots to do hiking fishing nature walks, something for everyone. Cabins are no frills yet very nice no electricity they are equipi with 4 bunks a LG picnic table and a wood stove for heat. Also a nice porch fire ring and a charcoal grill
TravelerClean bathrooms, friendly staff. Spacious sites but lacks privacy. All sites have electric and water. Cabin rentals available. Hiking and biking galore. Beautiful lake for canoeing and fishing. Archery range available. Playground for kids.
TravelerThey have rustic cabins. Theae do not have plumbing or heat. It is a step up from cabin camping. They also have a beach behind it.
RangerRented a cabin in November (#009) and again in December (#008) of 2021. I favored Cabin 8, the kitchen and bathroom were separated from the main room.
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. THe main room has a bunk bed and two twins, a table with benches, two Adirondack chairs, a wood stove set into a fireplace (some cabins still feature a fireplace only, but these two did not), hot/cold water, electric stove with oven, refrigerator, toilet, bathroom sink, mirror, plenty of hooks to hang jackets and coats, storage cabinets in the kitchen area, overhead lighting, wall outlets, and screened windows.
The doors feature deadbolt locks - so be sure to always take the key or set the lock to be unlocked all the time.
The mattresses are vinyl covered, so you can wipe them down with your own sanitizing wipes. There was hand sanitizer in each cabin as well.
Outside is a picnic table, fire ring, and grill. There are hooks near the door to hang a lantern.
The park office is not nearby, about 2(?) miles away. They sell wood, and there are a few road stands near the campground, but that wood is wet. You'll need to find some birch to get your fire going if, like me, you didn't buy wood on the way (plenty of signs for wood as you approach the park office) and the office was closed upon arrival. I bought wood from a house across the street from the entrance to the cabins and it was damp, but in November, I wasn't complaining, it took awhile but I got a nice blaze going. You need that wood stove to heat up the cabin. Turning on the oven is a help, but not a good solution. The wood stove definitely heats the room up nicely. I went through two bundles of wood in one night, and could have used more in the morning. (There's plenty of fallen wood around but it was damp/raining both times I visited). The second time I took six bundles of wood and used them all from Friday to Sunday morning, and 7 would've have been better.
The trails nearby are varied, read the maps (especially NY NJ Trail Conference Maps) to get an idea of difficulty/elevation. We went in November when there was a light rain that turned into a thunderstorm with hail and sleet! It was certainly an adventure. The area was incredibly peaceful in December with many cabin reservations abandoned due to rain in the forecast. It did rain, but was still a great trip. The photos of the tent sites were taken in December.
RangerThis is the first time we decided to forgo tent camping and reserve a shelter at a state park. We had a much better experience than we were expecting! The "shelter" is what we would describe as a "cabin"; four walls, a roof, locking door, locking windows, large picture frame front window, four beds(two bunks), a wood burning stove, and a porch. Even compared to our glamping this was luxury!!
There are eight shelters at Jenny Jump State Park. Shelter 2 is a minute walk from the restroom with sink/shower and water. Shelters 7 & 8 are even closer while 4 & 5 are the furthest, may an extra 5 minutes walk? The dead end means there isn't too much traffic, though the road is right there so you can wave to the other campers heading to the restroom or for hikes. There is a trail head at one of the parking lots. During the day the parking lots filled up and there was some overflow parking for day-hikers across the road. We got to see their dogs, so that was a bonus for us! Otherwise, this shelter is not situated too close to the other shelters and feels very private.
We brought battery-powered lights since there is no electricity. There were coat hooks and a built-in shelf for our snacks, games, and other supplies. There was a picnic table and benches inside. We brought camping chairs for relaxing on the porch. We spent most of our time on the porch; cooking, chatting, and crafting while enjoying the sunshine and breeze.
Oh, this shelter is wheelchair accessible. Some of the others are not.
GuideIts our first stop of many and we wanted to shake out any glitches with our new camper at a public campground. The staff are very helpful and accommodateing. This campground although dated offers all the necessary comforts-Wifi, hot showers, electric etc. Currently, there are various updates occurring: additional sites, new tiny cabins, WIFI and electric are also being modernized. We opted to relocate to a site with less construction occurring and although you can still hear back hoes etc-our view has much improved. We wish there was easier access to bike and hike trails so we didn't have to drive to a location but overall a comfortable and positive experience.
LegendGeneral: Smallish (64-site) county park campground. There are also three cabins. As soon as you turn off the main road to the park, all roads are dirt, which was a bit surprising. They were well-maintained and in dry weather, not a problem, but probably not if it was rainy. The campground is in five loops with the bathhouse located in the D Loop.
Site Quality: Sites in Loops B-E all have pull-thru driveways. Sites are all level, very generous in size, and reasonably spaced apart for privacy. A lantern hook, picnic table, and fire ring complete each site. As mentioned, all roads and camper pads are dirt. There are some ADA sites but the only thing distinguishing them from others is their proximity to the bathroom.
Bath/Shower House: Very clean. Soap and paper towels are provided. The only thing missing were hooks or shelves for toiletries but there was a large bench that could be used. Since it is located in the D Loop it would have been helpful to have pathways leading from the other loops. Did not use the shower so cannot comment.
Activities/Amenities: There is a lake with a boat dock and a small boardwalk. Kayaking/Canoeing, fishing, and swimming. In the summer, canoe, kayak, paddle boats, and row boats are available for rental. Several short (longest one is 2.5 miles) hiking trails that are fairly well-marked but can be a bit confusing at times. Some sections of the trails were muddy due to swamps and bogs but passable. There is also a fitness trail. There is an archery range and a council ring (campfire). There is a dump station and laundry facility with brand-new washers and dryers (however, you need to pay using an app on your phone). The office is open until 9 pm and sells ice, firewood, and bait. There are age-appropriate playgrounds both in the campground and by the office.
There are not a lot of camping opportunities in NJ, and this was a nice one. The campground was only about 20% occupied when we were there at the end of April, so our stay was a quiet one.
ScoutThis place is amazing! everything you could want, from tent and RV camping to cabin rentals. They also have a pool and playground. some of my favorite parts of this park are a good 100’ rack wall perfect for climbing, great fishing, trails for miles that even connects to the AT, and when scheduled they open the dam up stream for som world class whitewater rafting.
As for some things that aren’t listed. this is no alcohol permitted in the park due to it being a state park, however that all depends on how open you are about it and the Park rangers. Cell phone service is limited last time I was up there in 2012 only people with Verizon Wireless had any reception. Also there is no WiFi. No hookups or camp store.
GuideStayed 2 nights and it was really nice. Camping for summer is pretty limited to Sawmill Lake, as the other locations are for groups or winter camping. Camps are secluded from each other and most if not all have an elevated space to put tents or chairs. Each place comes with a lamp hang, a fire pit, and a picnic table. Bathrooms are spaced out. No running water except for pump founded outside of the bathrooms. Toilets are pump flushed. Showers are only located INSIDE High Point State Park, not throughout the campsites, but entry is free for campers. One hiking trail is accessible in Sawmill campground, 3 others are accessible on the road outside of the campground and the rest are located inside the park. When you arrive you have to check in with the park office for your campsite tag. Hours are 8-4. Park officials come through the campsites pretty regularly, a few times a day which is nice. Areas are clean and well maintained.
Located primarily in Sussex County, cabin camping near Madison, New Jersey offers diverse accommodations within forested state parks and private campgrounds. The region features elevations ranging from 400 to 1,800 feet, creating varied landscapes from lake shores to mountain ridges. Winter temperatures often drop below freezing, making seasonal preparation essential for cold-weather cabin stays.
Hiking accessible trails: Jenny Jump State Forest offers multiple trail options directly from the camping area. "There are trails with beautiful views you could enjoy right from your campground. It's also close to other local hikes like Mt. Tammany," notes a camper at Jenny Jump State Forest.
Wolf preserve tours: Camp Taylor Campground provides discounted access to a unique wildlife experience. "The Lakota Wolf Preserve is located on the camp and offers discounted tours for campers. We can hear them howl in the distance by the fire," shares a visitor to Camp Taylor Campground.
Water activities: Several parks maintain lakes for summer recreation. At Swartswood State Park, "The lake is beautiful! Great for swimming and fishing. There are several trail hikes that you can do from the campsite. The longest is 3 miles but you can connect between each trail to make a longer hike."
Private woodland settings: Sites at Mahlon Dickerson Reservation provide seclusion despite proximity to urban areas. "This county park has large, wooded campsites with electric and water. It's beautiful and quiet, and close to beautiful hiking trails, lakes, and other outdoor recreation opportunities. And yet it's only about a 15 minute drive to a large mall," according to a review of Mahlon Dickerson Reservation.
Off-season tranquility: For those seeking quieter cabin stays, visiting during shoulder seasons offers advantages. One Spruce Run camper noted, "Stayed here 2 nights in May, Friday-Sunday. There were a decent amount of people on Friday, but significantly more on Saturday. A duck visited us every morning."
Family-friendly amenities: Great Divide Campground maintains facilities that appeal to multi-generational groups. "This campground is lovely. Very wooded. Some sites are more private than others but all have a wooded and private feel. It's GREAT for kids. A nice playground with tons of kids running all over," reports a visitor to Great Divide Campground.
Bear precautions: Proper food storage is mandatory in cabin areas. A Stokes State Forest camper warns, "Remember, this is bear country so proper food storage is a must. Bear lockers are not provided. The area also has ticks and rattlesnakes."
Bathroom facilities vary: Quality and maintenance differ significantly between locations. At Panther Lake Camping Resort, one visitor reported, "Probably the worst shower ever. The lights are timed. The water is a button. The space is small as hell."
Seasonal availability: Most cabin rentals operate on restricted schedules. For example, Great Divide Campground operates from "May 1 - Oct 14," while Spruce Run Recreation Area is available from "April 1 to October 31," though some locations like Stokes State Forest offer year-round options.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular cabin campsite near Madison, NJ?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular cabin campground near Madison, NJ is Mahlon Dickerson Reservation with a 4.7-star rating from 18 reviews.
What is the best site to find cabin camping near Madison, NJ?
TheDyrt.com has all 58 cabin camping locations near Madison, NJ, with real photos and reviews from campers.
Keep Exploring
