Leo C.
Scout
ScoutWinding Hills Park
Nice but dated
Nice campground, bathrooms are clean but dated, first come first serve for the sites.
Camping near Mahwah, NJ
134 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
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Camping near Mahwah, New Jersey ranges from primitive tent sites to RV spots and rustic cabins within accessible state parks and reservations. Harriman State Park, located just across the New York state line, offers multiple camping options including Beaver Pond Campground with tent platforms and trailer sites, and Sebago Cabin Camp with rustic cabin accommodations. Camp Glen Gray in nearby New Jersey provides tent sites, RV spots, cabins, and glamping facilities. Campgaw Mountain Reservation, situated closest to Mahwah, offers more basic camping with primitive tent and RV sites in a forested mountain setting.
Seasonal operations affect most campgrounds in the region, with many facilities open only from April through October. Harriman State Park's Beaver Pond operates from April 22 to October 9, while Wawayanda State Park Campground remains open from April 1 through October 31. Several primitive hiking sites along the Stonetown Circular Trail require no permits but have limited facilities, offering free camping opportunities for hikers. Most established campgrounds in the area require advance reservations, particularly during summer months when the region's lakes and beaches become popular destinations. "About 30 minutes from Sleepy Hollow and Tarrytown NY and only an hour to Central Park. Deer running everywhere and surprisingly beautiful and quaint," noted one visitor about Beaver Pond Campground.
Campers consistently rate cabins and platforms at area campgrounds highly, with many appreciating the raised platforms that keep tents dry during rain. The Sebago Cabin Camp receives positive reviews for its rustic accommodations that include electricity, refrigerators, and outdoor cooking areas. The primitive sites along Stonetown Circular Trail appeal to backpackers seeking more remote experiences, with one campsite positioned at a scenic overlook following a challenging rock scramble, while another sits alongside a flowing stream. Several visitors mentioned wildlife encounters, with bears being common enough that proper food storage is essential. Campground spacing varies significantly across the region, with some reviewers noting that Beaver Pond sites feel nicely spread out while Campgaw sites are positioned closer to hiking trails, leading to early morning foot traffic past campsites.
Best Campgrounds near Mahwah (134)
1. Beaver Pond Campground in Harriman State Park
"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."
from $21 - $24 / night
Check Availability2. Sebago Cabin Camp — Harriman State Park
"It is a step up from cabin camping. They also have a beach behind it."
"This place is only an hour away from NYC with so much to do and see. These cabins are VERY rustic, four walls, a cot, and a fridge."
from $130 / night
Check Availability3. The Stephen & Betsy Corman AMC Harriman Outdoor Center — Harriman State Park
"This was beautiful campground with an even nicer lake. You are able to do a hike around the lake."
"Beautiful lakes all over the place. The AMC camp in Harriman is fantastic too! Those are reserved and paid cabins and platforms."
4. Croton Point Park
"Tent sites are very private with some dirt roads to exit out but thats what make it unique experience! Bathrooms with shower is near by and has plenty porta potties all around."
"Was close to bear mountains state part and the train station is right there!"
from $30 - $60 / night
Check Availability5. Camp Glen Gray
"One rustic place with many hiking trails to choose from. Camp also provides trucking of gear weather permitting. No vehicles allowed to drive through camp. Trading Post for treats and other items."
"Lots of hiking trails. Trading post is well stocked and volunteers are always friendly and able to answer any questions"
from $5 - $200 / night
Check Availability6. Mahlon Dickerson Reservation
"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."
"It's beautiful and quiet, and close to beautiful hiking trails, lakes, and other outdoor recreation opportunities."
7. Campgaw Mountain Reservation
8. Stonetown Circular trail Primitive #2
"Stonetown Circular trail is a 11 mile medium/high difficulty loop trail. This is the second of two primitive sites along the trail. The trailhead is across the street from a large parking lot."
9. Stonetown Circular trail Primitive #1
"Stonetown Circular trail is a 11 mile medium/high difficulty loop trail. This is the first of two primitive sites along the trail. The trailhead is across the street from a large parking lot."
10. Wawayanda State Park Campground
"It is off the beaten path without any running water or showers within walking distance."
"Fantastic loop hike near some amazing hidden lakes. One downside is there were obviously people who had visited and didn't understand what LEAVE NO TRACE means. We'll bring a trashbag next time."
Drive Time
- 17 min from Kiryas Joel, NY
- 33 min from New York, NY
- 56 min from Kingston, NY
- 1 hr from Bridgeport, CT
Recent Camping Photos near Mahwah, NJ
450 Photos of 134 Mahwah Campgrounds • uploaded by The Dyrt campers
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Beaver Pond Campground in Harriman State Park
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Mahlon Dickerson Reservation
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Recent Reviews near Mahwah, NJ
819 Reviews of 134 Mahwah Campgrounds
Thomas B.
RangerNeversink River Resort
Cool Riverside Campground
I'll start by saying this is a site-specific review (C20). I booked using Campspot and didn't select my own site but put in the criteria for my rig (30ft TT plus truck) and got a 50A back-in spot. The site was big but abnormal. Between the picnic table placement and the trees, I ended up right around 50ft from the electric and water, and the water spigot was so low I could barely put on my camco filter. With the uneven dirt roads, I had to unhitch with my truck in a gigantic puddle (lol). The site was otherwise fine aside from my gate code not working on Day 2. As for the campground as a whole, I thought it was pretty unique place by the river that offered several good amenities and activities, like downstream river tubing, an arcade, bathroom/shower facilities, a small store, little trails, and more. I would say this place borders the more primitive side.
Edwin R.ScoutCheesequake State Park Campground
Park uses county cops to shut down park by 9pm.
On Friday, September 4, 2026, I rented a trailer and brought my family to Cheesequake State Park to celebrate our 10th wedding anniversary over the extended Labor Day weekend. Around 9:20 PM—well before the park's designated 10:00 PM quiet hours—we were sitting inside our canopy, playing Jenga, and listening to low background music. Two officers from the Matawan Police Department approached our campsite. They were polite and courteous, simply offering a standard reminder to wrap things up by 10:00 PM. Before they could leave, however, a third, senior officer intervened. Wanting to"show them how it's done," he made the two polite officers return and stand by to watch as he demonstrated how to aggressively harass campers. Flashlight in hand, the senior officer approached with an immediate hostile attitude, treating us like criminals as he demanded to know who rented the site. He began reiterating rules and claimed we had too many vehicles. We had three cars, one belonging to my brother-in-law's girlfriend, who was visiting with her daughter. She had paid the$10 visitor fee at the main office and was instructed by staff to obtain the gate access code from us, the primary renters, if she got locked in. No staff member ever informed her of an 8:00 PM visitor departure deadline, leading us to reasonably assume visitors were permitted until quiet hours began at 10:00 PM. The officer rudely snapped that she had been given wrong information. The senior officer then used profanity in front of three small children, aggressively telling her to ("get her shit and get the fuck out!") in that manner or use profanity, the officer went from hostile to furious. He angrily declared that these were official violations and threatened that he could be issuing us tickets instead. Desperately searching for anything and everything to throw at us, he demanded that we turn off our idling car—which was supplying power to our campsite—and instructed us to make sure the campfire was doused before shutting down for the night. He then proceeded to shine his flashlight into our private setup—including our canopy, tents, and the inside of our trailer—searching for any other possible violation while the two polite officers were forced to watch. What was supposed to be a special 10th wedding anniversary celebration with my family was completely ruined by a senior officer misusing his authority to put on an unnecessary display of intimidation. Worse than just ruining our night, he spent that evening teaching those two police officers how to be bad cops. He corrupted two officers in real time, demonstrating firsthand exactly why most people have lost faith in the police force. The next day we was ready for them. We turned off our lights and quietly by the fire while they went next door to harass an asian family that had just set up camp and had their leds lights on.
- eedgar V.Scout
Black Bear RV Park
Super clean and quiet
Past reviews has mentioned that the office seems to be closed often, while I found that to be true I had no reason to contact anyone. This is definitely one of the cleanest quiets site I’ve ever visited
- KKelly B.
GuideClarence Fahnestock State Park Campground
Check site photos first
Definitely a wide variety of sites—look at the site pictures before booking—there are two areas where it’s just an open field with bonfires and picnic tables that I’d avoid. I could see a large group going there or something but personally it doesn’t offer any privacy.
BUT if you book one of the other sites that DOES have privacy you’ll be in camping heaven. The “hike in” sites are more like “walk-in,” I was worried at first but it’s some are as little as a few yards from the road. The most annoying part was lugging the cooler back and forth, but totally worth it
- KKelly B.Guide
Stephens State Park Campground
Great last min getaway
Booked the day before—even on the holiday weekend! Just 1.5 hours outside of NYC, site was a bit close to the neighbors (fire pit was very far back and basically in the neighbors’ campsite, but we put up a “privacy clothesline” and hung a tarp over it for a bit of extra coverage.
The staff was friendly and helpful, they said it was the busiest they’ve seen the campground all year (there were lots of large groups but everyone seemed to settle down by 9:30pm
Poison ivy was EVERYWHERE at our site so make sure to stick to the open areas and the paths. Lots of families around, we felt very safe Bathrooms were fine—it was my impression they’re usually cleaner but the high traffic of the weekend left a bit to be desired, (lots of families around=dirty diapers in the bathroom trash bin) but it’s camping! I’m not gonna argue w a flushing toilet!
- KKevin F.
TravelerTri-State RV Park
A place to stay in an area lacking campgrounds.
This area seems to be devoid of campgrounds except for this one. It’s basically just a large parking lot with hook ups. Completely open, which is great for Starlink. Bathrooms were slightly above average; fairly clean and places to hang clothes for your shower. Has a laundry but be sure to bring quarters. It is about 100 yards from the interstate so you’ll get a lot of noise and diesel exhaust fumes.
- Sue B.Ranger
Delaware Water Gap / Pocono Mountain KOA
Great off season camping
We camped here in our pop up for our Anniversary in November. We were impressed with the cleanliness and available amenities for the time of year we were camping in! Close proximity to DWG and PA AND NJ attractions.
- JJayTraveler
Delaware Water Gap / Pocono Mountain KOA
Large sites & friendly staff!
Another great experience. Sites were large. Staff was friendly with many different things for kids to do. Great base camp for local hikes.
Guide to Mahwah
Campgrounds near Mahwah, New Jersey sit at elevations ranging from 200 to 1,200 feet in the Ramapo Mountains, creating varied camping terrain across northern New Jersey and southern New York. Winter temperatures often drop below freezing from December through February, making most primitive sites inaccessible, while summer highs average 82°F. Most campsites in this region are situated within dense deciduous forests with oak, maple, and hickory predominating.
What to do
Wildlife viewing opportunities: The Mahwah region hosts black bears, white-tailed deer, and over 200 bird species. At Beaver Pond Campground, "Deer running everywhere and surprisingly beautiful and quaint," notes Megan B. Bears are active throughout the area, requiring proper food storage.
Swimming and water activities: Most lakes in the region open for swimming from late May through early September. Sebago Cabin Camp offers excellent water recreation options. As Sara P. notes, "There's a few very cute small towns nearby with surprisingly modern restaurants and friendly people. In the same state park (Harriman) is several other lakes for swimming, hiking, and paddle boating."
Rock scrambling: The Stonetown Circular Trail contains challenging rock formations leading to significant elevation gains. The first primitive site requires navigating a difficult rock section, as Ethan K. explains: "This site is about 2 miles into the hike. This is a great spot to set up camp because it has a wide area and an amazing view. You will find the site right next to the American Flag at the top of the mountain."
What campers like
Raised tent platforms: Many campers appreciate the elevated platforms at several campsites near Mahwah. At Mahlon Dickerson Reservation, "They have these 12x12 platforms to put your tent on. This was pretty cool especially since some of the sites are all gravel with surrounding dirt," writes Christina L. These platforms help during wet conditions.
Budget-friendly options: Several campgrounds offer affordable rates compared to other Northeast camping destinations. "Camping for just $15," notes Adaly about Beaver Pond Campground. "This is an off-grid camping experience. You can use your generator at certain hours. Their staff is friendly."
Spacious sites: Many campers appreciate the site layout at Mahlon Dickerson Reservation. Paulene-Amanda M. writes, "The campground is small but also secluded. We always hike to the lake here, it's a very easy hike and also very peaceful." The separation between sites offers privacy not often found in more developed campgrounds.
What you should know
Bear safety requirements: Bears are common throughout the region, particularly during summer months. The Stephen & Betsy Corman AMC Harriman Outdoor Center provides bear boxes: "They do have bear boxes available as this is bear country," Thomas M. advises. Most campsites require hanging food or using locked containers.
Reservation policies: Most established campgrounds require reservations weeks in advance for summer weekends. Some primitive sites operate on first-come, first-served basis. At Wawayanda State Park, sites often fill by Thursday for weekend camping from June through August.
Cell service limitations: Most campgrounds have limited or no cellular connectivity. Sara P. notes about Sebago Cabin Camp: "Absolutely zero phone service (for T-Mobile) which was AMAZING." Signal is typically available at park entrances and visitor centers but not at individual campsites.
Tips for camping with families
Kid-friendly amenities: Several campgrounds feature playground equipment and accessible trails. Croton Point Park offers "playground within sight of our camper," according to Thomas. The park also includes basketball courts and beach access with lifeguards.
Educational opportunities: Rangers at many parks offer nature programs during summer weekends. Camper Elliot G. notes Beaver Pond offers "Something for all, swimming, camping, access to bear mountain pool, or the appalachian trails." Many programs focus on local ecology and wildlife.
Swimming access: Several campgrounds provide monitored swimming areas with lifeguards during summer months. Anil S. describes Croton Point Park's "private beach which is opened from Wednesday to the weekend with life guards on duty!" Most beaches close by 6pm with no evening swimming permitted.
Tips from RVers
Hookup availability: Full hookups are limited in the region, with most sites offering only electric and water. At Campgaw Mountain Reservation, sites are more primitive with fewer amenities. Jake R. notes, "The sites themselves are fairly close to the road and there are super popular hiking trails that run right through all the camps."
Site leveling challenges: Many RV sites in the mountainous terrain require leveling blocks. At Mahlon Dickerson Reservation, "The campsites are paved and mostly level," according to Jeff W., making it one of the better options for larger rigs in the region.
Water access solutions: Some campgrounds offer creative solutions for water hookups. At Mahlon Dickerson, "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," reports antruze.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best campgrounds in Mahwah, NJ?
What are the best campgrounds in Mahwah, NJ?
While there are no campgrounds directly in Mahwah, several excellent options are nearby. Mahlon Dickerson Reservation in the Skylands region offers spacious, wooded sites with water and electric hookups. The paved, mostly level campsites are perfect for both short stays and longer adventures. Another great choice is High Point State Park Campground, featuring beautiful lakeside sites with excellent hiking and biking trails accessible directly from your campsite. You can even hike to the monument at New Jersey's highest point or enjoy a swim in the lake.
What amenities are available at Mahwah camping facilities?
What amenities are available at Mahwah camping facilities?
Camping facilities near Mahwah offer various amenities to enhance your stay. Great Divide Campground features a scenic setting with a small lake and pond, surrounded by woods. This private campground provides more extensive amenities than public options. Stephens State Park Campground offers a lovely natural setting, though some sites have pet restrictions. Most campgrounds in the region provide basic facilities like restrooms and designated camping pads, while developed campgrounds typically offer water access, picnic tables, and fire rings. More remote sites may have minimal amenities but provide a more natural camping experience.
Are there any tent camping sites available in Mahwah?
Are there any tent camping sites available in Mahwah?
Tent campers have several options near Mahwah. Stokes State Forest offers primitive tent camping at its Steam Mill Camping Area, featuring 27 sites suitable for tents or small trailers. For a unique experience, consider Sandyston Boat In Campsites in Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, accessible only by canoe or kayak. These sites offer a more secluded tent camping experience with beautiful riverside locations. Camp Glen Gray also provides walk-in tent sites in a forested setting close to Mahwah.
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