Best Glamping near Mahwah, NJ

Recent Glamping Reviews near Mahwah, NJ

355 Reviews of 39 Mahwah Campgrounds

• 

  Denise D.

  Guide

  

  Jul. 11, 2018

  Camp Taylor Campground

  A beautiful forested campground with plenty of wildlife and birds.

  Easy access from Rt 80 and located close to the Lakota Wolf Preserve. With tours leaving them campground twice a day on both Saturday and Sundays for the wolf preserve, I was glad there was camping so close. The camping selection of sites is excellent with Cabins, Glamping tents, primitive tent sites and of course RV sites. I choose to stay in one of the glamping tents and was pleasantly surprised at the space inside the tent even with a double bed and two other fold out couches to beds. Water is available at the site. A small lake for swimming and boating. And lots of trails linking you to the Delaware river water gap area.

• 

  Dwight D.

  Ranger

  

  Sep. 26, 2021

  Jenny Jump State Forest

  Cute Comfortable Shelter

  This 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.

• 

  Jeff W.

  Traveler

  

  Oct. 29, 2018

  Mahlon Dickerson Reservation

  Quiet County Park with Large Sites

  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. 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.

• 

  Joey

  Traveler

  

  Aug. 31, 2018

  High Point State Park Campground

  highest park in New Jersey

  Beautiful park with in the skylands region of New Jersey. Great campsites on a lake, with lots of hiking and biking trails right from your site. Hike to the monument at the highest point in the state, or maybe along the Appalachian trail, or maybe just a swim in the lake. Either way there’s plenty to see and do at High Point State Park.

• M

  MICHELE T.

  Scout

  

  May. 9, 2018

  Swartswood State Park Campground - TEMPORARILY CLOSED

  GREAT PARK

  NO FULL HOOKS ... BUT EVERYTHING IS WELCOME ... THEY HAVE YURTS ALSO ... THERE IS A LAKE AND FOOD STAND AND PADDLE BOATS ... I LOVE THE GROUP SITES ...

• 

  Amber A.

  Ranger

  

  Jul. 31, 2016

  Camp Gateway- Brooklyn NY - CLOSED — Gateway National Recreation Area

  Ok if you don’t have another choice

  The park itself is lovely and close to some other green areas. The nice thing about this campsite is that it’s so close to NYC. The bad thing about this campsite is that it’s so close to NYC. If you live in NYC this is a good, cheap, super quick escape accessible by public transport. If you’re visiting the area I’d recommend staying in Manhattan/Queens in an AirBNB for the full NYC experience or heading to Long Island, Pennsylvania, “Upstate” New York, or New Jersey for a better nature camping experience. For what it is, this site is a nice green little oasis. It’s National Park Service land and they try really hard to keep things clean and working well with so much traffic. Bring earplus for the airport traffic and the noisy neighbors. Tent sites are pretty and wooded, but there is also a TON of concrete from an old WW2 airfield.

• 

  Cynthia K.

  Legend

  

  Aug. 30, 2024

  Great Divide Campground

  Rock'in

   Our 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!

• J

  Jonathan L.

  Guide

  

  Nov. 16, 2021

  Stokes State Forest

  Great area, decent camping experience

  Stokes is nestled in a beautiful part of New Jersey and it’s just remote enough that you can get away from the crowds and activity while still being in a short driving distance of restaurants, grocery stores, etc. We stayed at Lake Ocquittunk, which was a little disappointing. The site itself (T001) was absolutely massive and stunningly beautiful. Unfortunately, when the site was cleared, trees were cut down to the stump and the stumps were just left there. This posed both a tripping hazard and a driving hazard. You have to weave your way around the various stumps and small boulders protruding from the ground in all lighting conditions. The site is on a gentle slope, which made it difficult to find a level area for the tent, but we found a spot that suited us perfectly. The campground overall needs some improvement. It almost felt neglected or abandoned. The bathrooms weren’t great, but I’ve seen much worse. The park staff were incredibly helpful and generous with time and information. Directions were easy to follow and we felt comfortable staying there. Ultimately, we would gladly return in the future, but we might visit in a warmer season.

• 

  Ethan K.

  Legend

  

  Mar. 1, 2021

  Mountain Lakes Park

  Ideal driving distance from NYC

  Mountain Lakes park is a great place to camp within driving distance from NYC. A fun option available at Mountain lakes is to rent a yurt to camp in. The area, as the name implies, is home to several lakes which can be used for various recreational purposes. There are also many hikes which can be trekked straight from the campgrounds which is always a huge plus in my mind. When we were there it was right after a rain storm and everything was a bit muddy and slippery. We will definitely be planning a trip back to Mountain Lakes when the weather gets nicer though!

• 

  Natalie N.

  Guide

  

  Jul. 13, 2018

  Swartswood State Park Campground - TEMPORARILY CLOSED

  Wooded sites in good location

  This park has 65 campsites and a few yurts for rent. most of the sites are wooded and can fit a travel trailer or tent easily. The campground map is accurate and the some of the sites offer a bit of seclusion but most are pretty close together. I camped during the week and it was beautifully quite. It has a nice swimming area and lake access. The showers are older and a little dirty but they stay warm and have good pressure. They have a big sink inside to wash dishes out of the bugs at night and the staff was friendly. I camped in site 22 and loved it! We easily hiked around the Delaware Water Gap during the day and felt safe leaving our site here.

• 

  Mark M.

  Scout

  

  Aug. 22, 2023

  Panther Lake Camping Resort

  DISASTER

  I travel the country racing road bicycles(at Augusta, GA now for the Master's Nationals) and the last 10 weeks or so have stayed at 5-6 other RV Campgrounds...at ALL the other RV places they drove me to my site, helped me back in,(I have a 2022 Tundra and a 30' pull behind), provided great Wi-Fi service, cell phone reception was great even in the KOA in the mountains in VA 2 days ago, picnic tables were clean, no bugs or mosquitos to speak off, sites well marked, and all were quiet, this one was relatively quiet as it's a park of 98% permanent sites with cabins, RV's that look like they haven't been moved in years, and other "permanent" type looking sites so adults/families had small fires and were outside until maybe 10:30 which kept me awake...so it's a New Jersey summer camp/place to stay for adults and families with movies at night and bands and tennis courts, and pools, etc. it's NOT for a 1-3 night stay when driving through and all one wants to do is chill and get to sleep early!! No one offered to drive me to my site and it was a MAZE of very small 1 lane roads and the few sites they had for 1-2-3 night guests were impossible to see with the small signs and #'s covered with moss and black mold...so I had to call them and they finally took me to my site...as soon as I got out to detach my camper I got attacked by mosquitos and it was impossible to let my dogs outside my camper and we all got bite a lot, especially when re-attaching it days later...the picnic table was covered in mold and moss, not habitable, there was NO Wi-Fi!! I have NEVER been to a RV park with no Wi-Fi...cell phone reception was terrible, half the time didn't work...and I have never encountered this before but one needed to put in their security code when leaving?? I am not from the region and had no other place to stay as it was 7:30 on a Fri night...every day I left at dawn and didn't come back until almost dark...never so glad to leave a RV park!!

• 

  Trip Over Life

  Ranger

  

  Oct. 23, 2018

  Stokes State Forest

  Ranger Review: humangear FlexiBowl and GoBites at Steam Mill Campground

  Campground Review

  Stokes State Forest has four campgrounds. The Steam Mill Camping Area is tucked out the of the way and is the most primitive. It is the smallest of the campgrounds with 27 sites only suitable for tents or small trailers/campervans. 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. Many sites are a bit rocky.

  We selected site T219. It was a solid choice: private but close to the toilet and water. Some sites located around the opposite side of the ring back up to a babbling brook. The rushing water will soothe you to sleep.

  Remember, this is bear country so proper food storage is a must. Bear lockers are not provided. The area also has ticks and rattlesnakes.

  Outdoor activities in the area abound. Go fishing, hiking, biking, horseback riding, kayaking, and more. There are 21 marked trails that cover over 63 miles within the boundaries of Stokes State Forest. Twelve miles are part of the Appalachian Trail. Pick up a hiking map at the park office or download the Avenza Maps app.

  This visit we hiked the Tillman Ravine trail (tip: make the trail a loop and visit both the ravine and the nearby old cemetery).

  You can also drive or hike to Sunset Mountain Scenic Overlook for a view of High Point Monument. High Point Monument is the highest elevation in New Jersey and is located in High Point State Park which borders Stokes State Forest on the north. High Point State Park also offers camping, hiking, sightseeing opportunities. And, on the western border of Stokes State Forest is the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. So, there is lots of outdoors to get out and explore!

  Product Review

  We camped at the Steam Mill Camping Area in Stokes State Forest in our campervan over a chilly autumn weekend. We had the opportunity to cook some soup on our stovetop and chill out by the campfire. And, as Rangers for The Dyrt, we get products to test from time to time so we were psyched to try out some new dinnerware and cutlery. This included the FlexiBowl and GoBites from humangear.

  What made these humangear products pretty awesome? Well, the fun colors to start. I mean, seriously, my orange bowl rules. The FlexiBowl also has some neat features: it’s flexible - just like the name suggests - and foldable. The bowl can be squished and stuffed anywhere. And, the top section can be folded down to create a smaller bowl. The FlexiBowl is versatile yet durable. It held my hearty, warm soup just perfectly.

  I paired the FlexiBowl with one of the GoBites utensils (the Uno model). The Uno model is my favorite - it has a fork on one side and a spoon on the other side. Very simple and convenient. The other GoBites models include the Duo (separate fork and spoon that can snap together) and the Trio (a fork, spoon, and knife - with bottle opener - in a case).

  PRO TIP: I keep the Trio GoBites model in my travel pack at all times. It recently came in handy on a (non-camping) trip to Sardinia. The knife on the Trio allowed me to slice some delicious local cheese to pair with bread, jam, and wine that was purchased from the grocery store. YUM.

• 

  Christina H.

  Guide

  

  Aug. 29, 2019

  Round Valley State Park Campground

  Come for the jaw-dropping views. Review for Round Valley State Park Site 52

  Round Valley is certainly a must see for any type of outdoors person, or someone who appreciates relaxation in a gorgeous landscape. It is a semi-mountainous, forested setting with a very large "lake", which is really a man-made reservoir in the middle of a valley. 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. You will have to look very hard to find a more beautiful camping scene in New Jersey. Also, it's dog friendly!

  There is no car access to these campsites, you must keep your vehicle overnight in their south parking lot. If you have a camping registration you do not have to pay the fee to enter the park after you check in to the office. The only way to get to the campsites which are located on the other side of the reservoir deep in the woods, are by boating in, backpacking in, or biking in. If you are boating, kayaking, or canoeing to your site, be very careful and watch the wind warnings. If the wind-warning strobe lights go off you should get off of the water asap because the waters can get very rough and this place is nicknamed the Bermuda Triangle of NJ. We were originally going to boat in for a quick overnight, but at the last minute we decided we wanted a challenge. We backpacked 5.5 miles in on an August morning to site #52. The trail was mountainous, rocky, hilly, but for the most part in the shade. This is definitely not a walk through the park easy trail, pack light and don't bring coolers or wagons if you are hiking it. The first three miles are very rocky, with some larger rocks protruding from the ground, but from there on the trail turns into smooth asphalt to allow for ranger and emergency vehicles and it gets a lot easier. We were a bit sore the next day with a couple of mild blisters but we were still able to easily do the 5.5 mile hike back in the afternoon. Someone who does a lot of hiking and backpacking will find the trail easy, but with little to no experience you may struggle. My dog is a 7 year old retriever with minor joint issues and the trail was a piece of cake to her (she even carried all of her own gear).

   These are truly primitive sites with only a few drinking water pumps scattered about and some primitive outhouses, however, you never feel completely alone here because the campsites are not spaced too far apart. My honest opinion: filter or purify your water right from the reservoir if you have the option, because you may be far from a pump, or it may be temporarily closed, and the reservoir water tastes good and is cold. I also opt to skip the outhouses too because they are never clean and always stink unbearably no matter where they are. Each site has a picnic table and a fire ring. Alcohol and smoking are not permitted. If you must bring alchohol,  bring a little in a subtle container and do not bother the other campers. Swimming is also technically not permitted but there were many people swimming and we swam also and no one was bothered.

  Now onto our campsite. Site 52 was nearly perfect. The views were to die for. We were able to clearly see the water past the trees from our tent and from our picnic table. The trip to the water was just a few yards away by a footpath carved through tall grass. Unfortunately, the guests before us were very dirty and there was fresh trash scattered about our spot, so we had some cleaning to do when we arrived. The other downside to this spot is you could just barely see site 53 from your spot, which wasn't a huge deal but it wasn't total privacy. Since the surrounding campsites are just barely spaced out to give enough privacy, you can clearly hear your neighbors if they are being noisy. Keep that in mind if you are being the noisy one too. The park strictly enforces its rules and if you are being a nuisance you will be escorted off the property. We saw it first hand on our overnight trip. Our neighbors were college-age, very loud and rowdy, chugging beers and smoking (both are not permitted so don't make it obvious if you are doing either). Suddenly it got quiet and we look over and there are 3 cops at their site arresting them. We were thankful that it got quiet after that, but it was short lived, right before the sun set our other neighbors boat in and start playing music loudly and chopping wood, this continued until around 1am. We would have complained but we were just too tired and kept just falling back asleep. But seriously please don't be that guy.

  Onto the the tl;dr!

  PROS:

  • Breathtaking scenery
  • Gorgeous crystal-clear water
  • Sites are in a beautiful wooded area
  • Sites have a picnic table and nice fire rings
  • You can boat, kayak, or canoe right into your spot if you have a water-access site, site numbers are posted to help you find your spot
  • Great spot to watch wildlife
  • Amazing spot for water sports, fishing, swimming, etc
  • Beautiful, scenic trails to hike or bike
  • Can confirm the sunsets are gorgeous 
  • Every site is dog friendly!
  • There is a lot of variety with the sites (water access or more into the mountain, full shade, partial, or no shade, how far they are spaced apart, etc) so you will be able to find the site that is perfect for you 
  • Paths that allow for emergency vehicles, police, and rangers keep the place safe and fun while giving you the remote feeling of a campsite
  • Lots of tinder and firewood available to gather
  • Our site had a couple clotheslines hung already
  • Each outhouse had bear-proof trash cans, very handy

  CONS:

  • Our site was left littered
  • Noisy, disruptive neighbors
  • Not full privacy (depending on the site)
  • Outhouses smelled like death and were terribly dirty and dark
  • Only 2 water pumps were working when we went, and they were both way too far, we brought a water filter and pumped our own water straight out of the reservoir 
  • The trail had a surprising amount of litter, mainly tinfoil and cigarette butts scattered along the trail. Perhaps the rangers could be more strict about littering
  • Mild boat noise at water-front sites

  **THINGS TO DO AT ROUND VALLEY **

  • Great fishing
  • Kayaking/canoeing/boating
  • Swimming
  • Beautiful hiking trails
  • Wildlife/bird watching
  • Mountain biking
  • Picnicking 
  • Relaxing
• 

  Christopher M.

  Scout

  

  Jul. 26, 2021

  Camp Glen Gray

  This is our favorite family campsite

  Cabins are always clean and stocked with firewood. Lots of hiking trails. Trading post is well stocked and volunteers are always friendly and able to answer any questions

• J

  Jose N.

  Traveler

  

  Feb. 16, 2020

  Camp Glen Gray

  Rustic

  Great Camp !!! 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.

  Many camp sites open to rent. Cabins - Leanto - Tent Sites. Check web site for pricing.

• H

  Heather M.

  Guide

  

  Jun. 5, 2024

  Lake Frederick Outdoor Recreation Area

  Beloved Family Spot

  Yes, this is a military-only campground but, that doesn't take away from how incredible it is and that is properly advertised. 

  This place is incredible.  Being military-only keeps standards high, the campground clean and well maintained.  We've spent years here, with Dan & Janet but, are looking forward to returning this year under new management, as they enjoy retirement after many years of hard work. Boy, does their hard work show! They have poured so much love and attention into the building and maintaining of Lake Frederick! 

  Between rustic power-only campsites that give you a true camping experience and upgraded but, still simple cabins which allow campers of all ages and abilities to enjoy the outdoor experience, there is something for everyone.  The new docks around the swimming area create a safer swimming experience for even the most inexperienced swimmers, allowing them safe and obvious perimeters.  The bath house is always well stocked and clean, ready for end of the day cleanup and the laundry facilities are a great bonus for those of us who like to stay longer than a couple days.  

  You won't want for anything at Lake Frederick and it will be a great way to unplug, kick back and enjoy God's Creation!

• 

  Jake C.

  Legend

  

  Aug. 22, 2023

  Moon Valley Campground

  The Best of both worlds

  Jake from the Dyrt here!  The Moon Valley Campground is an awesome spot for those who want to camp in luxury, with their awesome dome structures.  The campground is also near the Appalachian trail while still only about an hour from Manhattan!  Check them out and leave a review with your adventures during your stay!

• N

  Name

  Scout

  

  Sep. 29, 2020

  Round Pond Outdoor Recreation Area

  Home away from Home

  We've been coming here for at least 13 years. We love that its a place specifically for Vets and active Military. everyone is amazingly respectful of each other and the caretakers take such care of the grounds. It has become a home away from home for us and a chance to connect with other Vets. So grateful for a place just for Military and their families and guests. It is a sweet reminder that there are still places that appreciate their service. Beautiful views, clean bathrooms, and nice trails.

• 

  Ethan K.

  Legend

  

  Nov. 1, 2018

  Round Pond Outdoor Recreation Area

  Camping for Active Military and Veterans only

  Unfortunately for me, Round Pond is camping reserved for active and retired military personnel only. We drove through and the whole space is rather large. There are several signs everywhere making it clear that it is only for military. The same is true for Lake Frederick another nearby campsite. Similar to Lake Frederick campsite, Round Pond had a beautiful lake that would be very ideal for a hot summer day. 2 Stars only because I was not able to camp here but the grounds looked nice!

• B

  Becky G.

  Guide

  

  Jul. 8, 2018

  Round Pond Outdoor Recreation Area

  Another great NYC getaway

  Love the proximity to NYC - I always look for areas that are not too far, but not too close to NY. Beautiful but small-ish tent sites. Lots of great hiking in the area in addition to beautiful Cold Spring, NY for the small-town charm.

• C

  Casey G.

  Scout

  

  Jul. 8, 2016

  Round Pond Outdoor Recreation Area

  4th of July

  Close enough to NYC area for comfortable and scenic drive. Great setting for a spontaneous camping trip. Plenty of room in tent site area. One challenge was to know there was no clear separation in sites. Small camp ground but easy to move around. Staff was very helpful and concerned with our comfort.

• A

  Annelise S.

  Traveler

  

  Oct. 14, 2017

  Mahlon Dickerson Reservation

  Great times with questival friends!!!

  Arrived to campsite late but easily found. Campsite and lean to was clean. Fire pit with grill and picnic table.

• G

  George H.

  Guide

  

  May. 28, 2018

  Mahlon Dickerson Reservation

  Nice County Parks Dept. RV park

  Quite, no frills but with electric & water. Has a dump station. Miles of hiking trails. Level paved sites.

• 

  Christina L.

  Traveler

  

  Aug. 10, 2018

  Mahlon Dickerson Reservation

  Solo Birthday Trip

  I have been camping for many years but I chose Mahlon Dickerson for my first solo trip. Super easy to book. Easy to find on a gps and even if you lose service there are signs marking the reservation campground! Very clean and the area is beautiful. 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. The sites are very large and I suggest site 7. It is on a hill so have a hand truck or a few people to carry stuff. Trust me it is worth it and I think it’s the best tent site they have. There are showers on the rv side of the reservation you can use. Very cheap as well. $15/night on Memorial Day weekend! You won’t be disappointed! Make sure to visit Headley overlook and hike the awesome trials that surround the campsites!

• 

  Jeff W.

  Traveler

  

  Oct. 27, 2018

  Mahlon Dickerson Reservation

  Large wooded campsites in the NJ Skylands

  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 with movies, shopping, and restaurants.

• 

  Paulene-Amanda M.

  Scout

  

  Jun. 1, 2019

  Mahlon Dickerson Reservation

  Love it here!

  My fiancé, dog, and I have been going here for over 2 years and we love it. The campground is small but also secluded. We always hike to the lake here, it’s a very easy hike and also very peaceful. Definitely come here when you get a chance. There is electric and water hookups for your RV which is great! And at the campgrounds there is a platform where you can pitch your tent.

• 

  Paul N.

  Guide

  

  Jun. 10, 2019

  Mahlon Dickerson Reservation

  Like it

  We really like this campground. Quiet and spacious. No facilities, just a porta-jon, but i think that makes it better. Police patrolled, and dog friendly.