Cabin camping near Manville, New Jersey offers diverse overnight options in the Watchung Mountain range, where elevations range from 400 to 500 feet above sea level. The region experiences four distinct seasons with moderate precipitation throughout the year, making spring and fall ideal for cabin stays. Most campgrounds provide rustic structures with limited amenities, requiring guests to prepare accordingly.
What to do
Fishing at local reservoirs: Spruce Run Recreation Area has a large reservoir where fishing is popular. "Decent overnight park. Lots of space. Great for sailing and fishing. Does get a little rowdy at night with some groups that party," notes Mike D. about the Spruce Run Recreation Area.
Kayaking on lakes: Turkey Swamp Park offers boat rentals for water activities. "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," shares Dan W. about Turkey Swamp Park.
Hiking nearby trails: Jenny Jump State Forest provides access to mountain trails directly from campsites. "My husband and I Tent camped in #34 with our dog. The space was reasonably priced, but we did have to pay an extra $5/day for our dog. However, we didn't mind as it was so private we felt like we had the entire Park to ourselves," says Kelsey K.
What campers like
Secluded cabins: Mountainview Campground offers more private woodland cabin options. "This place was actually fantastic, I don't really have anything negative to say about it. The whole scene was exactly what I love about camping, a nice little remote campground in the mountains," reports Christina H. about Mountainview Campground.
Wildlife encounters: Many campers enjoy the natural setting and animal sightings. "Only shortly after we settled into our tent did we hear foxes fighting right outside our tent, the snorts of deer, and there were bats right above us all night making noise!" Christina H. adds about her experience at Mountainview Campground.
Observatory access: Voorhees State Park offers a unique feature not found at other parks. "Well maintained hiking trails, camp sites, with play grounds and an observatory," mentions Jocelyn G. about Voorhees State Park Campground.
What you should know
Bathroom conditions vary: Facilities at some parks receive mixed reviews. "The bathrooms were absolutely disgusting. I thought with COVID they were cleaning them more, but for the entire weekend, someone's #2 remained all over the toilet, floor, and corner wall," warns Jules T. about Spruce Run.
Highway noise: Some campgrounds are affected by nearby roads. "Late at night you can hear the drone of a major highway," notes Frank J. about Spruce Run Recreation Area. Similarly, at Jenny Jump State Forest, "My only complaint is that the noise from the highway was quite loud at night," says Jocelyn G.
Ticks present: Prepare for insects, especially during warmer months. "By the 2nd day I had 3 ticks on me. My dog had one and by the end my husband had 2. That was so crazy because we were just sitting by our camper," cautions LAURA Y. about Turkey Swamp Park.
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Turkey Swamp Park offers play facilities for children. "We went camping with our 2- and 3-year-old kids. We were worried about bugs, but we didn't even use mosquito repellent and didn't get a single bite! The campground was super clean too. It was perfect!" shares JAEWOOK P.
Boat and water activities: Recreation options keep kids entertained. "Site came with fire pit, large picnic bench, and lamp stand. Plenty of parking space. Good tree coverage. Only one bathroom, bit of a walk but clean and many ammenities available within," mentions Graham D.
Cabin shelter options: Jenny Jump State Forest offers structured cabin accommodations. "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," explains Dwight D. about Jenny Jump State Forest.
Tips from RVers
Water connections: At Mahlon Dickerson Reservation, hose lengths can be an issue. "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," advises antruze about Mahlon Dickerson Reservation.
Dump station access: Mahlon Dickerson provides convenient waste disposal. "Trash dumpster is an easy walk and the dump station has a flush hose point. Nice and easy little campground," antruze continues.
Level sites: Most cabin camping areas also accommodate RVs with varying site conditions. "The space was reasonably priced, but we did have to pay an extra $5/day for our dog. However, we didn't mind as it was so private we felt like we had the entire Park to ourselves," notes Kelsey K. about Jenny Jump State Forest.
