Best Glamping near Matawan, NJ

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.

This may be my favorite spot. I habe stayed in all the spots they offer, yurt, cabin and the pull up sites. It is well maintained with numerous trails to hike. Getting a cabin in the winter and going for a snowy hike is wondrful there

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.

We stayed at Adventure Bound Tall Pines in Elmer, New Jersey, for Memorial Day weekend for a quick getaway. Despite reserving and paying for a“Premium” site, it fell far short. But there were still a few things we liked… 

THINGS I LIKED: 

1. Super-friendly staff, especially Allie, who was courteous and seemed to try to make things right 

2. Lots of mature shade trees 

3. DJ at the pool Saturday and Sunday and live band Saturday evening 

4. Close proximity to Delsea Drive-in Theatre and Cohenzick Zoo 

THINGS I DIDN’T LIKE SO MUCH: 

1. I reserved and paid-in-full for a premium site which listed 50-amp service and a concrete pad. Nope. Only 30-amp service and no concrete pad. When I called the office, assuming there must’ve been a mistake, I was told by two different staff members that their website is“wonky.” I wouldn’t mind as much, but this weekend was 90-degrees each day and humid, so it would’ve been good to have air conditioning. 

2. The entire park was dirty sand with weeds growing everywhere 

3. This place is not big-rig friendly, difficult to navigate some of the turns in our 45’ motorhome and taking scratches from tree branches that should be trimmed 

4. I paid$432 for 3-nights and feel like I was taken 

WOULD WE COME BACK? 

Nope. I’m sticking with campgrounds that give you what you paid for.

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

A Peaceful Retreat with Room for Improvement 

I recently had the pleasure of staying here, and I wanted to share my experience with fellow travelers. Overall, it was a tranquil and secure place, but there were a few aspects that could use some attention. 

Pros: Serene and Secure: One of the standout features is the peaceful environment it offers. During my weeks-long stay, I never once had to contend with loud noises or intrusive traffic, creating a truly peaceful atmosphere that's perfect for those seeking a quiet getaway. 

Cons: Bathroom Facilities: Unfortunately, the campsite falls short in terms of its bathroom facilities. The stall doors are quite small and lack privacy, which can be a discomfort for many guests. Moreover, only one stall has a functioning lock, which can be inconvenient during peak times. Limited Showers: The campsite has only two showers, and they are not designed for simultaneous use. To make matters more challenging, you must pass through one shower to access the other, limiting the privacy and convenience for guests. Additionally, the absence of temperature regulation can be a drawback. 

Maintenance Concerns: During my two-week stay, I noticed a cleanliness issue that needs addressing. There was persistent trash in one of the showers throughout my visit, which was disappointing. 

Recommendations: If you're considering a stay here I'd recommend opting for their cabins. Having stayed in them previously, I found them to be clean, spacious, and overall delightful accommodations. They provide a more comfortable and enjoyable experience compared to the campsite facilities. 

Additional Note: One aspect to be aware of is that the owner doesn't seem to like dogs. If you're traveling with furry companions, it's essential to plan accordingly.

In conclusion, They offers a peaceful and secure retreat, but there are areas in need of improvement, particularly regarding the bathroom facilities. For a more comfortable stay, I highly recommend their cabins. With some attention to the mentioned concerns, this campsite could become an even more appealing destination for nature enthusiasts like myself.

Did a weekend bikepacking trip from New Brunswick to Allaire. Big sites that you can hear the highway from. A really nice bike ride to Ocean Grove and other beach towns. There are outlets in the bathroom and someone put a fullass drip coffee machine in one of the sinks. I did not refuse a fresh cup of brew.

This has been closed way before August of 2023. My wife said she seen feds or some type of authority there with hound dogs when she was driving by one day when they closed it. The park said it’s for “bathroom renovations” but a bathroom renovation with a simple design like they have shouldn’t take over a year to do. I want to camp here with my kids since it’s close and every time I drive by it’s still closed. What the heck is going on here???

Other than that the experience we had camping for a weekend was pretty nice and enjoyable. There was a cold spell that came through for the weekend we were there and it was very cold at night, but we ruffed it out.

Allaire State Park is a favorite spot of mine. In addition to their tent sites and group gathering areas (we have had several family reunions here), we enjoy all the activities! There is a historical village where you can visit a blacksmith shop and other spaces to learn about the history. They have a flea market many weekends in the summer months and in early fall. They also. Have Halloween themed events like a hayride. Lots of walking paths surround the park & you are also close to Belmar, Point Pleasant, Manasquan (all fun shore towns). Bathroom maintenance could use some sprucing up, but other than that- great place to visit.

This campground is very well taken care of

Flat ground, sand, dirt, moss, leaves. Enough space for 2-3 tents. Lots of trees for hammocks. Wheelchair accessible picnic table. Fire ring. First time I have seen roaches in the wild. Water spigot down the road a bit. Close campsites, no privacy. Close to the parkway, constant road noise. Okay bathrooms, flush toilets, sinks, showers, electric outlet. Payphone!? Playground. Campground sells firewood.

This campground was not my first choice. I would rather be in more secluded mountainous campsites. The upside to being so close to the parkway is that there are convenience stores nearby if you forget something. Campground sells firewood, they leave it outside the park office so you can pick it up whenever, Do they leave it out overnight? Would be great to know when I roll in after office hours Friday night straight from work. I was unnerved by the cockroaches, both in the bathrooms and at the campsites at night. I was afraid to bring them home, but they weren't evident when I packed up. My noisy neighbors were bothersome, until I realized I forgot my phone charging cord and they let me borrow one! Rained Friday during the day, so the ground was wet all weekend, but no puddles. Got a bit of a sunburn because I forgot cloudy days are deceptive. Otherwise, I had a nice time hanging out(literally, I love hammocks) at the campsite the whole weekend, journaling, reading, and listening to music.

Check in was smooth and informative. Arrived at the site only to find food (hotdogs, buns, carrot sticks) and garbage (drink box straw wrappers, cigarette butts, candy wrappers, food packaging) spread thru out the site. There was large dead limbs and branches over the only level area. I like to keep a tight camp setup so between the placement of the fire ring, the picnic table being attached to the ground, and the only level area being a hazard I was spread out more than I wanted to be. Super late check-ins were noisy and the flashlights in our eyes while they set up camp was annoying. As usual for the amount of use the bathrooms were horrible and showers were cold. I absolutely recommend doing a drive thru and decide on your spot in advance. Thankfully next months spot looks much better.

Good for first timers or booking multiple sites for a bigger group but not secluded.

Sites are spacious, but bathrooms are filthy. They say the clean them daily, but the showers never looked remotely clean, stalls were constantly out of toilet paper, and only two of the three sink worked. We could only fine one spigot for drinking water (the other had been removed). No way would I stay here again.

Small Campground. Has several sites for B class rigs and small C class rigs along with many tent sites. They also have 2-3 sites that would accommodate a 40’ rig. Our site was fairly level. While no water, electric or sewer hook ups there are several portable water stations and a dump station. Bathrooms are clean and showers are hot! Biking and hiking trails are very nice. The Historic Village at Allaire is really interesting and quite pretty.

My experience here was okay but not the best. The park office was easy to find but finding the campground wasn’t. There wasn’t an address for it (only the Park entrance) and there was no signs for which way the campground was once you pull out of the office. Once we finally found the campground, it was quite crowded! We pulled it and found our campsite. It was in the middle of the loop but not heavily shaded so it was very exposed and opened. There was the standard picnic table, fire ring, etc. There was unfortunately many small pieces of trash left by previous campers that we took the time to clean. The bathrooms could tell it was the end of the day when we went but only got worse the next day. It didn’t appear to be cleaned the entire time we were there. By next day, there was feces on the floor and no toilet paper in many of the stalls.

We stayed here for 5 days and it was ok. There was this crazy lady who called herself Nancy who was next to us. It was ok at first but as the week went on she became NUTS. The trip was supposed to be 7 days but when i got up at 6 to take a run there was Nancy right outside my door. We cut the trip short but it is a nice campground minus the creepy people.

I'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

Great canp ground and State Park. Very clean with professional staff. Lots to do in the area! Mountain Biking from easy, paved trails to several miles of single track with everything in between. Working village and antique train are available most of the year. there are also lots of festivals throughout the summer months.

We found this campground one night when we were in NJ. It ended up snowing that night. the bathrooms were clean and warm. There is a lot to do in the area.

enjoyed my time there for the weekend . didn’t like that there was a checkout time and there was no reservation for that day

Tent camped July 1st. Clean bathrooms. Sites are a little too close together. Noisy with highway traffic. Well maintained though. Ticks galore.

Nice state park with trails nearby.