155 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Located within the New Jersey Highlands region, campgrounds near Middletown offer a mixture of public and private facilities primarily concentrated in forested areas to the west and northwest. Established options like Mahlon Dickerson Reservation provide spacious, wooded RV and tent sites with electric and water hookups, while several state parks including Stokes State Forest and Jenny Jump State Forest feature cabin accommodations alongside traditional camping areas. Most developed campgrounds in the region offer a combination of tent platforms, RV hookups, and cabin rentals, with glamping options emerging at private facilities like Panther Lake Camping Resort and Great Divide Campground.
Access to camping areas varies seasonally, with most state park campgrounds operating from April through October. Many facilities, including Swartswood State Park and Round Valley Recreation Area, close for winter but maintain year-round day-use trails and facilities. Reservation requirements are common across nearly all developed campgrounds in the region, with booking windows typically opening 6-12 months in advance for peak summer weekends. Roads to most camping areas are paved and accessible to standard vehicles, though some backcountry sites at Round Valley may require hiking or boat access. A camper noted that "Mahlon Dickerson Campground 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."
Forested campsites receive consistently positive reviews, with visitors particularly appreciating the spaciousness and privacy at Mahlon Dickerson Reservation. According to one review, "Even packed you have space and privacy. The views are amazing. Plenty of trails, plenty to do near by." Water access represents another highly valued feature, with lakefront camping available at several locations including Panther Lake and Swartswood State Park. Bear encounters remain a concern in northern New Jersey camping areas, with multiple campgrounds posting warnings and requiring proper food storage. Family-friendly amenities like showers, flush toilets, and hiking trails are standard at most developed campgrounds, though some primitive areas like certain sections of Round Valley Recreation Area offer more rustic experiences with minimal facilities.
"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."
"Panther lake was a pretty good campground with lots of spots to camp at. Our campsite had a picnic bench and a fire ring. They offer both RV and primitive camping."
"The Lake is the gem of the campground with a really nice beach, good for fishing and kayaking. The negatives were the bathrooms. They are very primitive and quite dirty."
"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."
"All the positive reviews about this place are accurate! Beautiful, clean, well maintained, lots to do, great value for your $$"
"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."
"We stayed at the campsite at Lake Ocquittunk Area. Campsite was very spacious and had a platform where we were able to fit two tents. There was plenty of space on the site for more tents."
from $7 - $55 / night
Check Availability"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."
"The campsites are slightly separated from the lake (maybe 8 min walk to lake) but that also means you aren’t bothered by day guests. The lake is beautiful! Great for swimming and fishing."
"The bathroom/shower was only a few steps away which was convenient and clean."
"All the sites are set up nearby the office where people are all day should you ever need anything. The workers are super friendly and regularly make rounds of the grounds."
"Full bathrooms are located behind campsite #15 (clean flushing bathrooms, with motion-sensed lighting, showers, dishwashing sink), but easily accessible from campsites nearby."
"Bathrooms with flush toilets are conveniently located centrally every so often."
"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."
"Once you get to the campground trail it’s pretty easy going on asphalt surface."
"Site A is the best for seclusion and a spot closer to the lake (also amazing sunsets)"
"There are dumpsters but no recycling (not sure if New Jersey segregates recycling after pickup). ATT had some reception but we forgot to check the Verizon phone. "
"Was a bit hard to locate the office to check in but finally found it. The camp site was spacious. The bathrooms were struggling with the plumbing but were fairly clean."
ScoutThis 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.
RangerWe 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.
RangerWe booked a cabin at the last minute and were pleasantly surprised that the cabin had heat and electricity! It was very close to the awesome heated bathroom also! We were also able to catch a beautiful sunset! Great camp all around!
TravelerAnother great experience. Sites were large. Staff was friendly with many different things for kids to do. Great base camp for local hikes.
RangerWe came here 4th of July weekend, and this is one of the things I love about these sites...they had availability! Our site was very big, and was perfect with sone shade and also lots of sun!
RangerOur travel trailer and our friends' pop up both fit on this site with no problem. The only issue we had is that there is a bit of a ditch that turns to mud after a rain. We were off the beaten path so very little traffic. There was a bathroom with pit toilets down the street. Plenty of places to hike and fish also. We loved it here!
RangerWe came here to ride our ATV's...since it is more than 3 hours from home, we decided to book this spot for the night. We have stayed in a bunch of the DWSF sites. This one was kinda meh. Nearer to the road so traffic at all hours. Picnic table and fire ring, and as always, evidence of people chopping down live trees for firewood. Ugh! We set up our tent and had a nice fire, albeit there was broken glass on the ground. Biting flies worked overtime on us. Not a terrible stay, but we prolly won't book this one again. And these sites are no longer free. As out of state-rs, we paid $21 for one night. Still a good deal.
ScoutAs far as experience it was good. The main issue was the campsite where we were was uneven and caused many of the sleeping arrangements that we had to be not level. This seems to be a specific issue to the group campsite number two as when we went inwards it seemed like everything else was much better.
GuideTwo night stay, large loud parties make it hard to enjoy but once most of them left it was nice to walk down to the river. Bath house with toilets and showers, not all lights working. No swimming access but boat access and trails for hiking.
Camping near Middletown, New Jersey offers diverse options within the Kittatinny Mountains, where elevations reach up to 1,800 feet. The region experiences all four seasons distinctly, with summer temperatures averaging 75-85°F and campsites typically situated on rocky or wooded terrain. Most campgrounds in this area remain open from April through October, with a few maintaining limited winter operations.
Hiking on the Appalachian Trail: Access points to the famous trail are available near Stokes State Forest, which features 21 marked trails covering over 63 miles. "Twelve miles are part of the Appalachian Trail. Pick up a hiking map at the park office or download the Avenza Maps app," notes one visitor who hiked the Tillman Ravine trail.
Paddling on clear waters: Round Valley State Park offers pristine water recreation on its 2,350-acre reservoir. "The water is crystal clear, the area is clean. There's bathrooms and pumps but we just filtered the water from the reservoir instead which tasted a million times better than the well water," shares a camper who enjoyed kayaking here.
Wildlife viewing: Several parks in the region provide opportunities to observe local fauna. Near Worthington State Forest, one camper mentioned, "This was a very pleasant stay with beautiful views and privacy. We especially enjoied seeing the wolves-- it was really neat and definetly a draw to the area (you can hike from the campsite to the preserve)."
Privacy between sites: Many visitors appreciate the thoughtful campsite layouts at Jenny Jump State Forest, where "the camp sites are nicely laid out to ensure privacy. This park is high up on a mountain and affords lovely views." Another camper noted, "Primitive, has bathrooms and water spigots. Good hammocking trees and wasn't crowded at all. Plenty of privacy from other sites."
Water access: Multiple campgrounds offer direct access to lakes and rivers. At Stephens State Park, one visitor shared, "The river is just a small walk down the hill (you can stairs or a path which was nice). They stock the water with trout and there was an officer checking for fishing permits. You can hear the babbling of the river when it's quiet at camp."
Clean facilities: Campers consistently mention well-maintained amenities. At Swartswood State Park, "Clean bathrooms with flush toilets and showers, masks required for the pandemic still." Another review noted, "They have a water fill station near the campsites that is shared between all the campers."
Bear safety requirements: Black bears are active throughout the region. At Mahlon Dickerson Reservation, visitors are warned about bears: "There are a lot of bear warnings here so that gave us a bit of pause with our three little boys." Proper food storage is mandatory at all parks.
Reservation windows: Most campgrounds open reservations 6-12 months in advance, with peak summer weekends booking quickly. Many parks like Jenny Jump State Forest and Swartswood State Park operate seasonally from April 1 to October 31.
Limited amenities at primitive sites: Some campgrounds offer more rustic experiences. At Round Valley, "There is a pump for potable water and vault/pit toilets. Trails are well-kept. Definitely a great place to start with getting into backpacking and enjoying nature."
Playground access: Several campgrounds feature play areas for children. At Worthington State Forest, one family mentioned, "These two sites were next to the shower house and playground. The facilities were clean, stocked, and warm."
Swimming options: Many parks have designated swimming areas. At Panther Lake, "The lake and pool were a big plus, especially for hot days. While I did not take advantage, you are allowed to rent boats and take them out on the lake."
Educational opportunities: Some parks offer nature programs or historic sites. One visitor to Stephens State Park noted, "There is a lot of hiking, mountain biking and fishing there. Great for a weekend get away," providing multiple activities to keep children engaged.
Site accessibility: Not all campgrounds accommodate larger RVs. At Great Divide Campground, one RVer mentioned, "This was our second visit to the campground and the first weekend they opened to RVs after Covid. No amenities were open but we had a great time fishing in the lake. Spots are spacious and campers were spread out throughout the large campground."
Hookup availability: Electric and water connections vary by park. At Mahlon Dickerson Reservation, "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."
Dump station quality: Proper waste disposal facilities are important for RVers. One visitor noted that Mahlon Dickerson has a "dump station has a flush hose point. Nice and easy little campground," making it convenient for RV campers to maintain their vehicles during longer stays.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I find campgrounds near Middletown, NJ?
Several quality campgrounds are within reach of Middletown. Stephens State Park Campground offers a lovely setting, though it may not accommodate larger RVs and has some pet restrictions in certain areas. High Point State Park Campground is another excellent option in the Skylands region, featuring beautiful lakeside campsites with direct access to hiking and biking trails. From here, you can hike to the monument at New Jersey's highest point or explore sections of the Appalachian Trail. Both parks provide a perfect balance of natural seclusion while remaining accessible to Middletown.
Are there affordable camping options in Middletown?
Yes, affordable camping options exist near Middletown. Stokes State Forest offers economical camping with multiple campgrounds to choose from. The Steam Mill Camping Area is particularly budget-friendly with 27 primitive sites suitable for tents or small trailers. For those willing to venture a bit farther for value, Sandyston Boat In Campsites in Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area provides an affordable adventure with six maintained sites. While these require boat access, they offer excellent value for budget-conscious campers seeking a more rustic experience. Both locations provide basic amenities while keeping costs low.
What is the closest campground to Middletown?
The closest campground to Middletown is Mahlon Dickerson Reservation, located in the Skylands region of New Jersey. This campground offers paved, mostly level sites in wooded surroundings. The sites are spacious and include water and electric hookups, with a dump station available. It's conveniently positioned for hiking and exploring the area, making it perfect for stays ranging from a few nights to several weeks. The reservation provides easy access to trails directly from your campsite, allowing you to quickly immerse yourself in nature.
Keep Exploring
