Camping cabins near Millington, New Jersey provide woodland retreats in the hilly terrain of northern New Jersey, where elevations range from 500 to 1,200 feet. Winter temperatures often drop below freezing, making the heated options at state parks particularly valuable during colder months. Most cabins are situated within state forests that feature glacial lakes and hardwood forests dominated by oak, maple and hickory trees.
What to do
Hiking the Appalachian Trail: accessible from Stokes State Forest, where 12 miles of the iconic trail cross through the park boundaries. A camper noted, "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."
Kayaking on lakes: available at several parks including Panther Lake Camping Resort, which offers lake access and boat rentals. A visitor mentioned, "Boating is great, good fishing, nice playground, basketball court and great amenities."
Wildlife observation: schedule a wolf tour at Camp Taylor Campground adjacent to the Lakota Wolf Preserve. According to one camper, "The wolf preserve at the same location was just amazing - we learned so much and could hear the wolves howl from the campsite."
Winter recreation: possible at year-round facilities, as some parks remain open in colder months. A visitor to Stokes State Forest shared, "Open most of year. Fun if u lik3 camping."
What campers like
Private wooded sites: found at Mountainview Campground, offering secluded tent and cabin accommodations. A reviewer noted, "The property is well kept and campsites are a good distance from each other. Plenty of open field as well as wooded areas."
Shelter accommodations: available at Jenny Jump State Forest, which offers unique cabin-like structures. One camper explained, "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."
Hot showers: appreciated at several campgrounds including Turkey Swamp Park, where facilities remain clean year-round. A visitor commented, "The bathrooms and showers are clean and well maintained."
Accessibility: provided at select sites for campers with mobility concerns. One Jenny Jump visitor mentioned, "Oh, this shelter is wheelchair accessible. Some of the others are not."
What you should know
Bear safety: required in northern New Jersey parks as many are in active black bear territory. A Stokes State Forest camper advised, "Remember, this is bear country so proper food storage is a must. Bear lockers are not provided. The area also has ticks and rattlesnakes."
Seasonal bugs: can be problematic at certain parks in warm weather. A Turkey Swamp Park camper warned, "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."
Firewood restrictions: common at most parks to prevent invasive species. One camper at Panther Lake noted, "They do not allow you to gather your own firewood, but they do sell it in their camp store."
Advance planning: necessary for cabin rentals especially during peak seasons. Most cabin sites require reservations weeks or months in advance, particularly for holiday weekends.
Tips for camping with families
Playgrounds and activities: available at Turkey Swamp Park, which caters to families with young children. A visitor observed, "There are age-appropriate playgrounds both in the campground and by the office."
Rental equipment: offered at several parks for water activities. One Turkey Swamp visitor noted, "In the summer, canoe, kayak, paddle boats, and row boats are available for rental."
Educational opportunities: available through nature programs and historical sites throughout the region. The astronomical observatory at Voorhees State Park offers periodic star-gazing events that can complement cabin stays.
Child-friendly cabin layouts: vary by location with some designed specifically for families. A camper at Great Divide noted, "This is a beautiful campground with much to do around the grounds themselves."
Tips from RVers
Limited hookups: available at Spruce Run Recreation Area, though not at all campsites. One camper advised, "There are some RV sites with water & electric which are not on the water, but in the parking lot. I would consider getting one on the water to enjoy the water and one in the parking lot to hook up the RV."
Dump station access: available at most parks but not at individual sites. A camper at Camp Taylor mentioned, "Water and electric hookups are standard, no sewer, but there is a dump station."
Winter preparations: necessary for cold weather camping in cabins. A Stokes State Forest visitor recommended, "You need that wood stove to heat up the cabin. Turning on the oven is a help, but not a good solution. The wood stove definitely heats the room up nicely."
Extra water hose: needed at some parks where hookups may be distant from pads. A Mahlon Dickerson visitor noted, "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."
