RV camping near Upper Montclair, New Jersey offers access to a variety of parks within 30-60 minutes of town. The region sits at the edge of the Watchung Mountains with elevations ranging from 400-650 feet, creating terrain changes that affect campground accessibility. Seasonal temperature variations are significant, with summer highs averaging 85°F and winter temperatures frequently dropping below freezing.
What to do
Statue of Liberty views: Liberty Harbor RV Park in Jersey City provides views of the Statue of Liberty from some sites. "Having a view of Lady Liberty out your window is priceless," notes Joe R. The park is located near "a ferry 100-yards away that takes you to Wall Street M-F" according to Shawn B.
Lake activities: Mahlon Dickerson Reservation offers nearby water recreation options. "We always hike to the lake here, it's a very easy hike and also very peaceful," reports Paulene-Amanda M. The reservation includes trails leading to ponds and lakes within a short distance of the campground.
Animal encounters: Pleasant Acres Farm RV Resort features on-site farm animals. "The farm has goats, a donkey, and a pony within the campground. Very cool," writes Faith D. Children can interact with these animals as part of their camping experience.
What campers like
Natural setting: Mahlon Dickerson Reservation offers secluded camping. "The sites are wooded and large. They are spaced well and have a nice bonus of large fire rings set back in the woods a bit from the pad," explains Greg S. Sites are paved and mostly level with electric and water hookups.
Close proximity to NYC transit: Liberty Harbor RV Park provides convenient city access. "This is a prime location for visiting the city or heading down the shore. The light rail is a block away, and the path train is about 8," writes Joe R. Emily L. adds it's "right on the harbor & on the very edge of Jersey City, close to a ferry & the train that takes u across to New York City."
Peaceful environment: Thousand Trails Timothy Lake South offers a quiet camping experience despite being full. "Very quiet here which I hear is opposite from the North park right up the road," reports Brett L. The campground layout contributes to this atmosphere, as Mary H. notes: "Sites are kinda close together but it was fairly quiet even though it was full."
What you should know
Actual RV parking conditions: Liberty Harbor RV Park is primarily a parking area with hookups. "It is just a gravel parking lot, with water and electricity. There is a dump station, but not the easiest to use," Shawn B. explains. Ericka T. adds: "Larger rigs will barely have a yard. And don't bet on a private picnic table."
Water hookup arrangements: Mahlon Dickerson has a solution for distant water connections. "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," reports antruze. This feature makes water access more convenient than it might initially appear.
Seasonal considerations: Many RV parks near Upper Montclair have seasonal limitations. Thousand Trails Timothy Lake South operates from "May 1 to October 31," while NWS Earle RV Park's season runs "April 1 to November 15." Pleasant Acres Farm RV Resort operates "Apr 1 - Oct 31," requiring winter campers to seek year-round alternatives like Black Bear RV Park.
Tips for camping with families
Animal attractions: Pleasant Acres Farm RV Resort offers unique farm animal interactions. "My daughter loved the horses and goats," notes Erin S. The campground features "a miniature horse that wonders around its huge pin located in the middle of the campground," which Ethan K. describes as "amazingly beautiful."
Playground options: Various campgrounds offer different play facilities for children. At Mountain Top RV Park, Jason G. notes they have "a brand-new pickleball court" and "an updated pool, playground, game room." Pleasant Acres Farm RV Resort offers "plenty of planned activities to keep you occupied," according to James V.
Bear awareness: Campers should prepare for potential wildlife encounters. Greg S. mentions at Mahlon Dickerson Reservation: "There are a lot of bear warnings here so that gave us a bit of pause with our three little boys." Proper food storage and wildlife awareness should be part of family camping preparations in this region.
Tips from RVers
Cell connectivity challenges: Mobile coverage varies significantly between parks. At Thousand Trails Timothy Lake South, "The cell service for most providers is practically non-existent," reports Jim G. Don C. offers specific metrics: "Verizon is 25 down 10 up. Tmobile is unusable."
Navigation considerations: Reaching some campgrounds requires careful driving. Kevin A. shares about Liberty Harbor RV Park: "Getting in and out of the city is an adventure. Stay right off the highway to avoid the $30 tunnel toll. Follow RV life pro and not Waze." This advice can save RVers significant money and stress.
Site selection strategy: When using first-come, first-serve campgrounds like Thousand Trails Timothy Lake South, site selection requires planning. Jim G. advises: "The check-in process alerted us to the sites that had issues such as no water or cable (there were 5 or 6 of them)." At Timothy Lake, Brett L. recommends: "Some are a bit narrow, but I found a nice pull thru."
