143 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Camping options surrounding Montville, New Jersey range from developed facilities to primitive sites, with several public and private campgrounds within a 30-mile radius. Mahlon Dickerson Reservation stands out as a highly-rated county park featuring tent sites, RV hookups, and cabin accommodations. Camp Glen Gray and Panther Lake Camping Resort also provide mixed-use campgrounds with cabin options. Most established campgrounds in the area offer electric hookups, picnic tables, and fire rings, while a few primitive sites like Stonetown Circular Trail provide more secluded alternatives for experienced backpackers.
Access to most developed campgrounds in the region requires reservations, particularly during the peak season from April through October when many facilities are fully operational. Seasonal closures affect several campgrounds, with Swartswood State Park typically open April 1 to October 31, and Panther Lake operating April 1 to November 1. Some locations like Mahlon Dickerson feature paved, level sites accommodating RVs with electric and water hookups, while primitive sites demand proper backcountry preparation. "The sites are paved and mostly level. They are wooded and large. Water and electric hookups and a dump station. Convenient for hiking and exploring," noted one visitor about Mahlon Dickerson.
Campers consistently mention the wooded, private nature of sites as a key feature of camping in this region of New Jersey. Mahlon Dickerson receives particular praise for its spacious sites and access to hiking trails. "Very clean and quiet. Website lists water hook ups at long distances but they have hose reels to help with that," reported one camper. The region's proximity to natural features like lakes and hiking trails enhances the camping experience, with several locations offering access to water activities. Bear safety awareness is recommended at multiple campgrounds. While most developed sites provide bathroom facilities with showers, primitive camping areas lack amenities, requiring self-sufficiency. Sites with hookups typically fill quickly on summer weekends, making advance planning essential.
"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."
"Drive-in tent campgrounds. Adequate restroom facilities sprinkled amongst tent sites. Some campsites have raised platforms. All sites have picnic tables and fire ring with flip-top grill."
"The grounds are just steps away from Welch Lake, offering a lifeguard monitored sandy beach which is open during the summer season for swimming, fishing, and small boat craft further out."
from $17 - $20 / night
Check Availability"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 $$"
"This is all about location. The closest RV park to NYC. It's basically a parking lot with a dump station. Not much else. Pick one of the larger end row sites to get a little extra elbow room."
"Basicly a parking lot, but the location can't be beat. 2 ferries that run to Manhattan. Path train is a 12 minute walk away that will take you yyo manhatten."
from $145 - $180 / night
Check Availability"One rustic place with many hiking trails to choose from. Camp also provides trucking of gear weather permitting. No vehicles allowed to drive through camp. Trading Post for treats and other items."
"Lots of hiking trails. Trading post is well stocked and volunteers are always friendly and able to answer any questions"
from $5 - $200 / night
Check Availability"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"Stonetown Circular trail is a 11 mile medium/high difficulty loop trail. This is the first of two primitive sites along the trail. The trailhead is across the street from a large parking lot."
"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."
"It is off the beaten path without any running water or showers within walking distance."
"Fantastic loop hike near some amazing hidden lakes. One downside is there were obviously people who had visited and didn't understand what LEAVE NO TRACE means. We'll bring a trashbag next time."
TravelerThis 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 spots near Montville, New Jersey range from primitive backcountry sites to well-appointed cabins within a 30-mile radius. The northern New Jersey region sits at elevations between 400-1500 feet, creating varied terrain for campers in the Skylands region. Winter temperatures often drop below freezing from December through February, while summer highs typically reach 80-85°F with moderate humidity.
Hiking at Beaver Pond: Access multiple trail systems including sections of the Appalachian Trail at Beaver Pond Campground in nearby Harriman State Park. "The biggest positive about Beaver Pond is how spread out it was. You definitely feel like you have your own space and are not camping on top of your neighbor," notes Ethan K.
Kayaking and fishing: Great Divide Campground offers complimentary kayaks for campers. "Kids had lots of fun on the free kayaks and pool. Staff was friendly and helpful. Campgrounds have lots of hills so be prepared to hike up and down," shares Jojo P.
Seasonal swimming: Most campgrounds with lakes or pools operate swimming areas from Memorial Day through Labor Day with lifeguards. "The lake is beautiful! Great for swimming and fishing. There are several trail hikes that you can do from the campsite. The longest is 3 miles but you can connect between each trail to make a longer hike," notes a camper about Swartswood State Park.
Winter activities: Several parks including Stokes State Forest maintain cabin accommodations through winter months when temperatures regularly drop below freezing. "We stayed in site 15. The sites are wooded and large. Water and electric hookups and a dump station. Convenient for hiking and exploring," reports one RVer.
Privacy levels: Stokes State Forest receives praise for its secluded options. "We stayed at site 11 on Lake Ocquittunk. While making reservations it said almost all sites were full but upon arrival the vast majority of sites were empty which made for a quiet/relaxing night," reports Josh S.
Off-season tranquility: Many campgrounds near Montville experience significantly lower occupancy in spring and fall. "We stayed here on a Thursday night in September prior to taking off backpacking. The campground was clean and quiet. Ranger said that during summer weekends the grounds fill up and can be quite noisy, but mid-week during the off-season it was great," notes Rebecca S.
Wildlife viewing: Black bears are common in the region, requiring proper food storage. "Three black bears strolled by the campsite next to ours in the early morning—gave us more of an energy boost after a sleepless night than our coffee!" reports Kaitlyn S. about her experience at Swartswood State Park.
Clean facilities: Several campgrounds maintain well-kept restrooms even during peak season. "Clean bathrooms with flush toilets and showers, masks required for the pandemic still," reports Dwight D. about facilities at Swartswood.
Bear safety protocols: Multiple campgrounds enforce strict food storage regulations. "Welcome to Bear Mountain" grumbles the park ranger as he sits in complete darkness! He is in his ranger hut, checking in the late evening arrivals to the campground... He offers us a highlighted map to our site, wishes us a good stay, and gives us the run down on bear activity in the area," recounts Steve W. at Beaver Pond Campground.
Seasonal closures: Most state parks operate campgrounds from April through October with exact dates varying. "The campground was full of mostly families. If you wanted to shower, you would have to head to the group campsite not too far but you need to drive," notes Adeline M.
Primitive options: Stonetown Circular Trail Primitive #1 offers free backcountry camping without amenities. "This site is about 2 miles into the hike. This is a great spot to set up camp because it has a wide area and an amazing view. You will find the site right next to the American Flag at the top of the mountain," explains Ethan K.
Site terrain challenges: Many campgrounds feature uneven, rocky, or sloped sites. "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. Site came with bear proof bin for garbage and fire ring," notes E.M.V. about Stokes State Forest.
Activity schedules: Panther Lake Camping Resort organizes regular family programs. "We went on 4th of July weekend so the place was packed. We were able to get a secluded spot in the woods which was great! 2 teenage girls had a blast in the lake and riding their bikes around. Pool was packed so didn't spend time there but the ceramic class was fun for the girls," shares Jojo P.
Quieter sites: Families seeking more peaceful experiences should book sites numbered 30+ at Swartswood or in secluded areas. "The other 3/4 of the campsite was bound by trees and shrubs which was nice and why we chose the spot. Other sites are more open and only the darkness of night will give you privacy," notes Dwight D.
Budget-friendly options: State parks typically offer the lowest rates, starting around $15-25 per night. "This is an off-grid camping experience. You can use your generator at certain hours. They have a beach. Their staff is friendly. I love going here," shares Adaly about Wawayanda State Park.
Seasonal crowds: Most family-oriented campgrounds experience heaviest usage on summer weekends. "We had a great time. Only issue was a skunk that visited our campsite multiple times in one night. Was not afraid of humans," reports Colleen C. about her stay at Panther Lake.
Water connection challenges: Camp Glen Gray and several other campgrounds have limited hookup options. "Great Camp!!! One rustic place with many hiking trails to choose from. Camp also provides trucking of gear weather permitting. No vehicles allowed to drive through camp," notes Jose N.
Leveling requirements: Many campgrounds in the hilly terrain require leveling equipment. "Easy to navigate our 38 ft. RV. Easy to dump and fill. Peaceful. Close to train to N.Y. City," shares Nancymike K. about their experience at Mahlon Dickerson Reservation.
Winter hookup limitations: Most full-hookup sites close seasonally, though some parks maintain limited winter access. "Big campground, lots of sites, nice pool, big community hot tub, boating is great, good fishing, nice playground, basketball court and great amenities," shares Richard V. about Panther Lake's facilities.
Site size considerations: Larger rigs should call ahead to confirm access. "Like many of the sites in this area, Great Divide had a large pool which was used by many of the campers. Each site had a water spout and electric plug in. The one downside about this site was that you are not allowed to keep your car at your site," observes Ethan K.
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Montville, NJ?
According to TheDyrt.com, Montville, NJ offers a wide range of camping options, with 143 campgrounds and RV parks near Montville, NJ and 4 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Montville, NJ?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Montville, NJ is Mahlon Dickerson Reservation with a 4.6-star rating from 19 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Montville, NJ?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 4 free dispersed camping spots near Montville, NJ.
What parks are near Montville, NJ?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 10 parks near Montville, NJ that allow camping, notably Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area and Gateway National Recreation Area.
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