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 $21 - $24 / 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."
ScoutStayed for a quick weekday overnight at a primitive site—fine spot overall. Pros: Restrooms and showers clean and in working order. Pet-friendly. Nice surroundings (though nothing extraordinary). Easy access with a sedan. Cons: most sites are very close to one another with little privacy. Fair amount of road noise. Quiet hours didn’t seem to be enforced—some folks playing music until midnight.
TravelerBeautiful park and very peaceful. Rangers are super friendly. This is exactly what camping should be.
Scouti stumbled on this searching for something almost immediately off the interstate, but with little-to-no booking available for a reasonable price elsewhere local. we detoured about 25 minutes to get here, and it is just incredible. the scenery is gorgeous, they have a camp store with oodles of stuff, there’s a huge playground, and the camping areas are dispersed well and offer beautiful scenic privacy. i wish i could make this place my home. amenities are well taken care of, they have showers in the bathroom, as well as an on-site laundry facility. they have complimentary wifi, which i appreciate with AT&T. signal is slim to none without it. overall, 5/5 stars from my family.
ScoutThe main issue with the sites was that they were primitive -- no water. The campsites were basically just wooden platforms, with a picnic table and fire pit. There were also a lot of bugs, though this may be due to the rain. The location itself was fairly pretty and there were a number of hiking trails of not-overly-serious difficulty. The particular site we picked left is a little farther from our car than we would have liked, but for other sites you can bring your car closer.
TravelerThe campground was closed in 2024 for renovations. It is now open. I did a tour of the campgrounds but did not stay there. FYI, generators are NOT allowed at all at this campground. I did not see electric or water hookups. There are three loops. Each has it pros/cons. Sites 30-33 are near the bathroom facilities, sites 34-50 are more secluded, sites 52-65 are closer to the lake.
GuideThe park was open but camping was not. After a little extra digging they do have a few sites, but hike in only.
TravelerWe’re here for the Rock, Ribs, and Ridges festival and what a great experience! Make sure to bring a 50’ power cord as the hook ups are grouped together on telephone poles rather than at each individual site. As far as I know camping is only available during select events.
TravelerNot an NPS location as was described. Now a campsite and canoe rental at $77 a night
TravelerThere are a lot of sites here. Some in sun some in full shade. Pull through sites have trees and bushes between sites. We are over by cabins in a large gravel site.
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.
Keep Exploring
