Best Campgrounds near Mount Olive, NJ

Camping near Mount Olive, New Jersey encompasses a range of established campgrounds within the scenic Skylands region of northern New Jersey. The area is surrounded by several state parks and recreation areas, including Mahlon Dickerson Reservation, Stephens State Park, and the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. Most campgrounds accommodate tent camping, RVs, and many offer cabin rentals. Great Divide Campground in nearby Newton and Panther Lake Camping Resort in Andover provide full-service options with amenities for families, while state park campgrounds offer more rustic experiences with access to hiking trails and water activities.

Most campgrounds in the Mount Olive area operate seasonally from April through October, with peak season running May through September. Reservations are strongly recommended, especially for summer weekends when New York City residents seek outdoor escapes. Weather conditions vary significantly by season, with hot, humid summers and occasional thunderstorms, while spring and fall offer milder temperatures ideal for camping. Bear activity is present in the region, particularly in the Delaware Water Gap area, requiring proper food storage. Cell service can be spotty in more remote campgrounds, though coverage is generally reliable at private campgrounds closer to town.

State park campgrounds like Stephens State Park and Mahlon Dickerson Reservation provide more natural settings with larger, more private sites. According to reviews, Mahlon Dickerson offers "paved and mostly level sites that are wooded and large" with convenient access to hiking trails. Private campgrounds tend to have more amenities but can be busier. Great Divide Campground features "kayaks for camper use, horseshoes, volleyball, a pool, a playground, and a dog park," according to one visitor. For those seeking a unique experience, boat-in camping is available at several sites along the Delaware River, though these primitive sites require paddling access and have strict regulations enforced by the National Park Service.

Best Camping Sites Near Mount Olive, New Jersey (177)

    1. Panther Lake Camping Resort

    17 Reviews
    Andover, NJ
    8 miles
    Website
    +1 (973) 347-4440

    "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."

    2. Great Divide Campground

    16 Reviews
    Andover, NJ
    10 miles
    Website
    +1 (973) 383-4026

    " 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 $$"

    3. Jenny Jump State Forest

    14 Reviews
    Johnsonburg, NJ
    11 miles
    Website
    +1 (908) 459-4366

    "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."

    4. Mahlon Dickerson Reservation

    18 Reviews
    Jefferson, NJ
    14 miles
    Website
    +1 (973) 697-3140

    "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."

    5. Round Valley State Park Campground

    25 Reviews
    Lebanon, NJ
    17 miles
    Website
    +1 (908) 236-6355

    "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."

    6. Worthington State Forest Campground — Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area

    39 Reviews
    Shawnee on Delaware, NJ
    21 miles
    Website

    "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."

    7. Camp Taylor Campground

    24 Reviews
    Pahaquarry, NJ
    20 miles
    Website
    +1 (908) 496-4333

    $33 - $42 / night

    "Positives: sites are decent sized with fire pits and picnic tables. easy access to hiking, convenient to a beautiful vineyard, peaceful region, and the most amazing wolf preserve is right next to you.  "

    "They were knowledgeable about the surrounding towns, their campground, and basically everything nature related. This was our very first night camping in an RV (we were renters at the time)."

    8. Spruce Run Recreation Area

    15 Reviews
    Bethlehem, NJ
    16 miles
    Website
    +1 (908) 638-8572

    "Park employees and park police drive around through the day. Some big groups of campers got a little rowdy at night. The bathrooms were absolutely disgusting."

    "The actual site was nice and was close to the bathrooms. There was plenty of shade as the sun moved throughout the day."

    9. Driftstone Campground

    15 Reviews
    Mount Bethel, PA
    17 miles
    Website
    +1 (570) 897-6859

    $62 - $70 / night

    "Driftstone is set on a beautiful location on the Delaware River. River Road on which it is located, is picturesque and quiet enough to run, walk or bike on."

    "Driftstone is a gem of a campground at a great location on the Delaware. Easy access to Delaware Gap Recreation Area. Sites are pretty spacious with water and electric hookups."

    10. Stephens State Park Campground

    5 Reviews
    Hackettstown, NJ
    4 miles
    Website
    +1 (908) 852-3790

    "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."

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Recent Reviews near Mount Olive, NJ

977 Reviews of 177 Mount Olive Campgrounds


  • Jessica V.
    Sep. 13, 2025

    Tohickon Family Campground

    Great weekend spot

    We went with friends for a weekend. Both families have little kids and it was a great spot with a playground, construction digging area, and a bunch of activities for the kids to do. We went in September so the pool was closed but it looked like a nice size. Full hook ups which was great! Also they have a nice stream that everyone went fishing at. They are building some new sites at the end of the property.

  • Stuart K.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 5, 2025

    Round Valley State Park Campground

    Get Your Hard-Core Hiking In To Enjoy This CG

    Located just south of I78 and near the small hamlets of Clinton and Lebanon, what I love most about Round Valley SP is the fact that it has its very own eponymous fresh water reservoir, which spanning some 2,350 acres and is 180 feed deep in the middle, this body of water provides a solid amount of upside for anyone wanting to kayak, canoe or swim. One of the greatest assets at this particular SP CG are the wonderful rangers who keep this place in such tip-top condition year-round. From the North Picnic Area, Bray’s Hill Preserve and Round Valley Beachhead to the East Picnic Area, Round Valley Farm on the eastern side of the reservoir as well as Round Valley Rec Area, there’s a lot to explore at this SP.

    One interesting fact about this place– believe it or not– it is the only NJ SP that actually offers up true wilderness camping(a.k.a. primitive), which can only be accessed by hiking 3 to 6 miles– or if you come with your own boat, you can access by water– and can be found on the SE corner of the reservoir. There is a second area nearby called Spruce Run Recreation Area that can be accessed by driving to this location, which is on the other side of I78 NW of Round Valley SP. That said, if you’re looking to camp here at Round Valley, I highly recommend you boat in as the hiking path is incredibly difficult to manage without hauling all of your camping gear, so coming in with a ton of gear is even more difficult/ prohibitive.

    When you finally do arrive to this primitive CG immersed in NJ’s thick wild foliage, you’ll experience waterfront bliss with a crystalline bevy of trout-infused reservoir water, and you won’t get much in the way of amenities, apart from a few random water pumps and some rocks piled in a circle that, um, I guess makes up a fire ring. While there are backwoods-style bathroom pits, these are very ill-managed and you’ll come across the‘stank’ well before actually even arriving here, so we just didn’t use them. There’s picnic tables, but the one we had was in pretty rough condition. The thing I found odd about the place is that after hiking so far in to get to this location, you’re not allowed to swim in the reservoir, which kind of defeats the entire point IMHO. That said, the views are amazing and because there’s nothing else in these parts, you will experience true peace in nature.

    Insider’s tips? Here’s a few:(1) Whether hiking or kayaking to this CG, you will want to bring as little with you as possible– packing too much to come here just isn’t worth the work;(2) We found parking in the Southern Lot to be perfectly fine and while we were initially worried about leaving our vehicle parked there for a few nights, we were reassured by the park rangers who patrol the lot constantly;(3) While the water in the reservoir may look crystal clear, it is not crystal clean and I would STRONGLY encourage anyone who thinks that it is OK to drink from the reservoir to at least use a Life Straw to ensure they don’t get sick;(4) I have hiked throughout the entire US and consider myself somewhere between a moderate to skilled hiker and I found these trails challenging and uneven, so while the hike we made was only 3 miles, it was not easy and I would be worried about someone breaking an ankle getting to this CG– so at a minimum, ensure you are wearing proper hiking boots. Seriously, for what this SP puts you through to access this CG one really needs to question why they’re being charged anything at all in the first place.

    Happy Camping!

  • Kylie R.
    Aug. 30, 2025

    Mountain Vista Campground

    A mix of being able to unplug but also have the ammenities avavilble if wanted/needed

    This campground is very clean, staff and campers are very friendly. It’s a great spot if you have kids because they have many different activities(pool/arcade games/movie nights/ and more.)

  • Damia F.
    Aug. 29, 2025

    High Point State Park Campground

    Relaxing and Well-Maintained

    Stayed 2 nights and it was really nice. Camping for summer is pretty limited to Sawmill Lake, as the other locations are for groups or winter camping. Camps are secluded from each other and most if not all have an elevated space to put tents or chairs. Each place comes with a lamp hang, a fire pit, and a picnic table. Bathrooms are spaced out. No running water except for pump founded outside of the bathrooms. Toilets are pump flushed. Showers are only located INSIDE High Point State Park, not throughout the campsites, but entry is free for campers. One hiking trail is accessible in Sawmill campground, 3 others are accessible on the road outside of the campground and the rest are located inside the park. When you arrive you have to check in with the park office for your campsite tag. Hours are 8-4. Park officials come through the campsites pretty regularly, a few times a day which is nice. Areas are clean and well maintained.

  • j
    Aug. 27, 2025

    Cranberry Run Campground

    Don’t Stay here!!

    It’s not a campground. It’s where people stash their rvs, some of whom seem to live here permanently. Caretaker was rude. Sites were all rocky and many on steep inclines. Complete waste of our time. Plus, the site looks nothing like the pictures they post, which is an area you can’t camp at. Don’t stay here.

  • Paul K.
    Aug. 26, 2025

    Croton Point Park

    Not the Best Place to Go in the Northeast By a Longshot

    Croton Point Campground is a modest little campground, located along the Hudson River within Croton Point Park in NY. In addition to camping, the park itself offers many of its own attractions, including swimming, hiking, kayaking, cabin rentals, and a host of other family-oriented activities just along the Hudson. 

    The park, which is honestly probably the largest attraction here, is located just an hour and a half outside of the city. This proximity is both its perk and its downfall, as the park itself, but particularly the campground, has become laden with all sorts of inexplicable and burdensome rules, endless guidelines, and restrictions only a New York State-run bureaucracy could ever make sense of, let alone hope to justify. 

    This includes all manner of restrictions on how you can camp, where you can camp, what equipment can be used, and use in relation to what particular site you may have been lucky enough to reserve. Much of this you can understand while imagining what may have taken place here to bring them to such measures, but it doesn't make it any easier to contend with. 

    In terms of the actual camping conditions Both the tenting section and RV sites are each very clustered together, and quite crowded, with regular patrols🚓(actual patrols) being made day and night, by both the Park Rangers and what appears to be general park staff members, all looking to see if you or your family might be doing something that they might consider outside of the guidelines or not in compliance with the many restrictions. 

    This is not to say you can't possibly have a good time here. It just might mean being a bit more diligent toward reviewing the potential legitimacy of your normal camping routine to ensure it meets with many restrictions and guidelines imposed, while also making yourself comfortable with some fairly regular surveillance during your stay here. These all being things we hoped to get away from while camping ourselves It just turned out to be a bit much for our particular liking.

  • b
    Aug. 21, 2025

    Thunder Swamp Trailhead

    Gravel lot

    It’s a gravel parking lot. Plenty of shade. No one bothered me.

  • Adeline M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 19, 2025

    Worthington State Forest Campground — Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area

    Nice campground loud campers

    Great open spot with some shade, depending on when you go we have noticed there tends to be a lot of loud disrespectful people who are there to party not camp. It’s nice to be on the Delaware and not many campgrounds have water access or a boat ramp so that’s a plus. Showers, sinks, and toilets are available.

  • Janine D.
    Aug. 11, 2025

    Kittatinny Campground

    Not worth the money or time

    If we could rate this a 0 we would.  We were expecting a weekend of kayaking and relaxation when in fact we got an overcrowded, noisy and dirty weekend that was overpriced.  I will give the river a 10, it was beautiful, welcoming and refreshing in the warm sun.  We arrived at about 8:00 in the evening with several camps blaring different genre of music, not a problem, considering we still like it as loud as possible sometimes, but it didn't end at quiet time, it continue until well over midnight.  The campsites are so close together it was like being packed into a sardine can.  The campsite across the pathway didn't have their dog on a lead and we woke up with a pile of dog excrement next to our trailer, that was a howdy-do morning for ya.  We were super excited to take our kayaks out on the river, paddle up stream and float down with our pup, but we were told that we couldn't launch from this location.  (What kind of crap is that)  This location was a receiving location only and "absolutely no launching" was allowed.  If you are looking for a party spot to come with your friends, this is definitely the place for you!  If your looking for a chill place to camp next to the river where you can tube, kayak and enjoy your peaceful weekend, this is NOT the place.  The amount of money we spent for 2 nights was outrageous for such a sucky weekend, will not be going back!


Guide to Mount Olive

Camping sites near Mount Olive, New Jersey center around the Musconetcong River Valley, where elevations range from 700 to 1,200 feet across the surrounding highlands. Weather patterns typically bring 45-50 inches of annual precipitation, with summer nighttime temperatures averaging in the high 50s even during July and August. Most campgrounds in the region operate seasonally, with primitive camping areas generally closing by late October due to falling temperatures.

What to do

Fishing opportunities: Access stocked trout waters at Stephens State Park Campground where "There is a river 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 which provided an extra layer of relaxation," according to jacquelyn G.

Hiking connections: Reach the Appalachian Trail from Camp Taylor Campground where "There are miles of hiking trails and direct access to the Appalachian Tr." Jean T. notes. The campground also features "a short hike up the mountain there to see the wolves in the sanctuary. There are moments by the fire you can hear them howl in the distance."

Water recreation: Paddle the Delaware River near camping areas. At Driftstone Campground, visitors find "Accept the Delaware River from campground and kayak trips offered" with "Easy access to Delaware Gap Recreation Area," as reported by multiple campers. The riverside location provides direct water access for boating and swimming.

What campers like

Campsite privacy levels: Wooded sites with separation at Mahlon Dickerson Reservation where "The campsites are paved and mostly level. They are wooded and large" with "a nice bonus of large fire rings set back in the woods a bit from the pad that you park on," according to Greg S.

Wildlife viewing: Wolf sanctuary access near campsites. "The Lakota Wolf Preserve is located on the camp and offers discounted tours for campers," notes Jean T. about Camp Taylor. Another camper mentions you can "take a short hike up the mountain there to see the wolves in the sanctuary. There are moments by the fire you can hear them howl in the distance."

Lake and water activities: Multiple recreation options at Panther Lake Camping Resort which features "big community hot tub, boating is great, good fishing, nice playground, basketball court and great amenities," according to Richard V. Another camper mentioned "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."

What you should know

Shower facilities vary widely: Conditions range from excellent to problematic. At Panther Lake, one camper described "Probably the worst shower ever. The lights are timed. The water is a button. The space is small as hell." In contrast, at Jenny Jump State Forest, "The showers were free and generally quite hot."

Seasonal campsite availability: Most sites fill quickly on summer weekends. Jenny Jump State Forest operates "April 1 to October 31" while Great Divide Campground runs "May 1 - Oct 14." At Worthington State Forest, one camper noted "Reservations are strongly recommended during summer months as this campground fills quickly."

Cell service limitations: Coverage varies by carrier and location. At Panther Lake Camping Resort, a camper reported "Only issue is the internet is terrible u have to be near the wifi zones" and another mentioned "good luck getting cell service! its like a black hole of signals there."

Tips for camping with families

Playground and activity options: Several campgrounds offer dedicated kids' facilities. At Great Divide Campground, "They had scheduled activities for kids" and "The common area, along with the pool, had a small soccer field and volleyball court." Another camper noted they offer "kayaks for camper use, horseshoes, volleyball, a pool, a playground."

Swimming areas: Look for lifeguarded beaches and pools. At Spruce Run Recreation Area, families can access "Several playgrounds, boat launches, and life guarded swimming area." Panther Lake offers "a nice pool for hot days" which can get crowded during peak season.

Kid-friendly camping sites: Select locations based on noise levels. At Driftstone Campground, "Smaller campground where families can get to know each other. Staff goes above and beyond to make sure that your stay is memorable" and it's described as "Very family-friendly with lots of activities."

Tips from RVers

Water hookup distances: Bring extra-long hoses at some locations. 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."

Access road challenges: Navigate carefully at some campgrounds. At Spruce Run Recreation Area, one RVer noted "If bringing your RV, the safest bet is to reserve a spot with no shade as the other spots often times have very low hanging tree limbs." Similarly at Driftstone Campground, "PLEASE NOTE: if you are towing or have a motorhome, make sure you follow the directions on the website. Coming in from the wrong road could lead you to a hairpin turn and steep hill."

Site levelness varies: Expect some adjustment needs. Some sites at Jenny Jump State Forest "have large, flat, clear spaces for multiple tents, some you have to wedge a tent to avoid rocks." At Mahlon Dickerson, sites are "paved and mostly level" while at Spruce Run "sites are hit or miss in terms of comfort."

Frequently Asked Questions

What camping is available near Mount Olive, NJ?

According to TheDyrt.com, Mount Olive, NJ offers a wide range of camping options, with 177 campgrounds and RV parks near Mount Olive, NJ and 5 free dispersed camping spots.

Which is the most popular campground near Mount Olive, NJ?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Mount Olive, NJ is Panther Lake Camping Resort with a 3.5-star rating from 17 reviews.

Where can I find free dispersed camping near Mount Olive, NJ?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 5 free dispersed camping spots near Mount Olive, NJ.

What parks are near Mount Olive, NJ?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 9 parks near Mount Olive, NJ that allow camping, notably Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area and Gateway National Recreation Area.