Sue B.
Ranger
RangerWawayanda Group Shelter
Appalachian Trail Shelter/Campsite
This is an A.T. shelter and campsite. First come, first served. Privy was nice. Flat tentsites for 6 or more. Good for Hammocking also.
Camping near Mount Olive, NJ
186 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
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SUMMARY PRESENTED BY
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 Campgrounds near Mount Olive (186)
1. Panther Lake Camping Resort
"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
"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
"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
"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
"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
"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
"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)."
from $33 - $42 / night
Check Availability8. Spruce Run Recreation Area
"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
"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."
from $64 - $74 / night
Check Availability10. Stephens State Park Campground
"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."
Drive Time
- 54 min from New York, NY
- 58 min from Kiryas Joel, NY
- 1 hr 6 min from Trenton, NJ
- 1 hr 9 min from Allentown, PA
Recent Camping Photos near Mount Olive, NJ
537 Photos of 186 Mount Olive Campgrounds
jacquelyn G.
Stephens State Park Campground
Kimberly M.
Great Divide Campground
Scott O.
Jenny Jump State Forest
Bee L.
Kittatinny Valley State Park Campground
Paul N.
Mahlon Dickerson Reservation
Paul N.
Swartswood State Park Campground
Yolanda T.
Spruce Run Recreation Area
Derek W.
Round Valley State Park Campground
Kevin B.
Driftstone Campground
Katharine T.
Wooded Campground
Jen R.
Camp Starry Night at Gulyan Farms
Dan X.
Camp Mohican Outdoor Center — Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area
Recent Reviews near Mount Olive, NJ
1017 Reviews of 186 Mount Olive Campgrounds
- Sue B.Ranger
Camp Mohican Outdoor Center — Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area
Great lodging options and trails!
I've visited the MOC a bunch of times, and have taken training classes here also. There are campsites for tent camping, cabin stays where you can rent a whole cabin or rent a bunk in a cabin with others. There is a store as well as food options. It's a great place to visit whether you grab a meal, a bunk, or just take a hike. The Appalachian Trail crosses through here also.
- DDaniel O.
ScoutDeerfield Campground — Promised Land State Park
Nice for a quick stopover
Stayed 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.
- AAnastasia M.
TravelerTobyhanna State Park Campground
Awesome lakeside camping 🤩
We were looking for a lakeside campground with a spacious campsite that could comfortably fit two large tents and two vehicles. We chose Tobyhanna State Park, and it turned out to be absolutely wonderful.
We stayed at Site 113, which had plenty of space on the right side of the campsite for two large tents, with enough room to park two vehicles as well. While the campsites are fairly close to one another, most visitors come here to relax and enjoy the peace and quiet, and everyone seemed very respectful of each other’s privacy.
Just a one-minute walk from our campsite, there was a very clean restroom, hot showers, and a laundry facility. Right next to it, there was a volleyball court, as well as easy access to the lake with a boat launch and great spots for fishing.
On our very first day, the park rangers warned us that bears sometimes visit the campground, so they recommended storing all food in the car overnight. We followed their advice and had no issues.
Overall, I would give Tobyhanna State Park a perfect 10 out of 10. We had an amazing experience and will definitely be coming back!
- MMakylie P.Scout
Ringing Rocks Family Campground
incredible find
i 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.
S G.ScoutMahlon Dickerson Reservation
Primitive
The 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.
- JJohn S.Scout
Quakerwoods Campground
Great place. Friendliest people
The staff is the GREATEST. They are knowledgeable and helpful. The grounds are clean. The shower rooms are clean and large. Laundry room is perfect. They have pull-thrus, back ins and tent sites. Dog stations are placed throughout the park. The campers are also the friendliest. You can always tell the condition of the camp by the quality of the people staying there.. everyone was respectful, courteous and friendly. We stayed in July, 2026 and would DEFINITELY stay again next time we are thru PA.
- MMaybe I.
GuideThe Pines Campground — Promised Land State Park
Good place
We had a great campsite 038, mainly because we booked the site right next to the restroom and hoped no one would reserve the one closest to it, which ended up being the case. The neighboring campsite on the other side also became vacant, so we had plenty of privacy. Otherwise, the sites would have felt a bit cramped. The beach is about a 5-minute walk through the woods. I highly recommend taking a walk there after dark to look at the stars. It’s absolutely worth it. Shower location only near the beach and be ready to pay for it with quarters The restroom is very close from our site and clean, but it’s surrounded by trees, so it’s well hidden and never felt like a disturbance. Our site was much more secluded than most of the others. I would also recommend site 032, as it seemed even more private. Verizon barely had any service, except early in the morning and late in the evening. T-Mobile worked much better. Overall, it’s a nice campground with a beautiful lake. We really enjoyed spending time kayaking, and if you don’t have your own kayak, you can rent one there
Frank J.TravelerSwartswood State Park Campground
The campground is open
The 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.
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?
What camping is available near Mount Olive, NJ?
According to TheDyrt.com, Mount Olive, NJ offers a wide range of camping options, with 186 campgrounds and RV parks near Mount Olive, NJ and 6 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Mount Olive, NJ?
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?
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Mount Olive, NJ?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 6 free dispersed camping spots near Mount Olive, NJ.
What parks are 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.
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