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 Oak Ridge, NJ
177 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Search destinations
Add dates
SUMMARY PRESENTED BY
The Skylands region surrounding Oak Ridge, New Jersey encompasses diverse camping environments within an hour's drive, from developed campgrounds to more primitive options. Mahlon Dickerson Reservation offers large, wooded sites with water and electric hookups just 15 miles southwest of Oak Ridge, while Stokes State Forest provides a more remote experience with four distinct camping areas about 30 miles northwest. The Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, accessible from multiple points near Oak Ridge, features both established campgrounds and boat-in primitive sites along the river. Private campgrounds like Great Divide and Panther Lake complement these public options with additional amenities including swimming areas, organized activities, and full hookup sites for RVs.
Most campgrounds in the area operate seasonally from April through October, with limited winter camping available at select locations. Reservations are strongly recommended, especially for summer weekends when New York and New Jersey residents seek outdoor escapes. As one camper noted, "Stokes is nestled in a beautiful part of New Jersey and it's just remote enough that you can get away from the crowds while still being in a short driving distance of restaurants and grocery stores." Bear activity requires proper food storage throughout the region, and ticks are common during warmer months. Cell service varies significantly, with better coverage at private campgrounds and limited or no service in more remote areas of state forests and the Delaware Water Gap.
Lakeside and riverside sites consistently receive the highest ratings from visitors, though they typically book fastest. High Point State Park, containing New Jersey's highest elevation point, features campsites around Sawmill Lake that offer exceptional privacy. "The sites were large and spread out, and we felt like we had a good amount of privacy," reported one visitor. Several campgrounds provide access to the Appalachian Trail, which passes through the region. Wildlife viewing opportunities abound, with deer, various birds, and smaller mammals commonly spotted. Weekday camping generally offers a quieter experience, as weekend crowds from nearby metropolitan areas can create more noise and competition for prime sites, particularly during summer months.
Best Campgrounds near Oak Ridge (177)
1. 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."
2. Stokes State Forest
"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 Availability3. 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."
4. 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 $$"
5. High Point State Park Campground
"Beautiful park with in the skylands region of New Jersey. Great campsites on a lake, with lots of hiking and biking trails right from your site."
"There are about 40 to 50 sites around Sawmill Lake. Many of these sites , like ours, are walk in sites (about a 50 yard walk) that sit lakeside."
from $5 - $20 / night
Check Availability6. Beaver Pond Campground in Harriman State Park
"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 Availability7. Swartswood State Park Campground
"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."
8. Wawayanda State Park Campground
"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."
9. Kittatinny Campground
"A few of my friends stayed at Kittatinny Canoes River Beach Campsites recently, and while the location is fantastic for river enthusiasts, there are some areas that could use improvement. "
"With over 160 sites spread across 18 acres, campers can choose from wooded, open field, or riverfront locations, all equipped with essential amenities like electric hookups, fresh drinking water, and picnic"
from $75 - $400 / night
Check Availability10. Pleasant Acres Farm RV Resort
"And also no garbage anywhere near the RV sites! Rv sites were mostly pretty flat, spacious and in a wooded area which we loved."
"Important to not miss: the amazingly beautiful miniature horse that wonders around its huge pin located in the middle of the campground."
Drive Time
- 40 min from Kiryas Joel, NY
- 46 min from New York, NY
- 1 hr 28 min from Trenton, NJ
- 1 hr 29 min from Allentown, PA
Recent Camping Photos near Oak Ridge, NJ
566 Photos of 177 Oak Ridge Campgrounds
Zina R.
Mahlon Dickerson Reservation
Sue B.
Wawayanda Group Shelter
The Dyrt
Tentrr Signature Site - Appalachian Trail Hilltop Hideaway - Coleman Cooking Site
Dominic G.
Moon Valley Campground
The Dyrt
Woodland Trails
Bee L.
Kittatinny Valley State Park Campground
Kimberly M.
Great Divide Campground
Jake R.
Campgaw Mountain Reservation
Jessica D.
Kymers Camping Resort
Erin S.
Pleasant Acres Farm RV Resort
Sean F.
Harmony Ridge Farm & Campgrounds
Paul N.
Swartswood State Park Campground
Recent Reviews near Oak Ridge, NJ
1017 Reviews of 177 Oak Ridge 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!
- NNicole Z.Traveler
Happy Days Campground
Excellent campsite
We were looking for a campsite on our way up north and we’re so happy to find this one. While it is a commercial site. It is located in the woods. It has full hook up and portable water at the site. We couldn’t be happier with a warm welcome we received late at night and the cleanliness of the bathrooms and each site. I would highly recommend this campsite.
- 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.
- 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 Oak Ridge
Camping sites near Oak Ridge, New Jersey offer diverse terrain across the highlands region, with elevations ranging from 700 to 1,800 feet above sea level. The area experiences distinct seasons with hot summers averaging 80-85°F and cold winters often dropping below freezing. Most campsites sit within the Newark Watershed, creating varied water access options from spring-fed lakes to Delaware River frontage.
What to do
Kayaking and boating access: Panther Lake Camping Resort provides on-site lake access with rental boats available. "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," notes one visitor.
Hiking the Appalachian Trail: Beaver Pond Campground sits near trail access points. A camper reports, "There are plenty of trails, water (creeks, pond, lake) views and even if the place is packed there is PLENTY of room. The price makes it even better."
Petting farm animals: Pleasant Acres Farm RV Resort offers unique animal interactions for visitors. "The farm has goats, a donkey, and a pony within the campground. Very cool," shares one reviewer. Another notes, "Plenty to occupy the kids. Playground, hayride, animals to feed (goats, chickens, donkey and pony)."
What campers like
Privacy between sites: High Point State Park Campground offers secluded camping areas. "The sites were very secluded from each other and most if not all have an elevated space to put tents or chairs," explains a visitor. The campground includes both open areas and more isolated spots.
Shower and bathroom facilities: Campers specifically praise cleanliness at certain locations. "Clean bathrooms with flush toilets and showers, masks required for the pandemic," noted a visitor at Swartswood State Park. Another camper at Stokes State Forest shared, "Bathrooms and shower were all single stall and very clean, only a 5 min walk from our site."
Lake access for swimming: Great Divide Campground receives high marks for water options. "Big campground, big lake, clean and enjoyable. Nice pool, big community hot tub, boating is great, good fishing, nice playground, basketball court and great amenities," wrote one visitor.
What you should know
Bear encounters: Bears are common throughout the region. "Welcome to Bear Mountain" grumbles the park ranger as he sits in complete darkness!" reported a camper at Beaver Pond. "Remember, this is bear country so proper food storage is a must," warns another visitor to Stokes State Forest. Bear lockers are not provided at most sites.
Limited cell service: Reception varies significantly by location and carrier. One camper at Great Divide noted, "A bit out here in the middle of nowhere, 15-20 minutes from any town. Make sure you have what you need!"
Campsite selection importance: Choose locations carefully as quality varies. "If you want to score a secluded spot in the woods that would be perfect but anywhere else can be a bummer," advised a camper at Panther Lake about avoiding seasonal areas. Many parks offer a mix of open field and wooded sites.
Tips for camping with families
Activity planning: Stokes State Forest offers numerous family-friendly options. "We stayed in the campsites at Lake Ocquittunk Area. Campsite was very spacious and had a platform where we were able to fit two tents. Site came with bear proof bin for garbage and fire ring," shared a visitor.
Playground access: Multiple campgrounds feature play areas. "Short distance from NYC, very organized, clean pond, has a playground, showers, bathroom. Your phone will have signal," reports a Beaver Pond visitor.
Weekend vs. weekday visits: Timing affects experience significantly. "We came on a Friday night. Everyone was up pretty late, but was not crazy loud. The rest of the weekend it seemed like everyone's simmered down. The campground was full of mostly families," reported a Stokes State Forest camper.
Tips from RVers
Hookup availability: Mahlon Dickerson Reservation provides good RV facilities. "Very clean and quiet. 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," explains one camper.
RV site leveling: High Point State Park presents challenges for larger vehicles. "So, we got in with no reservation, which was great. It's in the same park as the high point, also great. The sites are varied, some have tent platforms, it's just off the AT, but we have a trailer and the 'trailer' sites aren't level. Showers are at the day use area, from 10-5:30, no trailer dump."
Facility access: Great Divide Campground offers good RV amenities but with limitations. "One downside about this site was that you have to drop your supplies off and drive it back to the parking lot which was slightly annoying," reports one RVer.
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Oak Ridge, NJ?
What camping is available near Oak Ridge, NJ?
According to TheDyrt.com, Oak Ridge, NJ offers a wide range of camping options, with 177 campgrounds and RV parks near Oak Ridge, NJ and 5 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Oak Ridge, NJ?
Which is the most popular campground near Oak Ridge, NJ?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Oak Ridge, NJ is Mahlon Dickerson Reservation with a 4.6-star rating from 19 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Oak Ridge, NJ?
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Oak Ridge, NJ?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 5 free dispersed camping spots near Oak Ridge, NJ.
What parks are near Oak Ridge, NJ?
What parks are near Oak Ridge, NJ?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 11 parks near Oak Ridge, NJ that allow camping, notably Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area and Gateway National Recreation Area.
Keep Exploring