Oakland, New Jersey RV parks and campgrounds provide access to the Ramapo Mountains, with elevations reaching 1,171 feet at Ramapo Mountain. Most campgrounds remain open from April through October, with select facilities offering year-round camping. Winter camping requires preparation for temperatures that typically range from 20-40°F.
What to do
Explore urban attractions: Liberty Harbor RV Park in Jersey City serves as a convenient base for New York City exploration. "My wife visited Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. The sites had electric and water and were in a fenced off section of the marina parking area," notes Kevin A., highlighting the strategic location for city adventures.
Hike local trails: Beaver Pond Campground offers access to numerous trails including portions of the Appalachian Trail. "Hike trails are all over the place and the lake is nearby," reports Kelvin, while Rebecca S. adds, "We stayed here on a Thursday night in September prior to taking off backpacking. The campground was clean and quiet."
Visit farm animals: Pleasant Acres Farm RV Resort provides unique agricultural experiences. "The farm has goats, a donkey, and a pony within the campground. Very cool," says Faith D. Another visitor, Janelle G., adds that there are "animals to feed (goats, chickens, donkey and pony)" making it ideal for families seeking animal encounters.
What campers like
Weekday tranquility: Many campgrounds offer peaceful experiences during non-peak times. "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," shares Rebecca S. about Beaver Pond Campground.
Family activities: Campgrounds near Oakland offer various recreation options. "There were some organized activities which was nice, not as much as a Jellystone Park. We also parked backwards in our site to buddy up with our friends," notes Janelle G. about Pleasant Acres Farm RV Resort.
Convenient city access: Liberty Harbor RV Park provides urban camping with exceptional location advantages. "This is all about location. The closest RV park to NYC. Pick one of the larger end row sites to get a little extra elbow room. Two blocks away from NJ Path train into Manhattan or take the ferry to Wall Street!" shares Keith and Tia S.
What you should know
Site spacing varies significantly: Some Oakland area RV parks feature tight spacing while others offer room to spread out. "If it's packed, your neighbor with be within inches of your rig," warns Keith and Tia S. about Liberty Harbor, while at Mahlon Dickerson Reservation, "The sites are spaced well and have 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.
Highway noise factors: Location relative to major roads impacts the camping experience. At Tri-State RV Park, "Located just off the highway so lots of vehicle noise 24/7. Sites are on a gravel lot," reports Michael H., while Sara R. adds, "highway noise, not pretty / not in nature, close spots, no privacy."
Wildlife precautions: Bear activity requires proper food storage. "There are a lot of bear warnings here so that gave us a bit of pause with our three little boys," notes Greg S. about Mahlon Dickerson Reservation. Another camper at Beaver Pond mentions, "The wildlife do roam around your campsite so be mindful of putting food and garbage away before sleeping."
Tips for camping with families
Platform tents: Several campgrounds offer raised tent platforms ideal for families. "They have these 12x12 platforms to put your tent on. This was pretty cool especially since some of the sites are all gravel with surrounding dirt," explains Christina L. about Mahlon Dickerson Reservation.
Playground access: Recreation areas keep children entertained. "They offer several planned activities for kids and they have nice facilities like a great swimming pool and ping pong," mentions Ethan K. about Pleasant Acres Farm, while Zorina N. notes that Beaver Pond "has a playground, showers, bathroom. Your phone will have signal."
Budget-friendly options: Black Bear RV Park and other facilities provide various price points. "Camping for just $15," highlights Adaly about Beaver Pond Campground, making it one of the more affordable options in the region.
Tips from RVers
Water hookup considerations: Many RV parks near Oakland require preparation for water connections. "The water hoses provided are plenty long. We didn't need to use our hose at all, just the filter," notes Greg S. about Mahlon Dickerson Reservation.
Winter camping challenges: For cold weather camping, verify service availability. "We are returning to the south after spending a couple months of fall in New England. Unfortunately at this site, the heated water pipe was broken so we had no water for the night," reports Gabbie Y. about her Black Bear RV Park winter experience.
Dump station accessibility: Plan for variable dump station conditions. "Easy to dump and fill. Peaceful. Close to train to N. Y. City," shares Nancymike K. about Mahlon Dickerson Reservation, while Dave B. notes that Tri-State RV Park is "Safe, clean, and right on the Delaware River. Groceries and Home Depot close buy if you need to restock."
