Camping accommodations near Old Tappan, New Jersey range from rustic tent sites to modernized cabins situated along the Appalachian Mountain foothills. Located in Bergen County's northwestern corner, this region features elevations from 40-400 feet and mixed hardwood forests. Winter temperatures typically range from 20-40°F while summer months average 70-85°F with moderate humidity compared to coastal areas.
What to do
Trail exploration: Mount Tammany: The region's elevated terrain provides access to hiking routes of varying difficulty. At Stokes State Forest, hikers can access "21 marked trails that cover over 63 miles within the boundaries" with "twelve miles [that] are part of the Appalachian Trail," according to one camper who recommended getting a trail map from the park office.
Fishing and boating: Many campgrounds feature water access for recreational activities. West Point FMWR Round Pond Recreation Area offers "beautiful and well-maintained" fishing areas. A visitor noted: "We were very impressed with the playground on site! Unfortunately, due to our early start in the camping season the weather did not allow us to enjoy fishing or the beach."
Winter camping opportunities: Unlike many seasonal campgrounds, some locations remain open year-round. Stokes State Forest provides winter accommodations, with one visitor reporting: "Rented a cabin in November (#009) and again in December (#008) of 2021. I favored Cabin 8, the kitchen and bathroom were separated from the main room...The wood stove definitely heats the room up nicely."
What campers like
Privacy levels: Campsites offer varying degrees of seclusion based on terrain and layout. At Mahlon Dickerson Reservation, campers appreciate that "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." Another reviewer described it as "quiet and spacious" with "no facilities, just a porta-jon, but i think that makes it better."
Rustic accommodations: Traditional camping experiences remain popular despite glamping trends. At Camp Glen Gray, visitors appreciate the back-to-basics approach: "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."
Platform tent sites: Several campgrounds feature raised platforms for tent setup. At High Point State Park Campground, "Each place comes with a lamp hang, a fire pit, and a picnic table... most if not all have an elevated space to put tents or chairs." Another camper noted these "12x12 platforms to put your tent on" were "pretty cool especially since some of the sites are all gravel with surrounding dirt."
What you should know
Limited facilities: Some campgrounds have minimal amenities despite their proximity to urban areas. At High Point State Park, "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."
Military-only access: Certain campgrounds restrict usage to military personnel. At West Point FMWR Round Pond Outdoor Recreation Area, "Round Pond is camping reserved for active and retired military personnel only... There are several signs everywhere making it clear that it is only for military."
Weekend noise levels: During peak season, some campgrounds experience significant evening activity. Kittatinny Campground has reports of being "a great place if you're a college kid looking to blast music and party into the late hours. Loud music blasting until 1-2am (ie: reggaeton being blasted by loud car speakers) and it picks back up by 9-10am."
Tips for camping with families
Activity-focused campgrounds: Select locations with structured programming for children. Jellystone Park Gardiner receives praise for being "great for kids" with "event just about every weekend with kid activity." Another family mentioned: "Nice pool that is shallow so you can relax and let the little ones go in the water park section alone or they have a 3 ft pool also."
Bathroom considerations: When camping with children, facility access becomes important. One family at Panther Lake noted: "Probably the worst shower ever. The lights are timed. The water is a button. The space is small as hell," while another mentioned that "Bathrooms were clean."
Weather-resistant options: Cabins provide alternatives during inclement weather. At Camp Glen Gray, "Cabins are always clean and stocked with firewood. Lots of hiking trails. Trading post is well stocked and volunteers are always friendly and able to answer any questions."
Tips from RVers
Limited hookup options: Many campgrounds restrict services for larger vehicles. At Panther Lake Camping Resort, there are "only a handful of full hook up sites surrounded by seasonal cottages. Other area of the place had water and electric but it would be hard to get in/out of if it had rained a lot as it was all on soft grass."
Leveling requirements: Terrain challenges affect RV setup in some locations. A visitor to High Point State Park mentioned: "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, website says laundry, but apparently not."
Water hookup access: Some sites provide solutions for challenging water access. 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."
