Camping opportunities near Frenchtown, New Jersey span across two states with elevations ranging from 200 to 800 feet above sea level. The region experiences distinct seasonal changes with summer temperatures averaging 75-85°F during peak camping months. Most primitive camping areas in this region require visitors to pack out all trash, while developed campgrounds typically provide weekly trash collection service.
What to do
Fishing at multiple waterways: Round Valley Recreation Area offers excellent fishing opportunities in its 2,350-acre reservoir. According to one camper, "The water is crystal clear, the area is clean. There's bathrooms and pumps but we just filtered the water from the reservoir instead which tasted a million times better than the well water."
Hammock lounging in secluded spots: Nockamixon State Park provides ample trees for hammock setup. "This is a great place to pitch a hammock and hang out for a few hours. They have a lot of land so it's easy to find a secluded spot to hang out away from paths and people!" notes one visitor.
Whitewater paddling during dam releases: Tohickon Valley County Park offers scheduled whitewater opportunities. A visitor explains, "When scheduled they open the dam up stream for some world class whitewater rafting." These releases typically occur in March and early November.
Rock music creation: Bring a hammer when visiting Ringing Rocks Family Campground to experience the unique geological feature. "The rocks really do ring when hit with another rock," explains one camper about the unusual musical stones.
What campers like
Rustic wilderness camping: Round Valley State Park Campground offers true primitive camping experiences. "It's a pretty strenuous hike, but you'll be rewarded for the effort! If you get a site on the water, you can take a boat across to your site," shares one visitor. Sites are accessible only by hiking 3-6 miles or by boat.
Waterfront relaxation: Spruce Run Recreation Area campsites offer direct water access. A camper notes, "Our site was on the water and it was really nice. A duck visited us every morning." Many waterfront sites provide sunset views over the reservoir.
Natural soundscapes: Mountainview Campground offers wildlife encounters close to camp. "I've never heard so much wildlife there as I did here. Only shortly after we settled into our tent did we hear foxes fighting right outside our tent, the snorts of deer, and there were bats right above us all night making noise!" reports one nature enthusiast.
Privacy between sites: Lake Towhee County Park provides spacious camping areas. A recent visitor shares, "All sites are good because most are large and all are nicely spaced. The outside sites look especially cozy and private."
What you should know
Campground access challenges: Sites at Round Valley Recreation Area require effort to reach. One camper advises, "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."
Bathroom conditions vary widely: Campground bathrooms throughout the region have inconsistent maintenance. At Spruce Run, a visitor reported, "The bathrooms were absolutely disgusting. I thought with COVID they were cleaning them more, but for the entire weekend, someone's #2 remained all over the toilet, floor, and corner wall."
Site surfaces differ by campground: Tent campers should research ground conditions before booking. At Colonial Woods Family Resort, a camper noted, "For whatever reason the sites are all covered in stone, and I don't mean just the area where you park, I mean it was like camping on a stone driveway."
Arrival time restrictions: Some campgrounds have strict entry policies. At Mountainview Campground, a camper explained, "I reserved two nights, but the first night we were not going to be able to arrive until after 9. After talking to them, they would not allow us to come late, but did refund the first night."
Tips for camping with families
Easy first-time experiences: Lake Towhee County Park provides beginner-friendly camping. "Great place to camp if it's your first time, clean restrooms, nice sites, showers, and cellphone service," shares a visitor. Basic amenities make this an ideal starting point for families new to camping.
Holiday weekend activities: Colonial Woods Family Resort offers organized events for children. "We went on Father's Day weekend and they had nice arts and crafts for the kids to do for dad," notes one family. Similar themed weekends occur throughout the camping season.
Swimming options for all ages: Several campgrounds feature water recreation. A Colonial Woods visitor mentioned, "The pool and splash pool for toddlers was clean with a lifeguard on duty at all times." Pool hours typically run until early evening.
Wildlife education opportunities: Campgrounds with farm animals provide unique experiences. At Mountainview Campground, a camper observed, "The free-range chickens by the office are a warm welcome," while Ringing Rocks Family Campground has regular hayrides that children enjoy.
Tips from RVers
Site selection strategy: When booking at Spruce Run Recreation Area, consider tree coverage carefully. "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," advises an RVer.
Water and power management: Many sites lack full hookups. At Spruce Run Recreation Area, an experienced camper recommends, "We luckily have some solar so we can go for awhile without running the generator. We fill our fresh water tank and bring drinking water."
Maneuverability challenges: Some campgrounds have difficult navigation for larger rigs. At Colonial Woods, an RVer cautions, "The roads are very narrow, pretty sizable boulders on both sides, trees are very low and need to be trimmed (almost took my ac out with a huge limb)."
Dump station timing: Plan departure carefully at busy campgrounds. One RVer at Colonial Woods noted, "Dump station location isn't ideal on a busy morning. I heard they might work on a second dump location and was told to ask if it's ok to stick around until it dies down if our site isn't needed soon."
