3 campgrounds with availability this weekend
Mahlon Dickerson Reservation provides pet-friendly camping options within 30 miles of Paterson, New Jersey, featuring campsites that accommodate tents, RVs, cabins, and glamping experiences. Pets are welcome throughout the campground's drive-in and walk-in access areas, with picnic tables and fire rings available at most sites. Beaver Pond Campground at Harriman State Park also accepts pets at their tent and RV sites, offering electric hookups and shower facilities. Liberty Harbor RV Park in Jersey City welcomes pets in a more urban setting with electric and water hookups just minutes from Manhattan. Sites can be quite close together, making the park best for well-socialized dogs comfortable in busier environments.
Stonetown Circular Trail offers free primitive camping with pets allowed at two designated sites along the 11-mile loop trail. These hike-in locations require packing light, especially when approaching the first site which involves a challenging rock scramble to reach a campsite with expansive views. The second primitive site sits beside a flowing stream approximately 4 miles into the hike, providing fresh water access and enough level space for multiple tents. Campgaw Mountain Reservation provides pet-friendly tent and RV camping with free sites, though visitors note the campground experiences significant day-use traffic with popular hiking trails running directly through the camping area. Pets must remain leashed at all campgrounds, with quiet hours strictly enforced to prevent excessive barking disturbances.
"This is all about location. The closest RV park to NYC. It's basically a parking lot with a dump station. Not much else. Pick one of the larger end row sites to get a little extra elbow room."
"Basicly a parking lot, but the location can't be beat. 2 ferries that run to Manhattan. Path train is a 12 minute walk away that will take you yyo manhatten."
from $145 - $180 / night
"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."
"Police patrolled, and dog friendly."
"Stonetown Circular trail is a 11 mile medium/high difficulty loop trail. This is the first of two primitive sites along the trail. The trailhead is across the street from a large parking lot."
"Stonetown Circular trail is a 11 mile medium/high difficulty loop trail. This is the second of two primitive sites along the trail. The trailhead is across the street from a large parking lot."
"Tent sites are very private with some dirt roads to exit out but thats what make it unique experience! Bathrooms with shower is near by and has plenty porta potties all around."
"Was close to bear mountains state part and the train station is right there!"
from $30 - $60 / night
Available this weekend
from $85 - $120 / night
"A little intimidating driving in to a nondescript gate at the end of a narrow street but the overall experience exceeded expectation."
Available this weekend
from $130 / night
"Very kid and pet friendly, lake to fish and kayak on, lots of activities, great pool and awesome hot tub."
"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."
"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."
TravelerMike grandson and I had a fun time he enjoyed the little beach and especially the playground. The staff in the office were very nice. Bathrooms were clean but can be updates.
LegendLocated just off US Route 1 in the upscale Princeton area, this spacious Lowe's serves up a surprisingly pleasant patch of pavement for weary road warriors looking to catch some shut-eye. Set back roughly 80 yards from the highway, this big blue home improvement retailer offers a generously sized parking lot with relatively manageable traffic, good maneuverability and a quieter atmosphere than you might expect from such a busy suburban retail corridor. The western and southern edges of the lot are particularly appealing for an overnight stay, and with Trader Joe's, Starbucks and several other retailers nearby, convenience certainly isn't in short supply. Better yet, the store management was friendly and accommodating when we called ahead to arrange our overnight visit.
HIGHLIGHTS: (1) Spacious, paved parking lot with plenty of room to maneuver larger rigs; (2) Convenient access to US Route 1 and nearby I-95; (3) Western and southern parking areas offer quieter spots away from the busiest customer traffic; (4) Excellent nearby conveniences, including Trader Joe's, Starbucks and several dining options; and (5) Friendly store management that welcomed our overnight stay, plus surprisingly good opportunities for outdoor recreation nearby.
LOWLIGHTS: (1) Some daytime retail traffic and occasional road noise, although nothing terribly disruptive; (2) No RV hookups, dump station or dedicated overnight camping facilities; (3) Parking areas closest to the store can become crowded during business hours; (4) Limited greenery and little of the scenery you'd expect from a traditional campground; and (5) While the overnight experience was excellent, this is still a commercial parking lot rather than a destination for an extended stay.
Happy Overnighting!
LegendThere's something wonderfully special about escaping into nature where the only sounds are rustling leaves, birds singing and the gentle movement of water along the shoreline. Nestled among the wooded hills surrounding the beautiful Round Valley Reservoir, this rustic SP campground offers families a chance to disconnect from everyday distractions and enjoy a little wilderness adventure together. Unlike traditional campgrounds, the campsites are accessible only by hiking or boating, so getting anywhere here requires some planning and a willingness to travel light. Once you've arrived, you'll find secluded, wooded campsites with picnic tables, fire rings and plenty of opportunities to enjoy the great outdoors. Amenities are basic, with pit toilets and no showers, but the beautiful reservoir, scenic hiking trails, fishing and kayaking opportunities more than make up for the lack of modern conveniences. Our kids loved exploring the woods, spotting wildlife and gathering around a crackling campfire at night to share stories beneath the stars. For families comfortable with the hike, I'd recommend choosing one of the campsites along the reservoir shoreline for the lovely water views and peaceful surroundings. Just remember that swimming is limited to the park's designated beach area. Round Valley isn't your typical family campground, but for adventurous families who enjoy hiking, camping under the stars and making wonderful memories together, it's a beautiful place to experience nature at its finest!
ScoutNice campground, bathrooms are clean but dated, first come first serve for the sites.
RangerI'll start by saying this is a site-specific review (C20). I booked using Campspot and didn't select my own site but put in the criteria for my rig (30ft TT plus truck) and got a 50A back-in spot. The site was big but abnormal. Between the picnic table placement and the trees, I ended up right around 50ft from the electric and water, and the water spigot was so low I could barely put on my camco filter. With the uneven dirt roads, I had to unhitch with my truck in a gigantic puddle (lol). The site was otherwise fine aside from my gate code not working on Day 2. As for the campground as a whole, I thought it was pretty unique place by the river that offered several good amenities and activities, like downstream river tubing, an arcade, bathroom/shower facilities, a small store, little trails, and more. I would say this place borders the more primitive side.
ScoutOn Friday, September 4, 2026, I rented a trailer and brought my family to Cheesequake State Park to celebrate our 10th wedding anniversary over the extended Labor Day weekend. Around 9:20 PM—well before the park's designated 10:00 PM quiet hours—we were sitting inside our canopy, playing Jenga, and listening to low background music. Two officers from the Matawan Police Department approached our campsite. They were polite and courteous, simply offering a standard reminder to wrap things up by 10:00 PM. Before they could leave, however, a third, senior officer intervened. Wanting to"show them how it's done," he made the two polite officers return and stand by to watch as he demonstrated how to aggressively harass campers. Flashlight in hand, the senior officer approached with an immediate hostile attitude, treating us like criminals as he demanded to know who rented the site. He began reiterating rules and claimed we had too many vehicles. We had three cars, one belonging to my brother-in-law's girlfriend, who was visiting with her daughter. She had paid the$10 visitor fee at the main office and was instructed by staff to obtain the gate access code from us, the primary renters, if she got locked in. No staff member ever informed her of an 8:00 PM visitor departure deadline, leading us to reasonably assume visitors were permitted until quiet hours began at 10:00 PM. The officer rudely snapped that she had been given wrong information. The senior officer then used profanity in front of three small children, aggressively telling her to ("get her shit and get the fuck out!") in that manner or use profanity, the officer went from hostile to furious. He angrily declared that these were official violations and threatened that he could be issuing us tickets instead. Desperately searching for anything and everything to throw at us, he demanded that we turn off our idling car—which was supplying power to our campsite—and instructed us to make sure the campfire was doused before shutting down for the night. He then proceeded to shine his flashlight into our private setup—including our canopy, tents, and the inside of our trailer—searching for any other possible violation while the two polite officers were forced to watch. What was supposed to be a special 10th wedding anniversary celebration with my family was completely ruined by a senior officer misusing his authority to put on an unnecessary display of intimidation. Worse than just ruining our night, he spent that evening teaching those two police officers how to be bad cops. He corrupted two officers in real time, demonstrating firsthand exactly why most people have lost faith in the police force. The next day we was ready for them. We turned off our lights and quietly by the fire while they went next door to harass an asian family that had just set up camp and had their leds lights on.
ScoutPast reviews has mentioned that the office seems to be closed often, while I found that to be true I had no reason to contact anyone. This is definitely one of the cleanest quiets site I’ve ever visited
GuideDefinitely a wide variety of sites—look at the site pictures before booking—there are two areas where it’s just an open field with bonfires and picnic tables that I’d avoid. I could see a large group going there or something but personally it doesn’t offer any privacy.
BUT if you book one of the other sites that DOES have privacy you’ll be in camping heaven. The “hike in” sites are more like “walk-in,” I was worried at first but it’s some are as little as a few yards from the road. The most annoying part was lugging the cooler back and forth, but totally worth it
GuideBooked the day before—even on the holiday weekend! Just 1.5 hours outside of NYC, site was a bit close to the neighbors (fire pit was very far back and basically in the neighbors’ campsite, but we put up a “privacy clothesline” and hung a tarp over it for a bit of extra coverage.
The staff was friendly and helpful, they said it was the busiest they’ve seen the campground all year (there were lots of large groups but everyone seemed to settle down by 9:30pm
Poison ivy was EVERYWHERE at our site so make sure to stick to the open areas and the paths. Lots of families around, we felt very safe Bathrooms were fine—it was my impression they’re usually cleaner but the high traffic of the weekend left a bit to be desired, (lots of families around=dirty diapers in the bathroom trash bin) but it’s camping! I’m not gonna argue w a flushing toilet!
Camping options near Paterson, New Jersey range from developed sites to primitive backcountry locations within an hour's drive. The region features elevations between 100-1,300 feet with a humid continental climate producing hot summers and cold winters. Winter camping requires preparation for temperatures that frequently drop below freezing, while summer campers should plan for occasional thunderstorms from June through August.
Swimming at Welch Lake: Beaver Pond Campground at Harriman State Park provides access to a sandy beach at Welch Lake with lifeguard supervision during summer months. "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," notes Steve W. in his review.
Hiking at Croton Point Park: Multiple walking paths wind through this 508-acre peninsula on the Hudson River. "There are walking paths outside of the campground that are located within the park," mentions one reviewer, while another points out that the "gorgeous scenery along the river and a private beach which is opened from Wednesday to the weekend with life guards on duty" makes this a versatile destination.
Rock scrambling on Stonetown Circular: This challenging 11-mile loop trail features primitive camping opportunities. "This site is about 2 miles into the hike. This is a great spot to set up camp because it has a wide area and an amazing view. You will find the site right next to the American Flag at the top of the mountain," explains Ethan K. about the first primitive site along the trail.
Platform tent sites: Raised camping platforms at Beaver Pond Campground provide drainage during wet weather. "The biggest positive about Beaver Pond is how spread out it was. You definitely feel like you have your own space and are not camping on top of your neighbor. Many of the camping options were on platforms which is especially nice if it recently rained," reports Ethan K.
Clean facilities: Dog-friendly Mahlon Dickerson Reservation maintains well-kept restrooms and camping areas. "The campground is clean, paved nicely and well run. Our site is easily the nicest—all the way in the back with only one neighbor. It is so quiet here," shares Greg S. The reservation also features "large, wooded campsites with electric and water."
Proximity to NYC: Multiple pet-friendly campgrounds near Paterson provide easy city access. "About 30 minutes from sleepy hollow and tarrytown NY and only an hour to central park!! Deer running everywhere and surprisingly beautiful and quaint," says Megan B. about Beaver Pond Campground, highlighting its dual urban-nature appeal.
Bear activity: Harriman State Park has active black bear populations requiring proper food storage. According to Steve W., "'Welcome to Bear Mountain' grumbles the park ranger as he sits in complete darkness! He is in his ranger hut, checking in the late evening arrivals to the campground...He offers us a highlighted map to our site, wishes us a good stay, and gives us the run down on bear activity in the area."
Varied shower quality: Facilities range from excellent to basic across dog-friendly campgrounds near Paterson. At Panther Lake Camping Resort, one camper reported "Probably the worst shower ever. The lights are timed. The water is a button. The space is small as hell," while Beaver Pond campers praised "Free Hot showers in the bathrooms, with plenty of room to change."
Seasonal crowds: Campground populations fluctuate dramatically by season at most locations. "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," notes Rebecca S. about Beaver Pond Campground, which sees significant visitor increases on summer weekends.
Kid-friendly activities: Croton Point Park offers family-oriented amenities near tent and RV sites. "Peaceful and gorgeous campsite, with plenty of space between sites. Great view of the Hudson, and playground within sight of our camper," writes Thomas, noting the family-convenient layout of this pet-friendly campground near Paterson.
Swimming options: Multiple water features provide summer recreation for children. "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," shares Ethan K. about Panther Lake Camping Resort, which provides both pool and lake swimming.
Considerate noise planning: Some campgrounds have more strict quiet hours than others. At Beaver Pond, "Quiet time at night is laughable as the enjoyment of being in nature rages on into the early morning," notes one camper, suggesting families with early sleepers should request more isolated sites or consider weekday visits when crowds are smaller.
Electric hookup locations: Liberty Harbor RV Park provides services in a compact setting near public transportation. "This is a pricey park, but options are limited. As in almost non existent. This is a prime location for visiting the city or heading down the shore. The light rail is a block away, and the path train is about 8," explains Joe R., highlighting its urban convenience despite the tight layout.
Site spacing considerations: RV sites vary significantly in privacy and spacing throughout the region. "The FHU sites were back-to-back and although there were trees separating the sites, they were close together," notes Lee D. about Croton Point Park, while another reviewer mentioned that at Mahlon Dickerson, "The campsites are paved and mostly level. They are wooded and large."
Sanitation facility access: Dump stations and sewage hookups require planning at most dog-friendly campgrounds near Paterson. "Convenient dump station if staying and needing to dump," mentions Joe R., while another RVer notes "The water hoses provided are plenty long. We didn't need to use our hose at all, just the filter" at Mahlon Dickerson Reservation, highlighting the varied utility setups across regional campgrounds.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Paterson, NJ?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Paterson, NJ is Liberty Harbor RV Park with a 3.8-star rating from 16 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Paterson, NJ?
TheDyrt.com has all 73 dog-friendly camping locations near Paterson, NJ, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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