3 campgrounds with availability this weekend
Several RV campgrounds operate within 30 miles of Paterson, New Jersey, offering varying levels of amenities and access to New York City. Liberty Harbor RV Park in Jersey City provides 90 sites with water and electric hookups in what is essentially a marina parking lot with basic amenities. "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. If it's packed, your neighbor will be within inches of your rig," noted one visitor. Mahlon Dickerson Reservation in Jefferson Township features spacious RV sites with 50-amp electric and water connections on paved, level pads. Black Bear RV Park in Florida, NY maintains 74 sites with full hookups including sewer, water, and electric, accommodating larger rigs throughout the year.
The prime location of Liberty Harbor makes it popular despite its high nightly rates ($120+) and crowded conditions. RVs accessing the Jersey City location should stay to the right when approaching to avoid the $30 tunnel toll. Most parks in the region require reservations, especially during summer and fall foliage seasons. Cell service varies significantly between urban and more rural locations, with stronger coverage near Jersey City and weaker signals at mountain parks. Dump stations are available at most locations, though only a few offer full sewer hookups at individual sites. According to reviews, navigation into Jersey City can be challenging for larger rigs, with one visitor noting, "Getting in and out is not for someone in a brand new 45' travel trailer. Know your rig and know how to maneuver it in tight spaces."
"If you want to visit NYC and surrounding areas, this is the place. Expensive but... When you look at local hotel rates, not so much."
"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
"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
Available this weekend
from $85 - $120 / night
"Open during the winter. Easy on, easy off. Lots of pull through sites. Next to grocery store. CLEAN bathrooms, showers, laundry. Super nice owners. Perfect for an overnight stop."
"It’s close to the highway, so there’s a lot of noise. But, the people are very friendly and helpful. It’s a wonderful place to stay when you’re going on a long trip and need a place to rest."
"The newly upgraded camp infrastructure elevated the stay, providing amenities for comfort and entertainment."
"We really enjoyed our stay at Mountain Top. We had to come to the area kind of last minute, and they were very accommodating!"
from $89 / night
"Small campground W/ 8 spaces in the main area and 7 in an adjacent area. All spaces are level concrete With fill hookups and attached concrete patio."
"Have stayed here several times - great location and nice, full hook-up sites. Back-in and pull through sites and can accommodate large rigs. A little expensive but everything is included."
"This is definitely one of the cleanest quiets site I’ve ever visited"
from $82 - $95 / night
"The campground was clean and quiet. RV hook-ups, tent platforms, and rustic tent sites were available."
"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."
Campground full this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $17 - $20 / night
"Lots of seasonals and lots of cabins, many RV sites I think all with full hookups. A bit pricey. And also no garbage anywhere near the RV sites!"
"Weekend was busy as usual but during the week it seems to be seasonal that stay. A bit out here in the middle of nowhere, 15-20 minutes from any town. Make sure you have what you need!"
"The sites are nicely wooded, very well spaced, fairly level with 50A service and water hookup."
"It is a small campground nestled in the woods. There are level padded sites with electric and water (in warmer months). Sites were spaced out with beautiful woods in the background."
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!
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!
TravelerThis area seems to be devoid of campgrounds except for this one. It’s basically just a large parking lot with hook ups. Completely open, which is great for Starlink. Bathrooms were slightly above average; fairly clean and places to hang clothes for your shower. Has a laundry but be sure to bring quarters. It is about 100 yards from the interstate so you’ll get a lot of noise and diesel exhaust fumes.
Campers seeking RV sites near Paterson, New Jersey find options ranging from rustic county parks to full-service RV resorts within a 30-mile radius. The northern New Jersey landscape includes the Skylands region with elevations reaching 1,500 feet, creating varied camping terrain from urban-adjacent locations to more secluded mountain settings. Fall camping season typically runs September through early November with nighttime temperatures dropping into the 40s by mid-October.
Statue of Liberty access from campgrounds: Liberty Harbor RV Park in Jersey City offers proximity to NYC landmarks. "Very convenient location. 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., who found the location ideal for combining business trips with RV camping.
Swimming at local lakes: Beaver Pond Campground in Harriman State Park provides access to Welch Lake for warm-weather recreation. "They have a beach. Their staff is friendly. I love going here," mentions Adaly. The beach area includes lifeguard supervision during summer months.
Trail hiking in Harriman State Park: Multiple trail systems connect to camping areas with varying difficulty levels. "This is an off-grid camping experience... short distance from NYC, very organized, clean pond, has a playground, showers, bathroom. Your phone will have signal," reports Zorina N. The park includes sections of the historic Appalachian Trail and other hiking routes suitable for all skill levels.
Farm animal interactions: Pleasant Acres Farm RV Resort offers unique livestock encounters. "The farm has goats, a donkey, and a pony within the campground. Very cool," writes Faith D. Children particularly enjoy the opportunity to feed and observe farm animals at this Sussex, New Jersey location.
Privacy between sites: Mahlon Dickerson Reservation offers well-spaced camping areas. "Very nice forest! 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," reports Greg S. The spacious site layouts provide a sense of seclusion despite being relatively close to urban areas.
Off-season tranquility: Beaver Pond Campground offers a different experience during non-peak times. "We stayed here on a Thursday night in September prior to taking off backpacking. The campground was clean and quiet," notes Rebecca S., who adds that "mid-week during the off-season it was great" compared to potentially noisy summer weekends.
Transit access to NYC: Skyline RV Camp - Waterfront provides direct access to public transportation. "A little intimidating driving in to a nondescript gate at the end of a narrow street but the overall experience exceeded expectation... there's a metro station within a 10-minute walk," reports Amy P. This makes it possible to park your RV and use public transit for city exploration.
Bear awareness required: Multiple campgrounds in the area have active wildlife. At Beaver Pond Campground, staff emphasize bear safety. "Expect to purchase firewood, although scrounging for kindling was possible," mentions Rebecca S., highlighting the importance of proper food storage and waste management in bear country.
Limited amenities at some sites: Some campgrounds offer basic services only. "No facilities, just a porta-jon, but i think that makes it better. Police patrolled, and dog friendly," says Paul N. about Mahlon Dickerson Reservation, appreciating the simplicity of the setup.
Check playground facilities: Mahlon Dickerson Reservation offers family-friendly areas. "Very clean and quiet. Water and electric hookups and a dump station. Convenient for hiking and exploring, it's also only a 20 minute drive to a large mall in Rockaway," notes Jeff W., providing options for both outdoor and indoor activities.
Consider weekday visits: Beaver Pond Campground experiences significant differences between weekday and weekend crowds. "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," reports Rebecca S. Families seeking quieter experiences may prefer non-peak timing.
Look for educational opportunities: Many area campgrounds provide nature learning experiences. "About 30 minutes from sleepy hollow and tarrytown NY and only an hour to central park!! Deer running everywhere and surprisingly beautiful and quaint," mentions Megan B., highlighting the wildlife viewing opportunities at Beaver Pond.
Access route planning essential: Black Bear RV Park requires careful navigation. "Have stayed here several times - great location and nice, full hook-up sites. Back-in and pull through sites and can accommodate large rigs," reports Dave S., though RVers should verify current conditions as the park has undergone construction.
Winter camping limitations: Many campgrounds have reduced services in cold weather. At Black Bear RV Park, one visitor noted: "We are returning to the south after spending a couple months of fall in New England... this was our first stop and primarily chosen because it was one of the few places along our route that was open for RVs in the off season."
Advance planning for big rigs: Tri-State RV Park accommodates larger vehicles but requires preparation. "Big, same day reservations, friendly customer service... easy on and off on I 84. Great place to pull in for the night if you are traveling," notes Dave B., adding that the location works well for overnight stops while traveling through the region.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular RV campsite near Paterson, NJ?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular RV campground near Paterson, NJ is Liberty Harbor RV Park with a 3.8-star rating from 16 reviews.
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