Princeton, New Jersey offers rustic cabin experiences within a 30-mile radius. The area sits at elevations between 40-400 feet with mixed deciduous forests. Summer temperatures average 75-85°F while winter drops to 25-35°F, making cabin options valuable for year-round visitors seeking shelter from seasonal extremes.
What to do
Kayaking opportunities: At Turkey Swamp Park, visitors can enjoy paddling on a scenic lake. "Kayaking, Canoeing. The list goes on. I've been here a few times, every time I'm here I barely touch my phone," notes Tylen L. The park rents canoes, kayaks, paddle boats, and row boats during summer months.
Archery practice: Turkey Swamp Park maintains an archery range for target practice. According to Lee D., "There is an archery range and a council ring (campfire)." This provides a unique outdoor skill-building activity not commonly found at other campgrounds near Princeton.
Winter recreation: Several cabin properties remain open year-round with seasonal activities. Patrick M. says about Allaire State Park, "Getting a cabin in the winter and going for a snowy hike is wondrful there." In winter months, some parks offer ice skating on frozen lakes.
Fishing access: Many cabin accommodations provide direct fishing opportunities. One visitor at Spruce Run Recreation Area shared, "Our site was on the water and it was really nice. A duck visited us every morning." Most fishing spots require a New Jersey fishing license, available online or at sporting goods stores.
What campers like
Privacy between sites: Mountainview Campground receives praise for its site spacing. Robert J. noted, "It's a quiet wooded campground (not all spots, but most). Easy to get to, and friendly family ownership." Campers appreciate the sense of seclusion despite being relatively close to town.
Cleanliness of facilities: Many cabin properties maintain well-kept amenities. At Tohickon Valley County Park, Maureen F. observed, "No electrical and no pets allowed in camp sites. But plenty of trees and huge fire rings in each spot." Clean bathrooms with showers are standard at most cabin rentals.
Natural woodland settings: Cabins typically feature wooded surroundings. Christina H. from Mountainview Campground shared, "This place was actually fantastic, I don't really have anything negative to say about it. The whole scene was exactly what I love about camping, a nice little remote campground in the mountains."
Proximity to water: Many prefer waterfront cabin locations. According to Frank J. at Spruce Run Recreation Area, "My campsite was 34W, right next the reservoir. Nice location however the website said it was full shade. The picnic table was in shade. The spot for the RV was full sun."
What you should know
Seasonal considerations: Some cabin facilities have limited availability. One visitor noted about Butterfly Camping Resort, "While there is electricity, there is NO heat or AC. Our last day was November 1st and it was COLD. Too cold to leave the fireplace for the bedrooms. Be aware of the weather and pack some good bedding."
Wildlife encounters: Natural settings mean wildlife interaction. Laura Y. at Turkey Swamp Park warned, "By the 2nd day I had 3 ticks on me. My dog had one and by the end my husband had 2. That was so crazy because we were just sitting by our camper."
Bathroom facilities: Most cabin accommodations have centralized bathrooms rather than in-cabin facilities. Jules T. mentioned at Spruce Run, "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."
Road noise: Some parks experience highway sounds. A camper at Spruce Run Recreation Area observed, "The only con to this campground is it's proximity to the highway. You can hear 78, especially at night once the campground settles down."
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Timberland Lake Campground offers family-friendly amenities. Robyn W. shared, "Plenty of activities for kids with park area and pool. They do also offer golf cart rental for those wanting explore the park." Most cabin sites include dedicated play spaces.
Activity programming: Seasonal events enhance family stays. Jessica D. reported, "We LOVE camping here in the fall!! They do their own haunted walk through that is just awesome! Everyone decorates. They have a dj every Saturday! Plenty of activities for the kids."
Bug protection: Families should prepare for insect encounters. However, JAEWOOK P. countered common concerns at Turkey Swamp Park: "We went camping with our 2- and 3-year-old kids. We were worried about bugs, but we didn't even use mosquito repellent and didn't get a single bite!"
Swimming options: Many cabin facilities maintain swimming areas. Dan W. noted at Turkey Swamp Park, "Centralized playground for the kids with bathrooms and showers next door. Staff was awesome! Attentive and outgoing. We really enjoyed our stay."
Tips from RVers
Site surface considerations: Many cabin areas have varied terrain. Ruette W. from Spruce Run Recreation Area explained, "We luckily have some solar so we can go for awhile without running the generator. We fill our fresh water tank for and bring drinking water."
Hookup limitations: Even cabin-equipped campgrounds may have restricted services. Sandra H. at Butterfly Camping Resort shared, "It was big rig friendly and the site we were at was private. It had a nice barbecue grill and fire rig. The property is quiet and they have lots of amenities for families."
Site selection strategy: Getting the right location matters. Ruette W. advised about Spruce Run, "There are some RV sites with water & electric which are not on the water, but in the parking lot. I would consider getting one on the water to enjoy the water and one in the parking lot to hook up the RV. It's kind of worth it."
Tree hazards: Wooded cabin areas pose challenges for larger vehicles. Matt S. at Adventure Bound Camping noted, "This place is not big-rig friendly, difficult to navigate some of the turns in our 45' motorhome and taking scratches from tree branches that should be trimmed."
