RV parks near Ramsey, New Jersey sit in the rolling hills of Bergen County, with elevations ranging from 300 to 700 feet above sea level. Most campgrounds in the region experience a humid continental climate with four distinct seasons, creating ideal camping conditions from late spring through early fall. Winter camping options remain limited with just a few RV parks operating year-round in northwestern New Jersey and neighboring New York.
What to do
Hiking accessible trails: At Clarence Fahnestock State Park Campground, campers can access hiking trails directly from the campground. "There were a lot of nice hikes directly from the campground. The bathrooms and showers were also pretty clean too. Lots of water spickets throughout the ground," notes Sammi A.
Swimming in natural settings: Many RV parks Ramsey, New Jersey visitors enjoy swimming at nearby lakes during summer months. "The beach is closed after Labor Day to the public, but open to people staying at the campsite. Clean and beautiful," reports Courtney D. about Fahnestock State Park.
Animal encounters: Some campgrounds offer unique animal interactions. "The farm has goats, a donkey, and a pony within the campground. Very cool," writes Faith D. about Pleasant Acres Farm RV Resort.
City exploration: When staying at campgrounds closer to urban areas, visitors access New York City attractions. "We spent 3 nights here last week. Very convenient location. My wife visited Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island," explains one reviewer about Jersey City accommodations.
What campers like
Lake access: Water features rank high among camper preferences at parks within driving distance of Ramsey. "The park has a nice open beach on Canopus Lake with a concession area and bathhouse, which we found to be quite clean! They even have boat rentals - or you can bring your own boat to launch," writes Shelly B.
Private wooded sites: Beaver Pond Campground offers secluded camping spots. "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," explains Ethan K.
Urban proximity with nature: Campers appreciate locations balancing nature with urban access. "Short distance from NYC, very organized, clean pond, has a playground, showers, bathroom. Your phone will have signal," states Zorina N. about camping options within an hour of Ramsey.
Fall foliage viewing: "We make a habit of going during the end-of-summer/fall when you can watch the leaves change along the hiking trails, go apple and pumpkin picking near the campsites," shares Robyn S. about autumn camping experiences.
What you should know
Seasonal operations: Most camping facilities near Ramsey operate between April and October. "Open during the winter. Easy on, easy off. Lots of pull through sites," notes BENdejo about Tri-State RV Park, one of the few year-round options.
Site variability: Campsite quality differs significantly between parks and even within the same campground. "All sites were so different. There was a storm the night before our arrival date, all campers were evacuated and they did a fantastic job clearing all the debris and downed trees before our arrival," shares Erinn N.
Wildlife encounters: Bears are present in the region. "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," reports Steve W.
Bathroom conditions: Facilities vary widely in cleanliness and maintenance. "Bathrooms and dishwashing... UGH. So old and dirty!!!" writes one camper about older facilities, while others note renovated bathrooms at newer parks.
Tips for camping with families
Look for educational opportunities: Black Bear RV Park and surrounding campgrounds provide nature education. "We stayed here on a Thursday night in September prior to taking off backpacking. The campground was clean and quiet. RV hook-ups, tent platforms, and rustic tent sites were available," explains Rebecca S.
Consider noise levels: Weekends bring higher occupancy and more noise at most campgrounds. "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," advises one camper about timing your visit.
Check amenities before booking: "Playground, hayride, animals to feed (goats, chickens, donkey and pony). There were some organized activities which was nice, not as much as a Jellystone Park," notes Janelle G. about family-friendly features at certain locations.
Plan for weather contingencies: "Many of the camping options were on platforms which is especially nice if it recently rained or if you are expecting rain during your stay," shares Ethan K. about elevated tent platforms that help during wet conditions.
Tips from RVers
Know park layout limitations: At Mountain Top RV Park, "When you leave you have to drive the wrong way in the campground because of the low hanging trees the correct direction. There is a small playground, a mini golf, and a large dog walk," explains Bill B. about navigation challenges.
Check campground utilities: "The sites are nicely wooded, very well spaced, fairly level with 50A service and water hookup," shares a visitor about electrical connections available at most RV parks near Ramsey.
Investigate dump station access: "Easy access with our 32 foot RV pulling our Jeep," notes Kevin A. about navigating larger rigs through campground roads and accessing essential facilities.
Verify seasonal restrictions: "The garbage situation was the worst. Most campsites have a service, they tell you to leave it at a specific location by a certain time or they have many garbage cans throughout. This place had their garbage and recycling very far away," reports Janelle G., highlighting service reductions during shoulder seasons.
