Sue B.
Ranger
RangerWawayanda Group Shelter
Appalachian Trail Shelter/Campsite
This is an A.T. shelter and campsite. First come, first served. Privy was nice. Flat tentsites for 6 or more. Good for Hammocking also.
Camping near Randolph, NJ
162 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
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SUMMARY PRESENTED BY
Northern New Jersey offers a variety of established campgrounds within driving distance of Randolph, with options ranging from primitive tent sites to full-service RV parks and cabin rentals. Mahlon Dickerson Reservation provides wooded campsites with electric hookups and spacious, level areas about 10 miles west of Randolph. Additional options include Great Divide Campground near Newton and Panther Lake Camping Resort in Andover, both offering cabin accommodations and tent camping. State park campgrounds like Jenny Jump State Forest and Stokes State Forest feature more rustic settings with hiking trails directly accessible from campsites.
Access to most campgrounds in the region requires reservations, particularly during the peak season from April through October when most facilities are open. Rough terrain and limited cell service can affect navigation to some of the more remote locations. "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," notes one visitor describing the county park campground. Water access varies significantly, with sites at Swartswood State Park and Round Valley State Park offering opportunities for boating and lakeside camping, though water levels and regulations may change seasonally. Several state park campgrounds prohibit alcohol and have specific pet policies that differ from private campgrounds.
Campers frequently mention the natural beauty and relative tranquility of the area despite proximity to urban centers. The Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area provides boat-in camping opportunities along the river, offering a more secluded experience compared to the established campgrounds. A visitor to Stokes State Forest observed that "Stokes is nestled in a beautiful part of New Jersey and it's just remote enough that you can get away from the crowds and activity while still being in a short driving distance of restaurants, grocery stores, etc." Many mixed-use campgrounds feature both wooded and open sites, with significant differences in privacy levels. State forest camping areas generally provide more seclusion and natural settings, while private campgrounds like Panther Lake and Great Divide offer more amenities including swimming pools, organized activities, and full hookup sites for RVs.
Best Campgrounds near Randolph (162)
1. Mahlon Dickerson Reservation
"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."
"It's beautiful and quiet, and close to beautiful hiking trails, lakes, and other outdoor recreation opportunities."
2. Panther Lake Camping Resort
"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."
"The Lake is the gem of the campground with a really nice beach, good for fishing and kayaking. The negatives were the bathrooms. They are very primitive and quite dirty."
3. Great Divide Campground
"Our 4rth state in our 5 state trip is New Jersey! We wanted to see Delaware Water Gap NRA & I found a campground by Newton called The Great Divide. This is a private campground."
"All the positive reviews about this place are accurate! Beautiful, clean, well maintained, lots to do, great value for your $$"
4. Round Valley State Park Campground
"The crystal-clear water is home to huge lake trout and the forests are bursting with wildlife. The sunsets across the lake are to die for."
"Once you get to the campground trail it’s pretty easy going on asphalt surface."
5. Jenny Jump State Forest
"The bathroom/shower was only a few steps away which was convenient and clean."
"All the sites are set up nearby the office where people are all day should you ever need anything. The workers are super friendly and regularly make rounds of the grounds."
6. Swartswood State Park Campground
"We booked a campsite at the far end of the loop by the lake, which looked to be the right spot for some privacy, but a longer walk to the bathroom and water spigot."
"The campsites are slightly separated from the lake (maybe 8 min walk to lake) but that also means you aren’t bothered by day guests. The lake is beautiful! Great for swimming and fishing."
7. Stephens State Park Campground
"There are dumpsters but no recycling (not sure if New Jersey segregates recycling after pickup). ATT had some reception but we forgot to check the Verizon phone. "
"Was a bit hard to locate the office to check in but finally found it. The camp site was spacious. The bathrooms were struggling with the plumbing but were fairly clean."
8. Stokes State Forest
"It was a solid choice: private but close to the toilet and water. Some sites located around the opposite side of the ring back up to a babbling brook. The rushing water will soothe you to sleep."
"We stayed at the campsite at Lake Ocquittunk Area. Campsite was very spacious and had a platform where we were able to fit two tents. There was plenty of space on the site for more tents."
from $7 - $55 / night
Check Availability9. Worthington State Forest Campground — Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area
"Full bathrooms are located behind campsite #15 (clean flushing bathrooms, with motion-sensed lighting, showers, dishwashing sink), but easily accessible from campsites nearby."
"Bathrooms with flush toilets are conveniently located centrally every so often."
10. Fla-net Park Campgrounds
"We had our 3 Labs with us and they had plenty of walking space. We were within walking distance of Chili's. Close to shopping if you needed something. Reasonably quiet."
Drive Time
- 46 min from New York, NY
- 49 min from Kiryas Joel, NY
- 1 hr 12 min from Trenton, NJ
- 1 hr 14 min from Allentown, PA
Recent Camping Photos near Randolph, NJ
517 Photos of 162 Randolph Campgrounds
Zina R.
Mahlon Dickerson Reservation
Barbara S.
Stephens State Park Campground
Bee L.
Kittatinny Valley State Park Campground
Kimberly M.
Great Divide Campground
Fransheska A.
Jenny Jump State Forest
Paul N.
Swartswood State Park Campground
Derek W.
Round Valley State Park Campground
Dan G.
Spruce Run Recreation Area
Jake R.
Campgaw Mountain Reservation
Jim B.
Camp Carr Campground
Jessica D.
Kymers Camping Resort
Katharine T.
Wooded Campground
Recent Reviews near Randolph, NJ
1006 Reviews of 162 Randolph Campgrounds
- Sue B.Ranger
Camp Mohican Outdoor Center — Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area
Great lodging options and trails!
I've visited the MOC a bunch of times, and have taken training classes here also. There are campsites for tent camping, cabin stays where you can rent a whole cabin or rent a bunk in a cabin with others. There is a store as well as food options. It's a great place to visit whether you grab a meal, a bunk, or just take a hike. The Appalachian Trail crosses through here also.
- DDaniel O.
ScoutDeerfield Campground — Promised Land State Park
Nice for a quick stopover
Stayed for a quick weekday overnight at a primitive site—fine spot overall. Pros: Restrooms and showers clean and in working order. Pet-friendly. Nice surroundings (though nothing extraordinary). Easy access with a sedan. Cons: most sites are very close to one another with little privacy. Fair amount of road noise. Quiet hours didn’t seem to be enforced—some folks playing music until midnight.
- AAnastasia M.
TravelerTobyhanna State Park Campground
Awesome lakeside camping 🤩
We were looking for a lakeside campground with a spacious campsite that could comfortably fit two large tents and two vehicles. We chose Tobyhanna State Park, and it turned out to be absolutely wonderful.
We stayed at Site 113, which had plenty of space on the right side of the campsite for two large tents, with enough room to park two vehicles as well. While the campsites are fairly close to one another, most visitors come here to relax and enjoy the peace and quiet, and everyone seemed very respectful of each other’s privacy.
Just a one-minute walk from our campsite, there was a very clean restroom, hot showers, and a laundry facility. Right next to it, there was a volleyball court, as well as easy access to the lake with a boat launch and great spots for fishing.
On our very first day, the park rangers warned us that bears sometimes visit the campground, so they recommended storing all food in the car overnight. We followed their advice and had no issues.
Overall, I would give Tobyhanna State Park a perfect 10 out of 10. We had an amazing experience and will definitely be coming back!
- AAimee K.Traveler
Turkey Swamp Park
Great Park
Beautiful park and very peaceful. Rangers are super friendly. This is exactly what camping should be.
- MMakylie P.Scout
Ringing Rocks Family Campground
incredible find
i stumbled on this searching for something almost immediately off the interstate, but with little-to-no booking available for a reasonable price elsewhere local. we detoured about 25 minutes to get here, and it is just incredible. the scenery is gorgeous, they have a camp store with oodles of stuff, there’s a huge playground, and the camping areas are dispersed well and offer beautiful scenic privacy. i wish i could make this place my home. amenities are well taken care of, they have showers in the bathroom, as well as an on-site laundry facility. they have complimentary wifi, which i appreciate with AT&T. signal is slim to none without it. overall, 5/5 stars from my family.
S G.ScoutMahlon Dickerson Reservation
Primitive
The main issue with the sites was that they were primitive -- no water. The campsites were basically just wooden platforms, with a picnic table and fire pit. There were also a lot of bugs, though this may be due to the rain. The location itself was fairly pretty and there were a number of hiking trails of not-overly-serious difficulty. The particular site we picked left is a little farther from our car than we would have liked, but for other sites you can bring your car closer.
- MMaybe I.
GuideThe Pines Campground — Promised Land State Park
Good place
We had a great campsite 038, mainly because we booked the site right next to the restroom and hoped no one would reserve the one closest to it, which ended up being the case. The neighboring campsite on the other side also became vacant, so we had plenty of privacy. Otherwise, the sites would have felt a bit cramped. The beach is about a 5-minute walk through the woods. I highly recommend taking a walk there after dark to look at the stars. It’s absolutely worth it. Shower location only near the beach and be ready to pay for it with quarters The restroom is very close from our site and clean, but it’s surrounded by trees, so it’s well hidden and never felt like a disturbance. Our site was much more secluded than most of the others. I would also recommend site 032, as it seemed even more private. Verizon barely had any service, except early in the morning and late in the evening. T-Mobile worked much better. Overall, it’s a nice campground with a beautiful lake. We really enjoyed spending time kayaking, and if you don’t have your own kayak, you can rent one there
Frank J.TravelerSwartswood State Park Campground
The campground is open
The campground was closed in 2024 for renovations. It is now open. I did a tour of the campgrounds but did not stay there. FYI, generators are NOT allowed at all at this campground. I did not see electric or water hookups. There are three loops. Each has it pros/cons. Sites 30-33 are near the bathroom facilities, sites 34-50 are more secluded, sites 52-65 are closer to the lake.
Guide to Randolph
Campsite options near Randolph, New Jersey vary from open, grassy spots to secluded wooded areas with terrain elevations between 800-1,200 feet. Summer temperatures average 75-85°F with occasional afternoon thunderstorms affecting campsite accessibility. Most campsites become unavailable by early April for the summer season, particularly on weekends when advanced bookings are necessary.
What to do
Paddling opportunities: Round Valley State Park Campground offers boat-in camping with clean, crystal-clear water. "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," shares one visitor. The reservoir spans 2,350 acres and reaches 180 feet deep.
Hiking with elevation: Worthington State Forest Campground provides direct trail access to Mt. Tammany. A camper notes, "We did Mt Tammany hike one day. Another day we did Bushkill Falls (40 mins away)." Multiple trails range from moderate to difficult with elevation gains of 1,250 feet on the 3.5-mile Mt. Tammany loop.
Fishing access: Multiple lakes and streams offer fishing within 30 minutes of Randolph. "Great fishing hiking and campsites," reports a camper at Stephens State Park, which provides access to the Musconetcong River. The river is regularly stocked with trout throughout the spring season.
What campers like
Private camping areas: Jenny Jump State Forest offers secluded sites with significant tree cover. "The space was reasonably priced, but we did have to pay an extra $5/day for our dog. However, we didn't mind as it was so private we felt like we had the entire Park to ourselves," mentions one camper. Sites cost $20-30 per night with additional vehicle fees.
Swimming options: Several campgrounds feature swimming areas with varying amenities. Swartswood State Park provides "a beach area, pavilion, and picnic tables," according to one camper. Swimming areas typically open Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day with lifeguards on duty 10am-6pm at larger parks.
Level sites: Mahlon Dickerson Reservation features well-maintained camping platforms. "My fiancé, dog, and I have been going here for over 2 years and we love it. The campground is small but also secluded. At the campgrounds there is a platform where you can pitch your tent," explains a regular visitor. The wooden platforms measure approximately 12×12 feet.
What you should know
Bear country precautions: All campgrounds in the area require proper food storage. "Remember, this is bear country so proper food storage is a must. Bear lockers are not provided. The area also has ticks and rattlesnakes," warns a camper at Stokes State Forest. Most campgrounds require food to be stored in vehicles overnight.
Limited cell service: Great Divide Campground and other area campgrounds have spotty connectivity. "Like many of the sites in this area, Great Divide had a large pool which was used by many of the campers. The one downside about this site was that you are not allowed to keep your car at your site," notes a visitor. AT&T tends to have better coverage than Verizon in this region.
Seasonal amenities: Water access and facility availability changes throughout the season. "The park was incredibly noisy at night and there is little to no privacy between campsites. Everything could be seen by your neighbors," reports one camper at Swartswood, highlighting weekend crowding from May through September.
Tips for camping with families
Look for organized activities: Many campgrounds schedule weekend events. "We went on 4th of July weekend so the place was packed. We were able to get a secluded spot in the woods which was great! 2 teenage girls had a blast in the lake and riding their bikes around. The ceramic class was fun for the girls," shares a visitor at Panther Lake Camping Resort.
Check playground access: Stokes State Forest and other parks offer kid-friendly amenities. "There's a playground and volleyball court. They also had scheduled activities for kids," mentions one camper. Most playgrounds are centrally located near bathhouses or camp stores.
Consider cabin options: For families new to camping, cabins provide comfort with outdoor access. A visitor to Stokes notes, "The cabins are reasonably priced and well-appointed, if a bit rustic. The main room has a bunk bed and two twins, a table with benches, two Adirondack chairs, a wood stove set into a fireplace." Cabins typically require booking 6-9 months in advance.
Tips from RVers
Water connections: Some campgrounds require long hoses. "Website lists water hook ups at long distances but they have hose reels to help with that. Our site (15) said 75' however the 50' hose reel made it to our rv connection," explains a visitor to Mahlon Dickerson Reservation. Standard sites require 50-75 feet of hose.
Site leveling challenges: Many campgrounds feature uneven terrain. "Easy to navigate our 38 ft. RV. Easy to dump and fill," reports another camper at Mahlon Dickerson, which accommodates larger rigs better than most state parks in the region. Request specific site information when booking.
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Randolph, NJ?
What camping is available near Randolph, NJ?
According to TheDyrt.com, Randolph, NJ offers a wide range of camping options, with 162 campgrounds and RV parks near Randolph, NJ and 4 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Randolph, NJ?
Which is the most popular campground near Randolph, NJ?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Randolph, NJ is Mahlon Dickerson Reservation with a 4.6-star rating from 19 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Randolph, NJ?
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Randolph, NJ?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 4 free dispersed camping spots near Randolph, NJ.
What parks are near Randolph, NJ?
What parks are near Randolph, NJ?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 9 parks near Randolph, NJ that allow camping, notably Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area and Gateway National Recreation Area.
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