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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.
"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."
"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."
"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 $$"
"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."
"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."
"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."
"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."
"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 Availability"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."
"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."
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.
RangerWe camped here in our pop up for our Anniversary in November. We were impressed with the cleanliness and available amenities for the time of year we were camping in! Close proximity to DWG and PA AND NJ attractions.
RangerWe booked a cabin at the last minute and were pleasantly surprised that the cabin had heat and electricity! It was very close to the awesome heated bathroom also! We were also able to catch a beautiful sunset! Great camp all around!
TravelerAnother great experience. Sites were large. Staff was friendly with many different things for kids to do. Great base camp for local hikes.
RangerWe came here 4th of July weekend, and this is one of the things I love about these sites...they had availability! Our site was very big, and was perfect with sone shade and also lots of sun!
RangerOur travel trailer and our friends' pop up both fit on this site with no problem. The only issue we had is that there is a bit of a ditch that turns to mud after a rain. We were off the beaten path so very little traffic. There was a bathroom with pit toilets down the street. Plenty of places to hike and fish also. We loved it here!
RangerWe came here to ride our ATV's...since it is more than 3 hours from home, we decided to book this spot for the night. We have stayed in a bunch of the DWSF sites. This one was kinda meh. Nearer to the road so traffic at all hours. Picnic table and fire ring, and as always, evidence of people chopping down live trees for firewood. Ugh! We set up our tent and had a nice fire, albeit there was broken glass on the ground. Biting flies worked overtime on us. Not a terrible stay, but we prolly won't book this one again. And these sites are no longer free. As out of state-rs, we paid $21 for one night. Still a good deal.
ScoutAs far as experience it was good. The main issue was the campsite where we were was uneven and caused many of the sleeping arrangements that we had to be not level. This seems to be a specific issue to the group campsite number two as when we went inwards it seemed like everything else was much better.
GuideTwo night stay, large loud parties make it hard to enjoy but once most of them left it was nice to walk down to the river. Bath house with toilets and showers, not all lights working. No swimming access but boat access and trails for hiking.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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?
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?
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?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 4 free dispersed camping spots 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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