Camping near Ridgewood, New Jersey offers multiple options for RVers across northern New Jersey and neighboring states. The Palisades region features elevations ranging from 400-940 feet with seasonal temperature variations of 25°F in winter to 85°F in summer. Most RV campgrounds within 45 minutes of Ridgewood remain open from April through October, though several offer year-round access with limited winter amenities.
What to do
Fishing opportunities: At Tri-State RV Park, campers can access the Delaware River directly from the campground. "There is a great market about 1/4 of a mile away, and the path that can take you to WTC or 33rd Street area is only a mile away," notes one Liberty Harbor RV Park visitor about nearby conveniences.
Swimming beaches: The Beaver Pond Campground in Harriman State Park maintains a lifeguard-monitored sandy beach during summer months. "The beach is secured with lifeguards and shower and bathroom facilities are available," reports Brian O. A camper at Clarence Fahnestock State Park notes, "The lake is clear and sandy with some rocks in sand on shore, but standard for imported sand."
Hiking trails: Multiple state parks offer varied terrain with trails connecting directly to campsites. "About 30 minutes from sleepy hollow and tarrytown NY and only an hour to central park!! Deer running everywhere and surprisingly beautiful and quaint," writes Megan B. about Harriman State Park. "Hike trails are all over the place and the lake is nearby," adds another camper.
What campers like
Urban proximity: The campgrounds provide quick access to NYC while offering natural settings. "Location, location, location. The closest RV park to NYC. Pick one of the larger end row sites to get a little extra elbow room," advises a camper at Liberty Harbor RV Park, adding, "Two blocks away from NJ Path train into Manhattan or take the ferry to Wall Street!"
Varied site configurations: Campgrounds offer platform sites, pull-throughs, and back-ins with different spacing. "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.
Seasonal activities: Fall brings spectacular foliage viewing opportunities throughout the region. A camper at Pleasant Acres Farm RV Resort shares, "Visited in October so leaves were falling and it was perfect weather. There were not many campground employees around. Good family fun though! Plenty to occupy the kids."
What you should know
Urban camping trade-offs: Liberty Harbor provides convenient NYC access but with limitations. "It is just a gravel parking lot, with water and electricity. There is a dump station, but not the easiest to use," notes one camper. Another adds, "If it's packed, your neighbor will be within inches of your rig."
Reservation requirements: Book well in advance for popular campgrounds, especially during peak seasons. At Clarence Fahnestock State Park, "This place can book up during camping season in the Northeast so make sure to book early in advance."
Bathroom conditions: Facility quality varies significantly between campgrounds. "The bathhouse was above average and heated. The laundry was helpful and was acceptable," reports a Liberty Harbor visitor, while another campground review mentions, "So old and dirty!!! Bathrooms and dishwashing... UGH."
Tips for camping with families
Animal encounters: Several campgrounds offer animal interactions beyond wildlife viewing. At Pleasant Acres Farm RV Resort, "The farm has goats, a donkey, and a pony within the campground. Very cool," notes Faith D. Another visitor shares, "Playground, hayride, animals to feed (goats, chickens, donkey and pony). There were some organized activities which was nice."
Camp store access: Stock up before arrival as some campgrounds have limited hours or supplies. "The store closes too early for a weekend and they no longer have the yummy variety of soft serve ice cream (my children think this is the worse thing they did)," mentions a Pleasant Acres camper.
Weekend noise levels: Expect varying noise based on day of week and season. A ranger at Beaver Pond said "during summer weekends the grounds fill up and can be quite noisy, but mid-week during the off-season it was great."
Tips from RVers
Site selection strategy: Research specific sites before booking as quality varies within campgrounds. "The sites were a bit tight, at times and you may find a few visitors, not necessarily on two legs, but always a delight," notes Elliot G. about Beaver Pond. At Black Bear RV Park, "Our site is a trailer site, it's perfect for the trusty old pop-up, and feels nice and roomy."
Dump station access: Plan dump station usage carefully due to limited facilities at some parks. A Liberty Harbor visitor warns, "On a slow checkout day, you might get lucky enough to not wait in line for the dump station."
Winter accommodations: Several parks remain open year-round with limited services. "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," shares a camper about Black Bear RV Park.
