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Camping options near Rockaway, New Jersey range from developed campgrounds to rustic tent sites within the forested Skylands region. Mahlon Dickerson Reservation, a Morris County park, provides paved sites with electric and water hookups for RVs alongside tent platforms in wooded surroundings. Other mixed-use campgrounds within driving distance include Panther Lake Camping Resort in Andover and Great Divide Campground in Newton, both offering cabin accommodations and tent sites. The area campgrounds typically feature fire rings, picnic tables, and access to hiking trails that connect to larger trail networks throughout northern New Jersey's highlands.
Many campgrounds in the region maintain seasonal operations, with most open from early April through late October or early November. "The campsites are paved and mostly level. They are wooded and large. Water and electric hookups and a dump station. Convenient for hiking and exploring," noted one visitor to Mahlon Dickerson. Weather conditions in the New Jersey Skylands can include cooler temperatures at higher elevations even during summer months. Campground reservations are generally recommended, especially for weekend stays during peak season. Several state parks and forests in the area, including Stokes State Forest and Jenny Jump State Forest, implement alcohol prohibitions and quiet hours. Facilities range from primitive sites with portable toilets to improved campgrounds with shower buildings and sanitary dump stations.
The forested terrain creates a natural setting even within relatively close proximity to suburban areas. Campers reference the privacy and spacing between sites as notable features at locations like Mahlon Dickerson Reservation. One camper described their experience: "Very clean and quiet. Website lists water hook ups at long distances but they have hose reels to help with that." While some campground options provide direct water access, like Panther Lake Camping Resort with boat-in sites, others focus on woodland settings with trail access. Most camping areas near Rockaway maintain moderate distance from retail areas, with several reviews mentioning the convenience of being 15-20 minutes from shopping centers while still enjoying a forest environment. Bear activity warnings appear in multiple reviews, suggesting proper food storage is essential when camping in this region. Visitors searching for campgrounds near Rockaway will find diverse options suitable for both weekend getaways and longer camping trips in this accessible part of New Jersey.
"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 $$"
"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"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."
"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."
"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."
"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."
"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."
"Site A is the best for seclusion and a spot closer to the lake (also amazing sunsets)"
ScoutThis 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.
Rockaway campers enjoy access to diverse camping options throughout the New Jersey Skylands, where elevations range from 900-1,500 feet. Temperatures in this area typically drop 10-15 degrees cooler than nearby urban centers during summer months, with seasonal campgrounds operating primarily from April through October. Morning dew can be heavy in forested campsites, requiring proper tent positioning and rain fly preparation even during dry weather forecasts.
Kayaking and canoeing: Worthington State Forest Campground offers direct river access sites for water activities. "Our campsite was located along the Delaware river with a short walk down to be able to launch our canoe and kayak. The water is rather warm and swimming was enjoyable," notes Mitchell E.
Fishing excursions: Local campgrounds often stock their waters with trout. At Stephens State Park Campground, a camper mentioned, "Great fishing hiking and campsites," highlighting the combination of activities available. The river runs close enough to campsites that you can "hear the babbling of the river when it's quiet at camp."
Mountain hiking: The region features elevations with scenic outlooks. One reviewer at Jenny Jump State Forest wrote, "This place was great, they allow dogs and had hiking trails with beautiful views you could enjoy right from your campground. It's also close to other local hikes like Mt. Tammany."
Bear watching: Several campgrounds in the area provide opportunities for wildlife viewing. A camper at Swartswood State Park had "my first bear encounter which was exciting. Three black bears strolled by the campsite next to ours in the early morning—gave us more of an energy boost after a sleepless night than our coffee!"
Site privacy: Jenny Jump State Forest receives praise for spacious sites. "My husband and I tent camped in #34 with our dog. 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," reports Kelsey K.
Water proximity: Round Valley State Park Campground offers waterfront camping. One camper shared, "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."
Clean facilities: Many campers note well-maintained bathrooms. At Kittatinny Valley State Park, a reviewer remarked, "The facilities were very nice and clean." Similarly at Great Divide Campground, a camper noted, "Bathrooms clean and shower was warm and clean as well. They even have a heater to keep you comfortable in and out of the shower."
Staff helpfulness: Campground personnel receive positive mentions. A Kittatinny Valley visitor wrote, "The staff is wonderful here and they know the area like the back of their hand." Another camper at Great Divide observed, "Staff were very helpful and kind."
Reservation requirements: Most popular campsites near Rockaway fill quickly, especially for weekend stays May through September. Book 3-6 months ahead for prime spots.
Bear awareness: Bear activity is common throughout the region. Stokes State Forest reminds visitors, "Remember, this is bear country so proper food storage is a must. Bear lockers are not provided. The area also has ticks and rattlesnakes."
Alcohol prohibitions: Several state park campgrounds prohibit alcohol consumption. As one visitor to Great Divide Campground noted, "Campground rules do not list anything about alcohol on the website or the emailed rules given after reservation, however there is an alcohol prohibited sign as you enter."
Water access limitations: Though many campgrounds feature lakes or rivers, swimming regulations vary. At Round Valley, a camper observed, "The thing I found odd about the place is that after hiking so far in to get to this location, you're not allowed to swim in the reservoir, which kind of defeats the entire point IMHO."
Noise considerations: Some campgrounds experience noise from nearby roads. At Jenny Jump State Forest, one camper mentioned, "My only complaint is that the noise from the highway was quite loud at night."
Kid-friendly amenities: Panther Lake Camping Resort offers numerous activities. "Big campground, lots of sites, nice pool, big community hot tub, boating is great, good fishing, nice playground, basketball court and great amenities," notes Richard V.
Spacious group sites: Families needing multiple adjacent sites should look at specific campgrounds. One Swartswood State Park camper observed, "There are about 50 camp sites but many of them, from 1 to 30ish are wide open with ZERO privacy. That said, it's great for large groups that book a few sites next to each other."
Lake activities: Water-based recreation keeps children entertained. A visitor to Panther Lake wrote, "Fun camping place to books groups. Very kid and pet friendly, lake to fish and kayak on, lots of activities, great pool and awesome hot tub."
Educational opportunities: Some campgrounds are near educational attractions. A Worthington visitor noted, "This was a very pleasant stay with beautiful views and privacy. We especially enjoyed seeing the wolves—it was really neat and definitely a draw to the area (you can hike from the campsite to the preserve)."
Site selection: Great Divide Campground receives high marks for RV camping. "Always come here. The best in New Jersey," states one frequent visitor. However, another notes, "The campground as a whole and the individual sites are kind of tricky for bigger rigs."
Leveling considerations: Pay attention to site terrain. At Great Divide, a camper observed, "Some areas are a little steeper then I would like to set up on, but that's me."
Water hookup logistics: At Mahlon Dickerson Reservation, RVers appreciate the water system design. "Very clean and quiet. 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."
Dump station access: Several campgrounds provide sanitary dump stations, though locations vary. Mahlon Dickerson earns praise as "Dump station has a flush hose point. Nice and easy little campground."
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the best time of year to camp in Rockaway?
Late spring through early fall offers the most pleasant camping weather in the Rockaway region. Summer is popular but can get crowded, especially at waterfront locations like Pickerel Point Campground, where weekdays are recommended to avoid the weekend crowds. Fall is particularly beautiful at Stokes State Forest when the foliage changes color, creating a picturesque camping experience with more moderate temperatures and fewer visitors. The region generally has a typical Northeast seasonal pattern with cold winters limiting winter camping options at most sites.
What amenities are available at Rockaway camping areas?
Amenities vary across Rockaway area campgrounds. Turkey Swamp Park offers paved sites, a 17-acre lake for recreation, and hiking trails throughout its 2,283 acres. For those seeking more developed facilities, Great Divide Campground near Newton provides a scenic private camping experience with a small lake, pond, and wooded surroundings. For more primitive experiences, the Sandyston Boat In Campsites in Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area offer open sites maintained by the National Park Service with basic amenities. Most developed campgrounds in the area provide water access, restroom facilities, and designated camping pads.
What are the best camping spots in Rockaway?
The Rockaway area offers several excellent camping destinations. Mahlon Dickerson Reservation in the New Jersey Skylands is a standout choice with spacious, wooded, and mostly level sites featuring water and electric hookups. The reservation is perfect for both short and extended stays with convenient access to hiking trails. Another great option is High Point State Park Campground, which offers beautiful lakeside campsites with direct access to hiking and biking trails. The park's location at New Jersey's highest point provides unique views and recreation opportunities including swimming in the lake.
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