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 Scotch Plains, NJ
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SUMMARY PRESENTED BY
Camping options around Scotch Plains, New Jersey primarily consist of established campgrounds within a 30-mile radius of the town. Cheesequake State Park Campground, located approximately 20 miles east, offers tent and RV camping in a wooded setting with hiking trails and a lake for swimming. Other nearby options include Turkey Swamp Park in Freehold Township and Liberty Harbor RV Park in Jersey City, which provides urban camping with views of the Manhattan skyline. The region includes a mix of state parks and county-operated recreation areas that support tent camping, RV sites with hookups, and cabin accommodations.
Access to most campgrounds requires advance reservations, particularly during the peak season from April through October. Many campgrounds in the area operate seasonally, with most closing between November and March. As one camper noted, "The park is bisected by the Garden State Parkway. While the campsite is fairly well protected from highway noise, you're still going to hear it at least a little." Bathroom and shower facilities vary in quality across locations, with some visitors reporting older but functional amenities. Cell service is generally reliable throughout the region due to the proximity to urban areas, though some more rural sites may have spotty coverage.
Campers consistently mention the convenient location of these campgrounds for those looking to balance outdoor recreation with proximity to urban amenities. Several sites offer water activities as key attractions, with lakes for swimming, fishing, and boating. Reviews highlight that many campgrounds provide a good introduction to camping for beginners or families. A visitor to Cheesequake State Park commented, "This is a great site for those who are not avid campers. It's close to town if you forget something and it has all the facilities you may need." The trade-off for this accessibility is that true wilderness experiences are limited, with highway noise and crowds common during summer weekends. Most developed campgrounds in the area feature picnic tables, fire rings, and access to potable water, with varying levels of privacy between sites.
Best Campgrounds near Scotch Plains (123)
1. Cheesequake State Park Campground
"I stayed at Cheesequake at the beginning of August and had a very positive experience."
"This park is on the list of 50 top NJ Hikes, and it has a few great trails. The trails range from easy to moderate with quite a few lookout locations."
from $200 / night
Check Availability2. Liberty Harbor RV Park
"This is all about location. The closest RV park to NYC. It's basically a parking lot with a dump station. Not much else. Pick one of the larger end row sites to get a little extra elbow room."
"Basicly a parking lot, but the location can't be beat. 2 ferries that run to Manhattan. Path train is a 12 minute walk away that will take you yyo manhatten."
from $145 - $180 / night
Check Availability3. 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."
4. Sandy Hook — Gateway National Recreation Area
"Once you are there, you can walk right across the street to a bayside inlet and sandy shore that is not highly trafficked because no one can park there except those using the campground."
"Rangers at the entrance regulate admittance thus, providing a safe environment within the confines of the base."
from $30 - $50 / night
Check Availability5. 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."
6. Turkey Swamp Park
"We stayed in New Jersey for our 5th campground on the East Coast: Turkey Swamp Park in Freehold. This is a County park.
Near some Revolutionary War battlefields.
I really liked this park!"
"Heavily wooded and supremely quiet, it’s located not far from anywhere you’d want to be. 30 minutes to the shore. Every site is a pull-through, large and spacious with great woodland views. 30amp and"
from $42 - $79 / night
Check Availability7. Staten Island — Gateway National Recreation Area - CLOSED for 2025
"You have a clear view of the Narrow bridge and at night the city lights light up your surroundings light a nigh light. The camp here has 7 campsites here and it fill up really fast."
"this place is awesome when it comes to finding an affordable place to stay while in NY, this camp ground isnt your usual forest camp sites, however there are some beautiful views, and it is located in"
from $30 / night
Check Availability8. 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."
9. Spruce Run Recreation Area
"Park employees and park police drive around through the day. Some big groups of campers got a little rowdy at night. The bathrooms were absolutely disgusting."
"The actual site was nice and was close to the bathrooms. There was plenty of shade as the sun moved throughout the day."
10. 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 $$"
Drive Time
- 33 min from New York, NY
- 55 min from Kiryas Joel, NY
- 59 min from Trenton, NJ
- 1 hr 1 min from Allentown, PA
Recent Camping Photos near Scotch Plains, NJ
415 Photos of 123 Scotch Plains Campgrounds
Kimberly Z.
Cheesequake State Park Campground
phillip L.
Staten Island — Gateway National Recreation Area - CLOSED for 2025
Ellen K.
Pleasant Valley Lavender
Derek W.
Round Valley State Park Campground
Yolanda T.
Sandy Hook — Gateway National Recreation Area
Zina R.
Mahlon Dickerson Reservation
Barbara S.
Stephens State Park Campground
Marcia K.
Camp Gateway- Brooklyn NY - CLOSED — Gateway National Recreation Area
Jim B.
Camp Carr Campground
Dan G.
Spruce Run Recreation Area
Jake R.
Campgaw Mountain Reservation
Bee L.
Kittatinny Valley State Park Campground
Recent Reviews near Scotch Plains, NJ
829 Reviews of 123 Scotch Plains 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.
- AAimee K.
TravelerTurkey Swamp Park
Great Park
Beautiful park and very peaceful. Rangers are super friendly. This is exactly what camping should be.
- MMakylie P.
ScoutRinging 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.
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.
- SStephanie P.
GuideFloyd Bennett Field, Brooklyn, NY
Not park and camp available
The park was open but camping was not. After a little extra digging they do have a few sites, but hike in only.
Greg Z.TravelerSussex County Fair Grounds
Rock Ribs and Ridges 2026
We’re here for the Rock, Ribs, and Ridges festival and what a great experience! Make sure to bring a 50’ power cord as the hook ups are grouped together on telephone poles rather than at each individual site. As far as I know camping is only available during select events.
RETIRED R.TravelerThousand Trails Timothy Lake South
All kinds
There are a lot of sites here. Some in sun some in full shade. Pull through sites have trees and bushes between sites. We are over by cabins in a large gravel site.
Guide to Scotch Plains
Camping opportunities near Scotch Plains, New Jersey include several state parks and established campgrounds within an hour's drive. The area features Cheesequake State Park Campground approximately 20 miles east, offering both tent and RV camping with shaded sites. Other options include Liberty Harbor RV Park in Jersey City, Turkey Swamp Park in Freehold Township, and Round Valley State Park Campground in Lebanon. These campgrounds provide varying levels of amenities from primitive tent camping to full-service RV sites and even glamping accommodations at select locations.
Most campgrounds in the region operate seasonally, typically from April through October or early November. "The campground is large and has wonderful sites that have privacy or can be close to someone if you want," noted one camper about Cheesequake State Park. Advance reservations are highly recommended, especially for weekend stays during summer months when facilities reach capacity quickly. Travelers should note that some locations have limited hookups despite what online information might suggest, with several reviewers mentioning discrepancies between advertised and actual amenities. Weather conditions can affect camping experiences, particularly during rain events, and proximity to urban areas means some locations have audible highway noise.
Campers consistently mention the balance between natural settings and urban proximity as a distinctive feature of the region's campgrounds. Many sites offer wooded surroundings while maintaining reasonable access to New York City and other metropolitan areas. Several visitors highlight the family-friendly nature of parks like Cheesequake and Turkey Swamp, noting the presence of swimming areas, hiking trails, and fishing opportunities. However, reviewers frequently mention the varying quality of facilities, with bathroom cleanliness and maintenance being common concerns. Urban camping options like Liberty Harbor provide convenient access to New York City via public transportation, making them popular for visitors seeking both outdoor experiences and city attractions. Most established campgrounds in the area require fees ranging from $20-50 per night depending on residency status and specific amenities.
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Scotch Plains, NJ?
What camping is available near Scotch Plains, NJ?
According to TheDyrt.com, Scotch Plains, NJ offers a wide range of camping options, with 123 campgrounds and RV parks near Scotch Plains, NJ and 3 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Scotch Plains, NJ?
Which is the most popular campground near Scotch Plains, NJ?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Scotch Plains, NJ is Cheesequake State Park Campground with a 3.7-star rating from 20 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Scotch Plains, NJ?
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Scotch Plains, NJ?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 3 free dispersed camping spots near Scotch Plains, NJ.
What parks are near Scotch Plains, NJ?
What parks are near Scotch Plains, NJ?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 7 parks near Scotch Plains, NJ that allow camping, notably Gateway National Recreation Area and Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area.
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