Round Valley State Park Campground provides secluded wilderness camping accessible only by boat or a strenuous 3-6 mile hike. Located within an hour's drive from Scotch Plains, this reservoir-based camping experience differs from traditional glamping near Scotch Plains by focusing on rugged, primitive conditions rather than luxury accommodations. The campground operates from April through October, with primitive camping sites positioned along the southeastern shore of the 2,350-acre reservoir.
What to do
Paddle to your site: At Round Valley State Park Campground, many campers choose boating over hiking to reach campsites. "If you get a site on the water, you can take a boat across to your site (check the site for regulations/restrictions) - in-season rentals should be available on-site," explains Agbi B.
Fishing in crystal waters: The reservoir at Round Valley offers exceptional fishing in 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 James R.
Archery practice: Turkey Swamp Park offers designated archery facilities alongside typical camping activities. "Plenty to do over a 2 night stay. Archery, boating, fishing, and hiking. Boat rental rates are acceptable and there are four different styles to choose from," notes Dan W.
What campers like
Privacy between sites: Campsite spacing at Mahlon Dickerson Reservation receives consistent praise. "The campsites are paved and mostly level. They are wooded and large," reports Jeff W., while another camper notes, "Our site is easily the nicest- all the way in the back with only one neighbor. It is so quiet here."
Winter camping options: Unlike seasonal glamping accommodations near Scotch Plains, some parks offer year-round access. "Getting a cabin in the winter and going for a snowy hike is wonderful there," shares Patrick M. about Allaire State Park.
Platform tent sites: Several parks provide wooden platforms for tent setup, protecting gear from ground moisture. "They have these 12x12 platforms to put your tent on. This was pretty cool especially since some of the sites are all gravel with surrounding dirt," explains Christina L.
What you should know
Bear awareness: Multiple parks post warnings about local wildlife. "There are a lot of bear warnings here so that gave us a bit of pause with our three little boys," notes Greg S. about Mahlon Dickerson Reservation.
Highway noise: Several campgrounds experience traffic noise despite woodland settings. "The only problem we encountered was that there wasn't a store close by for ice or other essentials, although the main office does sell firewood. They close at 4pm, though, so be sure to get there before then!" advises Kelsey K. at Jenny Jump State Forest.
Tick prevalence: Ticks pose a seasonal challenge at some locations. "By the 2nd day I had 3 ticks on me. My dog had one and by the end my husband had 2. That was so crazy because we were just sitting by our camper," cautions Laura Y. at Turkey Swamp Park.
Tips for camping with families
Beginner-friendly site selection: For family outings, consider campgrounds with gentle terrain. "We went camping with our 2- and 3-year-old kids. We were worried about bugs, but we didn't even use mosquito repellent and didn't get a single bite! The campground was super clean too. It was perfect!" reports Jaewook P. about Turkey Swamp Park.
Water recreation options: Panther Lake Camping Resort offers multiple water activities for children. "The lake and pool were a big plus, especially for hot days. While I did not take advantage, you are allowed to rent boats and take them out on the lake," explains Ethan K.
Playground facilities: Many campgrounds include dedicated play areas. "Centralized playground for the kids with bathrooms and showers next door. Staff was awesome! Attentive and outgoing," notes Dan W.
Tips from RVers
Water hose considerations: At Mahlon Dickerson Reservation, water hookups require planning. "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," shares antruze.
Access challenges: Some campgrounds have terrain limitations for larger vehicles. "The drive to our site had some inclines and was relatively rocky and some vehicles would surely struggle," notes Christina H. about Mountainview Campground.
Seasonal site availability: Many campgrounds have limited non-seasonal sites. "Majority of sites are seasonal campers with LOTS of cottages. Only a handful of full hook up sites surrounded by seasonal cottages. Other area of the place had water and electric but it would be hard to get in/out of if it had rained a lot as it was all on soft grass," warns April L. about Panther Lake.
