128 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Camping options within 30 miles of Short Hills, New Jersey range from RV parks to developed campgrounds with tent sites and cabins. Liberty Harbor RV Park in Jersey City provides urban camping with views of the Statue of Liberty and Manhattan skyline, while state parks like Cheesequake and Round Valley offer more traditional camping experiences with natural surroundings. Several privately operated campgrounds, including Great Divide Campground and Panther Lake Camping Resort, provide additional accommodation types such as cabins, yurts, and glamping options. Proximity to New York City makes this region popular for visitors wanting convenient access to urban attractions while maintaining a base camp.
Many campgrounds in the area operate seasonally, typically from April through October, with some extending their season through early November. Reservations are strongly recommended, especially during summer months and holiday weekends when availability becomes limited. Cheesequake State Park and Round Valley State Park both operate on a April 1 to October 31 season schedule. While most established campgrounds offer basic amenities like drinking water, picnic tables, and toilets, the level of services varies significantly between locations. Campgrounds close to urban areas tend to have more limitations on fires and generator use. A camper noted of Liberty Harbor RV Park, "If you're looking for a place to crash and hit up the city or Liberty Island, this place is great, just not 5-star."
Campers frequently mention location advantages as a key factor when choosing sites near Short Hills. The Liberty Harbor RV Park, while described by many as "basically a parking lot," receives positive reviews for its strategic position. According to feedback on The Dyrt, "This is all about location. The closest RV park to NYC." Tent camping options are more limited than RV sites in this region, with some campgrounds primarily designed for recreational vehicles. Panther Lake Camping Resort and Great Divide Campground provide the most diverse accommodation types, offering tent sites, RV hookups, cabins, and glamping options. For those seeking a more natural setting, the state parks in the region offer more spacious sites and outdoor recreation opportunities, though with fewer amenities than private campgrounds.
"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 Availability"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 Availability"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."
"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."
"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 Availability"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 Availability"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."
"Drive-in tent campgrounds. Adequate restroom facilities sprinkled amongst tent sites. Some campsites have raised platforms. All sites have picnic tables and fire ring with flip-top grill."
"The grounds are just steps away from Welch Lake, offering a lifeguard monitored sandy beach which is open during the summer season for swimming, fishing, and small boat craft further out."
from $17 - $20 / night
Check Availability"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 $$"
"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!"
"Electrical and water are at the outer edge of each site so you might want an extension cord and/or hose."
from $42 - $79 / night
Check Availability
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.
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 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.
ScoutNo hookups. It was wooded, quiet and dark at night. I used the dump station on my way out. The first time I ever saw a poop fountain. The sewer opening sticks up above ground level. The cover swivels away, so I couldn't put it on top of my hose. And then, when I tried to rinse it, there was nowhere for it to go, because the inlet is elevated.
ScoutWe reserved for a day. Very bad service. The river is super dirty and they did not even clean the trash cans. Besides, the fire ring has no grill cooking grate, so if you don’t bring your own NO GRILLING. Ryan was the person in front that took care of us, he was rude, my kids felt weird because he was not welcoming at all. Also, we try to ask for a partial refund since we did not felt comfortable since the beginning, and they said NO. We have experience camping, but this one was simply THE WORST. We lost the money but we won’t put our kids in a difficult situation. Thanks.
TravelerWe’ve been to Camp Taylor twice now for tent camping: September 2021 and May 2023. We stayed at the rustic tent sites both times, and there was room for 2 cars and 2 tents. Depending on how you want your setup, there are some that are more secluded and others that are close together and would be great for group camping.
The staff are all lovely and take the time to explain the rules both in-person at check-in and on the forms they provide at the time of booking. They are not hiding how seriously they take rules like quiet hours, and it will keep campers like me coming back. If you are respectful of the folks around you and especially during the posted quiet hours, you will have no problems.
The office and shop keep supply of snacks, firewood, and gifts. There are flush toilets mapped in spots of the tent sites (SUCH a pleasant surprise! I was expecting a porta-potty or vault toilet), and hot showers are available at the same complex as the office.
Camping near Short Hills, New Jersey offers diverse options within the region's mixed deciduous forest landscape at elevations ranging from sea level to 400 feet. The camping season typically runs April through October, with peak temperatures in July averaging 86°F and cooler nights in spring and fall dropping to the 40s. Water access varies significantly between state parks and private campgrounds, with several sites requiring hikes or boat transport to reach remote campsites.
Hiking at Cheesequake State Park: Trails range from easy to moderate with multiple lookout locations and minimal elevation changes. "The trails range from easy to moderate with quite a few lookout locations. The elevation of the trails is not too strenuous. While also walking the trails, people are able to come across many picnic and resting areas," notes one visitor to Cheesequake State Park Campground.
Kayaking on Round Valley Reservoir: The 2,350-acre reservoir offers clear water for paddling with depths reaching 180 feet. At Round Valley State Park Campground, a camper shares: "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."
Urban exploration on Staten Island: The Gateway National Recreation Area on Staten Island offers urban camping with historical sites. A reviewer at Staten Island — Gateway National Recreation Area mentioned, "There is abandoned buildings here and you can do urban exploring. There are rangers taking you on a trek and exploring the abandoned building."
Secluded wilderness camping: Remote sites at Round Valley require effort but reward with solitude. "Located just south of I78 and near the small hamlets of Clinton and Lebanon, what I love most about Round Valley SP is the fact that it has its very own eponymous fresh water reservoir," writes a camper about their experience.
Family-friendly activities: Many campgrounds provide scheduled events and recreation facilities. At Great Divide Campground, campers appreciate the variety: "The common area, along with the pool, had a small soccer field and volleyball court. They also had scheduled activities for kids."
Views of NYC skyline: Several campgrounds offer unique urban vistas. At Sandy Hook — Gateway National Recreation Area, a camper described: "With views from the campsite looking out to the sea, the skyline of NYC on the left & NJ on the right, it was awe inspiring and, the sunset was a real treat!!"
Bear activity awareness: Wildlife encounters require proper food storage and awareness. "Welcome to Bear Mountain" grumbles the park ranger as he sits in complete darkness!" warns a camper at Beaver Pond Campground. "The wildlife do roam around your campsite so be mindful of putting food and garbage away before sleeping."
Boat-in or hike-in requirements: Some campsites cannot be accessed by car. At Round Valley, "if you're looking to camp here, I highly recommend you boat in as the hiking path is incredibly difficult to manage without hauling all of your camping gear."
Noise considerations: Proximity to urban areas means traffic sounds at some sites. At Cheesequake State Park, a camper noted, "The Parkway is right there so its not a nice quiet place," while another mentioned "one of the sites we reserved was filled with broken glass."
Pack-in requirements: Some sites require carrying gear from parking areas. At Great Divide Campground, "You have to drop your supplies off and drive it back to the parking lot which was slightly annoying."
Kid-friendly amenities: Look for campgrounds with recreational options for children. "Great atmosphere for families. Little crowded for couples who want peace and quiet," notes a visitor to Panther Lake Camping Resort. Another camper added, "The lake and pool were a big plus, especially for hot days."
First-timer friendly options: Some sites work better for novice campers. A Cheesequake State Park visitor suggested, "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, bathroom, shower, etc."
Urban RV parking considerations: Limited spaces require advance planning. Beaver Pond has "RV hook-ups, tent platforms, and rustic tent sites were available," notes a camper, adding that "mid-week during the off-season it was great."
Terrain challenges: Hilly campgrounds can be difficult to navigate. At Mahlon Dickerson Reservation, a visitor shares: "Easy to navigate our 38 ft. RV. Easy to dump and fill. Peaceful. Close to train to N.Y. City."
Limited private campground sites: Weekend availability is scarce at popular locations. One Panther Lake visitor observed, "Majority of sites are seasonal campers with LOTS of cottages. Only a handful of full hook up sites surrounded by seasonal cottages."
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Short Hills, NJ?
According to TheDyrt.com, Short Hills, NJ offers a wide range of camping options, with 128 campgrounds and RV parks near Short Hills, NJ and 3 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Short Hills, NJ?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Short Hills, NJ is Liberty Harbor RV Park with a 3.8-star rating from 16 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Short Hills, NJ?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 3 free dispersed camping spots near Short Hills, NJ.
What parks are near Short Hills, NJ?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 8 parks near Short Hills, NJ that allow camping, notably Gateway National Recreation Area and Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area.
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