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The Skylands region surrounding Stanhope, New Jersey features diverse camping environments within a 30-minute drive. Mahlon Dickerson Reservation offers large, wooded sites with water and electric hookups, while Great Divide Campground provides family-oriented amenities including a swimming beach, kayak rentals, and weekend entertainment. Stephens State Park Campground and Panther Lake Camping Resort represent the range of public and private options available. The Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, approximately 20 miles west, contains primitive boat-in sites along the river, providing a more secluded experience. Most campgrounds accommodate both tent and RV camping, with several offering cabin rentals for those seeking additional comfort.
Camping regulations vary significantly between state parks and private campgrounds in the area. Most state park campgrounds operate seasonally from April through October, with limited winter availability. According to one camper at Mahlon Dickerson, "The campsites are paved and mostly level. They are wooded and large. Convenient for hiking and exploring, it's also only a 20 minute drive to a large mall in Rockaway." Reservations are strongly recommended, particularly for summer weekends when New York City residents seek outdoor escapes. Weather conditions remain relatively mild during camping season, though summer humidity can be significant. Bear activity requires proper food storage throughout the region, with several reviewers noting wildlife encounters.
Lakeside and riverside sites receive consistently high ratings from visitors but fill quickly during peak season. Stokes State Forest, which maintains four distinct camping areas including the more primitive Steam Mill Camping Area, provides varying levels of amenities and seclusion. One reviewer noted, "Stokes is nestled in a beautiful part of New Jersey and it's just remote enough that you can get away from the crowds and activity while still being in a short driving distance of restaurants, grocery stores, etc." Cell service can be spotty in more remote areas, particularly in the Delaware Water Gap region. Campers frequently mention the Appalachian Trail access as a highlight, with several campgrounds positioned near trail sections. Site sizes and privacy levels vary considerably, with some private campgrounds placing tent sites close together while state parks typically offer more separation between campsites.
"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 $$"
"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."
"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 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."
"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."
"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."
"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"Positives: sites are decent sized with fire pits and picnic tables. easy access to hiking, convenient to a beautiful vineyard, peaceful region, and the most amazing wolf preserve is right next to you. "
"They were knowledgeable about the surrounding towns, their campground, and basically everything nature related. This was our very first night camping in an RV (we were renters at the time)."
from $33 - $42 / night
Check Availability"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."
"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."
TravelerThis 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.
The diverse terrain surrounding Stanhope, New Jersey provides camping experiences ranging from rustic tent sites to full-amenity RV accommodations. The region sits within the New Jersey Highlands, with elevations between 700-1,500 feet creating cooler microclimates than nearby urban areas. Most campgrounds in the area experience a 15-20°F temperature drop at night compared to daytime highs, even during summer months.
Hiking on the Appalachian Trail: Access points near Camp Taylor Campground connect directly to miles of trails. "There are miles of hiking trails and direct access to the Appalachian Tr. The Lakota Wolf Preserve is located on the camp and offers discounted tours for campers," notes Jean T.
Waterfront activities: The Delaware River and area lakes offer swimming, fishing, and paddling opportunities. At Panther Lake Camping Resort, "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.
Wildlife viewing: The region supports diverse wildlife, including black bears, deer, and wolves. "The wolf preserve at the same location was just amazing - we learned so much and could hear the wolves howl from the campsite," shares Dina S. about Camp Taylor Campground.
Mountain biking: Trail networks throughout the region accommodate riders of various skill levels. Stephens State Park offers "a lot of hiking, mountain biking and fishing there. Great for a weekend get away," according to Barbara S.
Private, wooded sites: Many campgrounds offer secluded spots with natural screening. At Jenny Jump State Forest, "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," writes Kelsey K.
Clean facilities: Campgrounds consistently maintain their amenities. "The bathrooms and showers were clean. The sink for dishes was clean and well maintained. The other campers were all very nice and it was pretty quiet," notes Barbara S. about Stephens State Park.
Accessibility to conveniences: Despite feeling remote, most campgrounds provide easy access to supplies. "Stokes is nestled in a beautiful part of New Jersey and it's just remote enough that you can get away from the crowds and activity while still being in a short driving distance of restaurants, grocery stores, etc." explains one reviewer about Stokes State Forest.
Fishing opportunities: Trout and other species populate area lakes and streams. "Our campsite was located along the Delaware river with a short walk down to be able to launch our canoe and kayak. With the exception of a few noisy campers up from us it was an enjoyable time," shares Mitchell E. about Worthington State Forest.
Bear activity is common: Proper food storage is essential at all campgrounds in the region. "Remember, this is bear country so proper food storage is a must. Bear lockers are not provided. The area also has ticks and rattlesnakes," warns Trip Over Life about Stokes State Forest.
Cell service limitations: Coverage varies significantly between locations. At Great Divide Campground, one camper noted, "Love the place! People were nice. Bathrooms were clean. Only issue is the internet is terrible u have to be near the wifi zones," according to Umar A.
Reservation requirements: Most campgrounds fill quickly during peak season. "We chose site T219. 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," shares Trip Over Life about Steam Mill Camping Area in Stokes State Forest.
Terrain challenges: Some sites feature significant slopes or rocky ground. "The campgrounds were very big and spread out and each campsite gets their own space with decent privacy. The grounds were fairly large and each campsite gets their own space with decent privacy," explains Ethan K. about Panther Lake.
Kid-friendly activities: Several campgrounds offer structured programs for children. At Great Divide Campground, "Nice small beach. Lots of weekend activities. Will be back in the future," shares Scott N.
Playground access: Many campgrounds include play areas. "This campground is lovely. Very wooded. Some sites are more private than others but all have a wooded and private feel. It's GREAT For kids. A nice playground with tons of kids running all over," remarks Kathy G. about Camp Taylor Campground.
Swimming options: Lake and pool facilities provide cooling opportunities during summer. "We went on 4th of July weekend so the place was packed. We were able to get a secluded spot in the woods which was great! 2 teenage girls had a blast in the lake and riding their bikes around," notes Jojo P. about Panther Lake Camping Resort.
Noise considerations: Some campgrounds enforce quiet hours more strictly than others. At Camp Taylor, "Unlike many other campgrounds we've been to, they are very good about actually enforcing the quiet hours at night, so you can have an actual peaceful and quiet night around the campfire," Dan B. explains.
Site leveling: Many campsites require significant leveling. At Mahlon Dickerson Reservation, "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," notes antruze.
Water and electric access: Hookup availability varies between campgrounds. "Easy to navigate our 38 ft. RV. Easy to dump and fill. Peaceful. Close to train to N.Y. City," shares Nancymike K. about Mahlon Dickerson.
Size restrictions: Some campgrounds cannot accommodate larger RVs. "Lovely campground, but maybe not the best for big rigs. The campground as a whole and the individual sites are kind of tricky for bigger rigs. We are in a 26ft class c and we squeezed through," explains Laura M. about Stephens State Park.
Weather preparedness: Temperature fluctuations require planning. "There is a section of RV spots that are each cut out in the woods so very private. Once you have backed into the spot and leveled out it's a good time," Julie F. shares about Camp Taylor Campground.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are there any campgrounds near Stanhope?
Yes, there are several excellent campgrounds near Stanhope, NJ. Stephens State Park Campground offers a lovely woodland setting with sites suitable for tents and smaller RVs, though it does have a no-pets policy in some areas. The park is nestled along the Musconetcong River, providing fishing opportunities. Mahlon Dickerson Reservation is another nearby option in the Skylands region featuring paved, level, and spacious wooded sites with water and electric hookups, plus a convenient dump station. The area provides excellent access to hiking trails and outdoor exploration.
What camping options are available in Stanhope for weekend trips?
Weekend campers near Stanhope have diverse options to choose from. High Point State Park Campground offers beautiful lakeside sites with hiking and biking trails accessible directly from your campsite. You can swim in the lake or hike to the monument at New Jersey's highest point. For a more private experience, Stokes State Forest provides a remote feel while still being close to amenities. The forest has multiple camping areas, including Steam Mill Camping Area with 27 primitive sites ideal for tents or small trailers. For RVers, Great Divide Campground near Newton offers scenic surroundings with a small lake and wooded setting.
What camping is available near Stanhope, NJ?
According to TheDyrt.com, Stanhope, NJ offers a wide range of camping options, with 181 campgrounds and RV parks near Stanhope, NJ and 5 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Stanhope, NJ?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Stanhope, NJ is Great Divide Campground with a 4.7-star rating from 16 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Stanhope, NJ?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 5 free dispersed camping spots near Stanhope, NJ.
What parks are near Stanhope, NJ?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 9 parks near Stanhope, NJ that allow camping, notably Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area and Gateway National Recreation Area.
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