Cabin camping near Succasunna, New Jersey offers diverse overnight options throughout Morris and Sussex counties. Located in the highlands region at elevations around 900 feet, the area experiences distinct seasons with warm summers and snowy winters. Winter temperatures can drop below 20°F while summer highs reach the 80s, making spring and fall particularly comfortable for outdoor recreation.
What to do
Hiking to scenic overlooks: At Jenny Jump State Forest, multiple trails lead to viewpoints across the Delaware Water Gap. "There's a great look out point as well. If you want, they have the option of renting a small cabin/shelter that you can stay in if you are not into tent camping," notes Ethan K.
Kayaking on calm waters: Panther Lake at Panther Lake Camping Resort provides rental boats for paddling. Richard V. mentions, "Big campground, lots of sites, nice pool, big community hot tub, boating is great, good fishing, nice playground, basketball court and great amenities."
Wildlife observation: Camp Taylor offers access to their on-site wolf sanctuary with discounted tours for campers. Jean T. explains, "The Lakota Wolf Preserve is located on the camp and offers discounted tours for campers. Small swimming pond with paddleboat and kayak rentals."
Astronomy sessions: Voorhees State Park hosts an observatory with public stargazing events. As Scott A. from Mountainview Campground mentions of the area, "Great spot for stargazing. Owners are very nice."
What campers like
Privacy between sites: Many campers appreciate the natural separation at 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," writes Jeff W.
Clean facilities: The maintained bathrooms at several parks receive positive feedback. At Spruce Run, Jules T. notes, "Park employees and park police drive around through the day," though experiences vary across locations.
Fishing opportunities: Multiple lakes and reservoirs offer fishing throughout the region. At Great Divide Campground, Jojo P. mentions, "We had a great time fishing in the lake. Spots are spacious and campers were spread out throughout the large campground."
Fall foliage viewing: Autumn brings spectacular colors to the region's forests. As Christina H. describes one campground, "We couldn't have picked a better time of the year too, the fall leaves were so vibrant. When we got to the campsite and checked in, there was a chicken right outside the camp office."
What you should know
Reservation requirements: Most cabin facilities book quickly, especially for summer weekends. Paul N. advises about Swartswood State Park, "Probably our go-to campground in NJ. The lake is great to kayak and fish, and the campsites are spacious and has bathrooms."
Bear awareness: The region has black bear populations requiring proper food storage. Kaitlyn S. reports, "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!"
Weather preparation: Temperature swings can occur even during summer months. For winter cabin camping, W L. recommends, "I went through two bundles of wood in one night, and could have used more in the morning. The second time I took six bundles of wood and used them all from Friday to Sunday morning, and 7 would've have been better."
Quiet hours: Many parks strictly enforce quiet times. Regarding Camp Taylor, Julie shares, "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."
Tips for camping with families
Pack entertainment: Beyond swimming, many sites offer recreation amenities. About Stokes State Forest, Amy B. mentions, "Stokes is such a peaceful campground! We stay in the cabins. It's great to have the small kitchen when camping with the family. A must see campground."
Consider cabin location: Look for cabins near bathrooms when camping with children. Adeline M. explains, "At the entrance of the campground, there is a bathhouse with running water, bathrooms, and potable water. We stayed in one of the RV areas across the pond."
Playground access: Several campgrounds maintain play areas for children. Cecilia M. shares, "My husband and I brought our kids and nephew to Camp Taylor. We did tent camping for the weekend and we had a blast. The camping site we originally had booked was rather small, the front desk was cordial and able to accommodate us by moving us to a bigger site."
Swimming options: Many cabin camping areas feature swimming beaches or pools. At Great Divide, Scott N. notes, "Nice family run campground. Owners are a blast. Most sites are level. Nice small lake with boats to use. Nice small beach. Lots of weekend activities."
Tips from RVers
Site selection for hookups: Water and electric availability varies widely between sites. At Spruce Run Recreation Area, Ruette W. advises, "There are some RV sites with water & electric which are not on the water, but in the parking lot. I would consider getting one on the water to enjoy the water and one in the parking lot to hook up the RV. It's kind of worth it."
Dump station access: Many parks offer dump stations rather than full hookups. At Mahlon Dickerson, an RVer notes, "The dump station has a flush hose point. Nice and easy little campground."
Water connection challenges: Some sites require longer-than-standard hoses. As one camper mentions, "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."
