131 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Campgrounds within a 25-mile radius of Summit, New Jersey range from basic tent sites to full-service RV parks with cabin rentals. Mahlon Dickerson Reservation in Jefferson provides tent camping, RV hookups, and cabin options in a wooded setting with hiking trails. Liberty Harbor RV Park in Jersey City offers urban camping with Manhattan skyline views, while Round Valley State Park Campground provides more remote wilderness experiences with boat-in and hike-in sites. The region includes several state forests and recreation areas with varying levels of development and amenities.
Most developed campgrounds in the area operate seasonally, typically from April through October, with reservations strongly recommended during summer weekends. Water and electric hookups are available at several locations including Cheesequake State Park and Great Divide Campground, while primitive sites at places like Round Valley require self-sufficiency. The terrain varies from relatively flat at urban-adjacent campgrounds to more challenging hilly landscapes in the northwestern parts of New Jersey. Cell phone coverage can be limited in some of the more remote areas. A visitor to Mahlon Dickerson noted, "The campsites are paved and mostly level. They are wooded and large. Water and electric hookups and a dump station. Convenient for hiking and exploring."
Several campers highlight the natural beauty and recreational opportunities available near Summit. Waterfront access at locations like Round Valley Recreation Area receives consistently positive reviews, with visitors appreciating the clear water and fishing opportunities. Campers at Stokes State Forest mention the contrast between pristine nature and basic facilities: "The park itself is lovely and close to some other green areas. The nice thing about this campsite is that it's so close to NYC." Sites with more amenities like Panther Lake Camping Resort and Butterfly Camping Resort provide family-friendly environments with activities and facilities. Many reviewers note the convenient location of campgrounds in relation to attractions in the region, allowing campers to balance outdoor experiences with urban exploration.
"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"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."
"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"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"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
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.
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 Summit, New Jersey offers options ranging from primitive backcountry sites to full-service family campgrounds within a 30-mile radius. The region sits at elevations between 300-1,200 feet with moderate summer temperatures averaging 75-85°F during peak camping season. Fall camping brings cooler nights with temperatures dropping to the 40s, requiring adequate insulation for tent campers.
Hiking on marked trails: At Beaver Pond Campground in Harriman State Park, campers can access multiple trail systems. "A quick 15 minute drive from Beaver Pond, is Bear Mountain State Park. Here you can find some of the Appalachian Trail, with various smaller trail heads for this historic part of the region including the one to Doodle Town," reports Steve W.
Kayaking and boating: Round Valley State Park Campground offers water activities on its 2,350-acre reservoir. "Beautiful and quaint..a nice place to get away and enjoy some nature. 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," writes James R.
Urban exploration: Camp near the city at Liberty Harbor RV Park and explore Manhattan. "Very plain & functional, no frills but right on the harbor & on the very edge of Jersey City, close to a ferry & the train that takes u across to New York City. Shopping & restraunts are right next door. We brought scooters & had a great stay!" says Emily L.
Privacy and solitude: Campers appreciate the spacious sites at Mahlon Dickerson Reservation in Jefferson. "The campground is small but also secluded. We always hike to the lake here, it's a very easy hike and also very peaceful," shares Paulene-Amanda M. Another camper noted, "This county park has large, wooded campsites with electric and water. It's beautiful and quiet, and close to beautiful hiking trails, lakes, and other outdoor recreation opportunities."
Water recreation: The swimming opportunities at several campgrounds receive positive reviews. At Great Divide Campground, one camper reported, "Kids had lots of fun on the free kayaks and pool. Staff was friendly and helpful." The fishing is also popular, with camper Julie noting, "We had a great time fishing in the lake. Spots are spacious and campers were spread out throughout the large campground."
Camping platforms: Unique camping platforms at Beaver Pond make tent camping more comfortable. "The biggest positive about Beaver Pond is how spread out it was. You definitely feel like you have your own space and are not camping on top of your neighbor. Many of the camping options were on platforms which is especially nice if it recently rained or if you are expecting rain during your stay," explains Ethan K.
Bear activity: Cheesequake State Park Campground and other area campgrounds have wildlife present. At Beaver Pond, a ranger warns "Welcome to Bear Mountain" on arrival, and reviews mention "The wildlife do roam around your campsite so be mindful of putting food and garbage away before sleeping."
Noise levels: Several campgrounds near highways experience traffic noise. At Cheesequake, camper Theresa G. notes, "Stayed in the family campground in a travel trailer. Longish bike ride or shortish drive to the main park. Used a fan in the trailer to block out the sound of traffic with the exception of some sports cars/ motorcycles speeding loudly."
Limited amenities: Many campgrounds have basic facilities. Round Valley offers a primitive experience where "There is a pump for potable water and vault/pit toilets," while Sandy Hook has "No cars permitted in the campground, so you will have to lug your gear to your spot" and "No showers, only toilets."
Choose campsites with activities: Panther Lake Camping Resort offers numerous family-friendly amenities. "Fun camping place to books groups. Very kid and pet friendly, lake to fish and kayak on, lots of activities, great pool and awesome hot tub," writes Cynthia H.
Consider proximity to bathrooms: When camping with children, location matters. At Beaver Pond, "There is one bathroom facility on the property which we did not love," notes one camper, while at Mahlon Dickerson, the restrooms are more accessible from certain sites.
Check seasonal programming: Most campgrounds offer scheduled activities during summer weekends. "They offer both RV and primitive camping. The grounds were fairly large and each campsite gets their own space with decent privacy. The lake and pool were a big plus, especially for hot days," writes Ethan K. about Panther Lake.
Site selection for RVs: At Liberty Harbor RV Park, site location matters. "Pick one of the larger end row sites to get a little extra elbow room. If it's packed, your neighbor with be within inches of your rig," advises Keith and Tia S. Another camper mentions, "The sites had electric and water and were in a fenced off section of the marina parking area."
Navigation challenges: Some campgrounds have difficult access roads. At Liberty Harbor, "Getting in and out of the city is an adventure. Stay right off the highway to avoid the $30 tunnel toll. Follow RV life pro and not Waze," suggests Joe R.
Water hookups: Several campgrounds have inconveniently located water spigots. At Mahlon Dickerson, a camper notes, "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."
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Summit, NJ?
According to TheDyrt.com, Summit, NJ offers a wide range of camping options, with 131 campgrounds and RV parks near Summit, NJ and 3 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Summit, NJ?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Summit, NJ is Liberty Harbor RV Park with a 3.8-star rating from 16 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Summit, NJ?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 3 free dispersed camping spots near Summit, NJ.
What parks are near Summit, NJ?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 8 parks near Summit, NJ that allow camping, notably Gateway National Recreation Area and Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area.
Keep Exploring
