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Best Campgrounds in New Jersey

993 Reviews

New Jersey state parks and forests offer a range of camping options from primitive tent sites to full-service RV campgrounds with cabin rentals. Worthington State Forest Campground in the Delaware Water Gap provides tent and RV camping with basic amenities, while Turkey Swamp Park in Freehold Township features electric hookups, water connections, and cabin accommodations. Stokes State Forest maintains year-round camping with sites for tents, RVs, and cabin rentals. Many New Jersey campgrounds support mixed-use approaches, allowing visitors to choose between various accommodation types at a single location.

Seasonal considerations affect camping availability throughout New Jersey, with most state forest campgrounds operating from April through October or November. Some locations like Stokes State Forest and Belleplain State Forest remain open year-round, though winter camping requires preparation for cold conditions. Advance reservations are strongly recommended, particularly for summer weekends and holidays when waterfront sites fill quickly. Cell service varies significantly by location, with remote forest campgrounds often having limited connectivity. As one camper noted, "There is little to no signal inside the park. But once you drive out, you will have some signal. The campsite is close to a Walmart and a few other restaurants, which is good."

Campers frequently mention the privacy and spaciousness of sites at Belleplain State Forest, with one review highlighting "HUGE sites with trees and a lot of privacy from the road and neighbors." Many state forest campgrounds provide access to hiking trails, fishing opportunities, and swimming areas. Cape May area campgrounds like Sun Outdoors Cape May offer proximity to beaches with full hookup sites. Bathroom and shower facilities vary widely between campgrounds, with state park facilities sometimes receiving mixed reviews for cleanliness and maintenance. Campers should note that dump station facilities at some state parks may be limited, potentially causing delays during busy checkout periods. The proximity of many New Jersey campgrounds to urban areas makes them convenient for weekend getaways while still providing natural settings.

Best Camping Sites in New Jersey (170)

    1. Worthington State Forest Campground — Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area

    40 Reviews
    Shawnee on Delaware, PA
    Website

    "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."

    2. Turkey Swamp Park

    32 Reviews
    Freehold, NJ
    Website
    +1 (732) 462-7286

    $42 - $79 / night

    "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."

    3. Stokes State Forest

    28 Reviews
    Layton, NJ
    Website

    $7 - $55 / night

    "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."

    4. Round Valley State Park Campground

    25 Reviews
    Lebanon, NJ
    Website
    +1 (908) 236-6355

    "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."

    5. Camp Taylor Campground

    25 Reviews
    Pahaquarry, NJ
    Website
    +1 (908) 496-4333

    $33 - $42 / night

    "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)."

    6. Sun Outdoors Cape May

    26 Reviews
    Tabernacle, NJ
    Website
    +1 (609) 886-1234

    "Stayed in a drive through, patio site with full hook-ups. It was situated on a corner spot. A lot of RV, golf cart, bike, and people traffic due to the location."

    "The front of the park is close to the pool and store- if pool noise is a concern you should stay further back. A mix of seasonal,"cabins" and overnight camping. Park was very clean."

    7. Atsion Family Camp — Wharton State Forest

    25 Reviews
    Hammonton, NJ
    Website
    +1 (609) 268-0444

    "Atsion Family Campground Off US 206 and about 1/2 a mile up Atsion Road in New Jersey’s Wharton State Forest, you’ll find the Atsion Family Campground."

    "It was a great location, closest site to the water with beautiful views. Super convenient if you're a Kayaker, you can launch right off that spot. Its a huge site, away from other sites."

    8. High Point State Park Campground

    24 Reviews
    Matamoras, PA
    Website
    +1 (973) 875-4800

    $5 - $20 / night

    "Beautiful park with in the skylands region of New Jersey. Great campsites on a lake, with lots of hiking and biking trails right from your site."

    "There are about 40 to 50 sites around Sawmill Lake. Many of these sites , like ours, are walk in sites (about a 50 yard walk) that sit lakeside."

    9. Belleplain State Forest

    23 Reviews
    Woodbine, NJ
    Website
    +1 (609) 861-2404

    "They allowed me to drive around first and pick out a campsite before checking in. They charge $5 extra for a dog. So far it is very quiet and that's what I was looking for."

    "Very nice campground tucked away in southern NJ. Clean facilities. Plenty of space for our tent. lake for swimming and you can rent boats. nice hiking trails and playground."

    10. Philadelphia South/Clarksboro KOA

    21 Reviews
    Paulsboro, NJ
    Website
    +1 (856) 423-6677

    "We did Chinatown and walked part of the Schuylkill River trail which we accessed by parking near Fairmount Park."

    "In addition to the peaceful vibe, the people are friendly, the little office store has everything you forgot to pack, and if you look around the campground edges or follow the walking trail into the woods"

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Recent Reviews in New Jersey

993 Reviews of 170 New Jersey Campgrounds

  • AThe Dyrt Pro User
    Sep. 21, 2026

    The Depot Travel Park

    Enjoyed my stay

    I’ve stayed here multiple times over the past 15 years and I have enjoyed each trip.

    Depot Travel Park is a well-maintained family-owned campground. It is also reasonably priced, especially given the location that is within a bicycle ride to the beach, the ocean, and lots of shops and restaurants in Cape May. It is the only campground on the Cape May side of the canal.

    Please note that this is not a resort campground and it doesn’t have a pool. There is so much to do in Cape May that is doesn’t need to be a resort.

    Since it’s not a resort campground, there are not many golf carts, so most people use their bicycles or cars to get around. That also makes the campground pretty quiet, even during the peak of summer.

    The campground sells firewood and propane, but there is no camp store. Again, it doesn’t really need one, since there is a farmers market at the end of the driveway, and a CVS and an ACME supermarket within bicycle riding distance.

    If your site doesn’t have a sewer hookup, the dump station is a little awkward to access, but they have a daily honey wagon for a reasonable fee, which is great. If you notify the office the day before you need it and they are usually there in the morning.

    They close for the season n October, but they reopen briefly during the Cape May Christmas Parade weekend in December. That’s one thing that I’d like to do soon.

    I really like this campground and I am always recommending it to friends.

  • Edwin R.
    Sep. 17, 2026

    Cheesequake State Park Campground

    Park uses county cops to shut down park by 9pm.

    On Friday, September 4, 2026, I rented a trailer and brought my family to Cheesequake State Park to celebrate our 10th wedding anniversary over the extended Labor Day weekend. Around 9:20 PM—well before the park's designated 10:00 PM quiet hours—we were sitting inside our canopy, playing Jenga, and listening to low background music. Two officers from the Matawan Police Department approached our campsite. They were polite and courteous, simply offering a standard reminder to wrap things up by 10:00 PM. Before they could leave, however, a third, senior officer intervened. Wanting to"show them how it's done," he made the two polite officers return and stand by to watch as he demonstrated how to aggressively harass campers. Flashlight in hand, the senior officer approached with an immediate hostile attitude, treating us like criminals as he demanded to know who rented the site. He began reiterating rules and claimed we had too many vehicles. We had three cars, one belonging to my brother-in-law's girlfriend, who was visiting with her daughter. She had paid the$10 visitor fee at the main office and was instructed by staff to obtain the gate access code from us, the primary renters, if she got locked in. No staff member ever informed her of an 8:00 PM visitor departure deadline, leading us to reasonably assume visitors were permitted until quiet hours began at 10:00 PM. The officer rudely snapped that she had been given wrong information. The senior officer then used profanity in front of three small children, aggressively telling her to ("get her shit and get the fuck out!") in that manner or use profanity, the officer went from hostile to furious. He angrily declared that these were official violations and threatened that he could be issuing us tickets instead. Desperately searching for anything and everything to throw at us, he demanded that we turn off our idling car—which was supplying power to our campsite—and instructed us to make sure the campfire was doused before shutting down for the night. He then proceeded to shine his flashlight into our private setup—including our canopy, tents, and the inside of our trailer—searching for any other possible violation while the two polite officers were forced to watch. What was supposed to be a special 10th wedding anniversary celebration with my family was completely ruined by a senior officer misusing his authority to put on an unnecessary display of intimidation. Worse than just ruining our night, he spent that evening teaching those two police officers how to be bad cops. He corrupted two officers in real time, demonstrating firsthand exactly why most people have lost faith in the police force. The next day we was ready for them. We turned off our lights and  quietly by the fire while they went next door to harass an asian family that had just set up camp and had their leds lights on.

  • E
    Sep. 13, 2026

    Belleplain State Forest

    Don’t go unless you want harassment

    My check in was for 8-6-2026, and bc I’m a new driver and wanted to beat traffic I got there early (7am) so I sit there waiting till check in time. When suddenly the park police show up. He’s accusing me of camping over night there. I told him simply I wasn’t and where I was night prior (would never sleep somewhere without permission). So we go to the store to kill time before we check in. Come back for Check in and the whole staff in just the office alone were so arrogant and cold to my mom and I, leaving rude comments to us and not only where they like that but the staff outside the office was acting like that alongside the rangers and park police. They would watch us the whole visit in the distance parking there cars a little ways watching everything we did,even driving by slowly a bunch of times in just an hour alone. My mom and I couldn’t do anything with out them showing up 2 mins later. Example we were walking our dog enjoying our time(trying to) and all of a sudden one of the office ladies pulls up right in front of us speeding, parks their car, gets out and walks a distance from us standing there and taking pictures of us…. For walking our dog who’s on a leash and didn’t even do anything. The whole trip we felt uncomfortable and unwanted and to find out they police when we were going on walks where coming up to campers near us bribing them with free firewood to get any information on use (told to us by other camper). I paid a lot of money to be harassed and followed the whole time. We never did anything we abide by every rule and keep to ourselves everywhere we go. They even made my mother cry…

  • K
    Sep. 8, 2026

    Stephens State Park Campground

    Great last min getaway

    Booked the day before—even on the holiday weekend! Just 1.5 hours outside of NYC, site was a bit close to the neighbors (fire pit was very far back and basically in the neighbors’ campsite, but we put up a “privacy clothesline” and hung a tarp over it for a bit of extra coverage.

    The staff was friendly and helpful, they said it was the busiest they’ve seen the campground all year (there were lots of large groups but everyone seemed to settle down by 9:30pm

    Poison ivy was EVERYWHERE at our site so make sure to stick to the open areas and the paths. Lots of families around, we felt very safe Bathrooms were fine—it was my impression they’re usually cleaner but the high traffic of the weekend left a bit to be desired, (lots of families around=dirty diapers in the bathroom trash bin) but it’s camping! I’m not gonna argue w a flushing toilet!

  • Adeline M.
    Sep. 5, 2026

    Brendan Byrne State Forest

    Beautiful campground, loud campers

    Beautiful campground but made the mistake of going on a holiday weekend, the campgrounds next to us were screaming and blasting music all day and throughout the night so we ended up leaving early. A beautiful campground when there aren’t noisy capers ruining it.

  • Coll G.
    Aug. 3, 2026

    Camp Taylor Campground

    Privacy & quiet hours are king

    We’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.

  • Tabatta C.
    Jul. 29, 2026

    Voorhees State Park Campground

    Clean and well maintained!

    I spent 4 days and 3 nights with my 6th grade Girl Scouts. We were at sites 23 and 24 which worked out great because they back up against each other. The bathrooms were super clean and well maintained. There are outlets at the bathroom building by the sink to charge any electronics. The playground is adequate and the field is big for playing.  There are many things to do close by too like the observatory, Round Valley beach, Grounds for Art, etc. We all really enjoyed ourselves and plan on returning.

  • C
    Jul. 27, 2026

    Turkey Swamp Park

    Really nice campground

    Stayed three nights in a tent and enjoyed it very much. Sites have electrical hookups, shared water connections, large picnic table, and fire ring with adjustable grate. Electrical and water are at the outer edge of each site so you might want an extension cord and/or hose. Bathrooms are clean; showers have separate stalls but they’re clustered together (not the most private). There are hiking and biking trails, a lake, and archery park. Staff are friendly. Office is open through 9pm, and firewood, ice, and bait for fishing are available. Site C3 is in an okay spot; it’s close to the bathroom and laundry room, but also right next to the playground. We were able to visit the beach; easy 25 minute drive to Asbury Park.

Guide to New Jersey

Camping in New Jersey offers a mix of beautiful landscapes and unique experiences. Whether you're looking for a peaceful retreat or an adventurous getaway, there's something for everyone.

What to do

  • Hiking and Trails: Many campgrounds, like Round Valley State Park Campground, have trails that lead to stunning views. One camper mentioned, “The hike in was a tough one! Weather was 95 and sunny on the hike in, which didn't make it any easier.”
  • Fishing and Boating: Campgrounds such as Turkey Swamp Park offer lakes for fishing and boat rentals. A reviewer said, “The lake has fishing & boat rentals. No gas motors.”
  • Wildlife Watching: Many parks are home to diverse wildlife. One visitor at Atsion Family Camp — Wharton State Forest noted, “The grounds were lovely and a majority of the sites were generously sized.”

What campers like

  • Clean Facilities: Campers appreciate well-maintained restrooms and showers. A review from Mahlon Dickerson Reservation stated, “The campground is clean, paved nicely and well run.”
  • Secluded Sites: Many enjoy the privacy offered by certain campgrounds. One camper at Mountainview Campground said, “Sites are huge and very private. You didn’t even know that there were people around you.”
  • Friendly Staff: Campgrounds like Philadelphia South/Clarksboro KOA are known for their helpful staff. A visitor shared, “Everyone we came in contact with staff wise was so friendly.”

What you should know

  • Limited Amenities: Some campgrounds, like Bass River State Forest, may have basic facilities. A camper mentioned, “The bathroom (shower room?) was reasonably clean, but I have only been to this camp site, so there is no comparison.”
  • Bugs in Summer: Be prepared for bugs, especially in warmer months. One camper at Bass River noted, “There were many bugs and many of them got in my tent as I forgot to zip the door after setting it up.”
  • Noise Levels: Some campgrounds are near roads, which can lead to noise. A review from Cheesequake State Park Campground mentioned, “While the campsite is fairly well protected from highway noise, you're still going to hear it at least a little.”

Tips for camping with families

  • Choose Family-Friendly Campgrounds: Parks like Turkey Swamp Park have playgrounds and activities for kids. A reviewer said, “There’s a nice playground in the campground.”
  • Plan for Activities: Bring bikes or games to keep kids entertained. One family at Sandy Hook — Gateway National Recreation Area enjoyed biking, stating, “We used the bikes we brought to ride the well-kept trail.”
  • Pack Snacks: Having snacks on hand can help keep everyone happy. A camper at Mahlon Dickerson Reservation mentioned, “The sites are spaced well and have a nice bonus of large fire rings.”

Tips from RVers

  • Check Hookups: Make sure your chosen campground has the right hookups for your RV. A reviewer at Mountainview Campground noted, “Electric and water hookups were a little far apart at site 27.”
  • Be Prepared for Road Noise: Some campgrounds are near busy roads. A camper at Atsion Family Camp — Wharton State Forest mentioned, “There was car noise, but it wasn’t really an issue to us.”
  • Bring Long Cables: If your site has distant hookups, long cables can save the day. One RV owner at Philadelphia South/Clarksboro KOA appreciated the setup, saying, “The sites are large enough for large RVs.”

Camping in New Jersey can be a fantastic experience with the right preparation and knowledge. Enjoy the great outdoors!

Frequently Asked Questions

Where can I find dispersed camping in New Jersey?

Dispersed camping options in New Jersey are limited but available. Lower Forge Camp offers a true backcountry experience in the Pine Barrens, requiring a 5+ mile backpack from Atsion or 7 miles from Batsto. Located on the Batsto River, you can even boat in to this remote site. Another option is Round Valley State Park Campground, which features boat-in and hike-in wilderness sites. For most dispersed camping in New Jersey, permits are required and you must practice Leave No Trace principles. State forests like Wharton and Stokes may offer primitive camping areas, but these typically have designated sites rather than true dispersed camping.

What are the best tent camping sites in New Jersey?

Belleplain State Forest offers excellent tent camping with spacious, wooded sites and is conveniently located a short drive from Cape May and Ocean City beaches. The check-in process allows you to drive around and select your preferred site before committing. High Point State Park Campground in the Skylands region provides beautiful lakeside tent sites with direct access to numerous hiking and biking trails. You can hike to the monument at New Jersey's highest point or explore sections of the Appalachian Trail. Other noteworthy tent camping destinations include Stokes State Forest for its remote feel while still being accessible and Worthington State Forest along the Delaware Water Gap for its scenic beauty.

Is year-round camping available in New Jersey?

Year-round camping options in New Jersey are limited but available. Mahlon Dickerson Reservation in the Skylands offers year-round camping with paved, mostly level sites featuring water and electric hookups. The wooded, spacious campsites make it ideal for winter camping adventures. Many other campgrounds like Philadelphia South/Clarksboro KOA close for winter, typically reopening in April, though exact closure dates vary and should be verified directly with the park. Private RV resorts like Beachcomber and Ocean View generally operate seasonally. State parks and forests often have reduced winter operations with limited facilities. Always call ahead during off-season months as services, water availability, and road maintenance may be restricted even at year-round campgrounds.

Keep Exploring

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