Map showing campground location near Newton, New Jersey

Camper submitted image from Swartswood State Park Campground - TEMPORARILY CLOSED

Swartswood State Park Campground - TEMPORARILY CLOSED

Lake access and fishing opportunities draw campers to Swartswood State Park Campground, which sits within New Jersey's first state park and features 65 sites plus rental yurts. The campground operates seasonally from April through October and accommodates RVs up to 35 feet with full hookups including electric, water, and sewer connections.

Sites vary significantly in privacy and terrain. The first 30 sites occupy open field areas with minimal separation between neighbors, while sites beginning in the 30s offer more wooded settings with increased seclusion. Campers seeking privacy often book sites at the far end of the loop near the lake, though this means longer walks to restrooms and water spigots. Only four sites (42-45) allow pets, with site 44 noted as challenging for tent placement.

The lake provides the main recreational draw, offering fishing spots, canoe and kayak rentals, and a swimming beach when lifeguards are available. Multiple hiking trails connect from the campground, including a 3-mile loop that can be extended by linking different trail segments. A concession stand operates near the lake during peak season, and the park includes a playground, volleyball area, and picnic pavilions for day use.

"Clean bathrooms with flush toilets and showers," reports Dwight D., with facilities that maintain good water pressure. Each site includes a fire ring, picnic table, and lantern hook, with firewood available for purchase. The campground stays relatively quiet during weekdays but can become crowded and noisy during summer weekends. Campers exploring the broader region can find additional campsites near Newton for alternative options.

Reservations are recommended, particularly for the more secluded wooded sites and pet-friendly locations that fill quickly during peak camping season.

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Map & DirectionsSwartswood State Park Campground is located in New Jersey near Newton

Public Campground

Directions

From Route 80, take exit 25, Route 206 north to Newton, about 12 miles. From Newton, make a left at the second traffic light (Route 206 and Spring Street) then make a left at the next light onto Route 519. Follow 519 for approximately 1/2 mile, then make a left onto Route 622 at Sussex County College sign. Follow Route 622 for about 4 1/2 miles. Turn left onto Route 619. The park entrance is about 1/2 mile south on Route 619.

Address

1091
Swartswood, NJ 07877

Coordinates

41.07360086 N
74.81884918 W

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Connectivity

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Connectivity

Presented by

T-Mobile is introducing T-Satellite to extend coverage in the outdoors

T-Mobile
No Coverage
VerizonLTE
Some Coverage
AT&T5G
Excellent Coverage

Access

Drive-In
Park next to your site
Walk-In
Park in a lot, walk to your site.
Boat-In
Sites accessible by watercraft.

Site Types

Tent Sites
RV Sites
Standard (Tent/RV)
Group
Cabins
Tent Cabin
Yurts

Features

For Campers

Market
ADA Access
Trash
Picnic Table
Firewood Available
Phone Service
Reservable
Showers
Drinking Water
Electric Hookups
Toilets
Pets
Fires

For Vehicles

Sanitary Dump
Sewer Hookups
Water Hookups
Pull-Through Sites

Contact

General Info

Drive Time

1 hr 1 min from Kiryas Joel, NY
1 hr 13 min from Allentown, PA
1 hr 15 min from New York, NY
1 hr 16 min from Scranton, PA

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Reviews13 Camper Reviews - Swartswood State Park Campground

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5 Stars

4 Stars

3 Stars

2 Stars

1 Star

4.5

out of 5

13 Reviews

Many campers appreciated the spacious, well-maintained sites and clean facilities with good lake access for swimming and boating. Privacy concerns dominate feedback, with sites 1-30 offering little separation and noise issues reported frequently.

Justin P.

Legend

Reviewed Jul. 22, 2022

Great family campground with tons of activities

I tent camped with my niece here in early July. 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 included a picnic table and fire ring, and flat ground for tents.

The late was closed for swimming (lifeguard shortage at the time) but there were lots of smaller spots to tuck into for fishing and just relaxing.

By the main swimming are there are canoe and kayak rentals as well.

We did one loop hike which was mostly in the woods with a brief stop with a lake view. The better activities were around the lake.

This campground was perfect for our weekend. The tent sites more in the open field area (

Site44

Month of VisitJuly

(12) View All

Michael G.

Scout

Reviewed Oct. 24, 2021

Great Experience

Great Experience and beautiful view for a last minute getaway.

Month of VisitNovember

Dwight D.

Ranger

Reviewed Jun. 6, 2021

Good State Park Campground

My first trip to this campground was September 2020. We wanted to get out of the house, but stay clear of other campers during the pandemic. This campsite, CS52, was in the woods and we were able to get the illusion of privacy by parking the cars along the road as a makeshift wall and pitching our tents beside them, facing inward. The other 3/4 of the campsite was bound by trees and shrubs which was nice and why we chose the spot. Other sites are more open and only the darkness of night will give you privacy. Each campsite has a firepit/ring, picnic table, and lantern hook.

We hung out at the campsite mostly, using the fire pit, playing frisbee, and relaxing in our hammocks. When we did roam a bit, there was a nice lake, with seating every so often and a boat dock ramp thing in the campground. There was also a playground, beach, pavilion, and picnic tables, but we did not use any of that.

Campsite sells fire wood. Clean bathrooms with flush toilets and showers, masks required for the pandemic.

SiteCS52

Month of VisitSeptember

(5) View All

Dwight D.

Ranger

Reviewed Jun. 6, 2021

Good Campground Near Other Interests

This was my second time camping at Swartswood State Park. I got one of the last available campsites and it was okay, but not one I would have normally chosen. This campsite was in the open grass area and not very private, but that was okay for this trip as I spent the days hiking around lakes and waterfalls in the area(45min drive). I got back to the campsite just before dark and built a fire and relaxed before bed. I watched everyone pack up and leave while I had breakfast, before packing up and hiking the rest of the day. For a last minute, spur-of-the-moment trip, this campsite worked out well.

Campsite sells fire wood. Clean bathrooms with flush toilets and showers, masks required for the pandemic still.

SiteCS01

Month of VisitMay

(4) View All

Kaitlyn S.

Traveler

Reviewed Jul. 19, 2020

No Privacy, Dog Policy Not up to Date

I will most likely not return to this campground, although it’s just because of my own personal preferences. The two main reasons are as follows:

1. When my partner and I drove up to the campground there were multiple signs posted reading, “NO DOGS ALLOWED IN CAMPGROUND”. The pet friendly policy must be new so maybe they just haven’t gotten around to updating the signage, but it led to a few unwanted encounters which made it hard to unwind. I was questioned or warned by other campers about my dog being with me — even though I paid the extra fees online to bring her along.

2. The park was incredibly noisy at night and there is little to no privacy between campsites. Everything could be seen by your neighbors. We were kept up all night because we could hear other campers snoring and talking (they didn’t even seem to be talking loudly, they were speaking at a normal level). Because of this we left after the first night, we couldn’t handle the amount of people and are more accustomed to camping in secluded areas that allow for more relaxation.

The reason I give this campground two stars instead of one is because the bathroom and shower area was very clean, and I had my first bear encounter which was exciting. 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!

Site45

Month of VisitJuly

Rob M.

Guide

Reviewed Sep. 18, 2019

Great spot for a quick get away

First, it is a state park so it has many of the things you would expect like a beach area, picnic areas, playground, volley ball, pavilion, etc. We went out of season so there were no lifeguards, or anything “open” at the pavilion. We are always after campgrounds with as little going on as possible other than the nature so this would not be a place for us during the summer when I imagine it gets quite packed. There are about 50 camp sites but many of them, from 1 to 30ish are wide open with ZERO privacy. That said, it’s great for large groups that book a few sites next to each other. There were 3 groups during our stay. Which got pretty loud if you were in sites in the 30s. Starting there, sites get more separated and a wee bit secluded. There are only 4 dog friendly sites, which we need. They are 42-45. Be careful with site 44, no good place for a tent. The other are nice. There is one spot for showers and bathroom. They were really clean. Same for dishwashing facility. So depending on what you’re looking for, it has something for you. Like I mentioned, we like quiet spots so the fact that it has the potential to be too loud in peak times meant 4 starts from me.

Dan B.

Traveler

Reviewed Aug. 28, 2019

Very nice, great beach

A bit of a “low frills” campground, but with lots of good hiking trails, fishing spots, and a great beach area for swimming with the kids.

Paul N.

Guide

Reviewed Jun. 10, 2019

Good place

Probally our go-to campground in NJ. The lake is great to kayak and fish, and the campsites are spacious and has bathrooms. Very clean and enjoyable

(4) View All

Ethan K.

Legend

Reviewed Nov. 1, 2018

Amazing! Loved!

WOW! What a place to camp! Swartswood State Park is a very large complex that is extremely well maintained with nice facilities. 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. There are several trail hikes that you can do from the campsite. The longest is 3 miles but you can connect between each trail to make a longer hike. There are picnic spots right on the lake if you want to spend the afternoon at the lake. They also have a concession stand that serves hot food down by the lake. They have a water fill station near the campsites that is shared between all the campers.

Month of VisitJuly

(10) View All

Chris G.

Scout

Reviewed Aug. 3, 2018

Fantastic views

Beautiful park with nice campsites and even better views of the lake!

Natalie N.

Guide

Reviewed Jul. 13, 2018

Wooded sites in good location

This park has 65 campsites and a few yurts for rent. most of the sites are wooded and can fit a travel trailer or tent easily. The campground map is accurate and the some of the sites offer a bit of seclusion but most are pretty close together. I camped during the week and it was beautifully quite. It has a nice swimming area and lake access. The showers are older and a little dirty but they stay warm and have good pressure. They have a big sink inside to wash dishes out of the bugs at night and the staff was friendly. I camped in site 22 and loved it! We easily hiked around the Delaware Water Gap during the day and felt safe leaving our site here.

MICHELE T.

Scout

Reviewed May. 9, 2018

GREAT PARK

NO FULL HOOKS ... BUT EVERYTHING IS WELCOME ... THEY HAVE YURTS ALSO ... THERE IS A LAKE AND FOOD STAND AND PADDLE BOATS ... I LOVE THE GROUP SITES ...

SiteGROUP SITE

Month of VisitSeptember

Will D.

Traveler

Reviewed Mar. 4, 2018

Great place

One of my favorite camping locations to go with my family. Swimmers can come to the the main beach area without camping. In the camp area there is no beach area but there is a boat launch and places you can get your feet wet. Some areas are grass with shade and others have shade but on dirt. Camping near the main road that goes into the camping area provides the best grassed areas.

SiteCS09

Month of VisitAugust

Frequently Asked Questions

What do visitor reviews say about camping at Swartswood State Park?

Swartswood State Park Campground is highly regarded as a beautiful, well-maintained camping destination in New Jersey. Many campers describe it as a favorite family location with spacious sites that can accommodate both tents and travel trailers. The campground features a mix of wooded sites offering privacy and open grassy areas. While most sites are close together, weekday camping tends to be notably quiet and peaceful. The lake views are particularly praised, though the campground itself is slightly separated from the main lake area (about an 8-minute walk). Overall cleanliness and maintenance of facilities receive consistent positive mentions.

What recreational activities can you do while camping at Swartswood State Park?

Swartswood State Park offers numerous recreational activities centered around its beautiful lake. Swimming is available at the main beach area, while fishing is popular throughout the park. Water enthusiasts can enjoy kayaking and paddle boating on the lake. The park features multiple hiking trails around the lakes and throughout the natural areas. Other amenities include volleyball courts and a playground for children. For those seeking relaxation, the picnic areas provide perfect spots to enjoy the scenic surroundings. The combination of water activities and land-based recreation makes it an ideal destination for outdoor enthusiasts.

What camping facilities are available at Swartswood State Park?

Swartswood State Park Campground features 65 campsites plus several yurts available for rent. Each campsite comes equipped with a picnic table and fire ring, with flat ground suitable for tent setup. The sites vary between wooded areas and open grassy spaces, with most able to accommodate travel trailers. Bathroom facilities and water spigots are available throughout the campground, though distance to these amenities varies by site location. There are no full hookups for RVs. The campground also offers group sites for larger gatherings. While the campsites are separate from the main lake area, they're still within walking distance to the water and day-use facilities.

What are the best times of year to camp at Swartswood State Park?

Summer is prime time at Swartswood State Park when the beach area is fully operational with lifeguards and the water activities are in full swing. Early fall (September-October) offers a quieter experience with beautiful views and fewer crowds while still enjoying moderate temperatures. Some facilities and services may be limited outside the peak summer season. Spring camping can be pleasant but prepare for variable weather conditions. The park's scenic lake setting makes it particularly attractive during summer months when water activities are most enjoyable.

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