Round Pond Recreation Area in West Point offers military-exclusive camping with tent and RV sites situated 25 miles from Thiells, New York. The campground has electric and water hookups with full bathroom facilities and several well-maintained hiking trails. For civilians, Lake Frederick Recreation Area provides similar military-only accommodations located 22 miles from Thiells at 1,100 feet elevation. Both locations maintain strict military ID verification and tend to be less crowded than public campgrounds in the region.
What to do
Hike to panoramic viewpoints: At High Point State Park, trails lead to New Jersey's highest elevation point with multiple lakes for recreation. "I spent two nights camping with my niece and this campground was perfect. The site was maybe a 50-yard walk-in and we barely heard anyone around us and had a real wilderness feel. We fit in a hike up to the Appalachian Trail from our campsite, swam at the pond (Lake Marcia), and got in a fishing session at Steeny Kill Lake," reports Justin P.
Explore multiple waterways: The camping areas at Stokes State Forest provide access to streams, ponds and hiking trails. "We stayed at site 11 on Lake Ocquittunk. Site was located on a small hill next to the lake with the road directly in front and water about 50 yards away. After packing up we drove down the road and were able to get in a nice 5 mile hike up to the fire tower," notes Josh S.
Try river activities: Seasonal water recreation options include tubing and rafting at Delaware River access points. "The group sites are great and perfect for our 30-50 people. Definitely go for the rafting/tubing package, it was the best part of the trip!" shares Maggie K. about Kittatinny Campground.
What campers like
Platform tent sites: Several campgrounds near Thiells feature raised wooden platforms for tents. "The site was very secluded. Each campsite has a firepit/ring, picnic table, and lantern hook. Campsite sells fire wood. Clean-ish bathrooms with flush toilets, no sinks, no showers," reports a Dwight D. about High Point State Park.
Military-only facilities: For qualified personnel, exclusive access campgrounds maintain higher standards. "We love that it's a place specifically for Vets and active Military. Everyone is amazingly respectful of each other and the caretakers take such care of the grounds. It has become a home away from home for us and a chance to connect with other Vets," shares one camper about West Point FMWR Round Pond Recreation Area.
Year-round options: Many sites near Thiells remain open through winter. "Rented a cabin in November (#009) and again in December (#008) of 2021. I favored Cabin 8, the kitchen and bathroom were separated from the main room. The cabins are reasonably priced and well-appointed, if a bit rustic," explains W L. about winter glamping at Stokes State Forest.
What you should know
Noise levels vary: Campgrounds closer to popular recreation spots can be noisy during peak periods. "If you're looking for a chill place to camp next to the river where you can tube, kayak and enjoy your peaceful weekend, this is NOT the place. The amount of money we spent for 2 nights was outrageous for such a sucky weekend, will not be going back!" cautions Janine D. about Kittatinny Campground.
Bathroom facilities differ: Some locations have limited or rustic facilities. "They need to add more bathrooms. They rarely cleaned the bathroom in all the 6 days that I stayed. The showers didn't have enough water pressure, 2 out of 6 had only hot water, some had no paper," notes Elizabeth M. about Jellystone Park Gardiner.
Terrain considerations: Sites can be steep or rocky in this region. "The gravel driveway is on a 30-40 degree incline. The tent was too long for the 12'x10' platform, so we had to set it up on the flattest part and hope not to roll down the hill in the night," shares Dwight D. about High Point campground.
Tips for camping with families
Kid-friendly activities: Jellystone Park offers structured programming for children. "This campground is great for kids. It has events just about every weekend with kid activities," shares Jennifer I. "Nice pool that is shallow so you can relax and let the little ones go in the water park section alone or they have a 3 ft pool also. My older kids preferred a deeper pool but they still had a great time."
Quiet family options: Look for sites away from party areas. "The campground is beautiful and the staff was wonderful! We started our camping season off right with a quick weekend stay at Round Pound. We were very impressed with the playground on site!" reports Jacey H. about West Point FMWR Round Pond.
Storage concerns: Bear-safe food storage is essential in most locations. "Remember, this is bear country so proper food storage is a must. Bear lockers are not provided," warns a camper about Stokes State Forest. "Site came with bear proof bin for garbage and fire ring."
Tips for RVers
Hookup availability: Electric and water options exist at several locations within 30 miles of Thiells. "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. Water and electric hookups and a dump station," notes Jeff W. about Mahlon Dickerson Reservation.
Cell service considerations: Coverage can be spotty in forested areas. "Just a note to other campers with T-Moblie, we did not have any service on the campsite, however just a hop in the car or a quick walk down the mountain for 5G service near the entrance off the main road," shares Jacey H. about Round Pond Recreation Area.
Water access challenges: Some sites require extended hose lengths. "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," explains a camper about Mahlon Dickerson Reservation.
