The northern New Jersey and southern New York border region around Warwick features wooded highlands at elevations between 400-1,800 feet. This transitional zone between the Highlands and the Catskills creates distinctive microclimates, with temperatures often 5-10 degrees cooler than nearby metropolitan areas. Glamping options near Warwick remain accessible from April through November, with many facilities closing during winter months due to snow accumulation and freezing temperatures.
What to do
Appalachian Trail access: High Point State Park Campground offers direct access to twelve miles of Appalachian Trail segments. "I stopped at this shelter while hiking the AT in High Point SP. It was raining the entire day and the shelter provided a dry place to take a break. The shelter has the usual facilities, privy, water source (must be filtered), bear box, etc," notes Richard M.
Fishing opportunities: Stokes State Forest provides multiple fishing locations across several bodies of water. "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. The slight downside was that we had to drive between the different lakes," shares Justin P.
Farm animal interactions: Pleasant Acres Farm RV Resort maintains a small collection of farm animals for visitor enjoyment. "The farm has goats, a donkey, and a pony within the campground. Very cool," reports Faith D. Another camper mentioned, "Lots of seasonals and lots of cabins, many RV sites I think all with full hookups. Playground, hayride, animals to feed (goats, chickens, donkey and pony)."
What campers like
Elevated tent platforms: Many campsites in the region feature wooden platforms for tent placement, providing more stable and comfortable sleeping arrangements. At Mahlon Dickerson Reservation, "They have these 12x12 platforms to put your tent on. This was pretty cool especially since some of the sites are all gravel with surrounding dirt," explains Christina L.
Well-maintained cabin facilities: Camp Glen Gray offers regularly serviced cabin accommodations with necessary supplies. "Cabins are always clean and stocked with firewood. Lots of hiking trails. Trading post is well stocked and volunteers are always friendly and able to answer any questions," writes Christopher M.
Secluded camping atmosphere: Several campgrounds provide more isolated experiences with minimal neighboring disturbance. At Stokes State Forest, "The site was maybe a 50-yard walk-in and we barely heard anyone around us and had a real wilderness feel," shares Justin P. Another camper noted, "Each large campsite has a picnic table, fire pit, and lantern hook. Some sites also have a tent platform. Many sites are a bit rocky."
What you should know
Military-only facilities: Some recreation areas restrict access to military personnel and their families. At West Point FMWR Round Pond Outdoor Recreation Area, "We've been coming here for at least 13 years. We love that its a place specifically for Vets and active Military. Everyone is amazingly respectful of each other and the caretakers take such care of the grounds," explains one visitor.
Bear safety requirements: The Warwick region has active black bear populations requiring proper food storage. "Remember, this is bear country so proper food storage is a must. Bear lockers are not provided. The area also has ticks and rattlesnakes," warns one camper at Stokes State Forest.
Varying bathroom conditions: Facility quality differs substantially across campgrounds. At High Point State Park, one visitor reports, "Bathrooms are spaced out. No running water except for pump founded outside of the bathrooms. Toilets are pump flushed. Showers are only located INSIDE High Point State Park, not throughout the campsites."
Tips for camping with families
Child-focused activities: Jellystone Park Gardiner organizes regular entertainment for younger visitors. "This campground has a lot of activities and has kids of all ages galore. I was worried my 12 year old would be too old for it but he enjoyed making friends there," shares Stephanie H. Another family mentioned, "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."
Noise considerations: Family-oriented campgrounds can become quite active during daylight hours. "Kids were at the playground 8 am or before and the noise woke us up. The kids were around until about 10:30 or so each night," notes one Jellystone visitor.
Group sites availability: Several facilities accommodate larger family gatherings with designated areas. At Stokes State Forest, "The group campsites are big enough for the amount of people you can have, have picnic benches, a fire ring, a composting outhouse toilet just for the site, and one of those flat charcoal 'grills'," reports Christian.
Tips from RVers
Uneven terrain challenges: Kittatinny Campground and other area facilities often present leveling difficulties. "We showed up to our reserved site occupied by another group. The employees offered us a prime river spot due to the inconvenience only to find that spot being used as overflow parking for the giant party going on around it," reports Ryan G.
Water hookup distances: At Mahlon Dickerson Reservation, water connections may require extended hoses. "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," notes one camper.
Weekend vs. weekday experiences: Occupancy patterns significantly impact RV camping experiences in the area. At Pleasant Acres Farm RV Resort, "Weekend was busy as usual but during the week it seems to be seasonal that stay. A bit out here in the middle of nowhere, 15-20 minutes from any town. Make sure you have what you need!"
