Camping in New Jersey: Where to Go, What to Know, and Why It's Worth It
Sawmill Lake Camping Area in Montague sits in the northwestern corner of the state, connected to at least five trails for camping and hiking. It's the kind of place where you can choose your level of effort. Some folks walk in, set up, and spend the day at the water. Others use it as a base for longer trail days.
Goshen Pond Camping Area offers a 3.6-mile out-and-back trail with only 59 feet of elevation gain, taking most folks between one and one and a half hours to complete. That's approachable for beginners and genuinely pleasant for anyone. The low elevation change means you're not white-knuckling a pack up a steep grade. You're walking, breathing, arriving somewhere calm.
Wharton State Forest, Cheesequake State Park, and Spruce Run Recreation Area round out the list of popular destinations across the state. Wharton sits in the heart of the Pine Barrens, one of the largest stretches of open land on the East Coast. Cheesequake is a good pick if you're closer to central Jersey and want something accessible without a long drive.
Where New Jersey Campers Actually Go
Camp Gateway at Sandy Hook puts you inside Gateway National Recreation Area, right on the northern tip of the Jersey Shore. This is tent camping only, and you'll need to carry your gear up to a quarter mile from the parking area to reach your site. No pets are allowed. It's a small bit of effort that most folks find worth it once they're set up with the ocean nearby.
Reservations for Camp Gateway go through Recreation.gov, so book early. Sandy Hook has been drawing visitors since the colonial era, and the area's old Fort Hancock dates back to the late 1800s. Walking those grounds before or after a camping trip adds something to the visit that a quick day trip doesn't quite give you.
On the opposite end of the state, Rivers Bend Group Campground sits on Old Mine Road along the New Jersey side of Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. It's close to Big Flatbrook Creek and the Delaware River, and it's bookable through Recreation.gov as a group site. If you're planning a trip with a larger crew, this one is worth a serious look.
Camping in Delaware Water Gap: Worthington State Forest
Worthington State Forest Campground is one of the more established sites in the region, with 78 tent and trailer sites inside Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. The forest itself has history. Old Mine Road, which runs through the area, is considered one of the oldest commercial roads in the country, used for transporting copper ore as far back as the 1600s.
The campground books through Recreation.gov, so plan ahead, especially for summer weekends. Sites here give you access to some of the best trail and river scenery in the state. Mornings in this valley are the kind that make you understand why people keep coming back to the same place year after year.
Essential Gear for New Jersey
Carhartt Soft Shell Camping Cooler Lunch Bag, Brown
Yaktrax Walk Traction Cleats for Snow and Ice
Anlisim Merino Wool Hiking Socks for Women, 5 Pairs
Gear Tips for Camping in New Jersey
New Jersey's camping season runs longest in spring and fall, when the humidity drops and the crowds thin. Summer is popular but warm and sometimes buggy, especially in wooded and wetland areas like Wharton State Forest. A good insect repellent is not optional. Treat it like sunscreen: you bring it every time.
For tent camping at sandy or coastal sites like Sandy Hook, a freestanding tent saves you frustration. Tent stakes don't always hold in sandy ground. A footprint or ground cloth underneath protects your tent floor and adds a layer of insulation from damp earth.
If you're planning a trail-in site, a quality daypack or hiking pack makes the carry manageable. For Goshen Pond or Sawmill Lake, you don't need anything extreme. A 30- to 40-liter pack handles a day's worth of gear comfortably. Layer your clothing for morning and evening temperature drops, even in summer. New Jersey nights cool off faster than most people expect.
Scott Zamek's New Jersey State Parks Camping and Recreation Guide is available in trade paperback and covers campsite selection, trail maps, and activity tips across the state's park system. It's the kind of book you read at home to plan, then bring along to settle a debate about which trail to take in the morning.
Gear Tips for Camping in New Jersey
New Jersey's camping season runs longest in spring and fall, when the humidity drops and the crowds thin. Summer is popular but warm and sometimes buggy, especially in wooded and wetland areas like Wharton State Forest. A good insect repellent is not optional. Treat it like sunscreen: you bring it every time.
For tent camping at sandy or coastal sites like Sandy Hook, a freestanding tent saves you frustration. Tent stakes don't always hold in sandy ground. A footprint or ground cloth underneath protects your tent floor and adds a layer of insulation from damp earth.
If you're planning a trail-in site, a quality daypack or hiking pack makes the carry manageable. For Goshen Pond or Sawmill Lake, you don't need anything extreme. A 30- to 40-liter pack handles a day's worth of gear comfortably. Layer your clothing for morning and evening temperature drops, even in summer. New Jersey nights cool off faster than most people expect.
Scott Zamek's New Jersey State Parks Camping and Recreation Guide is available in trade paperback and covers campsite selection, trail maps, and activity tips across the state's park system. It's the kind of book you read at home to plan, then bring along to settle a debate about which trail to take in the morning.