Escape from city life and return to nature—if only for a weekend—at one of the many campgrounds in New Jersey. Enjoy plenty of outdoor adventures, from hiking and biking to boating and fishing. Get some ideas with these beautiful picks:
Kittatinny Valley State Park
Location: North (Andover)
Highlight: Variety of wildlife
For families and friends looking to camp in New Jersey, this is a must-visit spot for a weekend getaway. Choose from one of the three waterfront group campsites, and spend your time mountain biking miles of secluded trails, fishing in the glacial lakes, or hiking through picturesque forests.
High Point State Park
Location: North (Sussex)
Highlight: Incredible view from High Point Monument
Reserve one of the 50 campsites at this forested state park for a peaceful getaway in the woods. Swim at the spring-fed Lake Marcia, or launch a boat at Sawmill Lake or Steenykill Lake. While you’re there, be sure to climb to the top of the 220-foot High Point Monument for sweeping vistas of the Pocono and Catskill mountains.
Cheesequake State Park
Location: Central (Matawan)
Highlight: Array of vegetation and natural habitats
Just a short drive from urban and suburban areas, this state park is ideal for a quick, convenient getaway. Take your pick from 53 tent and trailer sites, or enjoy the variety of natural ecosystems. From freshwater marshes and a white cedar swamp to open fields and hardwood forests, the park has it all. Canoe, kayak or swim in the six-acre Hooks Creek Lake, or cast a fishing line to reel in freshwater species such as largemouth bass, catfish, trout, and sunfish.
Allaire State Park
Location: Central (Farmingdale)
Highlight: Incredible historic relics
Stay at one of the 45 campsites, or upgrade your camping experience in one of the yurts: a circular structure that’s a hybrid between a cabin and a tent. Then, choose your own outdoor adventure: hike or bike along miles of trails, kayak or fish in the Manasquan River, or search for wildflowers and wildlife in the flood plains. And don’t miss the historic buildings of the 19th century Allaire Village.
Bass River State Forest
Location: South (Tuckerton)
Highlight: Plentiful water activities
With 176 tent sites—85 of which are pet-friendly—this serene setting offers plenty of choices for a camping retreat. Kayak, canoe, swim, or fish in the 67-acre Lake Absegami, hike through the wetland forest in the Absegami Natural Area, or explore the West Pine Plains natural area: a rare stunted forest referred to as the Pygmy Forest.
Belleplain State Forest
Location: South (Woodbine)
Highlight: Peaceful lake views
Plan a weekend with one of the 169 tent and RV sites in this state forest as your home base. Go swimming on the north side of Lake Nummy (a former cranberry bog transformed into a 26-acre recreational lake), where lifeguards are on duty from Memorial Day Weekend through Labor Day Weekend. Or take your pick from other recreational activities; boating, hiking, horseback riding, fishing and mountain biking are all options.
