Trade setting up a tent in your living room for a luxury cabin in the great outdoors. New Jersey campgrounds boast lakes for canoeing, pools for swimming, and trails for hiking or horseback riding — so there’s sure to be something to satisfy everyone’s needs. Keep reading for a list of campgrounds in New Jersey that will help everyone take a break from life and stretch their legs.
Allaire State Park Campground | 4263 Atlantic Avenue, Howell Township
Allaire State Park is alive with history and wildlife. Allaire Village is a 19th-century iron-making town complete with antique steam trains that run on the Pine Creek Railroad. Over 200 different species of flowers, trees, and other plant life call this State Park home. This is an ideal spot for hikers, mountain bikers, horseback riders, and nature lovers.
Read More: The Best New Jersey Spots for Festive Fall Foliage
Butterfly Camping Resort | 360 Butterfly Road, Jackson Township
The family fun can officially begin when you reserve a campsite at Butterfly Camping Resort to enjoy crafts for kids, mini-golf, outdoor movies, water gun fights, pool games, and more. Every weekend is packed with fun activities for the entire family. See here for a full list of amenities.
Kymer’s Campground | 69 Kymer Road, Branchville
At Kymer’s you can rent a cabin, a trailer with the amenities of a hotel, or a hassle-free luxury tent. Site amenities include water and electrical hookups for RVs, heated restrooms and showers, and an open field for lawn games. Nature trails are available for hiking, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and horseback riding. Pets are allowed to tag along to this campground as well but must be kept on a leash.
Mahlon Dickerson Campgrounds | 955 Weldon Road, Jefferson Township
This is the largest park in the Morris County Park System with over 24.5 miles of multi-use trails for novice and experienced hikers. This location also offers horseback riding, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and more recreational activities. Click here to rent a tent or RV space.
Mountainview Campground | 135 Goritz Road, Milford
Family-owned and operated since 1953, this campground is about an hour from both New York and Philadelphia. Located on the southern edge of the Musconetcong Mountains, these campgrounds are only five miles from the Delaware River, too. With more than 150 acres of land to explore, this campground is an outdoor enthusiast’s dream.
Panther Lake Camping Resort | 6 Panther Lake Road, Andover
Located just 50 miles from New York City, this resort features a 45-acre lake and fun for the whole family. Rent a cabin or a trailer and enjoy the camping experience without having to purchase the equipment. Campers can swim in the lake, try their hand at fishing, or simply enjoy the relaxed vibe at the sandy beach.
Pine Cone Resort | 340 Georgia Road, Freehold
Pine Cone Resort offers daily, weekly, monthly, and season rental options for tent camping, RV parking, and cabins. On-site campers will find a swimming pool, tennis courts, volleyball, and a playground. If you need to stay plugged in while you’re away, enjoy free Wi-Fi and even catch up on the latest shows with free cable TV.
The Great Divide Campground | 68 Phillips Road, Newton
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Tucked away from the hustle and bustle of city life, this campground has something for everyone. More than just peace and quiet, guests enjoy fishing, kayaking, hiking, picnicking, or roasting marshmallows on the fire. Check out the website for more information.
Timberland Lake Campground | 1335 Reed Road, Jackson Township
Stay the night at the closest campground to Six Flags Great Adventure and double the fun. This site has hourly activities to keep campers of all ages entertained all day long. Fun activities include fishing, a daily hayride with Buddy Bear, or renting a boat to take out on the lake. Located close to several beaches, Timberland Lake is a solid overnight option to add to any weekend or week-long getaway plans. To reserve a spot at Timberland Lake Campground, call 732-928-0500.
Tip Tam Camping Resort | 301 Brewers Bridge Road, Jackson Township
Open for tent camping, RV parking, and cabin rentals, Tip Tam is an excellent spot for families to camp together. There are a plethora of campsites available at this spot. See here for a map of the various campgrounds. In addition to camping, guests can also swim in the outdoor pool, race on the indoor track, or play mini-golf at the golf course. Check out the website for a complete list of activities.
See More: Where to Go Hiking Near Hoboken + Jersey City
Wawayanda State Park | 885 Warwick Turnpike, Hewitt
Along with a lake, playground, kayaking rentals, and an abundance of hiking trails, Wawayanda State Park provides four separate camping sites depending on the number of people, but note that each site requires a minimum of seven people. Each site features picnic tables, fire rings, and a composting restroom. These sites require a minimum of seven persons. Guests are available to camp from April 1st to October 31st. Prices range from $20 to $60 per night. See here for more information.
Date Ideas for Dry January in Northern New Jersey
After the indulgence of the holiday season, many people choose to participate in Dry January as a way to start the year on a cleaner note. Luckily, cutting out alcohol doesn’t mean sacrificing your dating life, as there are plenty of great date activities in the Montclair area that can be enjoyed booze-free. Whether you’re participating in Dry January or are just looking to spice up date night sans alcohol, we have you covered with options that are unique, fun, and either get you moving or get your creative juices flowing. Read on for our list of date night ideas in Northern New Jersey for Dry January + beyond.
Candle + Fragrance Making at Alchemy Scent Bar | 30 Church Street, Montclair
Playing with scent is one way to cozy up, and Alchemy Scent Bar is the perfect place to do it. This scent shop provides the unique experience of creating custom candles and fragrances. Guests start by choosing their favorite scents from the candle wall, then head to the fragrance bar where one of the alchemists will help craft a custom-scented creation. In addition to being a great bonding activity, guests also get to take a memento home with them — to be burned or spritzed later in remembrance of the shared experience.
Read More: A Cozy Winter Activity: Candle Making in New Jersey
Coffee + Browsing the Montclair Art Museum | 3 South Mountain Avenue, Montclair
The Montclair Art Museum is an amazing piece of history and culture, and with the opening of its Cornerstone Café, this is an all-in-one date option for a Friday afternoon. Open only on Fridays, the cafe serves coffee from Java Love Roasting Co along with other drinks and snacks. The museum itself features rotating exhibitions in addition to its permanent collection, which keeps things fresh for frequent museum-goers. For those who are feeling extra artsy, the museum has classes and workshops for adults such as collaging, painting, and pottery.
Gaming at Hometown Arcade | 85 Washington Street, Bloomfield
Hometown Arcade is a family-friendly spot in Bloomfield where guests can play all sorts of games, including retro ones like Donkey Kong, Frogger, Asteroids, and Pac-Man. The arcade also partners with local food businesses like Six Points Pizza for patrons to enjoy a bite.
Get a Couple’s Head Massage at Aura Head Spa | 28 South Fullerton Avenue, Montclair
Aura Head Spa in Montclair specializes in Japanese-style head massages. At this spa, visitors can choose from multiple massages, all of which can be done with a partner. The Classic Head Spa treatment can be for 50 or 75 minutes and comes with a face cleanse, scalp exfoliation, scalp massage, shampoo cleanse, aura shampoo massage, and more. The Head Spa with Mini Facial + Jelly Mask package comes with face exfoliation, gua sha, scalp exfoliation + massage, neck + shoulder massage, and more.
Indoor Rock Climbing at Gravity Vault | 8 Seymour Street, Montclair
A climbing gym is the perfect backdrop for mixing up your dating game, especially for the sporty types. Gravity Vault Montclair is a bouldering-only climbing gym (a form of rock climbing that is done on shorter walls that are scaled without ropes or harnesses) that caters to all abilities and experience levels. Navigate through countless climbing patterns (clearly labeled with the difficulty level) for a fun and challenging experience (plus a killer workout). Day passes are $28 for adults.
Live Music Shows at Cedar Bean’s Coffee Joint | 575 Pompton Avenue, Cedar Grove
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It’s all about community at Cedar Bean’s, giving the patrons of Essex County a taste of small-town charm that feels reminiscent of Stars Hollow in Gilmore Girls. This quaint local coffee shop welcomes patrons in for live music performances. Cedar Bean’s has an extensive menu of both caffeinated and decaffeinated beverages (even non-alcoholic beer), with many seasonal options.
Mystic Pizza at Paper Mill Playhouse | 22 Brookside Drive, Millburn
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Paper Mill Playhouse is one of the leading theater destinations of the tri-state area, and is widely recognized for its showings of world-class musical theater. The production that we’re eying for January is Mystic Pizza, a musical adaptation of the beloved 1988 rom-com that starred Julia Roberts. The show is playing from January 29th to February 23rd. See more information about tickets here.
Partake in a Craft Class at The Eclectic Chic Boutique | 547 Bloomfield Avenue, Montclair
The Eclectic Chic Boutique is a collective of different local artists, makers, and small businesses. Guests can shop for handmade, original products — and there is even a chance to make some yourself. The Eclectic Chic Boutique hosts different craft classes and workshops like crocheting, candle making, or creating a collage. The boutique updates its events frequently on its website here.
Play Darts at DartsGood Social House | 293 Glenwood Avenue, Bloomfield
This dart arena in Bloomfield can make for a great date, especially for competitive couples. While guests are welcome to bring their own darts, the business provides them. DartsGood has games such as 501, 301, cricket, Around the Clock, High Score, and more.
Play a Round at Montclair Indoor Golf Club | 369 Bloomfield Avenue, Montclair
Whether you’re a beginner or an advanced golf connoisseur, Montclair Indoor Golf Club is home to two virtual golf bays for members to use. The courses are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days per year. This indoor golf simulator brings the outdoor setting of an actual golf course indoors — without having to bear with the January weather.
Pottery Class at Mud Clay Studio | 370 Bloomfield Avenue, Montclair, 409 Main Street, Boonton + 6 Main Street, Madison
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Look no further than Mud Clay Studio if you want to make your date a “claydate”. With locations in Montclair, Boonton, and Madison, and a robust programming schedule of Creative Clay Nights, Couples Nights, and more, Mud Clay Studio has an array of options for taking your date to the wheel. Classes begin with a quick introduction to hand-building with clay, then move to the potter’s wheel for the creation phase, and end with folks picking their glaze colors for the final product.
See More: Alcohol-Free Activities in Hoboken + Jersey City
Test Your Skills at Amazing Escape Room | 281 Liberty Street, Bloomfield
The Amazing Escape Room is home to several themed rooms that each have interactive puzzles and riddles to solve. Couples can make it a group date-night kind of situation, to make the escape room experience more lively. Adrenaline will be at an all-time high but once customers complete the escape room, photo ops with signs are available to show off your win.
