Camping is more than just a summer pastime—it’s something you can enjoy in all seasons! And if you’re looking for the absolute best places to do some winter camping in New Jersey, we’ve got you covered.
No matter what part of New Jersey you’re visiting, and whether you prefer a luxury resort setting or a primitive camping experience in the colder months, there’s definitely a winter camping location to meet your needs in this beautiful state. Read on for a roundup of some of the top destinations for winter camping in New Jersey…you’re sure to find someplace to love on this list!
Helpful Winter Camping Gear
Winter Camping in Northern New Jersey
Pine Cone Resort and Campground
Located in Freehold, New Jersey and open all year long, Pine Cone Resort and Campground is a great spot for some unforgettable winter camping in New Jersey!
This beautiful, bustling camping location boasts 125 sites on a wooded, leveled area, with spacious and open settings for tent, trailer, and RV campers alike. Amenities at Pine Cone Resort and Campground include full electric, water, and sewer hookups for RV campers, plenty of sports courts including volleyball, soccer, tennis, and basketball, a playground for littler campers, clean restrooms and free hot showers, a camp store, laundry facilities, and so much more!
For folks who prefer a more luxurious experience when winter camping in New Jersey, Pine Cone Resort and Campground has you covered, with their deluxe cabin sales and rentals providing indoor heat, free Wi-Fi, cable TV, fire rings, and more—all available with some off-season special prices as well! You can’t go wrong when you make plans to do your winter camping at Pine Cone Resort and Campground.
Round Valley Recreation Area
Though only open for winter camping on a limited Monday through Friday basis, Round Valley Recreation Area remains one of the premier spots for winter camping in New Jersey. A popular camping pick in all seasons, this location near the Round Valley Reservoir offers great options for some breathtaking wilderness camping. The 77 wilderness camping sites are only accessible by hiking, boating, or biking in, and offer a majestic view of the reservoir’s deep blue waters that makes the journey there absolutely worth it!
It should be noted that, as one of the more rugged options for winter camping in New Jersey, Round Valley Recreation Area is not recommended for families with especially small children, or for the elderly. But for those who do venture to this area for winter camping, you’ll find not only fire rings, grills, a pit toilet, and a wilderness experience awaiting you, but there are unique winter sports available in the cold months as well—such as cross country skiing, sledding, ice fishing, and iceboating. These options truly make Round Valley Recreation Area a great destination pick for winter camping in New Jersey!
Crystal Springs Wilderness Lodges and RV Resort
A fantastic choice for RV campers and glampers looking to do some winter camping in New Jersey, Crystal Springs boasts one of the best getaways in the northern portion of the state! Located just 2 minutes from Six Flags Amusement Park and a half-hour from the beach, Crystal Springs is a unique location for campers who want a truly laid-back and cozy winter camping adventure.
Situated on 48 scenic acres full of forest beauty and a gorgeous stretch of waterfront along the shores of Prospertown Lake, Crystal Springs offers seasonal rates for RV campers as well as a luxury cabin for rent that can’t be matched! Amenities for RV and cabin campers alike include access to the resort’s nature and biking trails, private and public hunting lands, a playground, and the on-site volleyball court. In addition, cabin campers will enjoy hotel-style amenities including housekeeping, a shuttle, concierge services, touring, and so much more.
A perfect blend of rustic and luxurious, Crystal Springs Wilderness Lodges and RV Resort offers an option for winter camping in New Jersey that folks of all ages and camping preferences can enjoy!
Winter Camping in Central New Jersey
Wharton State Forest
Nestled in the pinelands near south-central New Jersey, Wharton State Forest is open all year round and its Godfrey Bridge Campground provides a fantastic opportunity for some winter camping in New Jersey that’s unlike anywhere else in the state!
Reminiscent of inland, even mountainous climes with its beautiful pine forest setting and numerous rivers and streams, Wharton State Forest is a particularly mesmerizing location in the winter months. Folks eager to enjoy some winter camping in New Jersey will find 34 tent and trailer sites with an accommodated length of up to 21 feet or less at the Godfrey Bridge Campground, where amenities include picnic tables, drinking water, pit toilets, and fire rings.
Campers may also choose one of Wharton State Forest’s primitive campsites, which are accessible by vehicle and good for groups, but provide only pit toilets and occasional hand pumps for water. (Note: Though there are cabins available at Wharton State Park, they are only open until October 31st and reopen for rental in the spring.)
Allaire State Park
No matter what your preferred method for winter camping in New Jersey—whether you’re planning to tough it out in a tent or bask in the coziness of a trailer—you’re sure to find an accommodation for all your winter camping needs at Allaire State Park, located in north-central New Jersey!
This popular central spot for winter camping in New Jersey has a plush total of 45 tent and trailer sites to offer, with amenities including fire rings and picnic tables at each site, and flush toilets and shower facilities provided just within walking distance of the campsites. Or, if you’re looking for a slightly more glamorous winter camping experience, Allaire State Park offers 6 cabin shelters for rent, each one boasting its own fire ring and picnic table as well as a wood stove and one double-decker bunk bed each.
Best of all, the campground at Allaire State Park is open year-round, ready to accommodate your winter camping needs whenever the urge strikes! The 6 cabins are available from February through the end of December.
At Allaire State Park, camping fees run at $20 per night for New Jersey Residents and $25 per night for non-residents. The fee for cabin rentals is $48 per night for New Jersey residents and $60 per night for non-residents.
Winter Camping in Southern New Jersey
Timberlane Campground
Open year-round, the Timberlane Campground is a great choice for RV campers in particular who are looking to do some winter camping in New Jersey. This is a popular RV campground best known for its quiet setting even at its fullest, as well as for its nearness to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, being about an hour away.
Amenities at Timberlane Campground include fishing, billiards and pool, a game hall and playground, a sports field, horseshoes, and shuffleboard, though some outdoor activities are subject to closure due to inclement weather in the winter months.
Most visitors agree that Timberlane Campground is a great place to pull up your RV and enjoy some fun winter camping in New Jersey!
Stokes State Forest
Located in the northeastern portion of New Jersey State and open year-round, Stokes State Forest is a great option for winter camping in New Jersey! This location is renowned for its many miles of stunning trails, open for snowshoeing, cross country skiing, and snowmobiling in the winter, as well as for the ice skating opportunities available at one of the two lakes within the forest.
There are 90 tent and trailer sites available at Stokes State Forest, spread out between the Steam Mill Camping Area and Lake Ocquittunk, with numerous group campsites available as well; each campsite sports its own picnic table, fire ring, and lantern hooks. There is an artisan well available for water in the Steam Mill Camping area, as well as pit toilets. At Lake Ocquittunk, you’ll find a shower facility and flush toilets; and if you’re on the hunt for a more glamorous winter camping adventure, there are cabins that can be rented for a minimum of two nights in the park, and which can accommodate varying group sizes depending on the specific cabin.
Whether you’re traveling with a family or gathering of up to 6 (including children) or a larger group in need of a group campsite, and whether you prefer a more rustic or more accommodating experience when winter camping in New Jersey, you’re sure to find a campsite or cabin that suits your needs at Stokes State Forest!
At Stokes State Forest, camping fees run at $20 per night for New Jersey Residents and $25 per night for non-residents. The fee for cabin rentals is $55 per night or $385 per week for New Jersey residents, and $65 per night or $455 per week for non-residents.
Wrapping Up Winter Camping in New Jersey
Feeling excited to strike out and do some winter camping in New Jersey? Make sure you’re going prepared! Check out our Ultimate Guide to Winter Camping and learn about The Best Winter Camping Gear for Cold Weather to ensure you make the most out of your winter camping experience!
- About the Author
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Renee Dugan is a lifelong writer, professional editor, and lover of the great outdoors.
A Midwest girl born and raised, Renee has always enjoyed the deep, life-giving inspiration that connection with nature brings.
In addition to channeling the awe of outdoor life into her prolific novel-writing career, she currently enjoys sharing it with her son and spreading knowledge of safe, fun outdoor life with Beyond the Tent readers and anyone she can help face-to-face.
Renee can be reached at renee.s.dugan@gmail.com