Campgrounds and RV parks near Mount Arlington, NJ

Lake Hopatcong is the main draw. The lake supports boating, kayaking, swimming, and fishing, with marinas, public beaches, and lakeside restaurants clustered on both the Mount Arlington and Hopatcong shores. Panther Lake Camping Resort adds a private 45-acre lake with a sandy beach and on-water recreation for guests staying on site. Inland, Stephens State Park offers six miles of marked trails for walking, hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding, plus trout fishing on the Musconetcong River. History-minded visitors can walk to the Saxton Falls area of the park, where a guard lock and towpath from the old Morris Canal remain visible. Families often pair camping with Wild West City in Netcong and the shops and restaurants along the Lake Hopatcong waterfront.

The camping season in the Mount Arlington area runs roughly from mid-April through October. Stephens State Park Campground is open seasonally from April 1 through October 31, with 39 tent and small-trailer sites and a maximum RV length of 40 feet. Private resorts follow similar calendars: Panther Lake Camping Resort operates from April 15 through October 31, and most surrounding parks winterize plumbing before the first hard freeze. Late spring and early summer bring the greenest scenery, active trout stocking on the Musconetcong, and mild evenings. July and August are peak season on Lake Hopatcong, with the busiest weekends, warm lake temperatures, and higher humidity. Weekend and holiday sites at state parks and private resorts book up well in advance during this window. Fall is the quietest and often most comfortable stretch, with cool nights, hardwood foliage, and continued fishing. Winter camping options in northern New Jersey are very limited, and most campgrounds near Mount Arlington are closed from November through mid-April.

Expect a mix of wooded and open sites on rolling terrain, with hardwood tree cover, gravel or paved interior roads, and generally solid access for standard travel trailers and Class C rigs. Fla-Net Park reports accommodating units up to 60 feet, while Stephens State Park caps sites at 40 feet, so larger fifth wheels and Class A coaches should confirm site length and turning access before booking. Cell service can be spotty in the hills west of Lake Hopatcong, so downloading directions in advance is wise. Sites closer to Interstate 80 and Route 206 can carry road noise, while loops set deeper into the woods are noticeably quieter. Wildlife includes white-tailed deer, wild turkey, black bear, and songbirds, so standard food-storage practices apply.