Campgrounds and RV parks near North Middletown, NJ

Sandy Hook and the Bayshore beaches are the nearest coastal draw, with swimming, fishing, and paved bike paths along the peninsula. Inland, Allaire State Park is best known for its historic 19th-century iron making town, Allaire Village, and the Pine Creek Railroad, a narrow-gauge train ride, and the Manasquan River winds through the park with opportunities for freshwater fishing. Turkey Swamp Park has 4 playgrounds, a 17-acre lake for boating and fishing with boats available for rental, 8 miles of trails, open playfields, and large-group picnic facilities for rent. Campers at Floyd Bennett Field can reach beaches by bike and use the on-site archery range and historic hangar exhibits at Gateway National Recreation Area. From Liberty Harbor RV Park, ferry and PATH access make Lower Manhattan an easy day trip without moving the RV.

Camping seasons in the area vary widely by operator. The family campground at Turkey Swamp Park, open from April 1 to November 15, accommodates tents and travel trailers. Allaire State Park group campsites are open April 1 through December 15, with family campsites currently affected by a bathroom and shower construction project; check the park's status before booking. Camp Gateway Brooklyn at Floyd Bennett Field is typically open from mid-May through mid-October. Liberty Harbor RV Park in Jersey City operates year-round, which makes it one of the few options for off-season RV travel in the metro area, and Pine Cone Campgrounds near Freehold also takes bookings outside the summer season. Summer weekends and holidays are the busiest windows. Campsites, and especially shelters, book up fast for summer and holiday weekends; book a spot at least three months in advance to avoid disappointment. Fall brings cooler nights, thinner crowds at state and county parks, and better mid-week availability at coastal sites once school resumes.

Amenities vary sharply between site types. Allaire State Park has 45 tent and trailer sites with fire rings and picnic tables, and flush toilets and shower facilities are within walking distance. Turkey Swamp Park is more RV-oriented: 64 pull-through campsites accommodate tent campers, travel trailers and motor homes up to 40 feet with up to 6 people, with 52 sites reservable and the other 12 available first-come, first-served. The park also has electric and water hookups and a self-serve dump station. Floyd Bennett Field is rustic urban camping with tent and RV sites, a camp store, and restrooms and showers with running water. Liberty Harbor RV Park is a paved, parking-lot-style park with full hookups and transit access rather than a wooded setting. Black bears live in New Jersey parks, so campers should store food properly and follow posted bear-safety guidance. Ticks are also common in wooded areas; long pants and tick checks are recommended.