RV travel in New Jersey
New Jersey is denser than its reputation and more rewarding to RV than most non-locals expect. The state's spine -- the Turnpike (I-95) -- is the toll-heavy fast lane, axle-priced for RVs, and the cheapest way to transit between NYC, Philadelphia, and the Shore. The Garden State Parkway is the alternative but prohibits trailers and RVs over a certain weight south of exit 105 (verify current signage; the rule has changed over the years), so route check carefully. The two RV jewels are Cape May (state's southern tip, ferry connection to Delaware) and the Delaware Water Gap on the western border. Pine Barrens primitive camping exists if you have a permit. Reserve Shore campgrounds 6-12 months ahead, treat the Turnpike axle tolls as a tax, and Jersey works.
Last verified: 14 May 2026
Free RV PDF guide to New Jersey
Driving rules, RV-friendly and RV-restricted highways, NPS reservation rules, BLM and NF boondocking, propane, dump stations, weather, and emergency contacts. Save it to your phone for offline use on the road.
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Driving rules
Interstate (cars + RVs)65 mph (most rural segments); 55 mph in metro Newark area
NJ Turnpike (I-95)65 mph rural; tolled by class -- RVs typically Class 2
Garden State Parkway65 mph north of Toms River; varies south. RV/trailer prohibitions in southern segments (check current signage)
US/State highway (cars + towing)50 mph default
Built-up areas25-35 mph (posted)
Drive onRight
SeatbeltsRequired for all front-seat occupants and all under-18 in any seat
Cell phone use while drivingHands-free only; all hand-held use prohibited
RV-friendly and RV-restricted highways
RV-friendly
I-95 / NJ TurnpikeGeorge Washington Bridge to Delaware Memorial Bridge. Toll, axle-priced, full-service plazas. Fast cross-state and the only realistic NYC-to-Philly transit for RVs.
I-78Holland Tunnel approach to PA border via Newark. Toll-free west of NJ Turnpike. Heavy commuter traffic 6-9 am and 3-7 pm.
I-80GWB to PA border via Paterson. Free, four-lane, easy.
I-287Western Jersey bypass of NYC metro. Free, four-lane.
US-1/9Newark to Trenton corridor. Heavy commercial traffic; usable but slow.
US-206Trenton to Newton cross-state. Two-lane scenic alternative to I-78.
US-9Cape May to Atlantic City and north along the Shore. Big-rig accessible; the Shore-strip alternative to the Parkway.
RV-restricted
Garden State Parkway south of exit 105 (varies)Historically restricted to vehicles under 7,000 lbs and prohibited to trailers in some segments. Rule has changed multiple times; verify current signage at the entrance. Use US-9 as the Shore alternative.
Holland Tunnel + Lincoln Tunnel (NJ side)Both prohibit propane onboard. Use the George Washington Bridge for any cross-Hudson transit with propane.
Palisades Interstate Parkway (NJ portion, GWB to Bear Mountain)RVs PROHIBITED. Use US-9W instead.
Atlantic City ExpresswayToll, RV-OK, but Atlantic City itself is brutal for RV parking. Day-trip from a Galloway or Egg Harbor base.
Cape May-Lewes Ferry (NJ to DE)Takes RVs but reservations required, axle-priced. Worth it as a Mid-Atlantic shortcut.
Pulaski SkywayRVs and commercial PROHIBITED. Use I-78 or local routes through Newark.
National parks and monuments
Delaware Water Gap NRA$10/vehicle day use. No drive-in RV camping inside the NRA on the NJ side. Worthington SF (NJ) and Dingmans Campground (private, PA side) are the practical options.
Morristown NHPFree entry; museum $7 adult. Day-use; small lots. Park-and-walk for tow cars; big-rig parking limited.
Edison NHS (Thomas Edison)$15/person; under-16 free. Day-use; downtown West Orange. Small lot.
Paterson Great Falls NHPFree entry. Day-use; downtown Paterson. Small lot.
Sandy Hook (Gateway NRA, NJ unit)$20/vehicle day-use late Jun-early Sep; free off-season. No RV camping. Day-use beach parking; arrive early in summer.
New Jersey Pinelands NR (joint federal-state)Free. Federal-state designation covering 1.1 million acres of the Pine Barrens. Camping in Wharton SF, Brendan T Byrne SF, and Bass River SF inside the Pinelands.
Statue of Liberty / Ellis Island (NJ launch)Ferry $24.50 adult. Best access from Liberty State Park, Jersey City. Free RV parking in the lot.
Crossroads of the American Revolution NHA (designation)Free. Heritage area covering revolutionary sites including Princeton Battlefield, Trenton, Morristown. Day-use across multiple sites.
Boondocking and dispersed camping
BLM: No BLM land in New Jersey. Public-land boondocking does not exist in the federal-management sense.
National Forests: No National Forest in New Jersey. The state has Wharton State Forest and others in the Pine Barrens which permit primitive backcountry camping at designated sites with a permit, plus drive-up state-park campgrounds at the same forests. Not the same as dispersed dispersed boondocking but closer than most Northeast states get.
Stay limit: typically 14 days per location.
Service stops
Propane: Plentiful statewide along all interstates and in the Shore corridor. U-Haul and Tractor Supply locations are reliable for refills. Holland and Lincoln Tunnels prohibit propane onboard -- use the GWB for cross-Hudson transit.
Dump stations: Reasonable coverage along the Turnpike, Parkway, and at most NJ State Park campgrounds (free for registered guests). Truck stops at Turnpike service plazas have fee dump stations ($10-15). The Shore region has multiple commercial dump stations to handle summer demand.
Fuel: Diesel and gas widely available statewide. New Jersey is a full-service-only state: you cannot pump your own fuel. Plan extra minutes at the pump and tip the attendant. Fuel prices typically lower than surrounding states because of lower state taxes -- worth a fill-up when transiting. Turnpike service plazas (full service) every 30-50 miles.
Weather windows
Best monthsMid-May through mid-October. Daytime highs 70-90 F. Coastal humidity Jul-Aug is high; ocean breezes moderate the Shore.
Avoid monthsDecember through March. Snow common; nor'easters can dump 1-2 ft. Hurricane risk Aug-Oct -- the Jersey Shore historically takes storm impact. Most Shore RV parks close mid-Oct to mid-May.
Shore RV park reservations open 12 months ahead and summer weekends sell out the same day. Cape May campgrounds and Wildwood-area parks book fastest. Set a calendar reminder.
Emergency and road conditions
State patrolDial #77 from a cell phone for State Police; 911 for emergencies