Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, New Jersey
Everything the RV Renter Needs to Know
Everything the RV Renter Needs to Know
The Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area has everything you could ask for in an RV vacation. With more than 70,000 acres of forest and recreational areas, it’s perfect for either a solo traveler to get away from it all or for a full family to enjoy a trip into the woods. Get outdoorsy and enjoy some of the most serene land you’ll find in the northeast.
Named for an area where the Delaware River cuts through the Appalachian Mountain range, the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area offers plenty of sightseeing, photography opportunities, hiking, and more! Plus, the river itself is perfect for a variety of watersports. No matter how long you spend in the area, you won’t run out of ways to keep yourself entertained.
The Delaware Water Gap (from which the recreation area gets its name) cuts through the Appalachian Mountain range. It’s previously been called a “scenic wonder of the world,” and the sight alone deserves a stop in the area even if you’re just passing through.
The area used to serve as a resort village, and there’s still a huge draw every year. If you’re just planning on stopping through for a gorgeous view of the gap, here are a few spots with notable views:
The area in and around the Delaware Water Gap is considered some of the nicest hiking in the country. In fact, the Appalachian Trail runs almost 30 miles through the mountains here. Otherwise, you’ll find more than150 miles of hiking trails that range vastly in difficulty.
Each hiking trail has unique sights, including some that have a great view of the Delaware Water Gap: Red Dot and the Appalachian. You can expect to see ponds, rivers, forests, fields, and scenic vistas, and maybe even some wildlife along the way. The trails are divided into three areas: north, middle, and south parts of the park.
Some popular trails:
The Delaware River is great for boats, kayaks, and canoes. Traversing the area is fun and the sights from the water looking up toward the mountains are unparalleled. The water is usually calm and handles with ease and comfort. If you’re looking for a livery (a company that will drop you off, rent a canoe or kayak as well as a safety vest, and pick you back up), a full list of those permitted to operate inside the recreation area is available.
Fishing is also popular on the river. While you’re floating or paddling, why not wet a line as well? Fishing in New Jersey requires you to have a license, and if you’re trying to catch trout (a popular fish in the Delaware River) there’s an additional stamp is required. You’ll find brook, rainbow, and brown trout all in the Delaware River, as well as many other rivers and streams in the recreation area.
Big rivers have always played an important role in our history. The Delaware River in the Appalachian Mountain range is no different. And there’s still much history you can delve into while you’re here.
The history begins with Native Americans (the Lenape tribe) who called this place home centuries ago where there are burial sites as well as Native American and European artifacts discovered. It also includes Dutch settlements from Colonial times, with bustling communities between the 1700s and early 1900s. Millbrook Village, for example, is where a farmer built a grist mill in 1832 and a small settlement sprung up around it.
Some areas of note are:
Old Mine Road is a top spot for cycling and driving. Built back in the mid 1600s or 1700s, it connected important rivers and cities to the Pahaquarry Mines and also offered farmers a means to travel with crops. It runs a length of 104 miles and combines several parts of the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area.
There are plenty of lovely places to stop and either enjoy from a distance or explore further. In fact, you could probably make a full vacation out of the Old Mine Road alone. After all, it’s exactly what your rental RV is good for. Here’s a list some attractions along the way:
There are several campgrounds in the National Recreation Area, but the ideal one for RVs is Dingman’s Campground. There is a total of 133 sites here, and while only some include electric and water hookups for RVs, they’re all wooded. There’s plenty of access to hiking, mountain biking, and even river trips available from Dingman’s. Spots without electrical hookups mean you’re not able to use a generator, so if that’s a must for you, you may want to consider a different location. Otherwise, the easy access to so much of the park makes this an easy choice.
While technically in Pennsylvania, Otter Lake Camp Resort still sits near the Delaware Water Gap and is tucked in the Pocono mountains. It caters to the serious RVer, with full utility hookups, pull through sites, lakefront sites, Wi-Fi, laundromats, a swimming lake and heated indoor pool, and a whole host of other amenities that make it one of the top resorts in the area. If you’re new to RVing or not too much of an outdoorsy type, don’t pass this one up.
In Pennsylvania, but a short drive from Delaware Water Gap, Mountain Vista Campground offers family fun and easy, enjoyable camping. Along with full utility hookups, there’s an onsite laundromat, free Wi-Fi, a full recreation area and playground, plus a campground store and dog run. A stocked fishing pond and clean swimming pool are also just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to enjoyable things inside this highly-rated campground.
A mere seven miles from Delaware Water Gap, Triple Brook Camping Resort is a gorgeous spot in New Jersey’s Skylands Region. The area is known for its breathtaking scenery, so what better place to camp? There are plenty of full hookup sites available. There are two playgrounds, an adult and family pool, a working farm with daily feedings, and a camp store with food, souvenirs, and camping supplies.
Pleasant Acres Farm is an RV resort in northern New Jersey that prides itself on its family-friendly atmosphere. Aside from full utility hookups, you’ll enjoy things like an arcade, mini golf, basketball courts, swimming pool, a snack bar, a game room, and a fishing lake. You can even help milk a cow and shear a sheep. What’s not to enjoy?
There aren’t technically any restaurants or dining options inside the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. This makes it a good idea to stock up your rental RV’s refrigerator before you hit the road (or in a nearby town on your way in) and cook up your own meals while you’re camping. There are plenty of picnic spots with lots of scenery that can make any meal feel special.
As a popular tourist and vacationer area, you’ll find plenty of delicious places to eat around Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. There are plenty of fun lodge-like places that offer great sandwiches, classic bar food, and stellar Italian joints (you’re in New Jersey, after all). You’ll see barbecue and other great places too, including plenty of spots that are family-friendly.
There are dozens of small towns surrounding the Delaware Water Gap, and they each offer their own unique touches. From classic Appalachian fare to good Italian and pizza places, you’ll find food you enjoy when you choose to dine out.