Camper Van Rental in Hackensack, NJ

The closest van-friendly campgrounds are Worthington State Forest inside Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, about an hour and a half west, and Sawmill Lake Campground at High Point State Park, about an hour and a half northwest. Harriman State Park's Beaver Pond Campground, just over the New York line, is also about an hour and a half north via the Palisades Parkway. All three accept van camping and require advance reservations during peak season.

Late spring through fall is the sweet spot for most destinations within reach of Hackensack. Early fall is especially good for High Point State Park, where foliage and clear ridge-top views make the Kittatinny Ridge worth the drive. Summer works well for Sandy Hook and Island Beach State Park, though weekday visits avoid the worst of the crowds.

Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area is about an hour and a half west of Hackensack via I-80, making it one of the most accessible overnight destinations from the area. The Worthington State Forest campground on the New Jersey side sits right on the Delaware River and is well suited for vans. The recreation area offers riverside camping, waterfall hikes, and easy paddling across late spring, summer, and fall.

Yes. High Point State Park is about an hour and a half northwest of Hackensack, and the Sawmill Lake campground offers wooded, lakeside sites that accommodate vans. The Appalachian Trail runs through the park, and the summit monument gives long views into three states. Plan for cooler nights on the Kittatinny Ridge, especially in September and October.

Harriman is one of the most practical first-overnight options from Hackensack, sitting about an hour and a half north via the Palisades Parkway. The Beaver Pond Campground in the Hudson Highlands is the main van-accessible site, and more than 200 miles of trails give you plenty to explore without driving far. Book ahead for summer weekends, as sites fill quickly.

Sandy Hook, part of Gateway National Recreation Area, is about an hour and a half south of Hackensack and makes a straightforward day trip in a Class B van via the Garden State Parkway. There is no overnight camping at Sandy Hook, so most travelers use it as a day visit paired with a campground base elsewhere. Late spring and early fall are quieter than peak summer for birding and biking the flat trails.

A compact Class B van handles the mix of parkways and wooded campground roads around Hackensack without any trouble. Destinations like High Point and Harriman can see cold nights in fall, so a van with good insulation and a reliable heating system is worth prioritizing. All-wheel drive adds a margin of confidence on late-season campground access roads.