PLEASE NOTE: There is an 11-foot height restriction for RV's entering the camping area due to low bridge clearance.

Park day-use activities close at 8 pm Memorial Day through Labor Day. Family Campsites are open April 1st until October 31st. Group Campsites are open May 1st until October 31st.

A person(s) shall not occupy a camping facility for more then 14 consecutive nights. Additional camping shall be permitted only in intervals of 7 nights, with a required 7 nights away in between each stay. The total maximum camping nights in any calender year can not exceed 40 nights.

Pets allowed in designated sites only with registration and proof of rabies vaccination required.

Alcohol is prohibited in the park and campsites.

Generators are not permitted in the park and campsites. There are no water or electric hook ups here for RVs.

Please be aware that the Group Campsites do not have showers and are carry in carry out for trash.

Family Campsites: 53 tent and trailer sites with fire rings and picnic tables. Flush toilets and shower facilities are within walking distance.

THERE ARE NO WATER OR ELECTRIC HOOKUPS HERE.

Trailer sanitary dump station available. There is an 11-foot height restriction for RV's entering the camping area due to low bridge clearance.

Generators are not permitted in campsites.

Pets allowed in designated family campsites only. Must provide proof of rabies vaccination.

Open April 1st through October 31st.

New Jersey Residents $20 per night per site. Non-Residents $25 per night per site.

Group Campsites: The Gordon Field group sites have fire rings, upright grills and picnic tables. Each site accommodates up to 25 campers. The area facilities include flush toilets and potable water. Group campsites are open May 1st through October 31st.

New Jersey Residents $50 per night per site. Non-Residents $100 per night per site.

There are no showers in Group Campsites. There are no pets allowed in the group campsites. All trash must be carried out.

Parking: Each group campsite allows a maximum of 12 cars per site (7 cars can park onsite and 5 cars in an overflow lot). Each vehicle is required to provide its license plate # at the park office to get a parking pass. 

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The six-acre Hooks Creek Lake offers an opportunity for swimming available at a lifeguarded area during summer when lifeguards are on duty. Click here for current swim schedule.

Freshwater fishing is available with appropiate fishing license. Catfish and white perch can be found in the freshwater lake. Fishing is subject to all NJ Fish and Wildlife regulations.  Crabbing is also available from the Crabbing Bridge which is ADA accessible from the lake parking area.

Several picnic areas with tables and charcoal grills are located throughout the park. For larger groups we offer two reservable picnic sites with a small covered pavilion.

The Nature Center is located a short distance from the trailhead parking area near the main entrance to the park. Visitors are welcome to view the wildlife exhibits throughout the Center. Visitors can learn about the three habitats located within Cheesequake State Park. The Center also provides information on Native American history and early colonization of the area.

There are five designated trails at the park. The Red, Yellow, Green and Blue pathways are for hiking and walking use. The White Trail is a multi-use trail, designated for hiking and mountain biking. Trails range from 3/4 mi to 3 miles. Trail difficulty ranges from easy to moderate with inclines.

Cheesequake State Park's uniqueness lies in its geographical location. Not only is it situated in the middle of the urban north and the suburban south, it lies in a transitional zone between two different ecosystems. Open fields, saltwater and freshwater marshes, a white cedar swamp, Pine Barrens, and a northeastern hardwood forest are the main characteristics of the park. Trails range from 3/4 mi to 3 miles. Size: 1,569 acres

Address:  300 Gordon Road, Matawan, NJ

Accessible from Garden State Parkway, Exit 120, State Hwy 9 and 34.

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