New Report Claims New Jersey is Bad for Campsites

I love these state ranking reports because they always end up in the group chat with my friends, and the latest one from LawnLove definitely stirred things up. The site just released its list of 2025’s best states for camping, and New Jersey did not exactly come out on top.

LawnLove rated every state using factors like accessibility, quality, safety, affordability, and access to supplies. Even with our incredible forests, parks, and tucked-away trails, New Jersey still landed in the bottom five with an overall score of 27.44 out of 100. Only Nevada, Connecticut, Hawaii, and Rhode Island ranked lower.

The biggest problems for New Jersey were limited access to basics like toilets, showers, and drinkable water at many campsites, along with lower safety scores from weak cell service on trails. Camping also costs more here, and the study ranked the state 43rd for affordability due to higher rental and park entrance fees. For comparison, neighbors New York and Pennsylvania performed much better at 8th and 13th.

California topped the list with a score of 67.47 thanks to its year-round weather and endless mix of landscapes, although it still placed last for safety. You can dig into the full rankings here: LawnLove’s 2025 Best States for Camping.

Top five states for camping:

• California
• Texas
• Florida
• Michigan
• Colorado

Bottom five:

• Rhode Island
• Hawaii
• Connecticut
• Nevada
• New Jersey

If you are planning a national park trip, check conditions before you go. The National Parks Conservation Association warns that some parks still have limited staffing and services, and the National Park Service alerts page is a good place to see updates before heading out. Having a backup plan never hurts.