The charming, historic New Jersey city of Millville was officially founded in 1801. As its name indicates, Millville was named for a historic sawmill constructed in what would later become Cumberland County in 1720. Later in the 18th century, industrialists constructed lumber mills along the Maurice River and a dam to provide power, followed by the city's first glass factory.
With a history in industry, aviation, and defense, Millville has become a revitalized community with a focus on art galleries, studios, and locally owned shops. Its arts district is known as the Glasstown Arts District and is home to several glass museums and projects. Millville became well known in the 19th century for its original technique of making paperweights, with the most well-known type called "Millville roses". A restored historic glass factory, the Wheaton Arts and Cultural Center, is home to glassworking fellowship and exhibitions by renowned glass artists. The Museum of American Glass offers artist demonstrations in glasswork, flamework, and woodcarving.
Millville offers more than just historic industry and interesting modern art projects. It is home to the New Jersey Motorsports Park for go-kart racing and the Millville Municipal Airport, which serves general aviation and also hosts the Millville Army Air Field Museum. At the museum, you can hear the stories of soldiers who became early fighter pilots and learn about the history of "America's First Defense Airport." The Wheaton River is rich in natural resources, bordered by the only continually working diked farm in the state. The historic sites and arts revitalization in Millville have also led to a bustling restaurant business. The city's center is easily walkable, offering pizzerias, pubs, coffee shops, and classic diners as well as Italian, Chinese, Indian, Mexican, Caribbean, vegan, and other cuisines.
A visit to Millville can also provide a home base for visits to other nearby attractions and major cities. Millville is approximately an hour away from Philadelphia, a bustling city packed with historic attractions, museums, sporting events, and arena concerts. Similarly, the small city is less than an hour away from the casinos, shows, and beachside activities of Atlantic City, as well as other venues along the Jersey Shore. Other mid-Atlantic and northeastern destinations are also relatively close to Millville, with New York City, Newark, and Jersey City to the north and Baltimore and Washington, D.C., to the south. Any of these cities make for an enjoyable day trip or getaway from a Millville location.
Campgrounds Near Millville, New Jersey
There are several appealing RV campgrounds near Millville, offering amenities and quick access to the historic city. One great option is Jaggers Point Campground in nearby Parvin State Park. The campground is located directly on the Parvin lakeshore. There are 76 sites to choose from along with showers, picnic tables, and potable water. Campfires are allowed, and the campground is close to biking, boating, hiking, horseback riding, and both winter and summer sports.
Winding River Campground is around 25 minutes from Millville, with full hookups available and picnic tables and fire rings at each site. The campground offers restrooms, showers, a laundromat, a dump station, and a campground store as well as recreational facilities like a swimming pool, playgrounds, and a game room.
Pleasant Valley Family Campground, 25 minutes from Millville, is based in the Pinelands. RV sites offer full hookups with cable TV, and attractive amenities include free Wi-Fi and a gym, video arcade, camp store, swimming pool, spa, playground, laundry room, showers, and athletic fields, among others.
State Parks Near Millville, New Jersey
Located only 15 minutes from Millville, Parvin State Park is a true gem of a natural wonder. The park is located just outside the Pine Barrens and has 15 miles of trails for walking, hiking, and biking. Two lakes offer canoeing, kayaking as well as lakeside swimming. The state park is home to both a pine forest and a swamp hardwood forest with dogwood, laurel, magnolia, and azalea trees.
Drive an hour north of Millville to explore Bass River State Forest. The first state forest in New Jersey is located in the Pinelands National Reserve. With over 12 miles of marked trails, Bass River State Forest also serves as the southern end of the 53-mile Batona Trail. Hike the Absegami Trail or enjoy boating, canoeing, and swimming in Lake Abgesami. The state forest is also near the West Pine Plains Natural Area, called the "Pygmy Forest", a site of rare pine and oak trees that reach a height of only four to six feet when mature. This is the largest site for such trees around the world.
Lums Pond State Park, located in neighboring Delaware is constructed around the largest freshwater pond in the state, and its 1,790 acres offer hiking, ziplining, horseback riding, hiking, and fishing. Its 181-acre nature preserve includes mature woodlands, excellent birding options, and native wildlife. Enjoy boating, kayaking, and fishing in Lums Pond during your travel to this park.
National Sites Near Millville, New Jersey
Explore the Appalachian National Scenic Trail by driving about two and a half hours from Millville as the Trail winds through Pennsylvania and into northern New Jersey. The 2,180-mile footpath explores the Appalachian Mountains. Hiking the Appalachian Trail is a primary objective of many outdoors explorers, but even a visit to some of the locations on the Trail can make for an exceptional short trip.
Morristown National Historical Park is the site where George Washington and the Continental Army camped in the winter between December 1779 and June 1780 during the Revolutionary War. Enjoy guided tours of historic homes in the area, including the Wick House and George Washington's winter headquarters, watch reenactments, or opt for hiking, biking, and birding.
Travel two hours from Millville to the Thomas Edison National Historical Park in West Orange, New Jersey, to explore more modern history. The national site is home to Thomas Edison's home and laboratory, open to exploration by guests. Visit the main laboratory building, chemistry lab, and blacksmith shop, or explore the home of Thomas and Mina Edison with tours of the Glenmont Estate.
National Forests Near Millville, New Jersey
Venture around five hours from Millville to explore the lush nature of George Washington and Jefferson National Forests. Based on 1.8 million acres in Virginia, West Virginia, and Kentucky, this national forest offers a wide range of activities for an RV vacation. Go boating from the Bolar Flat Marina or explore the outdoor recreation areas in Bark Camp or Bolar Mountain. Visit the Cascades Day Use Area, home to the 66-foot Cascade Falls, or explore the rock formations at the Mount Rogers National Recreation Area. With hiking, biking, cycling, birding, fishing, hunting, boating, nature viewing, and swimming, enjoy all of the wonders of nature here.
Drive five hours into northwestern Pennsylvania to visit the Allegheny National Forest, Pennsylvania's only national forest. The Allegheny is a working forest providing timber and wood products as well as exceptional outdoor recreational activities. The forest offers boating, camping, fishing, ATV riding, hunting, and snowmobiling, with two wilderness areas, two national scenic areas, and two national wild and scenic rivers located within the Allegheny.
Head five hours north of Millville to New York to enjoy that state's only National Forest, the 16,212-acre Finger Lakes National Forest. Lying on a ridge between Lake Seneca and Lake Cayuga, the forest is home to 30 miles of trails over ravines, pastures, gorges, and woodlands. Watch wildlife, including grassland, shrubland, and forest birds, beavers, bobcats, and wild turkeys. The national forest offers hiking, fishing, hunting, horseback riding, biking, snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, and an assortment of camping options. Enjoy the changing seasons and beautiful views of this national forest.
