Your first RV camping trip comes with a lot of small unknowns. What size site do you actually need? What do you pack that you wouldn’t think of? What happens the moment you pull in? Panther Lake welcomes a steady stream of first-time RVers every season, many coming from the NYC area for their first real weekend in the rig. This guide walks through everything worth knowing before you arrive, from packing to hookups to what your first night actually looks like.
What to Know Before You Leave Home
A little prep before you leave makes a much bigger difference than most first-timers expect.
Match Your RV to the Right Site
Before you book, know your rig’s length and what hookups it needs. This is the single biggest source of first-trip stress and it’s completely avoidable if you confirm it upfront instead of guessing.
What to Pack for Your First Hookup
A few items make the difference between a smooth setup and a frustrating one.
| What to Bring | Why You Need It |
| Fresh water hose (drinking water safe) | Connects your RV to the site’s water supply |
| Sewer hose and fittings | Needed at any site with a sewer connection |
| Water pressure regulator | Protects your RV’s plumbing from high resort water pressure |
| Electrical surge protector | Guards your RV’s electrical system against power spikes |
| Leveling blocks or levelers | Keeps your RV level for appliances and comfort |
| Wheel chocks | Keeps your RV from rolling once parked |
| Extension cord (heavy-duty, rated for RV use) | Useful if your site’s outlet isn’t close to your hookup port |
Practice Your Hookups at Home
If you’ve never connected water, power, or sewer before, running through the motions in your driveway, even without an actual hookup, takes the guesswork out of doing it for the first time in front of your camp neighbors.
Once your rig and gear are sorted, explore full hookup RV sites at Panther Lake and match your setup to the right site type before you book.
Your First Visit At Panther Lake
Panther Lake sits in Andover, in Sussex County, New Jersey, about 50 miles from New York City and reachable off the I-80 and Route 206 corridor. That distance matters for a first-timer: it’s close enough that a hookup mistake or a forgotten item doesn’t mean losing your whole weekend but far enough to feel like a real getaway from the city.
RV’s Size Limits on New Jersey Roads
New Jersey state law caps RVs at 40 feet in length, 96 inches in width and 13.5 feet in height on public roads. If your rig is near any of those limits, plan your route in advance and confirm your site can accommodate it when you reserve.
Which RV Site Is Right for Your First Stay?
Panther Lake offers three RV site types, and knowing the difference before you arrive makes check-in and setup a lot smoother.
| Site Type | Power | Water | Sewer | Cable | Best For |
| WEC 30 | 30-amp electric | Yes | No | Yes | Smaller rigs with modest power and tank needs |
| Deluxe Full 30 | 30-amp electric | Yes | Yes | No | Rigs that want full hookups without stepping up to 50-amp |
| Deluxe Full 50 | 50-amp electric | Yes | Yes | No | Larger rigs or anything running multiple air conditioners at once |
A simple way to decide: think about what you’re running at the same time. Two air conditioners, several appliances, and a home theater setup running together usually calls for 50-amp. A smaller travel trailer with modest power needs is typically fine on 30-amp. If you choose WEC 30, keep in mind there’s no sewer hookup at your site, so you’ll manage your gray and black tanks the way you would at any partial hookup site.
For a closer look at how these categories actually play out day-to-day, compare full hookup and standard RV sites before you decide.
What Happens When You Check In?
When you arrive, head to registration first. Staff will confirm your reservation, point you to your site on the resort map, and flag anything specific to your part of the property. From there, it’s a 5 mph drive in, which feels slow the first time but gives you a real look at the resort as you go.
Try to arrive with a few hours of daylight left. Leveling, hooking up and getting settled is far less stressful in the light than it is after dark on your very first stay.
Once you’re parked and want to get around the resort’s 160 acres without walking the whole property, golf cart rentals are worth considering for the weekend.
How to Hook Up Your RV the First Time
Once you’re parked on your site, work through setup in this order:
- Level your RV: using either a built-in leveling system or blocks under the low side.
- Connect your power: First, match your cord to 30-amp or 50-amp service depending on your site, and running it through a surge protector.
- Connect your fresh water: through a pressure regulator before it reaches your RV, since resort water pressure can run higher than your plumbing is built for.
- Connect your sewer last: If your site includes one, and make sure every fitting is secure before you walk away.
- Do a full walkthrough: Check that your water is running, your power is drawing correctly, and nothing is leaking before you consider yourself set up.
That last step takes ten extra minutes and saves you from discovering a problem later that night.
Resort Rules Every First-Time Camper Should Know
Panther Lake keeps a short list of rules in place to keep the resort comfortable for every camper, not just the ones who’ve been coming for years.
- Quiet hours run from 11 PM to 8 AM, and campers under 18 should be back at their site and supervised by 10 PM.
- The speed limit throughout the resort is 5 mph.
- No drones are permitted anywhere on the property.
- Propane tanks are limited to 40 pounds or less.
- Washing vehicles, boats, or watercraft on your site isn’t permitted.
- Electric vehicle charging at your site is not allowed.
None of this is complicated, but knowing it ahead of time means you’re not learning the rules by accident on night one.
Tips for Your First Stay With a Pet
Panther Lake is pet-friendly, but a few rules apply. Pets need to stay on a leash no longer than six feet and under your control at all times. Waste should be picked up right away, and pets can’t be left unattended at your site or kept in a pen. Pets aren’t permitted in public buildings or swim areas, though registered service dogs are exempt from those restrictions. If you’re bringing a pet on your first RV trip, read through the pet friendly camping details before you arrive so there are no surprises.
Why First-Time RVers Keep Coming Back
Being roughly 50 miles from NYC means a first RV trip doesn’t require a full day of driving before you even start relaxing. Add a 45-acre private lake, something most NJ RV resorts simply don’t have, and it’s an easy place to want to come back to once you’ve got your first stay behind you. A lot of first-timers end up asking about a seasonal site before their first weekend is even over.
Frequently Asked Questions From First-Time RVers
What size RV can Panther Lake accommodate?
Site capacity depends on the specific site type and hookup category you book. Confirm your rig’s length and hookup needs when you reserve so you’re matched to the right site.
Do I need to bring my own sewer hose and water hose?
Panther Lake’s sites include the hookups themselves but you’ll need to bring your own hoses, fittings and a pressure regulator to connect to them.
Can I bring my pet on my first RV trip?
Panther Lake is pet-friendly with pets required to stay leashed and supervised throughout your stay.
What’s nearby if I want to explore outside the resort?
There’s plenty to see beyond the resort gates. Check out local attractions near Andover and Sussex County for day trip ideas during your stay.
Is Panther Lake open year-round for RV camping?
Panther Lake operates seasonally from mid-April through October 31, so plan your first stay within that window.