Turkey Swamp Park offers cabin camping near Aberdeen, New Jersey, approximately 20 miles away in a wooded Monmouth County setting. The sites feature dirt roads throughout the park with pull-through driveways in loops B through E. Cabins are available from April 1 through November 15, when the campground operates for the season.
What to do
Fishing opportunities: Turkey Swamp Park has a lake with fishing access directly from some campsites. A visitor noted, "There is a lake with a boat dock and a small boardwalk. Kayaking/Canoeing, fishing, and swimming. In the summer, canoe, kayak, paddle boats, and row boats are available for rental" (Lee D.).
Archery options: Turkey Swamp Park provides an archery range for visitors looking for target practice. According to one camper, "Bring your bow and shoot at the hay barrels" (Patrick M.).
Winter activities: While most cabins close for winter, some parks offer winter recreation. "Ice skate on the lake in the winter or just enjoy a gorgeous walk in the woods," recommends a regular visitor (Patrick M.).
Trails for hiking: Several short trails ranging from easy walks to longer hikes surround the cabin areas. One reviewer described, "Several short (longest one is 2.5 miles) hiking trails that are fairly well-marked but can be a bit confusing at times. Some sections of the trails were muddy due to swamps and bogs but passable" (Lee D.).
What campers like
Privacy between sites: Butterfly Camping Resort offers cabins with natural buffers between camping areas. A camper shared, "The sites are cozy and each lined with natural shrubbery and in some cases fencing. they're well maintained and raked between campers" (Tina D.).
Digital disconnection: The rustic cabin settings encourage unplugging from technology. As one visitor to Turkey Swamp mentioned, "Every time I'm here I barely touch my phone" (Tylen L.).
Bathroom facilities: Most cabin camping areas provide access to centralized bathroom facilities. A reviewer at Butterfly Camping Resort noted, "Some of the cleanest bath houses I've seen at a campground. Soap and paper towels are provided" (Tina D.).
Wildlife awareness: Natural settings mean wildlife encounters are common. At Turkey Swamp, one camper warned, "By the 2nd day I had 3 ticks on me. My dog had one and by the end my husband had 2" (Laura Y.).
What you should know
Cabin types vary: Allaire State Park cabins are rustic. "Cabins are no frills yet very nice no electricity they are equipi with 4 bunks a LG picnic table and a wood stove for heat. Also a nice porch fire ring and a charcoal grill," explains one visitor (Erik M.).
Seasonal availability: Most cabin facilities have limited operating seasons. At Turkey Swamp, a camper observed, "The campground was only about 20% occupied when we were there at the end of April, so our stay was a quiet one" (Lee D.).
Road conditions: During wet periods, access can be challenging. A Turkey Swamp visitor mentioned, "As soon as you turn off the main road to the park, all roads are dirt, which was a bit surprising. They were well-maintained and in dry weather, not a problem, but probably not if it was rainy" (Lee D.).
Bathroom limitations: Cabin campers should check bathroom proximity. At Turkey Swamp, "The bathhouse is located in the D Loop" and "it would have been helpful to have pathways leading from the other loops" according to one reviewer (Lee D.).
Tips for camping with families
Age-appropriate playgrounds: Timberland Lake Campground offers play areas for different age groups. "Playground, basket ball, beautiful pool and for an extra fee beach access. Now for the down side: it appears that the office and camp store (which offers a lot) has overgrown the facilities," notes one visitor (Jim C.).
Bug preparation: Bring appropriate insect repellent for cabin stays. One family at Turkey Swamp had a positive experience: "We went camping with our 2- and 3-year-old kids. We were worried about bugs, but we didn't even use mosquito repellent and didn't get a single bite!" (Jaewook P.).
Activity planning: Many cabin campgrounds offer scheduled weekend activities. A visitor to Timberland Lake noted, "We went to timberland lake last fall. It happened to be the Halloween weekend which was full of excellent activities from pumpkin painting to piñatas and tricker treating" (Ann Marie M.).
Distance to attractions: Indian Rock RV Resort provides convenient cabin access to regional attractions. "We stayed two nights at this park because we wanted to spend a day at Six flags. We would camp here again to go to six flags because it was easy to drive back a few minutes after a long day at the park," shared one family (Valen K.).
Tips for RVers
Electrical capacity: Pine Cone Resort cabins have varying electrical capabilities. Some visitors note limitations: "We are wintering here and it seems to be a great place so far. Most of the neighbors that have been here years are friendly as well as the staff that I have met so far" (Preston G.).
Site surface considerations: Campground surfaces vary widely between locations. One visitor to Timberland Lake noted, "My biggest issue is the sand for all pull-throughs. They do offer full hookups that include cable if you have the outdoor wire" (Robyn W.).
Utility access: When booking cabin accommodations with RV access, check utility placement. "The site was level and meticulously maintained, as were the dirt roads. The atmosphere was tranquil and relaxing," reported a visitor to Adventure Bound Camping (Howard P.).
Water hookup requirements: Some sites require extra equipment. A camper at Timberland Lake advised, "Bring a LONG water hose" when visiting with an RV setup (Shawn).
