Campers visiting Atco, New Jersey find themselves in the heart of New Jersey's Pine Barrens, characterized by sandy soil, dense pine forests, and tannic-stained waterways. The area's generally flat terrain makes for accessible camping, though the sandy composition can create challenges after rainfall. Most established campgrounds operate from April through October, with limited winter camping options in the region's variable climate that ranges from hot, humid summers to mild winters.
What to do
Trail exploration: The Batona Trail runs directly through several campgrounds and offers miles of hiking through distinctive Pine Barrens ecosystem. At Batona — Wharton State Forest, "trailheads begin directly from campsites. Trails vary in length but all are flat and easily accessible," notes a visitor.
Water activities: The region's numerous lakes and rivers provide excellent paddling opportunities. At Hospitality Creek Campground, waterfront sites accommodate personal watercraft. "It was a lot of fun watching the cows eating and interacting. I intentionally reserved the site we had to be close," mentions a camper who enjoyed the unique setting by the water.
Historical exploration: Several campgrounds provide convenient access to preserved colonial-era sites. "Down at the Atsion office a mile away they can sell you firewood as well. Picalilli Inn isn't far, they have great wings. Batsto is a 15 minute drive," explains a camper describing local attractions near campsites in Wharton State Forest.
Fishing: Multiple ponds and lakes throughout the region offer fishing opportunities for various species. At Old Cedar Campground, visitors mention the fishing is "great" and children "caught bass" in the on-site fishing areas.
What campers like
Privacy levels: Many campsites near Atco provide well-spaced accommodations. At Brendan Byrne State Forest, "Nice and quiet, sites are spaced out enough to offer privacy. Good trees for hammocking! Plenty of room for a few tents at each site," explains one reviewer.
Water access: Direct access to lakes and rivers ranks high among camper preferences. "We stayed at Atsion in 2015: had flush toilets and was close to the checkin station/store as well as the beach on the lake. Some sites were right on the water and the sites were very big," shares a visitor who enjoyed waterside camping at Wharton State Forest.
Natural setting: The distinctive Pine Barrens ecosystem creates a unique backdrop for camping experiences. "I like campgrounds which have you park off and walk in to your site. There is more foot traffic, but you don't hear as many cars coming and going and driving past your site all the time. Sites are nicely in the trees," describes a visitor to Goshen Pond — Wharton State Forest.
Distance from urban areas: Many campers appreciate feeling removed from civilization. "It's far away from traffic noise. You can't hear any cars or any other noise from civilization at all. It's at least 10 miles away from anything more than a single house in the woods. 5 miles away from the main road," notes a camper at Brendan Byrne State Forest.
What you should know
Bugs and ticks: Multiple campgrounds report significant tick and insect issues. "Great sites, great trails, lots of hiking and off road trails for dirt bike/atv/trucks. Pretty good boating/fishing. Just gotta check often for chiggers and ticks," warns a camper at Goshen Pond Campground.
Limited services: Many primitive sites require preparation for minimal amenities. "Vault toilets, but has potable water available and you're right off the water," describes one camper at Goshen Pond, while another mentions at Mullica River — Wharton State Forest that there are "2 outhouses (hold your breath)."
Sandy roads: The region's terrain creates distinctive driving conditions. "The road into the campground is about 1 mile of loose sand. It can be accessed by a standard vehicle," notes a camper at Batona Campground.
Variable site sizes: Campsite dimensions differ widely even within the same campground. "Our site was very quiet, but a lot of the sites are close together without any barriers, so if the campground got crowded it wouldn't be very private," reports a Goshen Pond visitor.
Tips for camping with families
Recreation facilities: Family-friendly campgrounds often feature dedicated play areas and organized activities. At Old Cedar Campground, "My grandchildren loved visiting us, pool was clean - they had a few items that they could borrow - fishing was great - playground was adequate. Mini golf was fun for all. There was also activities for the younger kids - making slime."
Weekend planning: Family-oriented sites tend to fill quickly during peak times. "In season tons of hourly activities for the kids. 1 thing i dont like is the excessively high prices. i think all sites should be for 2 adults and 2-3 kids. this Campground you must pay for even having one kid," mentions a visitor to Hospitality Creek Campground.
Swimming options: Lake swimming provides relief during summer months. "The pools are nice and have on-duty lifeguards all day. We rode our bikes around, enjoyed time on the lake in a rented paddleboat," explains a visitor describing family activities at Hospitality Creek.
Wildlife viewing: Several campgrounds offer opportunities to observe local fauna. "The most unique aspect we found was the cow pasture. It was a lot of fun watching the cows eating and interacting," shares a camper who stayed at Old Cedar Campground.
Tips from RVers
Site accessibility: Navigating to campsites requires advance planning. At Jellystone Park South Jersey, a visitor notes their site "included a nice concrete pad big enough to park our 45' motorhome+ toad" and was "roomy with plenty of mature shade trees."
Water connections: RVers should prepare for variable hookup configurations. "The water hookups are shared every other site (at least in the Fence Loop). I was lucky my 75' hose barely reached the distance needed. Be sure to bring extra hoses," warns a visitor to Old Cedar Campground.
Wi-Fi reliability: Internet access varies greatly between campgrounds. One camper at Hospitality Creek reports, "The days of campgrounds not having to provide decent wifi are over (in my opinion). Lots of communications from the new owners of this campground describe the upgrades being planned."
Reservation requirements: Most full-service RV sites require advance booking. "This was part two of our shakedown cruise for our new RV. We stayed just for one night, but wish we could have stayed longer. We were met at the entry gate with a personalized folder containing lots of helpful information for our stay," shares an RVer who stayed at Hospitality Creek.
