Best Dog-Friendly Camping near Atco, NJ

Wharton State Forest's pet-friendly campgrounds include several options within a short drive from Atco, with Atsion Family Camp allowing pets for an additional $5 per night. Goshen Pond Campground offers secluded, primitive tent sites popular with dog owners, while Lower Forge Campground provides both electric hookups and toilets in a pet-accessible environment. Philadelphia South/Clarksboro KOA accommodates pets in their tent sites, RV spots, and cabins. Most campgrounds maintain standard leash requirements, and sites vary in privacy levels. The pet-friendly sites at Atsion are limited and don't include the desirable lakefront locations. Hospitality Creek Campground and Jellystone Park South Jersey also welcome pets with full-service amenities including electric hookups, sewer connections, and showers.

The sandy terrain throughout Wharton State Forest creates ideal walking conditions for pets, though visitors should regularly check dogs for ticks and chiggers after hiking the numerous trails. Primitive sites at Goshen Pond provide more seclusion for campers with active dogs, featuring walk-in tent sites surrounded by pine trees and positioned near the Mullica River for water access. The spacious campsites at Brendan Byrne State Forest accommodate pets with picnic tables and fire rings, scoring consistently high ratings from pet owners. Seasonal considerations affect availability, with most Wharton State Forest campgrounds operating from April through October. Campers note the primitive nature of facilities at several locations, with varying levels of amenities from basic vault toilets to full shower facilities. Sites closest to roads experience some traffic noise that might disturb sensitive pets.

Best Dog-Friendly Sites Near Atco, New Jersey (85)

    1. Atsion Family Camp — Wharton State Forest

    23 Reviews
    Hammonton, NJ
    8 miles
    Website
    +1 (609) 268-0444

    "Atsion Family Campground

    Off US 206 and about 1/2 a mile up Atsion Road in New Jersey’s Wharton State Forest, you’ll find the Atsion Family Campground."

    "This was a nice large site in the“pet-friendly” section(sites 26-34) of the campground. Site 34 is close to Atsion Road, so there was car noise, but it wasn’t really an issue to us."

    2. Hospitality Creek Campground

    12 Reviews
    Winslow, NJ
    11 miles
    Website
    +1 (856) 629-5140

    "The park was easy to find and located a short distance from the highway. We were met at the entry gate with a personalized folder containing lots of helpful information for our stay."

    "We love the lake side campsites."

    3. Goshen Pond — Wharton State Forest

    6 Reviews
    Hammonton, NJ
    7 miles
    Website
    +1 (609) 561-0024

    "It's only a one minute walk from the parking area to the site. Our site was right next to the Mullica River, and had excellent views if you walked just a couple steps from the tent."

    "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."

    4. Batona — Wharton State Forest

    11 Reviews
    Chatsworth, NJ
    14 miles
    Website
    +1 (609) 561-0024

    "I grew up near the pine barrens and would camp here many times with friends.  If you want off the beaten path and not close to anyone... this is IT!

    You might even see the Jersey Devil :)"

    "Best part about the campground is that it's right on the 50 mile Batona Trail so it's a great stop-over assuming you've made reservations. No first-come first-serve."

    5. Philadelphia South/Clarksboro KOA

    20 Reviews
    Paulsboro, NJ
    19 miles
    Website
    +1 (856) 423-6677

    "Beautiful campground — lots of trees, pond, kids play equipment, dog park, etc. facilities all clean and whole place is well maintained. Easy late arrival."

    "We did Chinatown and walked part of the Schuylkill River trail which we accessed by parking near Fairmount Park."

    6. Brendan Byrne State Forest

    18 Reviews
    Chatsworth, NJ
    21 miles
    Website
    +1 (609) 726-1191

    $3 - $60 / night

    "Allows dogs after a deposit. Must purchase their firewood. Good bathrooms/showers. Great location for hitting the 4x4 trails."

    "Campsite decent size, but some don't have clear boundaries to neighbors, and sometimes not optimally configured (e.g., the site next door's fire pit was placed on the edge of its site/right next to my"

    7. Wading Pines Camping Resort

    17 Reviews
    Chatsworth, NJ
    19 miles
    Website
    +1 (609) 726-1313

    "Very family friends and pet friendly. Mostly quiet. There is NO Wi-Fi. Plenty of trails and things to do. Only downside was our site 252 had a giant spotlight on our site from dusk and until dawn."

    "The campground is very close to home, and a lot of people around our area (central jersey) go there yearly or have seasonal sites there, but for us, it was our first time at the campground."

    8. Old Cedar Campground

    11 Reviews
    Monroeville, NJ
    17 miles
    Website
    +1 (856) 358-4881

    $31 - $50 / night

    "★★★★ Quiet Getaway Weekend 

    We went to Old Cedar Campground in Monroeville, New Jersey, for a quiet getaway weekend. This is a small and basic campground, not a resort. No fancy amenities."

    "Not close off the highway, but wooden sites. Seems as though people spend their summers there. Pool was beautiful and looked new. Mini golf was decrepit and looked abandoned. Store was nice."

    9. Jellystone Park South Jersey

    2 Reviews
    Winslow, NJ
    10 miles
    Website
    +1 (856) 629-5140

    "The pool and surrounding amenities are nice and clean including lake, snack bar, and ice cream 

    WOULD WE COME BACK? 

    Absolutely, this is a nice place for a few days of downtime."

    10. Lower Forge — Wharton State Forest

    3 Reviews
    Hammonton, NJ
    12 miles
    Website
    +1 (609) 561-0024

    "they are primitive, pet-friendly, hike-in sites with direct access to the Batsto River."

    "They are primitive but right on the river with easy access to go for a dip or let the pups go for a swim. We went up on a Friday night and enjoyed being the only campers there."

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Dog-Friendly Camping Reviews near Atco, NJ

608 Reviews of 85 Atco Campgrounds


  • Matt S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 22, 2021

    Baker's Acres Campground

    Rustic and Classic Campground

    We stayed at Baker’s Acres Campground in Little Egg Harbor, New Jersey, for a weekend in mid-August. So did the rains of Hurricane Henri! 

    Our site(#Zoo-1) was a level back-in with 50-amp electric, water, sewer, and cable. It was easy to pull in and accommodates larger rigs. The hook-ups were all well-maintained and worked fine. We had plenty of room to fit our car too. The site included a picnic table and fire ring. My favorite thing about this campground is that most of the sites have plenty of trees and shrubs for semi-privacy, shade, and a rustic feel. 

    This campground has been family run for over 50-years and has an interesting history that’s worth reading more about. Our site is located across from the pickle ball court which used to be a petting zoo(now the site# should make sense, right?). We came because we wanted to experience one of New Jersey’s oldest campgrounds. We liked the interesting vignettes they created around the campground as well as the goldfish pond near the office and store. 

    Baker’s Acres is well-maintained. The amenities include a swimming pool, lots of sports courts/fields, and a bunch of family-friendly scheduled activities. There is a camp store with all the usual items as well as bath and laundry facilities. The wifi service was ok, but costs$1 per day per device. Our Verizon cell service worked fine. 

    The front office staff were all friendly and we love that, especially when checking in at a new campground. 

    Drive time to Tuckerton Seaport is about 10-minutes and Long Beach Island is about 35-minutes depending on traffic. There are plenty of stores within a 5-mile drive if you should need anything including Walmart, super markets, convenience stores, and several restaurants. 

    Our only minor negative was that our site was sandy dirt which created a bit of a mess, especially after the rain. It is the Jersey shore, after all. This would have been 5 stars if the site had gravel, grass, or was finished with concrete. It’s a pet peeve, but I hate having to constantly clean up to keep the sand out of our RV. 

    This is a great old-fashioned campground close to LBI. We’ll can’t wait to go back!

  • Steve W.
    May. 31, 2022

    Atsion Family Camp — Wharton State Forest

    4x4ing in the Pine Barrens

    Atsion Family Campground

    Off US 206 and about 1/2 a mile up Atsion Road in New Jersey’s Wharton State Forest, you’ll find the Atsion Family Campground. The facility is run by the Dept of Environmental Protection and offers Tent, Trailer and Group Sites. There are also Cabins for rent as well, but only available during the summer months, After Memorial Day until October. AFC is one of several campgrounds in WSF and is the largest with 50 camping sites. Amenities include a handicapped accessible restroom/shower building, several drinking water spigots, and a waste dump for trailers. There are no electric hook ups and cell service is low, but manageable. Plenty of sun (shady too) so bring your solar powered generators and cell signal boosters if you need to stay connected. AFC is also pet friendly, so bring your 4 legged furry family members, after registering them with the camp site.

    The individual sites are spacious with a pic-nick table and fire ring grill. Some sites have lake-side water access, so bring your canoes and kayaks and reserve these sites (4, 8, 10, 12, 20 and 22) early as they are popular. The ground is sandy and relatively level for easy camp set up. Some sites are close to a roadway, so you do get some car noise, and like all unmonitored camp sites, loud, unruly campers can be lurking among the pines. Be sure to get your fire wood from the guy that lives across the street from the campground entrance. 5 bucks, on the honor system, a good amount of wood, open 24/7.

    Nearby is the Atsion Recreation Area, which offers fishing, walking, biking and horseback trails, a life guard monitored beach by the lake with restrooms and snacks (Summer Months). Only 15 minutes away, a quick drive, is Batso Village, an old iron and glass community from the late 1700s to early 1900s. NJ State Park Rangers are working hard keeping the area clean, rehabilitated, and educational center allowing you to walk through the old buildings and time as you image what life was like back then. Wharton SF is huge, over 122,000 acres of sandy terrain, towering pine trees, lakes/rivers and off roading trails!! Y’all should come and play in the Pine Barrens

  • L
    Jun. 12, 2019

    Belleplain State Forest

    So far so good

    Arrived at 1pm on Wednesday. Check in was smooth. They allowed me to drive around first and pick out a campsite before checking in. They charge $5 extra for a dog. So far it is very quiet and that's what I was looking for. It's just a short drive to the ocean is:Cape May, Ocean City New Jersey.

  • D
    May. 5, 2024

    Tip Tam Camping Resort

    Nice place to visit

    My family and I stayed at Tip Tam this weekend. The owners and staff were very friendly and accommodating. The camp store was great also. As it is very early in the season the pools were not yet open but appear to be very nice. There are alot of activities with in the campground as well that were impressive. Just from walking around I saw the two pools, an RC track, bocci, shuffle and board. They did have organized activities set up as well. There is also a pavillion in the middile of the campground with a Ms Pacman/Galaga classic arcard game, as well as a small library and soda machine. AT&T cell service was good. Te site are very close together, and you can hear your neighbors easily. There is not currently a dog park, but the owner told me that they were going to be constructing one in the future. There is a Monmouth County dog park under five minutes away that is huge. There are many close by food options and stores as well.

  • Kathy L.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 3, 2021

    Philadelphia South/Clarksboro KOA

    Really nice

    We stayed here for a night in transit. Beautiful campground — lots of trees, pond, kids play equipment, dog park, etc. facilities all clean and whole place is well maintained. Easy late arrival. Good location - convenient but far enough off the highway. Would stay here again.

  • L
    Aug. 6, 2018

    Lums Pond State Park Campground

    Very Dog Friendly

    Campground sites are nice and spacious, bathrooms are good, and there’s plenty to do for everyone. We hiked the 7.5mile lake trail with our two pups. It was beautiful and along the way there were opportunities to kayak/sup, beach it, or even play on a ropes course. We always travel with our dogs and this place has the BEST dog park. Big open space with access to lots of water play. We definitely recommend this spot!

  • E
    Aug. 4, 2021

    Lums Pond State Park Campground

    Impromtu tent camping success!

    I was able to book my site the day before the trip. The site itself was set back some, and felt secluded while still being near the parking area.

    Walk to bathrooms and camp store was on the longer side. Firewood was $5 a bundle, but the register wasn't working and they could only take cash.

    The hiking in the immediate area was beautiful, lots of fun trails and wildlife. Fishing, kayaking, zip lining, tons of great activities.

    The firepits have grates over one half, so campfire cooking is a breeze. Cook up and use the provided picnic table for an easy dinner set up.

    The park itself is very dog friendly and most sites had dogs. There is also an off leash dog park at Lum's pond and dog water dishes outside the camp store.

    The showers and bathrooms were incredibly well kept with hot water and stocked supplies. If you didn't feel like walking so far, the tents had a spiget with running water near the parking areas.

    Reception for Verizon was spotty, t mobile was pretty great. Wish there was an ATM on site though I don't think the cash only situation is a normal one for this campground.

    All in all an amazing trip, and I'll be back as soon as possible.

  • Kimmy F.
    Aug. 11, 2021

    Baker's Acres Campground

    Relaxing week near the island

    Bakers acres was beautiful. It’s set back in the woods and peaceful and quiet but still has all the amenities to keep my gremlins entertained. We scored a site next to the playground that features a huge monkey bar set up, a ship, and a playhouse complete with kitchen. Not to mention swings and bouncers too. The pool was a lot of fun and kept my little fish busy all day. The staff are all welcoming and helpful. We felt right at home and enjoyed taking the dogs to the new dog park to let out some energy. My favorite part by far was the early morning walks with my coffee through the dirt trails of the campground. We got to enjoy a day at LBI and a night out on the OC boardwalk too since this campground is so convenient to all the area has to offer.

  • Travyl Couple !.
    Dec. 31, 2019

    Philadelphia South/Clarksboro KOA

    Close to Philadelphia

    We stayed here for 3 nights while visiting family In Philadelphia. It is a 20 minute ride into Philly and Uber was was quick and responsive.

    *note- this does close for winter and reopens in April but call park for exact closure dates because they do change.

    This is a nice KOA with full hook ups, tent sites,cabins, and even glamping cabins. There is a pool that is open Memorial Day- Labor Day. They also have a catch and release pond and we found a pickleball court at a nearby city park.

    We did Chinatown and walked part of the Schuylkill River trail which we accessed by parking near Fairmount Park. This is a great area to explore with gorgeous views and easy access to the River trail. (There are rentals for everything here- kayaks/bikes etc)

    IF we had a car with us- we would have considered taking the ferry from Camden’s Ferry Terminal next to Wiggins Park to Philly. (This is also near the Adventure Aquarium and the battleship New Jersey) Here is a link to information about the ferry-

    https://www.delawareriverwaterfront.com/places/riverlink-ferry

    This is a great location for exploring Philadelphia.

    Happy Camping! Pamela and Keith


Guide to Atco

Discover the best spots for pets-allowed camping near Atco, New Jersey, where you and your furry friends can enjoy the great outdoors together.

Pet owners like the spacious and accommodating sites

Dog-friendly activities while camping near Atco

  • At Brendan Byrne State Forest, you can explore numerous hiking trails that are perfect for walking your dog while enjoying the scenic pine barrens.
  • Wading Pines Camping Resort offers a river for tubing and fishing, where your dog can join in on the fun while you relax by the water.
  • Hospitality Creek Campground provides opportunities for paddle boating on the lake, allowing you to enjoy a day out with your pet by your side.

Dog owners appreciate the welcoming atmosphere

  • Old Cedar Campground is praised for its friendly staff and community vibe, making it a great place for pet owners to feel at home.
  • Mays Landing Resort is known for its accommodating environment, where pets are welcomed and the staff is eager to assist with any needs.
  • Winding River Campground features a relaxed atmosphere with plenty of space for pets to roam, ensuring a stress-free camping experience for you and your furry friend.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Atco, NJ?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Atco, NJ is Atsion Family Camp — Wharton State Forest with a 4.2-star rating from 23 reviews.

What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Atco, NJ?

TheDyrt.com has all 85 dog-friendly camping locations near Atco, NJ, with real photos and reviews from campers.