The New Jersey Pine Barrens region surrounding Atlantic City features sandy soil, pine forests, and cedar-stained streams that create a distinct habitat different from coastal areas. Campgrounds near Atlantic City range from primitive sites in state forests to full-service resorts with modern amenities. Most glamping accommodations operate seasonally from April through October with fewer services available during shoulder seasons.
What to do
Lake activities: Belleplain State Forest offers lake swimming, boating, and fishing opportunities. According to April E., "Very nice campground tucked away in southern NJ. Clean facilities. Plenty of space for our tent. Lake for swimming and you can rent boats. Nice hiking trails and playground. About 20 minutes away from the Cape May zoo."
Family recreation: Atlantic Shore Pines Campground provides structured activities throughout the season. "The campground is now known as Atlantic Shore Pines. This place is very close to Bass River State Park with lots of hiking and outdoor activities. Restaurants and stores in Tuckerton are just a few minutes away," notes Dave B.
River tubing: Wading Pines Camping Resort offers access to the Wading River with on-site tubing opportunities. One visitor shared, "They have 300 camp sites spaced out nicely. All the hook ups you need. Many activities. Live music in the summer. Very nice wading river next to the camp grounds. You can tube down the river from one end of camp to the other."
Beach access: Proximity to Long Beach Island beaches is a major attraction. Jim G. from Atlantic Shore Pines Campground says, "Very nice campground—good sized sites, well maintained hookups, clean grounds, friendly staff, well-stocked campstore. The only drawback was my site was not very level and took a few tries to get levelled."
What campers like
Pool facilities: Sea Pirate Campground features a recently renovated swimming pool area. "One major upgrade since our last visit is an entirely new swimming pool. It's beautifully done and an obviously significant investment to this area of the campground. Based on how crowded it was each day, it was probably money well-spent," reports Matt S.
Privacy and space: Belleplain State Forest offers more secluded camping experiences with spacious sites. Frank J. mentions, "Stayed in site 116 in CCC section (only section with electric and water). Good privacy. Check-in went smoothly. Staff at office said all the roads in the CCC section were 2-way. Not wide enough in my opinion but we didn't have a problem."
Wristband payment system: Sea Pirate Campground utilizes a convenient payment method. "They have a great store and eatery near the pool. Purchases can be easily made using their wristbands (provided at check-in). No need to carry cash or credit cards around the campground," notes Matt S.
Yurt accommodations: For those interested in yurt camping near Atlantic City, New Jersey, Belleplain State Forest offers these unique structures. Lisa S. shares, "We stayed in a yurt. It was a great experience that we would definitely do again. There is a small lake that was great to kayak on."