Best Tent Camping near Atlantic City, NJ
The New Jersey Pine Barrens surrounding Atlantic City offer several tent camping options within Wharton State Forest, where tent campers can experience the region's unique ecosystem characterized by sandy soil, pine trees, and tannin-stained rivers. Bodine Field Campground provides secluded tent sites along the Wading River, while Batona Campground offers direct access to hiking trails that range from 1 to 50 miles in length. Mullica River Campground provides a more remote experience as a hike-in or boat-in only destination accessible via the Batona Trail.
Sites in the Pine Barrens feature unusually soft, sandy ground with minimal rocks, making for comfortable tent placement but requiring careful consideration when driving on unpaved access roads. Most tent campsites include fire rings, though amenities vary significantly between locations. Bathroom facilities at most Wharton State Forest campgrounds are basic, typically consisting of pit toilets or outhouses with hand-pumped water available at central locations. The camping season generally runs from April 1 to October 31, with reservations required for most sites. A recent review noted that "the ground is soft and comfortable to sleep on (NOT rocky at all, like almost weird how few rocks there are)."
Tent-only sites at Mullica River Campground provide greater seclusion, requiring either a 6-mile hike from Atsion or a 5-mile paddle along the river. The primitive nature of these backcountry tent sites appeals to campers seeking isolation from vehicle traffic and crowds. During weekdays and shoulder seasons, tent campers often find themselves with entire sections of campground to themselves. The dark waters of the Wading and Mullica Rivers offer paddling opportunities directly from some campsites, though water appears brown due to natural tannins from decaying vegetation. One camper described it as "a great getaway from the everyday rat race" and noted it's "great for beginners who you're trying to break into backpacking."
