Best Campgrounds near Barnegat Light, NJ

Campgrounds near Barnegat Light, New Jersey range from rustic wooded sites to full-service RV resorts, with several options offering cabin accommodations. The coastal location provides easy access to Long Beach Island beaches while maintaining a natural setting. Baker's Acres Campground features wooded sites with a classic camping atmosphere, while Sea Pirate Campground offers a family-friendly environment with amenities like swimming pools and organized activities. Most camping areas provide both tent and RV sites, with some facilities like Long Beach RV Resort also featuring cabin rentals and glamping options for those seeking more comfort.

Access to campgrounds in the region remains straightforward with most areas accessible via paved roads, though interior campground roads may present challenges for larger rigs. The camping season typically runs from April through October, with a few facilities like Bass River State Forest and Brendan Byrne State Forest remaining open year-round. Most campgrounds require reservations, particularly during the summer peak season when beach-goers flock to the area. Facilities closer to Long Beach Island tend to fill quickly during holiday weekends. A visitor noted, "Drive time to Long Beach Island ranged between 3-40 minutes each trip we took depending on traffic. There are plenty of stores within a 5-mile drive if you should need anything."

Many campers highlight the family-friendly atmosphere found throughout the region's campgrounds. Swimming pools rank as popular amenities, with several visitors mentioning them as key attractions during summer stays. The coastal location creates unique conditions—several reviews mentioned issues with insects, particularly mosquitoes, which can be more prevalent in areas near water features. "The campground is beautiful, quiet and has just enough amenities with the pool, lake, dump station and bath house," commented one visitor about Brookville Campground. Sites vary significantly in privacy levels, with some facilities offering well-spaced, wooded sites while others feature more open layouts. Most mixed-use campgrounds provide a range of amenities including restrooms, showers, and recreational facilities, though amenity quality and maintenance schedules differ between properties.

Best Camping Sites Near Barnegat Light, New Jersey (73)

    1. Baker's Acres Campground

    15 Reviews
    Eagleswood, NJ
    13 miles
    Website
    +1 (609) 296-2664

    $43 / night

    "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 was decently sized, level, and nicely bordered with trees that gives you a sense of privacy."

    2. Bass River State Forest

    18 Reviews
    Tuckerton, NJ
    18 miles
    Website
    +1 (609) 296-1114

    "We have never camped here before, but wanted to hike the Batona trail nearby."

    "I'm particularly fond of the dog friendly loop, its a newer loop and the bathrooms are more modern than the others scattered around. "

    3. Sea Pirate Campground

    8 Reviews
    Eagleswood, NJ
    13 miles
    Website
    +1 (609) 296-7400

    "We stayed at Sea Pirate Campground in West Creek, New Jersey, for a week in mid-August We’re so glad we did! "

    "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. "

    4. Long Beach RV Resort

    2 Reviews
    Manahawkin, NJ
    11 miles
    Website
    +1 (609) 698-5684

    5. Brendan Byrne State Forest

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

    $3 - $60 / night

    "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"

    "First off, I will start by saying you have to drive a good amount of distance to get into the campground and that is something I really enjoyed!"

    6. Wading Pines Camping Resort

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

    "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."

    "Very nice wading river next to the camp grounds. You can tube down the river from one end of camp to the other."

    7. Brookville Campground

    1 Review
    Lacey, NJ
    10 miles
    Website
    +1 (609) 698-3134

    8. Atlantic Shore Pines Campground

    5 Reviews
    Tuckerton, NJ
    20 miles
    Website
    +1 (609) 296-9163

    $65 - $220 / night

    "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."

    9. Turkey Swamp Park

    29 Reviews
    Freehold, NJ
    32 miles
    Website
    +1 (732) 462-7286

    $42 - $79 / night

    "We stayed in New Jersey for our 5th campground on the East Coast: Turkey Swamp Park in Freehold. This is a County park.

     Near some Revolutionary War battlefields.

     I really liked this park!"

    "Heavily wooded and supremely quiet, it’s located not far from anywhere you’d want to be. 30 minutes to the shore. Every site is a pull-through, large and spacious with great woodland views. 30amp and"

    10. Bodine Field — Wharton State Forest

    8 Reviews
    Egg Harbor City, NJ
    23 miles
    Website
    +1 (609) 561-0024

    "You’re right next to the wading river/creek with that amazing cedar water. As well as a quick drive Harrisville Pond which mine as well be a lake."

    "Bodine Field is one of several camping locations within Wharton State Forest. I am writing this review over a year after our stay so forgive me if the details are lacking."

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Recent Reviews near Barnegat Light, NJ

380 Reviews of 73 Barnegat Light Campgrounds


  • Gennifer K.
    Oct. 12, 2025

    Sea Pirate Campground

    Lots to do

    The park was great. Very close to local sites like Tuckerton Seaport. Lots of activities on site including fishing, a heated pool, hot tub, and a couple of playgrounds. Bathrooms were very clean and well maintained. They had several activities and sent text reminders of what was going on

  • S
    Sep. 29, 2025

    Turkey Swamp Park

    Private wooded sites

    Nice, remote, private. Some sites unlevel. Bring a LONG water hose. Nice lake. Showers and washers and dryers.

  • Aly E.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 28, 2025

    Batona — Wharton State Forest

    Good spot to sleep

    The camp road was kinda hard to get around direction wise you couldn’t tell what was a road and what was a campsite. It was Saturday night and only two other campers but one was a huge group but thankfully not too loud. Two pit toilets that was pretty bad shape but we are used to disperse camping without toilets so we didn’t complain.

  • Scott K.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 20, 2025

    Winding River Campground

    Great Place

    Really enjoyed everything about this place. Kayaks. Camping. All of it. Clean and friendly.

  • J
    Aug. 31, 2025

    Turkey Swamp Park

    Fantastic camping ground

    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! The campground was super clean too. It was perfect!

  • Scott K.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 3, 2025

    Bass River State Forest

    Fantastic Experience

    My first time solo camping and it couldn’t have gone better. The staff there are top notch. Clean site. So much to do. Couldn’t recommend enough.

  • M
    Jul. 6, 2025

    Holly Acres RV Park

    Nice campground

    The sites are on the smallish side, but the staff is super nice and the facilities are maintained and clean

  • Jesse G.
    Jun. 22, 2025

    Brendan Byrne State Forest

    Clean, Friendly but Unclear and Arbitrary Rules

    Overall we enjoyed our stay. I will say that the rules of the campsites are ambiguous on the website and when we first arrived were unaware that if using an RV in a tent site you are not allowed to add another tent to the site. There is a two tent limit per site despite the site allowing up to 6 people. We ended up needing to purchase another site which was thankfully open for us to use, however I would have purchased it next to our original site had I known about the limitations.

    Otherwise, the stay was pleasant. The bathrooms were clean and the staff was friendly. They do patrol the sites with a police presence in the evening.

  • Stephen W.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 22, 2025

    Ocean City Campground & Beach Cabins

    Clean spacious sites, friendly staff

    We stay here at least two times each year. Staff is so friendly and helpful. The section we stay has very clean, spacious sites.


Guide to Barnegat Light

Campgrounds near Barnegat Light, New Jersey offer access to the Pine Barrens region with its distinctive cedar water bodies and sandy terrain. The area features a mix of state forests with primitive camping options and private campgrounds with extensive amenities. Most sites in the region are situated on sandy soil characteristic of the Jersey Pine Barrens, which can create challenges during rainy periods but provides excellent drainage.

What to do

Lake activities in state forests: Bass River State Forest offers a lake perfect for kayaking, canoeing, and fishing. "We walked and explored, kayaked, and sang by the fire. The camp sites have plenty of room for the kids to run around and set up there own areas. Great area for tent camping," noted Matthew H. Visitors can rent boats during summer months directly at the lake.

Explore Pine Barrens trails: Brendan Byrne State Forest provides extensive hiking opportunities with multiple trail systems. "There are probably hundreds of miles of trails through the woods and bogs to explore. Can't tell you how much I love it. Could spend a whole vacation just with these trails and never leave this state park," shared Benjamin K. The forest's remote location ensures minimal noise from civilization.

Riverside recreation: Bodine Field in Wharton State Forest sits adjacent to a natural waterway. "You're right next to the wading river/creek with that amazing cedar water. As well as a quick drive Harrisville Pond which mine as well be a lake. Good fishing for pickerel as well as a decent trail that goes around the entire pond," reports Dan M., highlighting the fishing opportunities available.

What campers like

Private wooded sites: Baker's Acres Campground receives praise for its natural setting. "Quaint and rustic, heavily wooded. Makes you feel like your camping, not just lined up next to a bunch of campers," notes Joel N. The campground's layout preserves a genuine forest camping experience despite offering amenities.

Family-run operations: Small, independently operated campgrounds add character to the region. "This was our 5th year camping at Baker's Acres. Their slogan is 'Where friends are made for life' and they couldn't be any more right. This is the friendliest, family run for 50+ years, clean, fun, campground we've been to in a long time," says Karen S.

Year-round accessibility: Bass River State Forest remains open throughout winter, unlike many seasonal campgrounds. "Been camping here over 30 years. Absolutely gorgeous campground," states Cathy P. The forest's year-round availability makes it a reliable option for winter camping when most private facilities close.

What you should know

Insect considerations: The region's natural waterways contribute to insect activity. "It lacked privacy and our inconsiderate neighbors partied alllllll niggghhtttt llooonngggg as well as many other people in the South campground. After 10pm, the music volume was high and campers were LOUD... It's buggy... to be expected," explains Amanda M. about her experience at Wharton State Forest.

Water pressure concerns: Some campgrounds experience infrastructure challenges. "We had a problem with our site: extremely low water pressure, often below 20 PSI. It was so low at times, that we couldn't take showers or flush the toilet," reported Matt S. about Sea Pirate Campground, noting that despite paying resort-level pricing, basic utilities weren't reliable.

Sandy terrain considerations: The regional soil composition affects camping conditions. "Sites are all level, very generous in size, and reasonably spaced apart for privacy. A lantern hook, picnic table, and fire ring complete each site. As mentioned, all roads and camper pads are dirt," explains Lee D. about Turkey Swamp Park, highlighting the dirt/sand conditions common to campgrounds in the area.

Tips for camping with families

Activity scheduling: Sea Pirate Campground organizes themed weekends. "We rented a golf cart and did some of the activities like painting and playing bingo. It was a cooler bit. It was still a very nice weekend for october. We enjoyed the grounds they are beautiful with the pools, lake, and ocean," shares Nicole S. about a Halloween-themed weekend.

Bathroom proximity: Consider site location relative to facilities when camping with children. "Our campsite was a good 7 minute walk from the nearest bathroom which was a bit far so a small bathhouse near the nature trail would have been appreciated," notes Becca U. at Baker's Acres, suggesting families select sites closer to amenities.

Nature observation opportunities: Turkey Swamp Park offers wildlife viewing. "The sites are spacious and it's really beautiful. But by the 2nd day I had 3 ticks on me. My dog had one and by the end my husband had 2. That was so crazy because we were just sitting by our camper," warns Laura Y., reminding families to perform regular tick checks after outdoor activities.

Tips from RVers

Site access challenges: Brendan Byrne State Forest requires careful navigation. "First off, I will start by saying you have to drive a good amount of distance to get into the campground and that is something I really enjoyed! Made me feel super secluded and disconnected from the outside!" shares Dorian P., noting that the remote location creates both challenges and benefits.

Water hose requirements: Turkey Swamp Park requires extra equipment. "Nice, remote, private. Some sites unlevel. Bring a LONG water hose. Nice lake. Showers and washers and dryers," advises Shawn, highlighting a practical consideration for RVers setting up at this location.

Leveling requirements: Prepare for uneven terrain at some sites. "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," reports Jim G. about Atlantic Shore Pines Campground.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular campground near Barnegat Light, NJ?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Barnegat Light, NJ is Baker's Acres Campground with a 4.3-star rating from 15 reviews.