M
Michael M.
Scout
ScoutTurkey Swamp Park
Water/power at the campsite, and and centrally located dump station. Lots of trees and nice separation of sites
Equestrian Camping near Berlin, NJ
Search destinations
Add dates
Brendan Byrne State Forest provides tent, RV, and cabin camping on spacious wooded sites in the New Jersey Pine Barrens, approximately 25 miles east of Berlin. While the forest does not have dedicated horse corrals, it offers extensive multi-use trails through pine forest terrain that accommodate equestrian use. The campground features clean facilities with flush toilets and hot showers, fire rings at each site, and water spigots throughout the camping loops. Horse owners should note that trails are shared with motorized vehicles and bicyclists in some sections. The forest maintains a network of sand trails that are particularly suitable for horseback riding, with minimal elevation changes and firm footing.
Fair Hill Natural Resources Management Area, located about 45 miles west of Berlin across the Delaware border in Maryland, offers additional equestrian camping options with better trail access for riders. The park encompasses extensive bridle paths through rolling terrain with stream crossings that provide natural water access for horses. Campground facilities include electric hookups, water access, and toilets, though no shower facilities are available. Trails within the system vary in difficulty, making them appropriate for different experience levels. Ticks are very active in these woodland settings, particularly during summer months, so proper precautions for both horses and riders are essential. Riders particularly appreciate the well-marked trail system and ample room at campsites for horse trailers and equipment.
Best Equestrian Campgrounds near Berlin (6)
1. Brendan Byrne State Forest
"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!"
Check Availabilityfrom $3 - $60 / night
2. Lums Pond State Park Campground
"There are some equestrian and tent sites as well. Lots of boating (electric motors only) and kayaking on the pond and a decent amount of hiking."
"I took her older cousins to the fishing pier, and we didn't even get a nibble, but I think it was too cold for panfish that close to shore."
Check AvailabilityCampground full next weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $27 - $45 / night
3. Turkey Swamp Park
"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!"
"Electrical and water are at the outer edge of each site so you might want an extension cord and/or hose."
Check Availabilityfrom $42 - $79 / night
4. Allaire State Park - TEMPORARILY CLOSED
"Lots of walking paths surround the park & you are also close to Belmar, Point Pleasant, Manasquan (all fun shore towns)."
"Nice state park with trails nearby."
5. Blackbird State Forest Campground
"The only thing about this site specifically is the trail was close by so you’d occasionally see people walking by but not enough that it didn’t still feel secluded."
"I was only one in the forest ATM but saw some hikers occasionally throughout the day walking by."
Check Availabilityfrom $25 / night
6. Fair Hill Natural Resources Management Area
Drive Time
- 24 min from Philadelphia, PA
- 34 min from Vineland, NJ
- 38 min from Trenton, NJ
- 40 min from Atlantic City, NJ
Recent Equestrian Camping Photos near Berlin, NJ
1 Photos of 6 Berlin Campgrounds • uploaded by The Dyrt campers
Equestrian Camping Reviews near Berlin, NJ
132 Reviews of 6 Berlin Campgrounds
- DDiane M.Scout
Brendan Byrne State Forest
Just ok
Restrooms are filthy with mold and mildew.
Water puddled on the restroom floor.really gross.
Cabin was mostly clean. The windows were full of dirt and bugs on the tracks.mattresses were terrible.The fireplace was nice. Kitchen was clean.
Can t wait to move on to a cleaner park.
Adeline M.
GuideBrendan Byrne State Forest
Beautiful campground, loud campers
Beautiful campground but made the mistake of going on a holiday weekend, the campgrounds next to us were screaming and blasting music all day and throughout the night so we ended up leaving early. A beautiful campground when there aren’t noisy capers ruining it.
Mary S.ScoutLums Pond State Park Campground
Lums Pond campground
First time at this campground really like it a lot will be returning. The bathrooms are always clean. The grounds are always kept up. Just a really nice place to stay. Most of the sites have some kind of shade.
- CCarlos E.Scout
Turkey Swamp Park
Really nice campground
Stayed three nights in a tent and enjoyed it very much. Sites have electrical hookups, shared water connections, large picnic table, and fire ring with adjustable grate. Electrical and water are at the outer edge of each site so you might want an extension cord and/or hose. Bathrooms are clean; showers have separate stalls but they’re clustered together (not the most private). There are hiking and biking trails, a lake, and archery park. Staff are friendly. Office is open through 9pm, and firewood, ice, and bait for fishing are available. Site C3 is in an okay spot; it’s close to the bathroom and laundry room, but also right next to the playground. We were able to visit the beach; easy 25 minute drive to Asbury Park.
- AAimee K.
TravelerTurkey Swamp Park
Great Park
Beautiful park and very peaceful. Rangers are super friendly. This is exactly what camping should be.
Nancy W.
LegendLums Pond State Park Campground
Clean, big-rig friendly, large sites.
Overall, this is a nice, small (about 65 sites) state park with plenty of recreational opportunities inside the park. There is nice separation between sites so you don’t feel like you are on top of your neighbor. Tall trees are scattered about which provide shade at some sites but overall, the park is pretty open. Roads getting to the park are easy to navigate with any size RV. Within the park, roads are paved and free of potholes and there are no low hanging branches. Since the roads are one-way they are not very wide so backing in big-rigs can be a little tight and you might have to run over the grass.
All RV sites are full hook-up and there is a separate area for tents and there is one canvas yurt for rent. The tent sites are nice in that they are tucked along the wood line slightly away from RVs with more privacy and shade. The only downside is that they are pretty far away from the centrally located bathroom and showers. The bathroom has separate rooms for showers which is nice and private. They were tended to daily and very clean. Also, located in the center of the campground is a playground, camp store and laundry. The dumpsters and recycle bins are located in a separate area on the way out of the campground and were frequently full and overflowing. Campsites are paved and some have wide enough that the patio is paved but others have a narrow pad for the RV and gravel patio. We discovered that most sites are level but a few are not (like 22 and 24). The campground is very clean and camp hosts were diligent about picking up trash and cleaning out fire pits every day.
Across the pond (north of the campground) is where most of the amenities are located such as concessions, ball fields, horseshoe pits, disk golf, and more. For those wanting to fish there is a pier in the campground and a self-serve vending machine with bait in it. There are additional fishing piers located in other parts of the park and there are boats, canoes, kayaks, and paddleboards for rent. We stopped in at the Nature Center but it was a bust– just a few taxidermy specimens and not much information. One of the most popular areas of the park is Go Ape which is a ropes/zip line course through the canopy (which does require admission fee). There are nice trails that leave right from the campground– some 17 miles in all. There is a boat launch about a quarter mile from the campground entrance which is suitable for trailerable boats and paddle craft but there are no docks so you can’t leave your boat tied up there. There is an off-leash dog area but it is located far from the campground so it’s best to drive.
- SShannon D.Scout
Lums Pond State Park Campground
Lums Pond
Bathrooms are clean and staff is nice
Thomas H.ScoutTurkey Swamp Park
First trip with travel trailer
Nice site. Neighbor not to close. Bring extra water hose. The connection is not very close.
Guide to Berlin
Brendan Byrne State Forest offers primitive equestrian camping across 37,000 acres of woodland in the New Jersey Pine Barrens. Sites in this forest maintain a natural setting with minimal development, requiring visitors to bring water and pack out trash. The forest has over 25 miles of multi-use trails that wind through pine and oak forests, with some trails connecting to the wider Batona Trail system that runs through adjacent natural areas.
What to do
Kayaking on forest ponds: Turkey Swamp Park provides water recreation options on its lake with rental equipment. "There is a lake with a boat dock and a small boardwalk. Kayaking/Canoeing, fishing, and swimming. In the summer, canoe, kayak, paddle boats, and row boats are available for rental," notes Lee D., who appreciated the variety of water activities.
Archery practice: Several parks offer dedicated archery ranges for target practice. "Bring your bow and shoot at the hay barrels," suggests Patrick M. about Turkey Swamp Park, who enjoys the specialized outdoor activities available.
Winter activities: The region offers year-round camping with seasonal recreation options. "It has everything the outdoorsman could ask for... Ice skate on the lake in the winter or just enjoy a gorgeous walk in the woods," adds Patrick about Turkey Swamp Park's winter offerings.
Forest hiking: Blackbird State Forest provides extensive trail systems for day hiking. "There are plenty of hiking trails in the state forest, complete with mushrooms, and deer-hunting-stands," reports D R., highlighting the natural features you'll encounter.
What campers like
Privacy between sites: Many campers appreciate the space between campsites. "Sites are big and all were redone in the last few years with concrete pads, 30 amp service and full sewer. There are some equestrian and tent sites as well," Ellen B. mentions about Lums Pond State Park.
Clean facilities: Maintained bathhouses are consistently mentioned in positive reviews. "The bathrooms were clean and the staff was friendly. They do patrol the sites with a police presence in the evening," notes Jesse G. about Brendan Byrne State Forest.
Spacious wooded campsites: Many parks offer large sites with natural surroundings. "Sites are in the woods and widely spaced apart to give you privacy and the feeling of being out in the Forrest," describes Katheryn N. of Turkey Swamp Park, emphasizing the natural camping experience.
What you should know
Tick awareness: Ticks are prevalent in wooded areas near Berlin. "Ticks were very active on this visit be sure to remember your bug spray and tuck your pants in your socks!" warns Megan S. of Brendan Byrne State Forest. Proper clothing and regular checks are essential.
Campfire restrictions: Some parks limit when fires can be built. "Only weird rule I saw was that fires can only go from 6pm till 7am which was odd but wasn't a deal breaker," notes Dorian P. about Brendan Byrne State Forest.
Limited amenities at primitive sites: Fair Hill Natural Resources Management Area offers more rustic accommodations. "There are two primitive youth group camping areas. There are specific rules that need to be followed and the guidelines are on the website," explains Gen F., highlighting the specialized nature of this camping option.
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Several campgrounds feature dedicated play areas. "Our daughter really enjoyed the playground (which was excellent, by my standards). She fought us about leaving the playground, and really would have been content if that was all we did," shares Mark about Lums Pond State Park.
Winter cabin options: Seasonal camping in cabins provides comfortable family accommodations. "Getting a cabin in the winter and going for a snowy hike is wondrful there," recommends Patrick M. about Allaire State Park, noting the year-round accessibility.
Activities for children: Many parks offer programs suitable for younger visitors. "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!" reports JAEWOOK P. about Turkey Swamp Park.
Tips from RVers
Hookup locations: RV campers should note that utility connections may be positioned awkwardly. "The site offered electric and water but they were on 2 different sides. This made it difficult to set up. Had to park the camper crooked to use both," cautions Amanda H. from Lums Pond State Park.
Leveling requirements: Many campgrounds have relatively level sites but may need minor adjustments. "The site was fairly level, side-to-side, so I really only needed to level front to back. That was a bonus," notes Mark about his experience at Lums Pond State Park.
Hose length planning: Water connections may be distant from RV pads. "Bring a LONG water hose," advises Shawn about Turkey Swamp Park, indicating that standard equipment might not suffice at all sites.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian
campsite near Berlin, NJ?
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Berlin, NJ?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Berlin, NJ is Brendan Byrne State Forest with a 4.5-star rating from 20 reviews.
What is the best site to find
equestrian camping near
Berlin, NJ?
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Berlin, NJ?
TheDyrt.com has all 6 equestrian camping locations near Berlin, NJ, with real photos and reviews from campers.
Keep Exploring