135 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
The pine forests and lakeside settings near Blackwood, New Jersey provide a range of established campgrounds within easy driving distance of Philadelphia. The region includes facilities like Philadelphia South/Clarksboro KOA, offering full hookups, cabins, and glamping options just 20 minutes from Philadelphia. Wharton State Forest, located within the Pine Barrens about 30 minutes east of Blackwood, features multiple camping areas including Atsion Family Camp and Goshen Pond Campground. Most developed campgrounds in the area accommodate tent camping, RVs, and cabin rentals, with several sites providing water activities at lakes or ponds.
Seasonal operations affect camping availability throughout the region, with many campgrounds like Old Cedar Campground open from April through October. The sandy terrain typical of southern New Jersey creates natural drainage but can become messy after rain. Wharton State Forest camping areas require advance reservations, especially during summer weekends when waterfront sites fill quickly. Road access to some primitive sites can be challenging, with narrow, bumpy roads leading to more remote camping areas. Most established campgrounds provide drinking water and restroom facilities, though amenities vary significantly. A camper noted, "Wharton SF is huge, over 122,000 acres of sandy terrain, towering pine trees, lakes/rivers and off roading trails!"
Campers consistently mention the accessibility to both natural areas and urban attractions as a key benefit of the region's mixed-use campgrounds. Several visitors highlighted the value of staying at campgrounds that serve as convenient bases for exploring Philadelphia while enjoying natural surroundings. The proximity to water features represents another common theme in reviews, with fishing opportunities and lake access available at several locations. Turkey Swamp Park, north of Blackwood, received praise for its forest views and spacious sites. While some campgrounds like Butterfly Camping Resort offer resort-style amenities including swimming pools and extensive recreational facilities, others maintain a more rustic atmosphere. Noise levels vary considerably, with locations closer to highways experiencing more ambient sound compared to more secluded forest sites.
"We did Chinatown and walked part of the Schuylkill River trail which we accessed by parking near Fairmount Park."
"In addition to the peaceful vibe, the people are friendly, the little office store has everything you forgot to pack, and if you look around the campground edges or follow the walking trail into the woods"
"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."
"It was a great location, closest site to the water with beautiful views. Super convenient if you're a Kayaker, you can launch right off that spot. Its a huge site, away from other sites."
"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."
from $31 - $50 / night
Check Availability"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."
"They have many amenities form a lake to swim or fish, to playgrounds,theres a convenient store and even an arcade, and the best part is all the farms around."
from $50 - $150 / night
Check Availability"There are grocery stores close by like Walmart about 20 minutes away. The beach is nice and clean. We rented canoes near the beach."
"Outside, to the back of the cabin, was a small deck with picnic table, a grill, and a fire ring. Beyond that you will find a path to the lake with beautiful swans."
from $20 - $65 / night
Check Availability"Lake with swing and fishing and two pools. No pets no alcohol no store but they have a snack stand. Make sure to get an end campsite or your table will be by the sanitary dump."
"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."
from $120 - $145 / night
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TravelerMany long term seasonal sites. Good community. Large shower house good and clean . Pool. Game room. Off leash dog park. Wooded/shady sites or no shade sunny sites. Lots of area to walk or play. Large field, basketball couture, frisky golf, play area and laundry room. We were here all summer (June-october). Lots to do in the area. Good food nearby. Ocean city 10 minutes away.
ScoutThis is one of the largest, if not the largest, campgrounds in Southern New Jersey. While on the pricier side, everything is top-notch. The roads are all paved, and not gravel (I hate trying to sleep and listening to the sound of stones grating together). The sites are more spacious than most campgrounds, so it doesn't seem so crowded. The bathrooms are all modern and spotless. There are numerous bathrooms which means most sites have one nearby. They do charge a quarter for showers to encourage water conservation and donate the money to conservation causes. The pool is large, as is the lake. Both are well-maintained. The camp store is enormous and is really nice and well-stocked with everything one might need from food to pool and beach stuff to camping supplies and equipment. There is a nice cafe with indoor and outdoor seating. The camp store has a lending library of books and DVDs. There are numerous activities that appear to be well-run, The grounds are shaded with many trees for a great wooded campground feel. The campground is so large that it has an internal shuttle with stations scattered about to help people go between the various important sites such as at the pool, the lake and the store. I found other campers, particularly the seasonals, to be more friendly than other campgrounds at the shore. This requires constant tree care including removing dead trees and branches which they do regularly. The staff is friendly and well-trained. I was in a tent, and when a rare October nor'easter came through, I was offered the opportunity to use a cabin free-of-charge. Fortunately my tent and equipment made it through days of rain and high winds just fine . On my first stay in May, I had to run my dog back to Baltimore towards the end of my trip where he was sadly diagnosed with incurable metastatic cancer. When I returned, I was late and unable to check out by 11, but they allowed me to take as much time as needed to clear the site, as nobody was staying there the next day, which was deeply appreciated - I was an emotional wreck. Oh, and I found the complimentary Wi-Fi to be a great service, and sufficiently fast to allow me to stream ultra-high-definition movies at my site - Most campgrounds charge extra for less-than-good service - a lot more. I find that a big bonus. Overall, I LOVE this campground and highly recommend it.
GuideThis campground is part of the Wharton State Forest and has several campgrounds in the area. Great wooded sites right on a lake. Pretty good separation between sites with good tree separation between sites. Some road noise not overly affecting site.
ScoutRestrooms 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.
RangerWe stayed just a couple nights here on our way north. The camp host was helpful before our stay and during check-in. Our site was pretty isolated from the others, so it was very quiet (no complaints here). There is a decent mix of sunny sites by the river and shady sites under the trees. The weather was perfect mid September. There wasn't anything spectacular for me, but it was a good experience and it was a nice taste of fall PA scenery. Beware that the roads are tight for a big rig. Side note, it did seem like most campers lived there.
ScoutMy check in was for 8-6-2026, and bc I’m a new driver and wanted to beat traffic I got there early (7am) so I sit there waiting till check in time. When suddenly the park police show up. He’s accusing me of camping over night there. I told him simply I wasn’t and where I was night prior (would never sleep somewhere without permission). So we go to the store to kill time before we check in. Come back for Check in and the whole staff in just the office alone were so arrogant and cold to my mom and I, leaving rude comments to us and not only where they like that but the staff outside the office was acting like that alongside the rangers and park police. They would watch us the whole visit in the distance parking there cars a little ways watching everything we did,even driving by slowly a bunch of times in just an hour alone. My mom and I couldn’t do anything with out them showing up 2 mins later. Example we were walking our dog enjoying our time(trying to) and all of a sudden one of the office ladies pulls up right in front of us speeding, parks their car, gets out and walks a distance from us standing there and taking pictures of us…. For walking our dog who’s on a leash and didn’t even do anything. The whole trip we felt uncomfortable and unwanted and to find out they police when we were going on walks where coming up to campers near us bribing them with free firewood to get any information on use (told to us by other camper). I paid a lot of money to be harassed and followed the whole time. We never did anything we abide by every rule and keep to ourselves everywhere we go. They even made my mother cry…
GuideBeautiful 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.
ScoutAs far as experience it was good. The main issue was the campsite where we were was uneven and caused many of the sleeping arrangements that we had to be not level. This seems to be a specific issue to the group campsite number two as when we went inwards it seemed like everything else was much better.
ScoutFirst 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.
Near Blackwood, New Jersey, camping opportunities spread across sandy terrain with natural drainage systems that can make for firm camping surfaces except after heavy rain. The region sits within the Pine Barrens ecosystem, characterized by pitch pine forests, cedar swamps, and acidic sandy soil. Campgrounds in the area typically operate from April through October, though several offer year-round accommodations within 30 minutes of Philadelphia.
Swimming and water recreation: Philadelphia South/Clarksboro KOA features both a pool and lake for water activities. "They offer so many activities during the day and text you so you don't forget. The place is so clean including the bathrooms," notes Nicole S., who appreciated the multiple water options.
Hiking and nature trails: The 122,000-acre Wharton State Forest contains multiple trail systems accessible from camping areas. At Wharton State Forest Goshen Pond Campground, campers find convenient trail access. "Great sites, great trails, lots of hiking and off road trails for dirt bike/atv/trucks. Pretty good boating/fishing," reports Eldad K.
Urban exploration: Campers use sites near Blackwood as bases for Philadelphia day trips. One camper at Philadelphia South/Clarksboro KOA shared, "We stayed here for 3 nights while visiting family In Philadelphia. It is a 20 minute ride into Philly and Uber was quick and responsive."
Waterfront sites: Many campers prioritize lakefront access. At Hospitality Creek Campground, Matt S. described his experience: "Our lakefront site(#57) was superb! It was between a small, paved boat ramp and a row of arborvitae trees on the other side separating us from the neighboring site. The entire site was level and covered in mulch."
Farm views: Old Cedar Campground offers unique pastoral scenery not common at other area campgrounds. Matt S. noted, "The most unique aspect we found was the cow pasture. It was a lot of fun watching the cows eating and interacting. I intentionally reserved the site we had to be close."
Native plant diversity: Less obvious natural features appeal to some visitors. A camper at Philadelphia South/Clarksboro KOA observed, "If you look around the campground edges or follow the walking trail into the woods, you will find wonderful native plants like blueberry, viburnum, clethra, and meadow beauty."
Seasonal limitations: Most campgrounds close during winter months. At Old Cedar Campground, seasonal operations run from April 21 to October 9, while other facilities maintain limited winter availability.
Water quality varies: Some campgrounds have mineral-rich water. A camper at Parvin State Park Campground reported, "The water has a very high iron content. I couldn't even use it for tooth brushing. Most of the showers were out of order. The toilets were clean but had the orange staining from the iron in the water."
Bug preparation: The Pine Barrens ecosystem harbors ticks and chiggers. A camper at Wharton State Forest Goshen Pond Campground advised, "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."
Kid-friendly amenities: Some campgrounds specifically cater to families with recreational facilities. At Four Seasons Family Campground, Arnold M. found "Very nice campground with plenty of things to do for the kids. Beautiful pool, very nice playground and arcade. The fishing was good everytime we've went."
Site selection for privacy: Many campgrounds have varying site layouts affecting privacy. A camper at Parvin State Park observed, "Some sites are right next to hiking trails. If you want privacy, don't choose them."
Activity scheduling: Scheduled programming enhances family camping experiences. A visitor to Hospitality Creek Campground appreciated the organized events: "We rode our bikes around, enjoyed time on the lake in a rented paddleboat, and had a blast at the 70s-themed live concert at the pavilion on Saturday night."
Site size considerations: RV site dimensions vary significantly between campgrounds. At Lake Kandle, one camper advised, "Make sure to get an end campsite or your table will be by the sanitary dump. Large sights kids had fun."
Road conditions: Access roads present challenges for larger rigs. A camper at Parvin State Park noted, "Very narrow roads to sites, so not big rig friendly there but most sites are quite large. No gravel or pads on sites, just bare ground. No hook ups but there are potable water faucets and a dump station. My rig is 31 ft class C and it was fine for me but a larger rig may have a tough time maneuvering the narrow roads."
Hookup locations: Some campgrounds have unusual utility arrangements. At Old Cedar Campground, Matt S. discovered, "The water hookups are shared every other site. I was lucky my 75' hose barely reached the distance needed. Be sure to bring extra hoses."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular campground near Blackwood, NJ?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Blackwood, NJ is Philadelphia South/Clarksboro KOA with a 4.3-star rating from 21 reviews.
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