Tent camping near Brigantine, New Jersey offers access to the diverse Pine Barrens region with its unique cedar-stained waters and sandy terrain. The water in rivers throughout the area appears dark brown or black due to natural tannins from decomposing vegetation in this acidic soil environment. Campsites throughout the region sit at approximately 100 feet above sea level on relatively flat, sandy terrain that typically drains well after rainfall.
What to do
Kayaking on the Wading River: Put in at Hawkins Bridge campground for direct river access. "Did a two day Canoe tour down the wading river and used the outfitter Micks Canoe. We started Friday night camping at Hawkins Bridge campground. This is a primitive campsite near the river... Wading river has a nice flow. It's a dark black river from the tannins."
Hiking the Batona Trail: Access this 50-mile trail directly from several campgrounds. "Best part of this campground is trailheads begin directly from campsites. Trails vary in length but all are flat and easily accessible." At Mullica River campground, you can "start hike kayak trip at 206 hike 6 miles in camp then hike kayak out 5 miles to batsto."
Swimming at Atsion Lake: Located a short drive from several campgrounds, this lake provides swimming opportunities. "It's also a 5 minute drive from Atsion lake, a great place for kayaking and swimming." The lake offers designated swimming areas during summer months.
What campers like
Backcountry seclusion: Tent sites at Lower Forge campground provide remote camping experiences. "Looking for a place to escape without having to drive out of your way to get to? Lower Forge is the place. One of the few places in New Jersey you have to backpack into with access from either (Atsion 5+ miles in) or Batsto (7 miles)."
Walk-in tent sites: Many campgrounds offer walk-in sites separated from parking areas. At Goshen Pond campground, "I like campgrounds which have you park off and walk in to your site. There is more foot traffic, but you don't hear as many cars coming and going and driving past your site all the time."
Sandy soil for comfortable tent setup: The Pine Barrens soil provides a comfortable camping surface. "The ground is soft and comfortable to sleep on (NOT rocky at all, like almost weird how few rocks there are). It also means that there is plenty of kindling to gather for fires."
What you should know
Insect preparation: Ticks and chiggers are common in warmer months. "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."
Water quality variations: Water sources may be limited or seasonal. At Bodine Field campground, "Potable water is available along with a couple Porta potties. Creek access, if you wanted to go kayaking." At other campgrounds like Hawkins Bridge, "Drinking water at a pump central to all campsites."
Sandy roads: Many campground access roads consist of loose sand. "The road into the campground is about 1 mile of loose sand. It can be accessed by a standard vehicle." Standard vehicles can generally navigate these roads when driven carefully.
Tips for camping with families
Group camping options: Several campgrounds offer designated group sites. "Originally it was very hard to first locate the site, I believe it is on google maps since we went last, the welcome center will also give you coordinates to get there. The campsites are semi close together. Very sandy area."
Weekday visits for quieter experience: Weekends can bring larger crowds. "During the off season is in and during the week, it's very peaceful and awesome place to be. During the weekend it's very populated and tends to be pretty noisy."
River access for children: Many sites provide direct water access. At Red Wing Lakes campground, "Swimming lake catch and release lake sells wood has bath houses, electric, water and sewer hookups. They always have something going on." This provides safer swimming options than river areas.
Tips for RVers
Size limitations: Most campsites accommodate smaller RVs only. "Site are suitable for tents or small campers. The unpaved road into the site is narrow and tree lined. A larger RV would not fit."
Limited hookups: Few campgrounds offer full hookups. At Batona campground, "Thankfully no RVs here. Very much enjoyed the stay." This indicates the primitive nature of many camping areas near Brigantine.
Sandy terrain challenges: RVs must navigate sandy roads to reach most campgrounds. "The campground road was kinda hard to get around direction wise you couldn't tell what was a road and what was a campsite." Smaller, higher-clearance RVs manage these conditions better than large motorhomes.
The best tent camping near Brigantine, New Jersey offers primitive sites with varied amenities and access methods. From backcountry sites requiring hiking to more developed campgrounds with basic facilities, these Pine Barrens locations provide natural camping experiences within relatively short driving distances from the coast.
