1 campground with availability this weekend
Brendan Byrne State Forest provides equestrian camping opportunities near Newfield, New Jersey. The forest maintains a network of hiking and horse trails throughout its extensive pine barrens ecosystem. Campsites accommodate tents, RVs, cabins, and glamping setups with necessary amenities including picnic tables, fire pits, and drinking water sources distributed throughout the campground. The campground features clean bathrooms with showers and flush toilets. Sites range in privacy levels, with some offering more tree coverage and natural boundaries than others. The forest's sand trails accommodate equestrian use, though no dedicated horse corrals are available on site. Guests note the campground's relative seclusion, being approximately 5 miles from main roads and offering a true disconnection from urban environments.
The extensive trail system provides excellent opportunities for horseback riding through the unique pine barrens landscape. Riders can access multiple hiking and multi-purpose trails directly from the campground. The terrain is predominantly flat and sandy, typical of New Jersey pine barrens, making for relatively easy riding conditions. An Air Force base in the vicinity occasionally causes overhead air traffic. Campground rules specify fires are allowed only between 6pm and 7am. The park office sells firewood, and visitors must obtain the combination for the dump station during check-in. During summer months, ticks and mosquitoes can be prevalent, so appropriate protection is recommended. Winter camping offers a quieter experience with fewer visitors. Seasonal rangers regularly patrol the grounds, ensuring a safe environment for all campers and their horses.
"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."
Available this weekend
from $27 - $45 / 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!"
from $3 - $60 / night
"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."
from $25 / night
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.
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.
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.
LegendOverall, 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.
ScoutBathrooms are clean and staff is nice
GuideThis campground has everything. Conveniently located, short drive to Dover, Wilmington, Annapolis and Baltimore. The sites were very large and spacious. Sites can accommodate any type of trailer or vehicle. Plenty of site hookups, areas for tents. There is a camp store, several washer and dryers. The best private, individual shower booths and even a pond to go fishing in.
TravelerThis is the most quietest campground. Perfect when you need to go somewhere to think. The people here are very nice. The wildlife is amazing
LegendWe spent a long weekend with family at Lums Pond State Park Campground and so glad we did.
We paid $46 per night plus fees for a FHU 50 Amp Back-in site(#56).
This place is a gem, even among nice state parks.
THINGS I LIKED:
Easy access from I-95
Beautiful park setting with fantastic site— spacious, level, good-working hookups, and paved
Friendly and helpful staff
Great state park with lots to do (kayaking, biking, and more)
THINGS I DIDN’T LIKE SO MUCH:
WOULD WE COME BACK?
ScoutOverall 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.
Brendan Byrne State Forest offers equestrian camping within New Jersey's Pine Barrens region. Located 5 miles from main roads, the forest features sand-based trails suited for horseback riding throughout its 37,000 acres. Campsites remain open year-round with varying seasonal conditions that affect trail access and camping comfort.
Explore extensive trail networks: The forest contains numerous hiking and multi-use paths for horseback riding exploration. At Blackbird State Forest Campground, campers report "plenty of hiking trails in the state forest, complete with mushrooms, and deer-hunting-stands." The trail system connects directly to camping areas, allowing convenient access.
Overnight equestrian trips: Horse campgrounds near Newfield, New Jersey provide accommodations for riders and horses. Brendan Byrne State Forest features "plenty of good hiking trails, most the sites have pretty decent privacy from the other ones," according to visitor Dan M. The flat, sandy terrain makes for accessible riding conditions.
Wildlife observation: The Pine Barrens ecosystem hosts unique plants and animals. The forest setting provides opportunities for nature photography and bird watching. As one visitor noted, "The smells, the sounds, the wildlife. Love it." Morning and evening hours typically offer the best wildlife viewing opportunities.
Seclusion from urban environments: Campers appreciate the remote setting. One visitor shared that Brendan Byrne State Forest "is far away from traffic noise. You can't hear any cars or any other noise from civilization at all. It's at least 10 miles away from anything more than a single house in the woods."
Clean facilities: Despite the remote location, campground amenities remain well-maintained. A camper at Lums Pond State Park Campground noted, "The bath house was absolutely immaculate, and the design made even my public-bathroom-phobic sister-in-law comfortable and at ease."
Spacious campsites: Sites provide adequate room for camping setups. At Blackbird State Forest, a visitor mentioned, "Each site has lots of room, very much enjoyed our stay and will return!" Another camper described, "Each site has a fire pit, a grill, and two tables with a decent amount of space for tents."
Fire regulations: Campfire policies include specific time restrictions. According to Dorian P., "Only weird rule I saw was that fires can only go from 6pm till 7am which was odd but wasn't a deal breaker." Rangers regularly patrol to ensure compliance with fire safety rules.
Water access: Water availability varies by location. Fair Hill Natural Resources Management Area provides drinking water at designated locations. At Brendan Byrne, a camper noted there are "Lots of potable water hydrants around the campground so not far of a walk to fill any water needs you may have."
Pest protection: Insect activity increases during warmer months. One visitor at Brendan Byrne warned, "Ticks were very active on this visit be sure to remember your bug spray and tuck your pants in your socks!" Protective clothing and repellent are essential during summer camping trips.
Playground access: Some nearby campgrounds offer recreational facilities for children. At Lums Pond, a visitor shared, "Our daughter really enjoyed the playground (which was excellent, by my standards)." The playgrounds provide entertainment options between trail activities.
Site selection: Research campsite locations relative to facilities. At Blackbird State Forest, a camper advised, "There are a couple portapotties in the camping area, which are a few feet from one campsite, or a few blocks from another." Sites closer to restrooms benefit families with young children.
Weekend timing: Popular horse campgrounds near Newfield fill quickly during peak periods. One regular visitor noted, "Book early because it fills up fast!" Reservations should be secured weeks in advance for summer weekends and holidays.
Hookup availability: Electric connections are limited at equestrian campgrounds. Jesse G. mentioned an important restriction: "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." Understanding these limitations prevents unexpected adjustments upon arrival.
Leveling conditions: Site terrain varies throughout the region. A visitor at Lums Pond State Park shared, "The site was fairly level, side-to-side, so I really only needed to level front to back. That was a bonus." Bringing leveling blocks remains advisable for most camping areas.
Access roads: Forest service roads lead to most equestrian camping areas. The secluded nature means longer drives from main highways. One camper described, "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!"
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Newfield, NJ?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Newfield, NJ is Lums Pond State Park Campground with a 4.5-star rating from 53 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Newfield, NJ?
TheDyrt.com has all 4 equestrian camping locations near Newfield, NJ, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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