The camping cabins near Burlington, New Jersey offer woodland retreats in the Pine Barrens region, which spans over 1.1 million acres of unique forest ecosystems. The area features sandy soil and acidic water bodies with 30+ miles of navigable waterways. Winter temperatures can drop to the low 20s, while summer brings highs in the mid-80s with relatively high humidity.
What to do
Paddling adventures: The Wading River at Wading Pines Camping Resort allows for self-guided water activities. "You can tube down the river from one end of camp to the other," notes one visitor. Another camper recommends, "Have someone drop you off at Hawkins Bridge and float down to the campground. A little over 2 hour ride."
Hiking trails: Brendan Byrne State Forest features multiple trail systems through pine forests. "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," writes one reviewer. Another mentions "Lots of good hiking trails, most the sites have pretty decent privacy from the other ones."
Urban exploration: For campers wanting city experiences, Philadelphia South/Clarksboro KOA serves as a launch point. "We stayed here for 3 nights while visiting family In Philadelphia. It is a 20 minute ride into Philly and Uber was was quick and responsive," notes one camper. Another adds, "IF we had a car with us - we would have considered taking the ferry from Camden's Ferry Terminal next to Wiggins Park to Philly."
What campers like
Spacious sites: Turkey Swamp Park offers generously sized campsites. "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," explains one visitor. Another camper mentions, "This campground has all pull-through sites. Nicely wooded with water and electric."
Water access: Waterfront sites at Atsion Family Camp provide direct lake access. "I always get site #8 and it has an amazing view of the lake. While camping at atsion family campground, you have free access to the recreation center (the beach and some trails)," shares one camper. Another site specifically notes, "Campsite G014 was awesome! 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."
Privacy features: Several campgrounds provide natural separation between sites. At Butterfly Camping Resort, "The sites are cozy and each lined with natural shrubbery and in some cases fencing. They're well maintained and raked between campers." Another reviewer confirmed, "Site was large, and had trees and shrubs separating the sites (we had stayed on 105A)."
What you should know
Weather adaptability: Seasonal considerations affect camping comfort. "Spacious campsite, although the closest water spigot wasn't working. Not a big problem as there are plenty of others... Ticks were very active on this visit be sure to remember your bug spray and tuck your pants in your socks!" cautions a June visitor to Brendan Byrne State Forest.
Terrain variations: Soil conditions vary by location. At Butterfly Camping Resort, "The site was sandy. The whole place is sandy. This is messy, especially after a bit of rain(which we had), and makes it a constant challenge to keep the sand out of the RV." Similar conditions exist elsewhere, as a Turkey Swamp Park camper mentions, "As mentioned, all roads and camper pads are dirt."
Capacity limitations: Public facilities like pools can become crowded. A visitor to Timberland Lake Campground reported, "Due to covid restrictions the pool was limited to 71 people at a time and was plenty crowded! I'd hate to see it at full capacity!" Meanwhile, Turkey Swamp's shower facilities "don't have shelves or hooks for toiletries but there was a large bench that could be used."
Tips for camping with families
Activity planning: Timberland Lake Campground provides dedicated children's facilities. "Campground has friendly staff and plenty of activities for children of all ages. Play ground, basket ball, beautiful pool and for an extra fee beach access," reports one visitor. Another confirms it's "conveniently located near six flags (5min), Sesame Place (40 min) and Philadelphia (60 min)."
Budget considerations: Some amenities require additional fees. "The only thing we didn't really like was that there are A LOT of RV sites, and it's kind of a bummer to just stare at a bunch of RVs," notes a Philadelphia South/Clarksboro KOA visitor. At Wading Pines, one camper advises, "Found out too late that the train only ran on the weekends, kids were pretty bummed."
Noise awareness: Sound levels vary significantly between locations. At Wading Pines, a camper reported, "Loud and kid friendly, which is fine for us but might not be for some." Another visitor confirmed, "Never stayed at Wading Pines, but have camped in the state park next to it and their live music (a terrible cover band) blasts every weekend until midnight into the park."
Tips from RVers
Access considerations: Navigating into sites requires planning. At Wading Pines, one RVer noted, "Check in was easy but the roads are narrow and we had a hard time getting on to site 145." Similarly, another camper at Butterfly warned, "I am a little concerned about moving to the site they want me to move to in the Spring the corners around the campground seem tight with trees."
Hookup variability: Utility reliability differs by site. "Our site(#90) was a level pull-thru with 50-amp electric, water, sewer, and cable. It was roomy, shady, and easy to pull in and out. The hook-ups were all well-maintained and worked fine," reports a Butterfly Camping Resort visitor. At Turkey Swamp, a camper advises, "Be sure to bring extra hose because the water spigot is a distance from the electric."
Seasonal limitations: Services change throughout the year. A Turkey Swamp Park visitor in April noted, "In the summer, canoe, kayak, paddle boats, and row boats are available for rental," while currently "There is a dump station and laundry facility with brand-new washers and dryers (however, you need to pay using an app on your phone)."
