Camping options near Mantua, New Jersey span from basic tent sites to full-service RV accommodations within a 30-mile radius of town. The region sits at low elevations of 50-150 feet above sea level, with sandy soil conditions typical of southern New Jersey's coastal plain geography. Seasonal considerations vary significantly, with campgrounds in the region reporting consistent rain patterns in spring and high humidity levels during summer camping months.
What to do
Fishing opportunities: Old Cedar Campground in Monroeville offers accessible fishing areas where campers report good catches. "Love this place. It a mom and pops kinda campground. Nice pool, good fishing, staff is great," notes one regular at Old Cedar Campground.
Water recreation: Multiple campgrounds feature swimming options during summer months. At Hospitality Creek Campground, campers appreciate the combination of pools and lake access. "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," writes a visitor describing their weekend activities.
Hiking trails: The area offers hiking opportunities through pine forest terrain. At Atsion Family Camp in Wharton State Forest, trails lead through typical Pine Barrens ecosystems. "Little trails 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," notes one camper who stayed in the region.
What campers like
Lakefront sites: Waterfront camping spots provide direct water access. "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," writes a visitor to Hospitality Creek Campground.
Clean facilities: Many campers note the maintenance standards at local campgrounds. "The bathrooms were clean but most of the faucets on the sinks were broken. The water has a very high iron content," reports a camper at Parvin State Park Campground, highlighting both positives and challenges.
Quiet weekday options: Several campgrounds offer significantly different experiences between weekdays and weekends. "Went during the week, there were 4 sites taken adjacent to me, the rest of the campsite barely had anyone," notes a camper at Atsion Family Camp, providing insight into timing considerations for those seeking solitude.
What you should know
Water quality variations: Several campgrounds have reported water issues. "The water stank and was straight brown," notes one camper at Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park in Elmer, while another camper at Parvin State Park mentioned "very high iron content" in the water.
Site conditions: The terrain at many campgrounds consists of sand or dirt rather than gravel pads. A visitor to Four Seasons Family Campground noted that while the campground had many amenities, there were "lots of litter on their 'beach' area" and described the swimming area as a "big mud puddle."
Additional fees: Several campgrounds charge extra for visitors or activities. "Steep price for guests," notes one camper at Hospitality Creek, while another reported: "Reservation only includes 2 people - it's 8.00 per day for each additional person."
Tips for camping with families
Water play options: Campgrounds with pools and splash features rank high with families. "The pool and splash pad were really the only main attraction," reports a visitor to Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park - Elmer, where despite mixed reviews, the water amenities consistently receive positive feedback.
Playground access: Consider sites near play areas for convenience with children. "My grandchildren loved visiting us, pool was clean - they had a few items that they could borrow - fishing was great - playground was adequate," explains a grandparent who camped at Adventure Bound (formerly Jellystone) in Elmer.
Activity schedules: Many campgrounds run structured programs, especially on weekends. "Every Saturday they had an organized activity for the kids.... EVERYONE was extremely friendly," notes a camper who spent multiple weeks at a local campground with grandchildren.
Tips from RVers
Hookup placement: Some campgrounds have unusual water hookup arrangements. "The water hookups are shared every other site (at least in the Fence Loop). I was lucky my 75' hose barely reached the distance needed. Be sure to bring extra hoses," advises an RVer who stayed at Old Cedar Campground.
Road conditions: Many campgrounds feature dirt or sand roads rather than paved surfaces. "The entire campground is sand and gets very dusty and messy. This was the dirtiest campground we've stayed at, meaning the trailer and truck needed a full bath once we got home," reports one RV camper about conditions at a local campground.
Site dimensions: Size restrictions affect larger rigs at several campgrounds. "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," notes an RVer with a 31-foot Class C at Lake Kandle who found the site workable but cautioned about limitations for larger vehicles.
