Turkey Swamp Park offers tent, RV, and cabin camping near Colts Neck in a wooded setting with dirt roads and pull-thru sites. The campground features 64 sites across five loops, all with level ground and reasonable spacing between campers. Sites include water and electric hookups, picnic tables, fire rings, and lantern hooks. The park operates seasonally from April 1 to November 15 with full facilities including a lake for fishing, boating, and swimming.
What to do
Lake activities: Turkey Swamp Park includes a lake with fishing, kayaking, and canoeing options during the summer months. According to Tylen L., "Turkey Swamp is a great spot, a lot of different things to do. Fishing, Tent Camp, Van Camping, Open Field, BBQ, Kayaking, Canoeing. The list goes on. I've been here a few times, every time I'm here I barely touch my phone."
Archery practice: Turkey Swamp Park has an archery range for visitors looking to practice their skills. Patrick M. notes, "We go every year. It has everything the outdoorsman could ask for. Bring your bow and shoot at the hay barrels. Ice skate on the lake in the winter or just enjoy a gorgeous walk in the woods."
Winter activities: Several campgrounds offer winter camping with specific seasonal activities. At Allaire State Park, Lisa S. recalls, "We found this campground one night when we were in NJ. It ended up snowing that night. The bathrooms were clean and warm. There is a lot to do in the area."
What campers like
Private wooded sites: Campers appreciate the natural spacing between sites at many campgrounds near Colts Neck. At Turkey Swamp Park, Shawn comments, "Nice, remote, private. Some sites unlevel. Bring a LONG water hose. Nice lake. Showers and washers and dryers."
Bug-free camping: Some campers report surprisingly low bug activity at certain times. Jaewook P. shares about Butterfly Camping Resort, "We went camping with our 2- and 3-year-old kids. We were worried about bugs, but we didn't even use mosquito repellent and didn't get a single bite! The campground was super clean too. It was perfect!"
Clean facilities: Campers frequently mention the cleanliness of bathrooms and shower houses. Lee D. notes about Turkey Swamp Park, "Bath/Shower House: Very clean. Soap and paper towels are provided. The only thing missing were hooks or shelves for toiletries but there was a large bench that could be used."
What you should know
Site conditions: Many campgrounds in the area have sandy or dirt sites rather than gravel. A reviewer at Timberland Lake Campground explains, "My biggest issue is the sand for all pull-throughs. They do offer full hookups that include cable if you have the outdoor wire. Plenty of activities for kids with park area and pool."
Tick presence: Some campers report ticks at certain parks during summer months. Laura Y. warns about Turkey Swamp Park: "I was so excited when we got here. The sites are spacious and it's really beautiful. But by the 2nd day I had 3 ticks on me. My dog had one and by the end my husband had 2. That was so crazy because we were just sitting by our camper."
Road noise: Several campgrounds near major roads experience traffic noise. Dan X. mentions about Allaire State Park, "Did a weekend bikepacking trip from New Brunswick to Allaire. Big sites that you can hear the highway from. A really nice bike ride to Ocean Grove and other beach towns."
Tips for camping with families
Playground options: Many dog-friendly campgrounds near Colts Neck have playground facilities for children. Dan W. shares about Turkey Swamp Park: "Centralized playground for the kids with bathrooms and showers next door. Staff was awesome! Attentive and outgoing. We really enjoyed our stay."
Year-round activities: Pine Cone Resort offers seasonal activities throughout the year. Jesse C. notes: "Playground, pool, big open fields, horseshoes, basketball hoop. No hiking trails. No pond or lake for fishing. $50 per night."
Family-oriented events: Some campgrounds organize special activities for families. Caitlin F. shares about Butterfly Camping Resort: "Both nights we were there, there were events being put on (a tractor ride, kickball, and a pool movie night). There was also a dog park which was very nice!"
Tips from RVers
Hookup locations: RVers should note the position of utility hookups at sites. Jeffrey from NWS Earle RV Park advises: "Power is at the far back & sewage is in the middle (left to right). A longer camper will be parked over the sewage connection."
Water hose length: Several RV parks require longer-than-standard water hoses to reach hookups. Shawn recommends for Turkey Swamp Park, "Bring a LONG water hose" due to the distance between hookups and RV parking positions.
Leveling requirements: Many campgrounds have sites with varying leveling needs. Lee D. notes about Turkey Swamp Park: "Sites are all level, very generous in size, and reasonably spaced apart for privacy." However, Shawn mentions that "Some sites unlevel," so bringing leveling blocks is recommended.