Turkey Swamp Park campgrounds in Freehold Township features 64 sites set within a wooded area with both dirt roads and campsites. Located 20 minutes from Cream Ridge, the campground provides spacious pull-through sites with electric and water hookups. Sites are well-spaced and include a fire ring, picnic table, and lantern hook.
What to do
Explore water recreation: Turkey Swamp Park offers a lake with multiple boat options. "There is a lake with a boat dock and a small boardwalk. Kayaking/Canoeing, fishing, and swimming. In the summer, canoe, kayak, paddle boats, and row boats are available for rental," notes Lee D. in a review of Turkey Swamp Park.
Hiking trails: The pine barrens area around Cream Ridge provides several hiking options. "There are several short (longest one is 2.5 miles) hiking trails that are fairly well-marked but can be a bit confusing at times. Some sections of the trails were muddy due to swamps and bogs but passable," according to Lee D. who visited Turkey Swamp Park.
Visit historic sites: The region offers historic attractions like Batsto Village. "Batsto is a 15 minute drive. Hikes start either there or you can access from Atsion as well. There are little trails around the campsite too," writes Steve about the Atsion Family Camp.
Seasonal activities: Winter visitors can enjoy unique activities in some parks. "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," Patrick M. reports about Turkey Swamp Park.
What campers like
Spacious wooded sites: Many campgrounds offer well-spaced sites in natural settings. "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," notes Lee D. about Turkey Swamp Park.
Water access options: Campers appreciate direct water access at many sites. "Our site was right on Wading River and we launched our kayaks right at the site! Our tent has a full view of the sky and at night it was like a planetarium as we admired the sky from our cots," shares Dina S. about Bodine campground in Wharton State Forest.
Yurt camping near Cream Ridge: For those seeking yurt camping in the Cream Ridge area, several options exist beyond Turkey Swamp Park. "Clean nice family camp ground," notes Tom W. about Wading Pines Camping Resort, which offers yurts among its accommodation types.
Wildlife encounters: The natural setting provides opportunities to observe wildlife. "Wharton Forest has several campgrounds. We tent camped at Atsion in 2015: had flush toilets and was close to the checkin station/store as well as the beach on the lake. Some sites were right on the water and the sites were very big," Dina S. remarks.
What you should know
Bathroom conditions vary: Facilities differ significantly between campgrounds. "The bathrooms and showers are clean and well maintained," notes Katheryn N. about Turkey Swamp Park, while others report more basic facilities at primitive sites.
Insect preparation: Ticks can be prevalent in certain areas. "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," warns LAURA Y. about Turkey Swamp Park.
Site terrain considerations: Many campgrounds have sand or dirt sites. "Site came with fire pit, large picnic bench, and lamp stand. Plenty of parking space. Good tree coverage," reports Graham D. about Turkey Swamp Park.
Reservation requirements: Most campgrounds require advance booking. "Stayed here from June 24th-27th on site 38. It was a really nice size, and the kids could fish right off the dock on the back," notes Aaron E. about Timberland Lake Campground.
Tips for camping with families
Child-friendly activities: Look for campgrounds with dedicated facilities for children. "Plenty to do over a 2 night stay. Archery, boating, fishing, and hiking. Boat rental rates are acceptable and there are four different styles to choose from. Campsites are roomy with electric and water hookups," recommends Dan W. about Turkey Swamp Park.
Safety considerations: Some campgrounds offer better supervision for children. "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!" shares JAEWOOK P. about Turkey Swamp Park.
Playground access: Several campgrounds feature play areas for children. "Centralized playground for the kids with bathrooms and showers next door. Staff was awesome! Attentive and outgoing. We really enjoyed our stay," notes Dan W. about Turkey Swamp Park.
Tips from RVers
Hookup locations: Be prepared for hookup positioning. "Be sure to bring extra hose because the water spigot is a distance from the electric," advises Jean T. about Turkey Swamp Park.
Road conditions: Access roads vary significantly between campgrounds. "As soon as you turn off the main road to the park, all roads are dirt, which was a bit surprising. They were well-maintained and in dry weather, not a problem, but probably not if it was rainy," observes Lee D. about Turkey Swamp Park.
Site accessibility: Some campgrounds offer better pull-through options. "This campground has all pull-through sites. Nicely wooded with water and electric," notes Jean T. about Turkey Swamp Park.
