Best Campgrounds near Dennis, NJ

The coastal region of Dennis, New Jersey provides access to numerous mixed-use campgrounds catering to various camping styles. Belleplain State Forest offers year-round camping with tent, RV, and glamping options, while Ocean View Resort Campground features lake swimming and cabin accommodations approximately 7 miles south of Dennis. Campgrounds in this area generally provide water hookups, picnic tables, and fire rings, with most facilities concentrated along the Route 9 corridor between Cape May and Ocean City.

Seasonal considerations shape the camping experience in southern New Jersey's coastal area. Many campgrounds operate primarily from April through October, with Ocean View Resort open April 13 to October 8 and Whippoorwill Campground available April 1 to October 31. A visitor commented, "Sites are very wooded, close to each other. The lake is huge, the pools are crowded but fun. There is a splash pad for little ones." Most developed campgrounds require advance reservations, especially during summer weekends when beach-goers flock to nearby shore towns. The proximity to popular destinations like Avalon, Sea Isle City, and Cape May means campsites fill quickly during peak season.

Campers report high satisfaction with family-oriented amenities at most developed campgrounds in the region. Swimming lakes, splash pads, and recreational facilities are common features, with several locations offering organized activities for children. Based on reviews from The Dyrt, Ocean View Resort receives praise for its "pirate themed splash pad by the pool" and "brand new mini golf course." The camping areas vary in privacy levels, with some reviewers noting sites can be close together, particularly at busier resorts. While most campgrounds provide clean restroom facilities, amenities vary significantly from basic sites at Belleplain State Forest to full-service RV resorts with sewer hookups, showers, and recreational facilities at places like Sun Outdoors Cape May and Thousand Trails Lake & Shore.

Best Camping Sites Near Dennis, New Jersey (113)

    1. Belleplain State Forest

    22 Reviews
    Woodbine, NJ
    6 miles
    Website
    +1 (609) 861-2404

    "They allowed me to drive around first and pick out a campsite before checking in. They charge $5 extra for a dog. So far it is very quiet and that's what I was looking for."

    "Very nice campground tucked away in southern NJ. Clean facilities. Plenty of space for our tent. lake for swimming and you can rent boats. nice hiking trails and playground."

    2. Ocean View Resort Campground

    15 Reviews
    Dennis, NJ
    2 miles
    Website
    +1 (609) 624-1675

    "It's very close to everything, but you don't even need to leave the campground! There are a ton of activities!"

    "We went to Ocean View Resort in New Jersey to kick off the 2022 season in our new Fleetwood Discovery LXE. And we’re glad we did! "

    3. Sun Outdoors Cape May

    26 Reviews
    Tabernacle, NJ
    14 miles
    Website
    +1 (609) 886-1234

    "Stayed in a drive through, patio site with full hook-ups. It was situated on a corner spot. A lot of RV, golf cart, bike, and people traffic due to the location."

    "The front of the park is close to the pool and store- if pool noise is a concern you should stay further back. A mix of seasonal,"cabins" and overnight camping. Park was very clean."

    4. Ocean City Campground & Beach Cabins

    7 Reviews
    Dennis, NJ
    5 miles
    Website
    +1 (609) 309-3649

    "Gravel under the trailer and small river rock around the picnic table and fire pit."

    "THINGS I LIKED: 

    • Park is within 30-minutes drive-time to Cape May, Ocean City, and Wildwood 

    • Everything we saw was in great condition, perfectly working order, clean, and looked new 

    *"

    5. Whippoorwill Campground

    8 Reviews
    Ocean City, NJ
    8 miles
    Website
    +1 (609) 390-3458

    $43 / night

    "The only thing that concerned us was there were a lot of little kids walking around unattended. We will def go back."

    "Close to beaches and lots to do in the area."

    6. Sun Retreats Seashore Campsites & RV Resort

    18 Reviews
    Tabernacle, NJ
    16 miles
    Website
    +1 (609) 884-4010

    "Great Location and close to Cape May City. 10 min drive to Washington Street Mall. Lots to do during the day."

    "Beautiful main building. close to a lovely walking trail."

    7. Thousand Trails Sea Pines

    6 Reviews
    Cape May Court House, NJ
    4 miles
    Website
    +1 (888) 707-1477

    "well maintained, wonderful pool and splash pad, great location!!"

    "Kids love the lake. Bathroom cleaned daily. Could use more showers. Nice and quiet at night."

    8. Ocean City Campground & Beach Cabins

    3 Reviews
    Dennis, NJ
    5 miles
    Website
    +1 (609) 390-3649

    "This campground is about a 15 minute drive from Ocean City. There are plenty of stores close by as well."

    9. Beachcomber Camping Resort

    10 Reviews
    Tabernacle, NJ
    16 miles
    Website
    +1 (609) 886-6035

    $42 / night

    "A beautiful wooded campground close to the beaches of Cape May, New Jersey. Very family oriented and really a great place for adults too."

    "Lots to do and the beautiful beaches of Cape May, New Jersey are a short 10 minute drive. The different types of camping/glamping experiences exceeded my expectations."

    10. Thousand Trails Lake & Shore

    3 Reviews
    Dennis, NJ
    2 miles
    Website
    +1 (888) 707-1477

    "We stayed 2 nights at Land & Shore and the first night was Friday night and all 6 families that are members with our own sites were hanging out around a fire pit and at 1016pm someone security person"

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Recent Reviews near Dennis, NJ

648 Reviews of 113 Dennis Campgrounds


  • Aly E.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 28, 2025

    Batona — Wharton State Forest

    Good spot to sleep

    The camp road was kinda hard to get around direction wise you couldn’t tell what was a road and what was a campsite. It was Saturday night and only two other campers but one was a huge group but thankfully not too loud. Two pit toilets that was pretty bad shape but we are used to disperse camping without toilets so we didn’t complain.

  • Scott K.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 20, 2025

    Winding River Campground

    Great Place

    Really enjoyed everything about this place. Kayaks. Camping. All of it. Clean and friendly.

  • Stu T.
    Sep. 18, 2025

    Cape Henlopen State Park Campground

    So Much To Do - Not Enough Time

    Spent one night here as we were in transit from a campground near the bottom of the Eastern Shore of Virginia to home (fortunate to get a spot that fit my camper) - spots are close together - full campground even in the middle of the week after school started- but quiet at night.  Almost a mile walk to the beach - great trails for bike riding.   Restrooms were clean!  If you have a trailer, make sure that you input your trailer length to find a site that fits as they vary.   Close to food.   Staff very friendly.   Tons of stuff to do - will return when we have more time.  If you want the experience of driving on the beach - go for it!

  • Tiffany P.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 22, 2025

    Ocean View Resort Campground

    Lots of fun

    This place had a lot to do with kids! Lake, pool, ice cream, arcade, mini golf, mining station, activities. Does get very crowded and definitely have to book a head. We loved where our site was located. Will definitely be visiting again.

  • Evan C.
    Aug. 18, 2025

    Redden State Forest Campground

    Secluded and improving

    8/15/2025

    Arrived after dark to find that I had the campground to myself. As noted in other reviews, turn right as you drive past the office/house and let yourself in through the closed (but unlocked) gate. Since the last review, it appears they've added 11 sites on a branch if you bear left after the gate. These sites (8-18) are level, packed gravel pads with benches, fire pit, grill, and picnic table. The restroom featured on the map is just a portalet, but there is plenty of overflow parking in that branch. Apparently you're not supposed to pull onto the gravel with your vehicle, just park parallel to the road alongside it. 

    Another note about the gravel - can't get stakes in. Plus, it's a pine forest and I didn't want to get sap on my tent so I didn't tent adjacent to the pad amidst the pine needles. I did drive around the right branch (sites 1-7) in the morning to find that they are dirt/grass sites and probably would be ideal for tenting/staking (and in case you haven't guessed, I don't have a freestanding tent). The area is densely forested with pines and is quite pleasant in that regard.

  • colleen C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 11, 2025

    Sun Outdoors Rehoboth Bay

    Awesome!

    We loved it. Great for a long getaway or a quick one like ours. Loved our stay. It was clean and full of fun.

  • C
    Aug. 4, 2025

    Sun Retreats Seashore Campsites & RV Resort

    Pros and cons

    We have been to this campground twice. First time everything was very clean and lots to do. The last time things had slipped a little bit. Campground was definitely not as clean. The first time there was staff riding around picking up garbage and keeping things neat. Last time it seemed like it was just a bunch of teenagers flying around on golf carts not doing much. Almost all the games were broken in the arcade. Plus a lot more seasonals. The seasonals also have a lot of political flags with profanities. Not very family friendly! Pros love the pool, lake, waterslides, and proximity to cape may Cons broken equipment, kids racing golf carts all hours of the nights, lots of seasonals with over the top decorations, with flags with profanities and cleanliness slipping. We will try it again. Hopefully they were just having an off year.

  • Scott K.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 3, 2025

    Bass River State Forest

    Fantastic Experience

    My first time solo camping and it couldn’t have gone better. The staff there are top notch. Clean site. So much to do. Couldn’t recommend enough.

  • Frank J.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 24, 2025

    Belleplain State Forest

    Relatively new to this

    Stayed in site 116 in CCC section (only section with electric and water). Good privacy. Check-in went smoothly. Staff at office said all the roads in the CCC section were 2-way. Not wide enough in my opinion but we didn't have a problem. Restrooms/showers were ok. Sea Isle City is not too far away if you're into the Jersey shore, restaurants, live music.


Guide to Dennis

Camping areas near Dennis, New Jersey offer a mix of wooded environments and easy beach access within coastal Cape May County. Most camping facilities sit within 15 minutes of popular Atlantic Ocean beaches, with elevations rarely exceeding 50 feet above sea level. The sandy soil throughout the region creates unique camping conditions that visitors should prepare for, particularly during summer when temperatures regularly reach 85-90°F with high humidity.

What to do

Hiking trails: Belleplain State Forest features well-maintained walking paths through southern New Jersey woodlands. One visitor notes, "We have walked through the site areas and they seem to be a nice size but not offering too much privacy. We are usually there in the off season so not sure how crazy it gets in the warmer months with the lake being there."

Lake activities: Beachcomber Camping Resort provides swimming and boating options in their private lake with beach area. "They have an arcade, laundromat, lakes with beach space, pools, a tugboat, golf carts, hay rides, bonfires, a playground, activities, etc. Went with two young children and we had a blast," shares one camper.

Mini golf: Ocean View Resort Campground unveiled a recently constructed mini golf course for guests. According to a review, "Last year they unveiled a brand new mini golf course. Bathhouses are very clean and updated. They have a Great swimming Lake with a huge sandy beach."

Rail trail access: Sun Outdoors Cape May provides convenient access to the regional bike path. A visitor mentioned, "There is an 11 mile rail trail across the street as well. The negative would be the number of long term sites, but the campground was overall clean and the staff were all very nice."

What campers like

Water features: Sun Retreats Seashore Campsites & RV Resort offers multiple water recreation options. A camper reports, "Nice pool, clean showers, quarters for a shower. We paid $40 night in almost mid September. Its just faucets for water, no sinks for a dishwashing station."

Beach proximity: Campgrounds throughout the area provide convenient access to regional beaches. One guest at Whippoorwill Campground shares: "Clean safe nice place to camp. Would recommend to anyone. Close to beaches and lots to do in the area."

Kid-focused amenities: Ocean City Campground & Beach Cabins features modern facilities for families. "This place had a lot to do with kids! Lake, pool, ice cream, arcade, mini golf, mining station, activities. Does get very crowded and definitely have to book a head," reports a visitor.

Updated facilities: Many campgrounds in the region have invested in infrastructure improvements. A camper at Belleplain State Forest noted, "First time here and will be back…. Best state run campground I've been to. Friendly staff, clean facilities, so much to do. Offers more then some private campgrounds."

What you should know

Reservation timing: Most campgrounds fill quickly during peak season from late June through August. Book 3-6 months in advance for weekend stays. Sites at popular locations may require booking up to a year ahead for holiday weekends.

Insect considerations: The coastal environment creates ideal conditions for mosquitoes, particularly during summer evenings. A visitor to Whippoorwill Campground noted: "My kids Loved the arcade. We are from the Midwest and we HATE sand. This campground was on sand, but not right on the beach. Bathrooms were very nice!! The mosquitoes were vicious."

Seasonal differences: Thousand Trails Sea Pines experiences significant changes in crowd levels depending on time of year. One camper mentions, "We were able to tune into some really dorky TV stations. One was in Japanese, two were in Spanish, and got some oddball stations in English."

Site privacy: Privacy levels vary significantly across campgrounds in the area. A visitor to Belleplain State Forest observed, "Positive: Our site was HUGE!!!! It was also super private with trees and a lot of privacy from the road and our neighbors. We had friends stay in the lean-tos nearby and others visit. We had room to park several cars."

Tips for camping with families

Water recreation options: Thousand Trails Lake & Shore provides varied water activities for different age groups. A visitor notes, "I liked the lake and waterpark. However, the water in the waterpark was ice cold."

Splash pads: Multiple campgrounds feature dedicated water play areas for young children. A visitor to Ocean View Resort Campground shares, "Ocean View Resort was an excellent resort for our family with two toddlers. Kids loved the Splash Park, Arcade, Tram Car, playgrounds and Lake."

Bathroom facilities: Facilities vary significantly between campgrounds. A camper at Belleplain State Forest reports, "We were NOT happy that the bathrooms next to us were closed, apparently for years, and it was not noted. We purposely booked in 105 due to the proximity. The other bathrooms in the CCC were a good walk, and pretty run down."

Transportation options: Consider renting a golf cart at larger resorts for easier movement with children. A visitor to Beachcomber Camping Resort mentioned, "You can rent golf carats which the kids loved and we used the whole weekend since it was so cheap & campground is huge."

Tips from RVers

Site access challenges: Some campgrounds feature narrow roads and tight turns that challenge larger rigs. A camper at Sun Retreats Seashore Campsites notes, "We had a large pull through lot with our 36 foot fifth wheel. Friends had a tiny lot with their shorter camper. They had no privacy."

Power connections: Verify electrical hookup details when booking. Only certain sections of some campgrounds offer full hookups. A visitor to Belleplain State Forest explains, "Stayed in site 116 in CCC section (only section with electric and water). Good privacy. Staff at office said all the roads in the CCC section were 2-way. Not wide enough in my opinion."

Dump station limitations: Plan ahead for waste disposal, especially during busy checkout times. "The worst was the dump station. It is just a little hole on the side of the road and the ONLY dump station for the 3 campgrounds! It was very unlevel and not easy to fully dump our tanks."

Cell service: Coverage varies significantly across the camping areas near Dennis. One camper at Belleplain State Forest reported, "Virtually NO cell service with AT&T, TMobile or Verizon. AT&T we the better of the 3. Our Winegard/Gateway give us no internet which we normally get. There'd be way too many trees for Starlink."

Frequently Asked Questions

What camping is available near Dennis, NJ?

According to TheDyrt.com, Dennis, NJ offers a wide range of camping options, with 113 campgrounds and RV parks near Dennis, NJ and 1 free dispersed camping spot.

Which is the most popular campground near Dennis, NJ?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Dennis, NJ is Belleplain State Forest with a 4.3-star rating from 22 reviews.

Where can I find free dispersed camping near Dennis, NJ?

According to TheDyrt.com, there is 1 free dispersed camping spot near Dennis, NJ.