116 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
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.
"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."
"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! "
"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."
"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
*"
"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."
from $43 / night
Check Availability"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."
"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."
"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"
"Close to beaches and food. We’ll be back!"
"This campground is about a 15 minute drive from Ocean City. There are plenty of stores close by as well."
"I personally camped in the back yard in my hammock as my family slept in the camper it was humid in the back near the woods but still nice."
"campground— nothing fancy, but everything worked and it was pretty clean and well-maintained Friendly staff including an escort to the site(which was a good size with working utilities)
— Lots of nearby"
GuidePretty easy camping trip, plenty of room to set up camp. Level spots. We stayed on south inlet campground. They have small camp store multiple laundry and bath houses. Great stay if you enjoy fishing, as. You can fish the inlet at the campground. They have a very nice playground for kids as well! Only negative is no camp fires allowed, they do have a community area you can have a camp fires allowed. Also no wifi
ScoutMy check in was for 8-6-2026, and bc I’m a new driver and wanted to beat traffic I got there early (7am) so I sit there waiting till check in time. When suddenly the park police show up. He’s accusing me of camping over night there. I told him simply I wasn’t and where I was night prior (would never sleep somewhere without permission). So we go to the store to kill time before we check in. Come back for Check in and the whole staff in just the office alone were so arrogant and cold to my mom and I, leaving rude comments to us and not only where they like that but the staff outside the office was acting like that alongside the rangers and park police. They would watch us the whole visit in the distance parking there cars a little ways watching everything we did,even driving by slowly a bunch of times in just an hour alone. My mom and I couldn’t do anything with out them showing up 2 mins later. Example we were walking our dog enjoying our time(trying to) and all of a sudden one of the office ladies pulls up right in front of us speeding, parks their car, gets out and walks a distance from us standing there and taking pictures of us…. For walking our dog who’s on a leash and didn’t even do anything. The whole trip we felt uncomfortable and unwanted and to find out they police when we were going on walks where coming up to campers near us bribing them with free firewood to get any information on use (told to us by other camper). I paid a lot of money to be harassed and followed the whole time. We never did anything we abide by every rule and keep to ourselves everywhere we go. They even made my mother cry…
ScoutGreat place. Close to beach. No septic hookup
ScoutLove it every year . We g for mother's Day. And the schedule for the events they do during even just the weekend make for fun filled hassle free weekend
TravelerI am writing this review because I genuinely want to warn other families before they book this campground. What should have been a relaxing camping trip turned into an extremely upsetting experience for our family. From the beginning, we felt singled out and unwelcome. We arrived at our campsite and then went to the office. We did not know that the campground required every guest to go to the office before going to their site. This was an honest misunderstanding. Instead of simply explaining the rule and moving on, the situation became unnecessarily confrontational, and we felt like the staff was looking for reasons to have an issue with us. What was especially upsetting was how our children were treated. Our children were riding scooters and were stopped and told that scooters were not allowed. We were extremely confused because we could clearly see much younger children riding/driving around the campground. Our 14-year-old was not allowed to do so, while we observed significantly younger white children being allowed to ride. What made this even worse was the way our children were spoken to. They came running back to us scared and intimidated by the interaction. As parents, that was extremely upsetting to see. There is a huge difference between calmly explaining a campground rule to a child and speaking to a child in a way that makes them feel frightened. If there is a rule that scooters are not allowed, then the rule should be applied consistently to every child, regardless of age or background. What we witnessed did not feel consistent. As the experience continued, we felt increasingly targeted. We were left with the strong impression that they did not want our family there. At one point, it honestly felt like they were trying to find reasons to get rid of us, which made us question whether the campground had overbooked and was looking for a way to push us out. We also had a very concerning experience regarding payment. We were forced to pay in cash and were not provided with a receipt. As paying guests, we found this extremely troubling and unprofessional. The entire experience left our family feeling uncomfortable, intimidated, and unwelcome. Camping with children should be about relaxing, enjoying the outdoors, and making good memories—not having your children come running back to you because they are scared of how an adult spoke to them. I cannot speak to anyone else's intentions, but**based on what we personally experienced and witnessed, we felt that our family was being treated differently because of our background. Seeing younger white children being allowed to do something that our children were stopped from doing made the situation even more concerning.I strongly recommend that families think twice before booking this campground. If you do decide to stay, make sure you understand every rule before arriving, document your interactions, and keep proof of every payment. We are sharing this review because other families deserve to know what our experience was like before spending their money and vacation time here. No family should leave a campground feeling intimidated, targeted, or unwelcome.
TravelerI am writing this review because I genuinely want to warn other families before they book this campground. What should have been a relaxing camping trip turned into an extremely upsetting experience for our family. From the beginning, we felt singled out and unwelcome. We arrived at our campsite and then went to the office. We did not know that the campground required every guest to go to the office before going to their site. This was an honest misunderstanding. Instead of simply explaining the rule and moving on, the situation became unnecessarily confrontational, and we felt like the staff was looking for reasons to have an issue with us. What was especially upsetting was how our children were treated. Our children were riding scooters and were stopped and told that scooters were not allowed. We were extremely confused because we could clearly see much younger children riding/driving around the campground. Our 14-year-old was not allowed to do so, while we observed significantly younger white children being allowed to ride. What made this even worse was**the way our children were spoken to. They came running back to us scared and intimidated by the interaction. As parents, that was extremely upsetting to see. There is a huge difference between calmly explaining a campground rule to a child and speaking to a child in a way that makes them feel frightened. If there is a rule that scooters are not allowed, then the rule should be applied**consistently to every child**, regardless of age or background. What we witnessed did not feel consistent. As the experience continued, we felt increasingly targeted. We were left with the strong impression that they did not want our family there. At one point, it honestly felt like they were trying to find reasons to get rid of us, which made us question whether the campground had overbooked and was looking for a way to push us out. We also had a very concerning experience regarding payment. We were forced to pay in cash and were not provided with a receipt. As paying guests, we found this extremely troubling and unprofessional. The entire experience left our family feeling uncomfortable, intimidated, and unwelcome. Camping with children should be about relaxing, enjoying the outdoors, and making good memories—not having your children come running back to you because they are scared of how an adult spoke to them. I cannot speak to anyone else's intentions, but**based on what we personally experienced and witnessed, we felt that our family was being treated differently because of our background.** Seeing younger white children being allowed to do something that our children were stopped from doing made the situation even more concerning.**I strongly recommend that families think twice before booking this campground.** If you do decide to stay, make sure you understand every rule before arriving, document your interactions, and keep proof of every payment. We are sharing this review because other families deserve to know what our experience was like before spending their money and vacation time here. No family should leave a campground feeling intimidated, targeted, or unwelcome.
TravelerThey have a meadery and fishing pond and everything my kids love. Been here several times great place for kids and everyone else
GuideI personally did not like this campsite. First of all, our site tag was leftover from SEPTEMBER. Did no one look at any of these sites and leave someone else’s registration posted there for almost a year? Wild. Our campsite had trash leftover from previous campers. The whole campground was loud - from other campers to just the sounds from the nearby road. If you are looking for peace it is NOT here. If you’re looking to have loud music time all night with no repercussions as your kids ride around yelling and carrying on past midnight then you’ll have a blast. The pros of this campsite was supposed to be the access to Lake Atsion but we were turned away at the gate at 12:30 as they stated they were at capacity. Checking into our campsite they specifically asked if we would be utilizing the recreation area so we would have a pass for entry, but that’s seemingly not in their logistical headcount. I would not visit here again.
ScoutI recently stayed at Site 36, and unfortunately, my experience was very disappointing. The biggest issue was the campsite itself. Site 36 is extremely small, with neighboring campers only about 5 feet away on one side and roughly 12 feet behind the site. There was very little privacy, which made it difficult to relax. Many of the nearby sites appeared to be occupied by long-term or permanent residents. Several had large amounts of personal belongings stored under tarps, giving the area an unkempt appearance. In addition, the neighboring campsite had children's bikes, large toys, and other miscellaneous items overflowing onto the site I had rented, making it feel even more cramped. Another major concern was the constant cigarette and marijuana smoke. It was noticeable throughout much of the day, and because of the smoke, I couldn't comfortably leave my camper windows open. At over $110 per night for a full hookup site, I expected a much better experience. I understand the campground told me there were no other sites available, although I did notice a few empty sites during my stay. Whether those sites were reserved or unavailable for another reason, I can't say, but Site 346 should not be rented at this price given its condition and lack of privacy. Overall, I would not stay here again and cannot recommend to anyone looking for a relaxing camping experience. Its great for daily tubing but as a camper they lock the fence that gets you to the bridge so you have to take a long walk around although non campers can pull right up, it makes no sense to have a pass through that's locked.
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.
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."
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."
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."
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."
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 116 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 4.1-star rating from 23 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.
Keep Exploring
