Camping options near Downe, New Jersey range from basic seasonal facilities to fully-equipped RV parks with waterfront access. Most campgrounds in the region operate between April and October when temperatures average 75-85°F during summer months. Proximity to Delaware Bay provides fishing opportunities while maintaining driving distance to popular shore points along the Atlantic coast.
What to do
Beach access options: Thousand Trails Sea Pines offers easy access to nearby beaches with campers noting, "The beach is within 10ish minutes and is beautiful but you're supposed to have passes, we biked around the area and along the beach it was very nice."
Water activities with children: Sun Retreats Avalon provides on-site swimming options when not traveling to beaches. "We had perfect weather at this nice campground. Sites were sandy. There was foliage between sites though they were close together," reports one visitor who appreciated the balance of natural setting with beach proximity.
Local brewery visit: Campers staying at Shady Pines Campground recommend the nearby craft brewery for evening entertainment. "There's a cute brewery right around the corner and a burger place called Tony Beef. We liked them both!" This provides a convenient dining option after days spent exploring the region.
What campers like
Family-friendly amenities: Echo Farms RV Campground earns points for its central location near multiple beaches. As one camper noted, "It was not what I expected the site was very small no grass no privacy but the good thing about it was it's centrally located around 4 beaches."
Clean facilities: King Nummy Trail Campground receives praise for management and maintenance. "Management was excellent. As an encore park, cleaned up mess of reservations that thousand trails made for us. Facilities and pool are good," according to one visitor, highlighting responsive service when problems arise.
Natural setting with lake access: Sun Retreats Seashore Campsites provides a lake option for those who prefer freshwater swimming. "The girls loved swimming in the lake and the pool. We were only a short drive from the beach, as well. It was a very nice campground," noted one family camper who appreciated having multiple water options.
What you should know
Site leveling challenges: Several campgrounds feature uneven terrain requiring preparation. At Shady Pines, one camper reported, "The much bigger problem was that it sloped so much it was impossible to level. I didn't have enough blocks to prop up the leveling jacks enough to level the RV."
Seasonal crowds: Thousand Trails Chestnut Lake has varying noise levels depending on timing and location within the park. "Our first night we stayed our neighbors were partying late into the night- not good when we have two young children with us. We moved the next morning and our next site was wonderful- much larger and quieter."
Golf cart traffic: Several rv parks near Downe, New Jersey report issues with golf cart use. At King Nummy Trail Campground, one camper observed "Dangerous golf carts going the wrong way at high speeds," indicating that families should watch children carefully around roadways within parks.
Tips for camping with families
Check weekend policies: Weekend camping requires additional planning as many parks prioritize seasonal guests. At Echo Farms RV Campground, a visitor advised the park is "centrally located but not for weekend campers," suggesting midweek stays might offer better availability and quieter conditions.
Playground conditions: Mays Landing Resort offers play areas for younger children. "It's an ok campground, nothing really special. It does have a nice playground for the little kids," noted one camper, providing helpful context for families with younger children.
Water safety awareness: When camping at Sea Pines, families should note the water features have limited supervision. "The lake is nice. Mosquitoes are bad but that's to be expected being near water of any kind," warned one camper at Chestnut Lake, suggesting bug spray is essential when camping near water features throughout the region.
Tips from RVers
Site selection strategy: Experienced RVers recommend personally inspecting sites before committing. At Thousand Trails Lake & Shore, "the resort did not reserve a particular site and suggested that we drive around and select the one we liked. That was ok and we got a nice level site with a concrete pad under the picnic table."
Length restrictions vary: RV parks near Downe, New Jersey accommodate different vehicle lengths with varying degrees of success. "Our site (#71) was too short for our 37' motorhome. I made it fit, but measured just 3-inches of air between the back of my RV and the back of our neighbor's RV," cautioned one visitor at Shady Pines Campground.
Tree navigation challenges: Maneuvering larger rigs requires attention to overhead clearance. At Sun Retreats Seashore Campsites & RV Resort, one camper observed, "We stayed in site 402a and it was a nightmare backing in and getting out of. We have a 42 ft 5th wheel but the website said it could accommodate the size. The bad thing is that there are trees all the way up to the street which limits your turn radius."
