Turkey Swamp Park campground in Freehold Township sits at approximately 150 feet above sea level in central New Jersey's Monmouth County. The campground features 64 sites spread across five loops within a 2,283-acre park dominated by pine and oak forest. Weather conditions generally offer mild springs and falls with summer temperatures averaging 75-85°F during camping season, which runs April through mid-November.
What to do
Fishing and boating: Lake access at Turkey Swamp Park includes fishing for largemouth bass, pickerel, catfish and sunfish. The 17-acre lake permits non-motorized watercraft with seasonal rentals. "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," reports Tylen L.
Archery: Dedicated range allows target practice with your own equipment. "There is an archery range and a council ring (campfire). There is a dump station and laundry facility with brand-new washers and dryers," notes Lee D.
Winter activities: Ice skating available when conditions permit. As Patrick M. describes, "We go every year l. 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."
Hiking and paddling: Access trails and water at Round Valley State Park where the crystal-clear reservoir spans 2,350 acres. "The water is crystal clear, the area is clean. There's bathrooms and pumps but we just filtered the water from the reservoir instead which tasted a million times better than the well water. The hike up in the cushetunk mountain is really nice as well," shares James R.
What campers like
Spacious campsites: Room to spread out with adequate distance between neighbors. "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," explains Lee D. from Turkey Swamp Park.
Private wooded settings: Natural surroundings create peaceful camping environment. "Sites are in the woods and widely spaced apart to give you privacy and the feeling of being out in the Forrest," observes Katheryn N.
Yurt camping: Edison, New Jersey area options at Allaire State Park provide year-round accommodations. "I have stayed in all the spots they offer, yurt, cabin and the pull up sites. It is well maintained with numerous trails to hike. Getting a cabin in the winter and going for a snowy hike is wondrful there," shares Patrick M.
Waterfront camping: Lake and reservoir sites at Spruce Run Recreation Area offer direct water access. "Our site was on the water and it was really nice. A duck visited us every morning," recalls Jules T.
What you should know
Bug awareness: Ticks present in wooded areas, particularly during warmer months. "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," warns Laura Y. from Turkey Swamp Park.
Seasonal availability: Most campgrounds operate April-October with limited winter accommodations. For winter yurt camping near Edison, New Jersey, Lisa S. notes about Washington Crossing State Park: "We found this campground one night when we were in NJ. It ended up snowing that night. the bathrooms were clean and warm."
Boat-in or hike-in requirements at some parks. "[Round Valley Recreation Area] is the only NJ SP that actually offers up true wilderness camping (a.k.a. primitive), which can only be accessed by hiking 3 to 6 miles– or if you come with your own boat," explains Stuart K.
Road conditions: Unpaved access at certain 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.
Tips for camping with families
Activity planning: Kid-friendly options at Timberland Lake Campground include swimming, crafts and seasonal events. "We went on 4th of July weekend so the place was packed. We were able to get a secluded spot in the woods which was great! 2 teenage girls had a blast in the lake and riding their bikes around. Pool was packed so didn't spend time there but the ceramic class was fun for the girls," shares Jojo P.
Bug prevention: Pack appropriate repellent for ticks and mosquitoes. "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!" reports Jaewook P. from Turkey Swamp.
Weather preparation: Spring camping can bring significant temperature swings. "We found this campground one night when we were in NJ. It ended up snowing that night. the bathrooms were clean and warm," notes Lisa S. about Allaire State Park.
Tips from RVers
Water hookup planning: Pack extra hose length at Mahlon Dickerson Reservation. "Very clean and quiet. Website lists water hook ups at long distances but they have hose reels to help with that. Our site (15) said 75' however the 50' hose reel made it to our rv connection," advises antruze.
Site selection: Choose appropriate campgrounds based on RV size and needs. "Easy to navigate our 38 ft. RV. Easy to dump and fill. Peaceful. Close to train to N. Y. City," recommends Nancymike K. about Mahlon Dickerson.
Seasonal considerations: Spring and fall offer best availability for RVers seeking specific site types. "If bringing your RV, the safest bet is to reserve a spot with no shade as the other spots often times have very low hanging tree limbs," notes Douglas P. about Spruce Run Recreation Area.
