The Pine Barrens region surrounding Egg Harbor City features sandy soil that creates unique camping conditions with excellent drainage during rainstorms. Located within the Atlantic Coastal Plain, elevations rarely exceed 200 feet above sea level, creating largely flat terrain ideal for novice hikers. The cedar and pine forests create naturally acidic soil conditions, contributing to the distinctive tea-colored streams and rivers throughout camping areas.
What to do
Kayaking the Wading River: Launch directly from Wading Pines Camping Resort or nearby access points for river adventures. "You can tube down the river from one end of camp to the other," explains one Layne at Wading Pines Camping Resort.
Explore historic sites: The Atsion Recreation Area provides access to preserved historic structures. "Down at the Atsion office a mile away they can sell you firewood as well. Batsto is a 15 minute drive. Hikes start either there or you can access from Atsion as well," notes Steve at Atsion Family Camp.
Pine Barrens nature trails: The Batona Trail runs directly through several campgrounds. "Trailheads begin directly from campsites. Trails vary in length but all are flat and easily accessible," explains meghan G. at Batona — Wharton State Forest.
Lake swimming and fishing: Bass River State Forest offers seasonal lake activities. "We walked and explored, kayaked, and sang by the fire. The camp sites have plenty of room for the kids to run around and set up there own areas," shares Matthew H.
What campers like
Natural swimming holes: The Wharton State Forest has numerous waterways for cooling off. "River system that is perfect for swimming, tubing, wading, or bridge jumping," explains Amy C. about Godfrey Bridge — Wharton State Forest.
Spacious, private sites: Campers frequently mention the generous site dimensions. "Our site was a level pull-thru with 50-amp electric, water, sewer, wifi, and cable. It was roomy, shady, and easy to pull in and out," shares Matt S. about Holly Acres RV Park.
Sandy, comfortable ground: The Pine Barrens' distinctive soil makes for comfortable tent camping. "The ground is always very soft and sandy, which makes for comfortable sleeping. It's noticeably NOT rocky," reports a camper at Wharton State Forest.
Stargazing opportunities: Remote sites offer exceptional night sky viewing. "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," says Dina S. about Bodine Field.
What you should know
Tick prevention essential: Several campgrounds report significant tick populations, especially in warmer months. "The campground was clean and well maintained. It's very close to civilization but you get the camping experience. There were a lot of ticks when we stayed in May so keep that in mind," warns Gennifer K. about Bass River State Forest.
Weekend noise levels: Nearby private campgrounds may create noise issues at state forest sites. "Wading Pines has live music (a terrible cover band) that they blast from 7 until 11-12 pm that echoes through the park," cautions jim F. about neighboring state forest campgrounds.
Sandy access roads: Some campgrounds have challenging entrance roads. "The road into the campground is about 1 mile of loose sand. It can be accessed by a standard vehicle," notes meghan G. about Batona Campground.
Limited facilities at primitive sites: State forest campgrounds offer minimal amenities. "Pit toilets, pump water, fire ring, nice big site. Road in is sandy but it is the pine barrens," explains Dina S. about Bodine Field.
Tips for camping with families
Book sites away from high-traffic areas: Some campgrounds have varying noise levels. "Check in was easy but the roads are narrow and we had a hard time getting on to site 145. We had seasonals in front and behind us who weren't very friendly," advises Stacy D. at Wading Pines.
Consider private campgrounds for activities: Some operations offer extensive programming. "Been camping here for many, many years. New ownership has improved a lot of previous criticisms. This is our 'base camp' as we camp multiple times per year every year," shares Derrick S. at Wading Pines Camping Resort.
Look for pet-friendly options: Many campgrounds welcome dogs. "The newest addition of extra pet friendly sites have made it even better because we can bring the pup. The sites are a great size and many are set back enough that you have privacy," notes Maggie H. about Bass River.
Plan for weather variability: Spring and fall can bring temperature swings. "We set in for an overnight stay in early April 2022. Once we arrived at the site we quickly realized we were some of the only brave souls that chose to be outdoors in early April. It was cold and rainy the entire day," shares Michael M. at Bodine Field — Wharton State Forest.
Tips from RVers
Site selection for larger rigs: Choose campgrounds that accommodate your vehicle size. "Lots of seasonal campers here give this campground a very homey feel. Backing my rig into the site, and exiting, was a bit challenging due to the angle and size of the service road but we managed well enough," advises Jim G. at Baker's Acres Campground.
Know water hookup limitations: While private campgrounds offer full hookups, state forests do not. "The sites are on the smallish side, but the staff is super nice and the facilities are maintained and clean," notes Michael W. about Holly Acres RV Park.
Expect sandy conditions: The Pine Barrens soil affects RV camping. "We camped here in July. Besides the weather being ungodly hot. Had a good time. The only thing I would say is that the bathrooms need an upgrade," shares Bryan R. about Wading Pines.
Seasonal site availability: Many camping sites near Egg Harbor City, New Jersey have limited operating seasons. "Typical thousand trail campground... pull through, friendly front desk, clean showers and toilet, free cable, great lounge, close to Long Beach Island and Atlantic city," reports Joe D. at Thousand Trails Chestnut Lake.
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