The Pine Barrens region surrounding Egg Harbor City contains over 1.1 million acres of preserved woodland with acidic soil and sandy substrate. Cabin rentals in this area typically feature pine surroundings with moderate summer temperatures averaging 85°F during peak season. Winter cabin stays remain available at select locations with temperatures dropping to the 30s, requiring additional heating considerations.
What to do
Water activities: Lake access for fishing, kayaking and swimming at Bass River State Forest. "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. Great area for tent camping," notes one visitor to Bass River State Forest.
River tubing: Easy float trips at Winding River Campground with tube rentals and transportation. "You can tube down the river from one end of camp to the other," explains a Wading Pines visitor. Transportation services for kayaks and tubes are available with options for 2, 3, and 5-hour trips that return directly to the campsite.
Historic sites: Colonial buildings within 15 minutes of most cabin locations. "Down at the Atsion office a mile away they can sell you firewood as well. Picalilli Inn isn't far, they have great wings. Batsto is a 15 minute drive," reports a visitor to Atsion Family Camp.
What campers like
Spacious sites: Room to spread out at several campgrounds with many waterfront options. A visitor to Bass River State Forest mentions, "A beautiful camping area that is affordable, each site is very large, very clean and well maintained, bathrooms and showers 24/7."
Lake amenities: Swimming and boating options at multiple locations. "Nice quiet campground right on a huge lake, good fishing, dog beach, human beach, awesome pool. Tons of activities. Great staff," says a Timberline Lake Camping Resort visitor.
Family activities: Scheduled events throughout summer season. A visitor to Baker's Acres Campground shares, "The kids loved the fishing pond and exploring fantasy island. Found out too late that the train only ran on the weekends, kids were pretty bummed." Many campgrounds offer weekend entertainment programs from Memorial Day through Labor Day.
What you should know
Site conditions: Sandy terrain throughout Pine Barrens campgrounds. "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," notes one camper at Wading Pines.
Weekend noise levels: Busier atmosphere Friday through Sunday at most locations. "If you're looking for a quiet kid-free-get-away, I wouldn't recommend," cautions a camper about Wading Pines. At Thousand Trails Chestnut Lake, one visitor mentions, "Very friendly and good lake. Pros; good fishing, good people, nice shaded and sunny spots, beautiful pool. Cons; bugs, no store, stay away from the front middle spots, they flood when it rains."
Seasonal availability: Limited off-season options for cabin rentals after October. While state forest cabins remain accessible year-round, many amenities like pools, beaches and planned activities close by mid-October. Most privately operated campgrounds close entirely from November through March.
Tips for camping with families
Beach access: Lake swimming available at multiple locations with varying regulations. A visitor to Atsion Family Camp states, "LOVE!!!! I always get site #8 and it has an amazing view of the lake. While camping at atsion family campground, you have free access to the recreation center (the beach and some trails)."
Playground facilities: Multiple play areas for different age groups at many sites. "Great family run and owned campground. Clean, friendly and fun," notes a visitor about Baker's Acres Campground.
Weekend activities: Structured events at most campgrounds during summer. "We enjoyed the scavenger hunt and Saturday night entertainment. There were very few golf carts and all the cars drove cautiously. We felt our daughter was safe to ride her bike," shares a Baker's Acres visitor.
Tips from RVers
Site selection: Reserve early for level sites with adequate hookups. A camper at Atlantic Shore Pines Campground advises, "The site we had was a pull through and very spacious. The whole place was quiet and clean. The staff was very friendly and helpful. AT&T cell service was great."
Seasonal sites: Consider long-term options at several campgrounds. "This is our 'base camp' as we camp multiple times per year every year," notes a Wading Pines visitor, adding "New ownership has improved a lot of previous criticisms (water quality, staff friendliness)."
Road conditions: Prepare for narrow access at several cabin campgrounds. "The roads are narrow and we had a hard time getting on to site 145," shares one Wading Pines camper. Many campgrounds feature single-lane dirt roads with limited passing zones, particularly challenging for larger RVs over 35 feet.
