1 campground with availability this weekend
Tent campers visiting Elmer, New Jersey have several primitive camping options within a 30-mile radius, primarily in Wharton State Forest. This large pine barrens ecosystem offers multiple tent-specific campgrounds including Goshen Pond, Batona, and Mullica River sites, making it one of the most accessible regions for tent camping in southern New Jersey. The sandy soil characteristic of the New Jersey Pine Barrens creates comfortable tent sites with minimal rocks, while the dense pine forest provides natural shade and privacy at most locations.
Most tent sites in the region feature basic amenities including fire rings with cooking grates, though picnic tables are not consistently available. Walk-in tent sites are common throughout Wharton State Forest, with parking areas typically located a short distance from camping areas. Goshen Pond offers walk-in tent locations that require carrying gear approximately 1-3 minutes from parking. One camper noted that "the boyfriend and I stayed for a weekend at one of the primitive tent sites. Our site was private and secluded." Vault toilets or outhouses are standard at most locations, with potable water available from pumps at larger campgrounds like Batona and Bodine Field, though water access is limited or unavailable at more remote sites.
The nutrient-poor sandy soil of the Pine Barrens creates a unique camping environment with soft, comfortable ground for tent setup. A camper described the area as having "soft, even ground for sleeping" with "plenty of fallen trees for kindling." Primitive tent setups benefit from the natural forest floor that requires minimal site preparation. During weekdays and off-season periods, tent campers experience significant solitude, though reviewers mention that weekend crowds can diminish privacy at some of the more accessible campgrounds. The dark waters of the Wading and Mullica Rivers provide opportunities for kayaking and canoeing directly from several walk-in tent sites, though campers should note the water's brown color comes from natural tannins and is not a sign of pollution. Bear activity has been reported in the area, so proper food storage is essential.
"I like campgrounds which have you park off and walk in to your site. There is more foot traffic, but you don't hear as many cars coming and going and driving past your site all the time."
"The boyfriend and I stayed for a weekend at one of the primitive tent sites. Our site was private and secluded. We had a great time."
"Terrific space for exploring"
"well marked trails great for hiking. pet friendly! we love walking here with our dog. there are even a few great spots to get a small creek swim in! It also has a greag picnic area with grills."
Campground full this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $57 / night
"Bears frequent this campground so be bear aware and practice proper food storage. "
"The Batona Campground is in the northern area of the Wharton State Forest and is a bit removed from most trails and other campgrounds in the park."
"This campground is hike-in or boat-in only, no car access. We camped here for one night on an overnight loop in Wharton State Forest. Wild blueberries abound during summer months!"
"Enjoyed a site away from the crowds. Quiet. Peaceful. Place is huge with many campsites to choose from. Checking in is slow so come early."
"This is a good free state forest with maybe 10 (or less) designated tent-camping sites, and designated areas for deer hunting."
"Spent a weekend in BO1, spacious campsite, grill, picnic table, firepit, parking for 2-3 cars plus overflow parking. Firewood was easy to get and was plenty of it."
from $25 / night
"Close to the main roads but feels remote."
"You’re right next to the wading river/creek with that amazing cedar water. As well as a quick drive Harrisville Pond which mine as well be a lake."
"Bodine Field is one of several camping locations within Wharton State Forest. I am writing this review over a year after our stay so forgive me if the details are lacking."
"Looking for a place to escape without having to drive out of your way to get to? Lower forge is the place."
from $5 / night
"I’m following up on my review from over a year ago with new photos, updated weathered campers’ tales and a quick snapshot of HIGHLIGHTS and LOWLIGHTS: HIGHLIGHTS: (1) Rustic group camping nestled in nearly"
"The give you firewood—-if you bring your own, leave with any left over."
Available this weekend
from $28 - $72 / night
TravelerMany long term seasonal sites. Good community. Large shower house good and clean . Pool. Game room. Off leash dog park. Wooded/shady sites or no shade sunny sites. Lots of area to walk or play. Large field, basketball couture, frisky golf, play area and laundry room. We were here all summer (June-october). Lots to do in the area. Good food nearby. Ocean city 10 minutes away.
ScoutThis is one of the largest, if not the largest, campgrounds in Southern New Jersey. While on the pricier side, everything is top-notch. The roads are all paved, and not gravel (I hate trying to sleep and listening to the sound of stones grating together). The sites are more spacious than most campgrounds, so it doesn't seem so crowded. The bathrooms are all modern and spotless. There are numerous bathrooms which means most sites have one nearby. They do charge a quarter for showers to encourage water conservation and donate the money to conservation causes. The pool is large, as is the lake. Both are well-maintained. The camp store is enormous and is really nice and well-stocked with everything one might need from food to pool and beach stuff to camping supplies and equipment. There is a nice cafe with indoor and outdoor seating. The camp store has a lending library of books and DVDs. There are numerous activities that appear to be well-run, The grounds are shaded with many trees for a great wooded campground feel. The campground is so large that it has an internal shuttle with stations scattered about to help people go between the various important sites such as at the pool, the lake and the store. I found other campers, particularly the seasonals, to be more friendly than other campgrounds at the shore. This requires constant tree care including removing dead trees and branches which they do regularly. The staff is friendly and well-trained. I was in a tent, and when a rare October nor'easter came through, I was offered the opportunity to use a cabin free-of-charge. Fortunately my tent and equipment made it through days of rain and high winds just fine . On my first stay in May, I had to run my dog back to Baltimore towards the end of my trip where he was sadly diagnosed with incurable metastatic cancer. When I returned, I was late and unable to check out by 11, but they allowed me to take as much time as needed to clear the site, as nobody was staying there the next day, which was deeply appreciated - I was an emotional wreck. Oh, and I found the complimentary Wi-Fi to be a great service, and sufficiently fast to allow me to stream ultra-high-definition movies at my site - Most campgrounds charge extra for less-than-good service - a lot more. I find that a big bonus. Overall, I LOVE this campground and highly recommend it.
GuideThis campground is part of the Wharton State Forest and has several campgrounds in the area. Great wooded sites right on a lake. Pretty good separation between sites with good tree separation between sites. Some road noise not overly affecting site.
ScoutRestrooms are filthy with mold and mildew.
Water puddled on the restroom floor.really gross.
Cabin was mostly clean. The windows were full of dirt and bugs on the tracks.mattresses were terrible.The fireplace was nice. Kitchen was clean.
Can t wait to move on to a cleaner park.
ScoutI’ve stayed here multiple times over the past 15 years and I have enjoyed each trip.
Depot Travel Park is a well-maintained family-owned campground. It is also reasonably priced, especially given the location that is within a bicycle ride to the beach, the ocean, and lots of shops and restaurants in Cape May. It is the only campground on the Cape May side of the canal.
Please note that this is not a resort campground and it doesn’t have a pool. There is so much to do in Cape May that is doesn’t need to be a resort.
Since it’s not a resort campground, there are not many golf carts, so most people use their bicycles or cars to get around. That also makes the campground pretty quiet, even during the peak of summer.
The campground sells firewood and propane, but there is no camp store. Again, it doesn’t really need one, since there is a farmers market at the end of the driveway, and a CVS and an ACME supermarket within bicycle riding distance.
If your site doesn’t have a sewer hookup, the dump station is a little awkward to access, but they have a daily honey wagon for a reasonable fee, which is great. If you notify the office the day before you need it and they are usually there in the morning.
They close for the season n October, but they reopen briefly during the Cape May Christmas Parade weekend in December. That’s one thing that I’d like to do soon.
I really like this campground and I am always recommending it to friends.
GuideBeautiful campground but made the mistake of going on a holiday weekend, the campgrounds next to us were screaming and blasting music all day and throughout the night so we ended up leaving early. A beautiful campground when there aren’t noisy capers ruining it.
ScoutFirst time at this campground really like it a lot will be returning. The bathrooms are always clean. The grounds are always kept up. Just a really nice place to stay. Most of the sites have some kind of shade.
GuideMary & her crew run a great campground. Full hookup. Slow schedule during the week-camp store & pool mainly. Saturdays always have activities planned from bingo to quarter auctions, picnics & music. Each Saturday is different. Clean grounds. Nice playgrounds. Kiddie pool & nice size pool from 3-5’ deep. 2 cabins also available.
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.
Tent camping near Elmer, New Jersey centers primarily on the sandy soils of the New Jersey Pine Barrens ecosystem. The region averages only 100 feet above sea level with minimal elevation changes, creating accessible hiking conditions throughout most campgrounds. Summer temperatures typically reach 85-90°F with high humidity levels, while spring and fall camping seasons offer more moderate conditions with nighttime temperatures that can drop below 50°F.
River paddling access: 5-minute drive to Harrisville Pond from Bodine Field — Wharton State Forest offers excellent fishing opportunities. One camper notes, "You're right next to the wading river/creek with that amazing cedar water. As well as a quick drive Harrisville Pond which mine as well be a lake. Good fishing for pickerel as well as a decent trail that goes around the entire pond."
Backpacking adventures: 5-7 mile trek required to reach Lower Forge Camp from either direction. "Looking for a place to escape without having to drive out of your way to get to? Lower forge is the place. One if the few places in New Jersey you have to backpack into with access from either (Atsion 5+ miles in) or Batsto (7 miles) located right on the Basto River you're even able to boat in," explains one visitor.
Multi-day hiking: 50-mile trail accessible directly from Batona — Wharton State Forest campsites. "Best part about the campground is that it's right on the 50 mile Batona Trail so it's a great stop-over assuming you've made reservations," reports one hiker, while another adds, "Best part of this campground is trailheads begin directly from campsites. Trails vary in length but all are flat and easily accessible."
Privacy between sites: Most highly rated at Blackbird State Forest Campground where separation is notable. "Only 8 sites in the campground, very spaced apart. Each site has lots of room, very much enjoyed our stay and will return," writes one camper. Another visitor confirms, "The camp sites are spaced out a good amount so each site has good privacy."
Water recreation proximity: Direct river access at multiple sites allows for easy kayak launching. At Bodine Field, one camper noted the location is "Very open basically sandy field with a handful of trees in the middle, group sites available. You're right next to the wading river/creek with that amazing cedar water."
Campsite layout and amenities: Practical setups with basic necessities vary by location. "Each campsite includes a fire pit with a grate (no picnic tables). There are two outhouses and one water source within the campground. The entire campground is fairly shaded by the pines, and the ground is flat throughout," notes a Batona camper.
Seasonal crowds and noise levels: Weekends bring significant visitor increases to most Pine Barrens campsites. At Goshen Pond — Wharton State Forest, one visitor observed, "Our site was very quiet, but a lot of the sites are close together without any barriers, so if the campground got crowded it wouldn't be very private." Similarly, at Bodine Field, "During the off season is in and during the week, it's very peaceful and awesome place to be. During the weekend it's very populated and tends to be pretty noisy."
Sandy access roads: Vehicle considerations important for tent camping at Elmer area campgrounds. "The road into the campground is about 1 mile of loose sand. It can be accessed by a standard vehicle," reports a Batona visitor. Another camper adds, "The road into the campground is sand."
Wildlife and pest concerns: Ticks, mosquitoes, and occasionally bears require preparation. "LOTS of ticks in this area," warns one Lower Forge camper, while at Batona Campground visitors are advised, "Bears frequent this campground so be bear aware and practice proper food storage."
Site selection for ease of access: Choose tent sites with minimal gear-carrying distance. Goshen Pond offers, "It's only a one minute walk from the parking area to the site. Our site was right next to the Mullica River, and had excellent views if you walked just a couple steps from the tent."
Group-friendly locations: Abbot Sawmill provides dedicated spaces for family gatherings. "Great for groups. Close to the main roads but feels remote," notes one camper, making it suitable for tent camping near Elmer with children.
Beginner-friendly options: First-time campers find certain sites more accommodating. At Ridley Creek State Park, "This place is great for first time campers. I go camping here almost every year and they a nice open field with two sites and two fire pits. They also have a tone of trails to hike on."
Size restrictions: Limited options for larger RVs throughout Pine Barrens campgrounds. "Site are suitable for tents or small campers. The unpaved road into the site is narrow and tree lined. A larger RV would not fit," cautions a Batona visitor.
Hookup availability: Primarily primitive camping with minimal services for RVs. At most Wharton State Forest locations, the sandy roads and lack of hookups mean tent camping remains the primary accommodation type.
Road condition awareness: Sandy forest roads present challenges for RVs throughout the region. "The unpaved road into the site is narrow and tree lined," notes one camper about Batona Campground, while others mention the mile-long sandy access road requires careful navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
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