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The pine forests surrounding Elwood, New Jersey host several established campgrounds within the Wharton State Forest system and private camping resorts. Wharton State Forest provides multiple camping areas including Atsion Family Camp, Batona, Bodine Field, and Godfrey Bridge campgrounds where visitors can find primitive tent sites and limited RV access. Private options like Winding River Campground and Spacious Skies Country Oaks offer more developed facilities with full hookups for recreational vehicles. Most camping opportunities are concentrated within a 20-mile radius of Elwood, with many sites situated along rivers or near lakes in the Pine Barrens region.
Seasonal considerations strongly impact camping availability across the region. Many campgrounds operate from April through October, with only select locations like Bass River State Forest and some Wharton State Forest sites remaining open year-round. "We stayed at the Mullica River camp ground. It is a hike or boat in only campground with a pump to get water and 2 outhouses," noted one visitor about a backcountry option. The area experiences high humidity and mosquito activity during summer months, while spring and fall offer more comfortable conditions. Ticks are prevalent, particularly in backcountry areas, with one camper cautioning: "Be sure to use A LOT of deet spray. Even with 100% deet spray, we still had at least 2 on each person." Sites in Wharton State Forest typically require reservations and have specific regulations regarding fires and alcohol consumption.
Waterfront camping represents a significant draw throughout the region, with several campgrounds positioned along rivers suitable for kayaking and canoeing. A visitor to Winding River Campground highlighted: "They have kayaking and tubing available with their own transport. 2, 3 and 5 hour trips and you come right back down to the campsite!" Mixed-use campgrounds offering cabin rentals alongside traditional tent and RV sites have become increasingly common. While some sites provide full amenities including showers, electricity and water hookups, others maintain a more primitive character with vault toilets and no running water. Campers frequently mention the sandy soil conditions typical of the Pine Barrens, which can create dusty conditions during dry periods but provide good drainage during rainfall. Wildlife viewing opportunities abound, with the region supporting diverse bird and plant species characteristic of this unique ecosystem.
"Atsion Family Campground Off US 206 and about 1/2 a mile up Atsion Road in New Jersey’s Wharton State Forest, you’ll find the Atsion Family Campground."
"It was a great location, closest site to the water with beautiful views. Super convenient if you're a Kayaker, you can launch right off that spot. Its a huge site, away from other sites."
"The campground is very close to home, and a lot of people around our area (central jersey) go there yearly or have seasonal sites there, but for us, it was our first time at the campground."
"Very nice wading river next to the camp grounds. You can tube down the river from one end of camp to the other."
"The park was easy to find and located a short distance from the highway. We were met at the entry gate with a personalized folder containing lots of helpful information for our stay."
"We love the lake side campsites."
"We have never camped here before, but wanted to hike the Batona trail nearby."
"I'm particularly fond of the dog friendly loop, its a newer loop and the bathrooms are more modern than the others scattered around. "
"5 Stars / Labor Day Weekend We stayed at Holly Acres Campground in Egg Harbor City, New Jersey, for Labor Day weekend. We’re so glad we did! "
"Good fishing at the lake. They also allow golfcarts"
"I grew up near the pine barrens and would camp here many times with friends. If you want off the beaten path and not close to anyone... this is IT! You might even see the Jersey Devil :)"
"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. No first-come first-serve."
"I try to stay away from campgrounds with electrical hookups, because the sound of generators is not exactly the serenity of nature I'm looking for."
"Bonus points for being driving distance to multiple locations that we could take our kayaks."
"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."
"As a returning traveler to Spacious Skies Campgrounds – Country Oaks in Dorothy, New Jersey, I continue to be impressed by the peaceful atmosphere, well-maintained facilities, and welcoming hospitality"
"There’s nothing much to do in the area without driving 45+ minutes away, so make this your destination of you’re looking for a restful time away from home. The Wi-Fi actually worked great."
from $36 - $999 / night
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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.
ScoutMy check in was for 8-6-2026, and bc I’m a new driver and wanted to beat traffic I got there early (7am) so I sit there waiting till check in time. When suddenly the park police show up. He’s accusing me of camping over night there. I told him simply I wasn’t and where I was night prior (would never sleep somewhere without permission). So we go to the store to kill time before we check in. Come back for Check in and the whole staff in just the office alone were so arrogant and cold to my mom and I, leaving rude comments to us and not only where they like that but the staff outside the office was acting like that alongside the rangers and park police. They would watch us the whole visit in the distance parking there cars a little ways watching everything we did,even driving by slowly a bunch of times in just an hour alone. My mom and I couldn’t do anything with out them showing up 2 mins later. Example we were walking our dog enjoying our time(trying to) and all of a sudden one of the office ladies pulls up right in front of us speeding, parks their car, gets out and walks a distance from us standing there and taking pictures of us…. For walking our dog who’s on a leash and didn’t even do anything. The whole trip we felt uncomfortable and unwanted and to find out they police when we were going on walks where coming up to campers near us bribing them with free firewood to get any information on use (told to us by other camper). I paid a lot of money to be harassed and followed the whole time. We never did anything we abide by every rule and keep to ourselves everywhere we go. They even made my mother cry…
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.
ScoutStayed three nights in a tent and enjoyed it very much. Sites have electrical hookups, shared water connections, large picnic table, and fire ring with adjustable grate. Electrical and water are at the outer edge of each site so you might want an extension cord and/or hose. Bathrooms are clean; showers have separate stalls but they’re clustered together (not the most private). There are hiking and biking trails, a lake, and archery park. Staff are friendly. Office is open through 9pm, and firewood, ice, and bait for fishing are available. Site C3 is in an okay spot; it’s close to the bathroom and laundry room, but also right next to the playground. We were able to visit the beach; easy 25 minute drive to Asbury Park.
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.
The Pine Barrens surrounding Elwood, New Jersey feature sandy soil conditions that create good drainage during rainfall. Camping elevations remain relatively flat throughout the region, making terrain navigation straightforward even for novice hikers and campers. Water levels in local rivers and creeks can fluctuate seasonally, with higher water tables during spring months.
Kayaking on multiple waterways: Several camping locations provide direct water access for paddlers. At Winding River Campground, campers appreciate the organized river activities: "They have kayaking and tubing available with their own transport. 2,3 and 5 hour trips and you come right back down to the campsite!" according to Michelle F.
Bridge jumping spots: The Wharton State Forest system offers several swimming holes with jumping options. A camper at Godfrey Bridge Campground noted: "River system that is perfect for swimming, tubing, wading, or bridge jumping."
Nature trails accessible from sites: Many campgrounds connect directly to trail networks. At Batona Campground, one reviewer highlighted: "Walking Trails Directly From Campsite. Best part of this campground is trailheads begin directly from campsites. Trails vary in length but all are flat and easily accessible."
Waterfront camping spots: Sites along rivers and lakes rank among the most requested. At Hospitality Creek Campground, Matt S. reported: "Our site(#57— Lakefront Premium Waterfront) had full hookups and everything worked fine. The site was a good size, covered in heavy mulch, and is level. The photos of the lake were taken from our site to show this really is waterfront."
Spacious sandy sites: The natural geography creates comfortable camping surfaces. One camper at Bass River State Forest observed: "A beautiful camping area that is affordable, each site is very large, very clean and well maintained, bathrooms and showers 24/7. The camp ground area is very large and signed extremely well making finding your campsite easy."
Well-maintained facilities: Many campgrounds near Elwood feature reliable amenities. A visitor to Spacious Skies Country Oaks appreciated: "The site included a concrete patio with picnic table and Adirondack chairs, and a nice fire ring. The site was big enough for our motor home. Full hook-ups with 50-amp service all worked fine."
Tick prevalence: Bug protection is essential when camping near Elwood. A reviewer at Godfrey Bridge Campground warned: "I stayed with a group of 12 spread out over four sites (005-008) and we were only able to stay one night because within the span of 24 hours we counted over 100 Lone Star ticks."
Noise levels vary by location: Some camping areas experience sound from neighboring facilities. A camper at Godfrey Bridge observed: "Very spacious and moderately shaded. Nice and flat site. The only issues were the RV 'resort' very close by, Very loud music at night from about 8-11."
Sandy road conditions: Vehicle access can require preparation at certain sites. For Batona Campground in Wharton State Forest, a reviewer noted: "The road into the campground is about 1 mile of loose sand. It can be accessed by a standard vehicle."
Pool facilities for kids: Certain camping sites near Elwood offer swimming options beyond natural bodies of water. A visitor to Holly Acres RV Park shared: "The swimming pool was inviting. The store was a bit small and date, but stocked with basic essentials like supplies, fire wood, and snacks."
Themed weekend activities: Many campgrounds schedule special events. At Hospitality Creek Campground, one camper mentioned: "We rode our bikes around, enjoyed time on the lake in a rented paddleboat, and had a blast at the 70s-themed live concert at the pavilion on Saturday night."
Lakes suitable for younger swimmers: Several locations provide safer water recreation options. A camper at Atsion Family Camp appreciated: "While camping at atsion family campground, you have free access to the recreation center (the beach and some trails)."
Pull-through site availability: Several campgrounds accommodate larger rigs with specific site designs. At Hospitality Creek Campground, Matt S. reported: "Our site(#57) 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. The hook-ups were all well-maintained and worked fine."
Parking challenges at some sites: Not all camping areas near Elwood can accommodate larger vehicles. For Batona Campground, one camper warned: "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."
Seasonal site options: Long-term stays are possible at certain locations. A reviewer at Spacious Skies Country Oaks mentioned: "After such consistently wonderful experiences, we are thrilled to take the next step and plan to purchase a seasonal site in the near future."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular campground near Elwood, NJ?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Elwood, NJ is Atsion Family Camp — Wharton State Forest with a 4.2-star rating from 26 reviews.
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