The Pine Barrens region surrounding Elwood, New Jersey offers a unique camping experience with its sandy soil, distinctive pine forest ecosystem, and seasonal insect patterns. The area maintains a 3-5°F warmer microclimate than nearby coastal regions during fall camping season. Most pet-friendly campgrounds in the region share the characteristic sandy terrain that makes for comfortable tent placement but can create dusty conditions during dry periods.
What to do
River paddling excursions: Winding River Campground provides kayak rentals and transportation for 2-5 hour river trips that return directly to the campground. "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!! Bring your own and just pay a small transport fee," notes Michelle F.
Swimming in Cranes Lake: The natural lake at Mays Landing Resort offers a different swimming experience than the more developed beach areas. "Baby turtles were hatching when we arrived," reports Danielle S., who stayed in the tent loop adjacent to the water.
Hiking the Batona Trail: The 53-mile trail system traverses multiple camping areas and provides opportunities for day hikes from many campgrounds. "We tent camped at Batona in 2018. Our site was right on Wading River and we launched our kayaks right at the site! 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," writes Dina S. about her experience at Wharton State Forest.
What campers like
Private waterfront sites: Some campsites at Hospitality Creek Campground provide direct lake access. "Our lakefront site(#57) was superb! It was between a small, paved boat ramp and a row of arborvitae trees on the other side separating us from the neighboring site," reports Matt S.
Pine Barrens camping comfort: The sandy terrain throughout the region creates naturally soft camping surfaces. "The benefits to this Pine Barren ecology is that it makes for almost perfect camping. The ground is always very soft and sandy, which makes for comfortable sleeping. It's noticeably NOT rocky," explains Hallie M. about camping in Wharton State Forest.
Rural seclusion with conveniences: Most campgrounds maintain a remote feel while providing basic services. "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," notes Matt S. about the check-in process.
What you should know
Weekend noise considerations: Several campgrounds host weekend entertainment that affects the camping experience. "Wading Pines has live music (a terrible cover band) that they blast from 7 until 11-12 pm that echoes through the park," warns Jim F. about camping near certain Wharton State Forest locations.
Tick prevention essential: The Pine Barrens ecosystem has a significant tick population, particularly in warmer months. "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 that had either attached to us or our dogs," cautions Marina L. about her experience at Godfrey Bridge.
Variable site conditions: Drainage and terrain can vary significantly between sites, even within the same campground. "Site F 17 is the lowest point of the tent loop, which won't be a problem unless it rains. Unfortunately, it rained 3 inches one day and I literally dug a trench around the tent to keep it dry," reports Danielle S.
Tips for camping with families
Playground facilities: Spacious Skies Country Oaks offers activities for children during weekend stays. "Small but very clean campground. Great swimming pool. Lots of activities planned for kids over weekends. Hay ride etc.," mentions Chris W.
Kid-friendly kayaking: Bass River State Forest offers gentle paddling options suitable for beginning kayakers of all ages. "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," writes Matthew H.
Water recreation options: Multiple swimming areas provide different experiences for families with pets. "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)," shares Alexa L.
Tips from RVers
Site leveling challenges: RV sites at many campgrounds require leveling blocks or equipment. "Sites are very unleveled so the staff switched us to a pull thru space that was a tad bit more level but still very unleveled," reports Daniel C. about his stay at Mays Landing Resort.
Campground navigation: Access roads at pet friendly camping near Elwood, New Jersey can be challenging for larger rigs. "Really nice area but the park is a little run down and spots are super crowded with really narrow, winding streets. It was a maze," notes Cyn D. about navigating campgrounds with an RV.
Utility hookup quality: Water and electric reliability varies between campgrounds. "The water, electric, and sewer hookups looked practically brand new (or at least really well maintained)," notes Matt S. about the utilities at one campground, which provides important information for RV campers relying on these services.
