The Elwood region of New Jersey sits within the Pine Barrens ecosystem, characterized by sandy soils and pine-oak forests. Most campgrounds in the area operate from April through October, though select RV parks like Shady Pines Campground in Absecon remain open year-round. Summer temperatures typically range from 75-90°F with high humidity, while spring and fall offer more moderate camping conditions.
What to do
Beach access: Atlantic City beaches are approximately 20 miles from Shady Pines Campground, providing a convenient day trip option. "There's a cute brewery right around the corner and a burger place called Tony Beef. We liked them both," notes one visitor who appreciated the local dining options.
Fishing opportunities: Thousand Trails Chestnut Lake offers on-site fishing in their stocked lake. As one camper mentioned, "good fishing, good people, nice shaded and sunny spots, beautiful pool." The lake provides recreation without leaving the campground.
Brewery visits: Cold Spring Brewery is located near several Cape May area campgrounds. "Cold Spring Brewery wasn't too far and was fun," reports one camper who stayed at Big Timber Lake while exploring local attractions.
What campers like
Clean facilities: King Nummy Trail Campground earns praise for maintenance. "The staff are absolutely amazing! So friendly and caring! Clean facilities. Great location close to Cape May and Wildwood," one camper reported after their stay.
Pool amenities: Multiple Elwood area rv campgrounds feature swimming pools. At King Nummy Trail, "They have 2 on site with a shallower one and an 8ft," according to a recent visitor, making it suitable for different swimming abilities.
Location convenience: Pomona RV Park and Campground, situated about 4 miles north of Elwood, provides a central base for exploring the region. One long-term camper noted, "People are very friendly, never had a problem. They have internet, TV, open gear around, city water, sewer, always there to help."
What you should know
Seasonal population: Most RV parks near Elwood have a high percentage of seasonal or permanent residents. At Mays Landing Resort, a visitor observed, "This is more like a long term stay place that has a couple of short term sites," highlighting the limited availability for transient campers.
Site levelness issues: Many campgrounds in the area have uneven sites. "It's an ok campground, nothing really special. The spots were tight and when our neighbor parked his truck in his spot, my chair could almost touch it," reported one Mays Landing camper.
Navigation challenges: Interior roads at several parks can be difficult to navigate with larger rigs. One visitor to Mays Landing Resort noted, "The exit is very tight to get out of and all lanes are one way so be careful if you have a big rig."
Reservation timing: For weekend and summer stays, book well in advance. At Thousand Trails Lake & Shore, one camper mentioned, "I would like to go in season but you have to reserve a year in advance."
Tips for camping with families
Waterpark options: Sun Retreats Seashore Campsites & RV Resort features water slides and a lake for swimming. A visitor noted, "I did like the lake and waterpark. However, the water in the waterpark was ice cold."
Playground amenities: Multiple campgrounds offer play areas for children. One visitor to Mays Landing Resort commented, "It does have a nice playground for the little kids," providing recreation space for younger campers.
Insect preparation: Pack ample bug spray, especially during summer months. A camper at Seashore Campsites advised, "There were so many great things about this campground. It was beautiful and had so many different amenities including a little man made beach in the center of the campground. Our only issues were...the mosquitos were INSANE!"
Halloween activities: Mays Landing Resort offers special October events. "Halloween decorations were the best. My daughter really enjoyed the scavenger hunt," mentioned one visitor who appreciated the seasonal programming.
Tips from RVers
Site selection strategy: When staying at Thousand Trails parks like Chestnut Lake, experienced campers recommend arriving early. "We weren't sure about this campground. We booked through Thousand Trails and you can't reserve sites. Our trailer is 37 feet long, so there is always the concern we won't find any sites will fit in," shared one RVer.
Leveling preparation: Bring extra leveling blocks when camping in the Elwood region. At Shady Pines, a camper reported, "The site was inadequately sized to accommodate the full length. The much bigger problem was that it sloped so much it was impossible to level. I didn't have enough blocks to prop up the leveling jacks enough to level the RV."
Site markers: For smaller RVs that plan to leave the campground during their stay, bring site markers. One camper at Thousand Trails Lake & Shore advised, "If you have a class B and plan to go in and out I recommend you bring some sort of indicator to mark your site as occupied."
Width considerations: Many sites have limited width. At Echo Farms RV Campground, a visitor commented, "It was not what I expected the site was very small no grass no privacy but the good thing about it was with centrally located around 4 beaches."
