Best Glamping near Estell Manor, NJ

The attendant was very friendly and helpful when we arrived without making a reservation first and was able to get us in for a single night stay despite the "no vacancy" for the last 3 weeks straight. He was very thorough about the best showers (with air conditioning), the nature center with trails, bikes to loan, and other things to do. The campsite was meant for an RV but it still worked for our car and tent. The site was partially shaded, had a fire ring and picnic table, electric and water spigot. Bathrooms and showers nearby but we used the shower house with private rooms and air conditioning. Small camp store on site that has wood and ice and a few other things. Laundry facility with coin operated washer and dryers as well as utility sink for dish washing. You can bike or take a long walk to the beach or drive which is what we did. Beautiful beach with bath house and concessions but not as busy as Rehoboth beach a few miles down the road. We also were able to see a pod of dolphins about 100ft from shore when we went swimming! Despite the campground being full and sites very close together the evening was still pleasant and quiet!

We stayed here for 3 nights while visiting family In Philadelphia. It is a 20 minute ride into Philly and Uber was was quick and responsive.

*note- this does close for winter and reopens in April but call park for exact closure dates because they do change.

This is a nice KOA with full hook ups, tent sites,cabins, and even glamping cabins. There is a pool that is open Memorial Day- Labor Day. They also have a catch and release pond and we found a pickleball court at a nearby city park.

We did Chinatown and walked part of the Schuylkill River trail which we accessed by parking near Fairmount Park. This is a great area to explore with gorgeous views and easy access to the River trail. (There are rentals for everything here- kayaks/bikes etc)

IF we had a car with us- we would have considered taking the ferry from Camden’s Ferry Terminal next to Wiggins Park to Philly. (This is also near the Adventure Aquarium and the battleship New Jersey) Here is a link to information about the ferry-

https://www.delawareriverwaterfront.com/places/riverlink-ferry

This is a great location for exploring Philadelphia.

Happy Camping! Pamela and Keith

Cape Henlopen camp sites fill up so quickly, and for good reason! After missing out on reservations year after year, this year, we booked a weekend tent site for July back in January and immediately realized the spark of this place. The campground is large with various loops full of RV, popup, and tent sites. There is also a section of walk-in tent sites, each with 1 parking spot semi close by. (Bring a wagon if you stay at one of these). We stayed in site T021 (walk-in site) and had plenty of privacy and space to set up our screen room, tent, and firepit. All camp sites come with the standard picnic table, as well as fire pit and grill grate. There is a camp store in the center of the campground where you can purchase firewood, coffee, batteries, ice or other camping needs.  There are several bath houses strategically placed throughout the campground so that you can easily find one a few minute walk away no matter where you stay. Bath houses were clean, updated, well maintained and air conditioned. There are both public showers that are stall-like within some of the bath houses, as well as large private shower + bathroom stalls (perfect if you have young kids). I didn't find the bugs to be any worse than typical summer camping spots (I heard they maybe spray for bugs on the sites?) but definitely bring your spray and citronella candles. It also POURED from a small tropical storm the morning we arrived yet our site and the full campground was well and dry by the time we set up in the afternoon  - looked like most of the sites were set up on hills, which is great to avoid pooling in inclement weather.  Pets are allowed and there are water spigots near every site. Although our site (T021) was spacious and private, my brother's family was staying on T011 and there were about 4-5 sites all in an open space back to back with one another near his. The neighbors were friendly so no complaints but the lack of privacy there is worth nothing in case you wanted to feel more 'remote'. The sites are mostly tree lined and semi shaded by pines. The campground gets extremely dark at night and the stars are so beautiful from the lack of light pollution! The campground is in a large state park, full of many bike trails, hiking spots, historical WWII sites, fishing pier, and of course the beach. There is a separate entrance for campers so make sure to follow that when you drive in. The beach *is* walkable (maybe a mile away) but much easier /quicker to drive, and there is plenty of parking by the beach. The beach can get crowded but is clean and has lifeguards.  The best part is on a quiet night, if you listen really closely, you can hear the waves crashing in the distance. Due to the nature vibe, proximity to beach, and modern  bathhouses, I think this campground has become our new favorite one!

We just spent a full week at Sea Pirate Campground in West Creek, NJ, over July 4th, and had a(mostly) good time. This was our second visit to this campground since 2021. 

We stayed in a level pull-thru site(#516) with picnic table and grill/fire pit. The site was big enough for our motor home and toad. Full hook-ups with 50-amp service. Mature shade trees made the site more comfortable given the July heat. 

We had a problem with our site: extremely low water pressure, often below 20 PSI. It was so low at times, that we couldn’t take showers or flush the toilet. At some times, it was a bearable 40 PSI. I went to the office to ask for help. To their credit, someone came right away. My issue was that he told me “It gets low when other campers are using their water.” That’s a problem when you charge resort-level pricing and impose 5-night minimum stays. We paid$125/night including fees. This water issue was so bad, it may keep us from going back despite living just 90-minutes away. 

A less significant issue is that the sites are sandy dirt— no gravel or concrete. This makes things extremely dirty whether it’s dry or raining. Just my opinion, but a small investment in gravel would go a long way, especially for a site labeled ‘Premium Pull-Through.’ 

One major upgrade since our last visit is an entirely new swimming pool. It’s beautifully done and an obviously significant investment to this area of the campground. Based on how crowded it was each day, it was probably money well-spent. 

They have a great store and eatery near the pool. Purchases can be easily made using their wristbands(provided at check-in). No need to carry cash or credit cards around the campground. 

The location is great because it’s close to Long Beach Island (LBI) and even closer to the Tuckerton Seaport. Lots to see and do within a 30-minute drive (depending on traffic). The campground entrance/exit is gated(which we like). 

Bottom Line: This is a great campground in a great location. We may go back, but the poor water pressure will make us think about it.

THINGS I REALLY LIKED: 

• Great new pool area 
• Well maintained and clean campground 
• Close to LBI

I arrived on a Tuesday a few days after they closed the pool, and by Wednesday I had the whole row of tent sites to myself. Maybe that's why it was so peaceful, but every night after my cacophonous conference in Philadelphia, I couldn't wait to turn down Timberlane Road and see that little KOA sign glowing in the darkness. In addition to the peaceful vibe, the people are friendly, the little office store has everything you forgot to pack, and if you look around the campground edges or follow the walking trail into the woods, you will find wonderful native plants like blueberry, viburnum, clethra, and meadow beauty.

We went to Ocean View Resort in New Jersey to kick off the 2022 season in our new Fleetwood Discovery LXE. And we’re glad we did! 

This campground is located less than two miles from Exit 17 off the Garden State Parkway. It’s located a short drive from popular shore towns including Avalon, Sea Isle City, Cape May, and Ocean City. We found the park easy to access and navigate. 

The check-in process was easy and the front office staff was friendly. I appreciate being expected when stepping up to the front desk. 

The most amazing part of our experience was our‘Deluxe 50 Amp Pull Thru’ site# E19. It was HUUUUUUGGGGGGE! See my photos. Our site had full hookups including 50-amp electricity, good water pressure, easily-accessed sewer connection, cable TV with limited channels(some were not clear), and Wi-Fi which was hopelessly slow. Tall trees provided some shade and privacy. The site was covered in gravel and stone, which is great because it didn’t get muddy after the rainstorm we experienced one night. I highly recommend sites E15-E27(E14 slopes too much for my preference). Most sites are seasonal trailers or-park models, but they appeared generally clean and maintained. 

The campground, our site, and facilities we visited were clean and well-maintained. Not all facilities were open as the full season begins in a few weeks. The campground store carries a variety of food and drinks, camping and RV supplies, clothing, pool toys, and souvenirs. This came in handy when I needed to replace a damaged sewer hose. 

It’s a good sign when it’s difficult to think of negative comments. If I’m being nit-picky, I’d share that the trash and recycling dumpsters were overflowing and unsightly. This could be because it was opening weekend. The firewood they sold was nice and dry, but they don’t deliver it to the sites. This meant I could only purchase what I could carry for my walk back to my site.(I believe offering delivery would be a major convenience for campers and result in increased sales for the campground.) 

This was their opening weekend for the 2022 season. While we expected inconveniences or less-than-ideal conditions, we found the place was prepared for the new season and we had no issues. The lake, swimming pool, and cafe hadn’t opened yet, but we’ll be sure to visit those amenities during our next visit later this summer. 

THINGS I LIKED: Site was huge and clean with well-maintained full hookups, gravel, and shade trees. Campground is clean and maintained. Store was well-stocked 

THINGS I’D CHANGE: No delivery for firewood Slow Wi-Fi Limited working cable TV channels