Glamping options near Estell Manor, New Jersey range from basic tent platforms to luxury accommodations with private decks and climate control. Situated in the southern New Jersey Pine Barrens, the area features sandy soil and cedar-stained waterways typical of this unique ecosystem. Seasonal availability varies by location, with most glamping sites operating from April through October due to the region's fluctuating temperatures and higher precipitation in winter months.
What to do
Paddling opportunities: Wading Pines Camping Resort offers direct access to the Wading River where visitors can enjoy tubing. "You can tube down the river from one end of camp to the other," notes one camper, while another suggests, "Have someone drop you off at Hawkins Bridge and float down to the campground. A little over 2 hour ride."
Hiking trails: Belleplain State Forest provides multiple marked trails through pine forest habitat. "We biked the trails, and hiked others that didn't allow bikes," mentions a visitor. The trails offer varying difficulty levels, though most are relatively flat and suitable for beginners.
Lake activities: Atsion Family Camp in Wharton State Forest features access to Atsion Lake with water recreation options. "We tent camped at Atsion in 2015: had flush toilets and was close to the checkin station/store as well as the beach on the lake," reports one camper. Some sites provide direct water access: "Our site was right on Wading River and we launched our kayaks right at the site!"
What campers like
Spacious sites: Many campgrounds provide ample space between sites, particularly at state parks. At Parvin State Park Campground, "most sites are quite large. No gravel or pads on sites, just bare ground." Similarly, Atsion Family Camp has "very big" sites, with one camper noting, "the sites were very big."
Swimming options: Several campgrounds feature designated swimming areas. Ocean View Resort Campground provides multiple water options according to visitors: "This campground had it all from a huge pool and unbelievable splash pad to a great swimming pond with a beach!"
Dark skies: The Pine Barrens region offers good stargazing opportunities. A camper at Wharton State Forest's Bodine campground shared, "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."
What you should know
Bathroom facilities: Quality varies widely between campgrounds. At Holly Shores Camping Resort (now Sun Outdoors Cape May), "Bathhouses are very clean and updated." However, at Parvin State Park, one camper reported, "Bathrooms were clean but most of the faucets on the sinks were broken. The water has a very high iron content."
Cell service: Connectivity is limited in parts of the Pine Barrens. One Belleplain State Forest visitor warned, "Virtually NO cell service with AT&T, TMobile or Verizon. AT&T we the better of the 3. Our Winegard/Gateway give us no internet which we normally get."
Seasonal considerations: Most glamping and premium camping facilities operate on a limited schedule. Wading Pines Camping Resort runs from "Apr 15 - Nov 15," while Ocean View Resort Campground operates from "Apr 6 - Nov 4," requiring advance planning for off-season visits.
Tips for camping with families
Activity-focused campgrounds: Ocean View Resort Campground specializes in family entertainment. "This place had a lot to do with kids! Lake, pool, ice cream, arcade, mini golf, mining station, activities," reports one family. Another adds, "Ocean View Resort was an excellent resort for our family with two toddlers. Kids loved the Splash Park, Arcade, Tram Car, playgrounds and Lake."
Weekday visits: For quieter experiences, avoid weekends at popular campgrounds. At Mays Landing Resort, one camper observed the difference in atmosphere: "It was a Saturday and they were rocking. I dont know if the person playing the music was a professional DJ, he was incredible."
Educational opportunities: Several campgrounds offer nature programs for children. Belleplain State Forest provides regular activities: "The nature center had planned activities for families each day," notes one visitor, making it ideal for educational camping experiences.
Tips from RVers
Site selection: Many campgrounds have tight access roads and uneven sites. At Mays Landing Resort, visitors warn, "Site are very unleveled so the staff switched us to a pull thru space that was a tad bit more level but still very unleveled." At Holly Shores, one RVer advised, "We had a hard time getting on to site 145. We had seasonals in front and behind us who weren't very friendly."
Dump station considerations: Plan for potential delays at busy times. A Belleplain State Forest camper cautioned, "The worst was the dump station. It is just a little hole on the side of the road and the ONLY dump station for the 3 campgrounds! It was very unlevel and not easy to fully dump our tanks. It was also Memorial Day weekend and the line at checkout caused us to wait 2 hours to dump!!"
Road navigation: Several campgrounds feature challenging internal road systems. Parvin State Park has "very narrow roads to sites, so not big rig friendly there but most sites are quite large." Similarly, at Belleplain, "Staff at office said all the roads in the CCC section were 2-way. Not wide enough in my opinion but we didn't have a problem."
