Turkey Swamp Park provides camping from April through mid-November on level, dirt campsites with water and electric hookups. The campground features five loops with pull-through driveways, allowing for easy site access. Each campsite includes a lantern hook, picnic table, and fire ring. Bathroom facilities are centrally located in D Loop, with modern showers and flush toilets. Most sites offer good spacing with tree coverage for privacy. For campers seeking horse-related camping options near Fair Haven, New Jersey, other state forests provide more suitable facilities.
What to do
Archery range access: Turkey Swamp Park offers an archery range for campers looking to practice their skills. According to Patrick M., "We go every year... Bring your bow and shoot at the hay barrels. Ice skate on the lake in the winter or just enjoy a gorgeous walk in the woods."
Lake activities: The park features a lake with various water recreation options. Dan W. at Turkey Swamp Park notes, "Plenty to do over a 2 night stay. Archery, boating, fishing, and hiking. Boat rental rates are acceptable and there are four different styles to choose from."
Hiking trail network: Several short hiking trails are available within the park, with the longest being 2.5 miles. Lee D. reports, "Several short hiking trails that are fairly well-marked but can be a bit confusing at times. Some sections of the trails were muddy due to swamps and bogs but passable."
Mountain biking options: Allaire State Park offers biking trails ranging from beginner to advanced levels. Beau B. mentions, "Mountain Biking from easy, paved trails to several miles of single track with everything in between. Working village and antique train are available most of the year."
NYC sightseeing access: For those wanting to combine camping with city experiences, Liberty Harbor RV Park provides direct access to Manhattan. Keith and Tia S. share, "Minutes walk to the Statue of Liberty, Liberty Science Center. Two blocks away from NJ Path train into Manhattan or take the ferry to Wall Street!"
What campers like
Privacy between sites: Campers appreciate the well-spaced sites at Turkey Swamp Park. Katheryn N. notes, "Sites are in the woods and widely spaced apart to give you privacy and the feeling of being out in the forest. Sites are level, very generous in size, and reasonably spaced apart for privacy."
Winter camping options: Unlike many seasonal campgrounds, some locations offer year-round camping opportunities. Lisa S. at Allaire State Park shares, "We found this campground one night when we were in NJ. It ended up snowing that night. The bathrooms were clean and warm. There is a lot to do in the area."
Well-maintained facilities: Clean bathrooms and showers are frequently mentioned by campers. Shawn at Turkey Swamp Park simply states, "Nice, remote, private. Some sites unlevel. Bring a LONG water hose. Nice lake. Showers and washers and dryers."
Pine Barrens experience: Brendan Byrne State Forest offers a true Pine Barrens camping experience. Benjamin K. explains, "It's far away from traffic noise. You can't hear any cars or any other noise from civilization at all. It's at least 10 miles away from anything more than a single house in the woods."
Large, spacious sites: Most camping areas offer generous space for multiple tents or equipment. Lindsay D. describes Brendan Byrne State Forest: "Nice and quiet, sites are spaced out enough to offer privacy. Good trees for hammocking! Plenty of room for a few tents at each site."
What you should know
Tick concerns: Campers should be prepared for ticks, especially during warmer months. LAURA Y. at Turkey Swamp Park warns, "By the 2nd day I had 3 ticks on me. My dog had one and by the end my husband had 2. That was so crazy because we were just sitting by our camper."
Limited water access: Some campgrounds require planning for water needs. Dan M. at Brendan Byrne State Forest explains, "Lots of potable water hydrants around the campground so not far of a walk to fill any water needs you may have."
Campfire time restrictions: Some parks have specific rules about campfire usage. Dorian P. notes about Brendan Byrne State Forest, "Only weird rule I saw was that fires can only go from 6pm till 7am which was odd but wasn't a deal breaker."
Highway noise at some locations: Proximity to highways can affect the camping experience. Justin S. comments about Allaire State Park, "Clean bathrooms. Sites are a little too close together. Noisy with highway traffic. Well maintained though."
Limited horse facilities: For equestrian camping near Fair Haven, New Jersey, options are limited. Brendan Byrne State Forest offers trail riding opportunities but lacks dedicated horse camping facilities. Most campgrounds in the immediate Fair Haven area don't accommodate horses at campsites.
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Brendan Byrne State Forest offers family-friendly amenities including play areas for children. Dan W. at Turkey Swamp Park mentions, "Centralized playground for the kids with bathrooms and showers next door. Staff was awesome! Attentive and outgoing."
Bug management strategies: Families should prepare for insects, but proper planning can help. JAEWOOK P. shares a positive experience, "We went camping with our 2- and 3-year-old kids. We were worried about bugs, but we didn't even use mosquito repellent and didn't get a single bite! The campground was super clean too."
Trail difficulty levels: When planning hikes with children, consider trail complexity. Benjamin K. states about Brendan Byrne State Forest, "The walking trails! There are probably hundreds of miles of trails through the woods and bogs to explore. Could spend a whole vacation just with these trails."
Multiple camping styles: Some sites allow different accommodation types at the same site. Katheryn N. notes, "Sites are tent and RV sites and you are allowed to have a tent on the site with an RV at no extra charge."
Tips from RVers
Water hose requirements: RVers at Liberty Harbor RV Park should prepare for specific site setups. Shawn recommends, "Bring a LONG water hose" when camping at Turkey Swamp Park.
Dump station access: Plan for waste disposal needs in advance. Shawn B. advises, "There is a dump station, but not the easiest to use."
City access considerations: For RVers visiting NYC, Joe R. suggests, "Getting in and out of the city is an adventure. Stay right off the highway to avoid the $30 tunnel toll. Follow RV life pro and not Waze."
Site selection strategy: Kevin A. offers advice for Liberty Harbor RV Park, "Pick one of the larger end row sites to get a little extra elbow room. If it's packed, your neighbor will be within inches of your rig."
