Camping opportunities near Lanoka Harbor, New Jersey center around the Pine Barrens ecosystem with its distinctive sandy soil and pine forests. Summer temperatures typically range from 75-90°F, while spring and fall camping seasons offer milder 55-75°F temperatures. Many campgrounds in this region remain open from April through November, with state parks offering year-round options though with reduced winter services.
What to do
Fishing and boating: 30-minute drive to Turkey Swamp Park where campers can enjoy multiple water activities. "The lake is right there with a boat dock and a small boardwalk. Kayaking/Canoeing, fishing, and swimming. In the summer, canoe, kayak, paddle boats, and row boats are available for rental," notes Lee D.
Trail exploration: Multiple difficulty levels throughout the region's state forests. At Brendan Byrne State Forest, you'll find "Lots of good hiking trails, most the sites have pretty decent privacy from the other ones," according to Dan M. The forest offers trails ranging from beginner-friendly paths to more challenging routes.
River tubing: 2-hour float trips are popular during summer months. At Wading Pines Camping Resort, campers appreciate the river access. "We did have a great time tubing on the river. Have someone drop you off at Hawkins Bridge and float down to the campground. A little over 2 hour ride," shares Stacy D.
What campers like
Large, private sites: Campers consistently rate the spaciousness of sites in this region's state forests. At Bass River State Forest, Jeff J. mentions, "A beautiful camping area that is affordable, each site is very large, very clean and well maintained, bathrooms and showers 24/7. The camp ground area is very large and signed extremely well making finding your campsite easy."
Family-friendly activities: Most campgrounds offer organized events during peak season. At Baker's Acres Campground, Karen S. reports, "Check the activities schedule, there is always something fun to do! Close to LBI and a short drive to Smithville, I highly recommend Baker's Acres!"
Natural setting: Many campers value the region's unique pine forest ecosystem. "I grew up at this camp ground. Spent every summer here. Some of my favorite things about this place are 1) 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," shares Benjamin K. about Brendan Byrne State Forest.
What you should know
Insect preparation: Essential from May through September. At Bass River State Forest, Gennifer K. warns, "There were a lot of ticks when we stayed in May so keep that in mind." Bug spray with DEET is recommended.
Noise levels: Vary by campground and time of year. At Sea Pirate Campground, visitors note that weekends can be busy, especially during summer and holiday periods. "We wanted to like it here, but the bugs were just unbearable day & night. You couldn't even sit outside by the fire. Even walking the dog was a challenge," reports Happy Camper L.
Water pressure concerns: Some campgrounds experience utility fluctuations during peak season. Matt S. noted at Sea Pirate Campground: "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."
Tips for camping with families
Playgrounds and recreational options: Most campgrounds offer multiple kid-friendly facilities. Turkey Swamp Park features "age-appropriate playgrounds both in the campground and by the office," according to Lee D., making it suitable for various age groups.
Pool availability: May through September at many private campgrounds. Caitlin F. from Butterfly Camping Resort shares: "There's a pond to fish, trails to walk/bike, basketball, sand volleyball, the list goes on and on. Both nights we were there, there were events being put on (a tractor ride, kickball, and a pool movie night)."
Weekend activities: Check schedules before booking. Numerous campgrounds host organized events. "We enjoyed the scavenger hunt and Saturday night entertainment. There were very few golf carts and all the cars drove cautiously. We felt our daughter was safe to ride her bike," notes Becca U. at Baker's Acres.
Tips from RVers
Site surface conditions: Mostly sandy throughout the region. At Wading Pines Camping Resort, Derrick S. advises, "Lots of shade, decent size sites. Loud and kid friendly, which is fine for us but might not be for some."
Hookup locations: Often widely spaced on many sites. Lee D. notes at Turkey Swamp Park, "Sites in Loops B-E all have pull-thru driveways. Sites are all level, very generous in size, and reasonably spaced apart for privacy."
Road conditions: Sometimes challenging for larger rigs. Jim G. from Baker's Acres Campground shares, "Backing my rig into the site, and exiting, was a bit challenging due to the angle and size of the service road but we managed well enough and really enjoyed the area as we were near a short hiking path that was great to take the dogs out."
