72 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Camping opportunities around Freehold, New Jersey range from established campgrounds to full-service RV resorts within a 20-mile radius. Turkey Swamp Park, a county park with 2,283 acres and a 17-acre lake, offers pull-through sites with good vegetation for privacy. Several mixed-use campgrounds like Pine Cone Resort and Butterfly Camping Resort provide tent sites, RV hookups, and cabin accommodations. Most camping areas in the region operate seasonally, with the majority open from April through October or November, catering to visitors seeking outdoor recreation options near the Jersey Shore.
Access to camping areas varies by property, with most established campgrounds offering paved or packed sand roads. Reservations are strongly recommended, especially during summer months when facilities fill quickly. As one visitor noted, "None of the roads are paved. All are packed sand. We could tell it rained recently because of the muddy tracks." Many campgrounds near Freehold provide water and electric hookups, with some offering full sewer connections for RVs. Visitors should prepare for variable weather conditions, as summer temperatures can be hot and humid while spring and fall bring cooler temperatures and occasional rainfall that may affect site conditions.
The camping experience in this region often features wooded sites with partial privacy. Turkey Swamp Park receives high praise from visitors for its natural setting and amenities. A camper described it as having "a rustic retro quality to the place. I adored the campsites and I didn't see any really bad ones." Butterfly Camping Resort stands out for its family-friendly atmosphere, with reviewers mentioning its "large playground and lots of activities for kids." Most tent and RV sites in the region include picnic tables and fire rings, with many campgrounds providing additional amenities like swimming pools, fishing lakes, and hiking trails. The proximity to urban areas means most campgrounds maintain reliable cell service, though visitors seeking a more remote experience may need to venture further into rural areas of New Jersey.
"We stayed in New Jersey for our 5th campground on the East Coast: Turkey Swamp Park in Freehold. This is a County park.
Near some Revolutionary War battlefields.
I really liked this park!"
"Turkey Swamp is a county park located in Monmouth County, NJ. This beautiful park has some of the nicest campsites in a wooded area."
from $42 - $79 / night
Check Availability"Lots of walking paths surround the park & you are also close to Belmar, Point Pleasant, Manasquan (all fun shore towns)."
"Nice state park with trails nearby."
"I stayed at Cheesequake at the beginning of August and had a very positive experience."
"This park is on the list of 50 top NJ Hikes, and it has a few great trails. The trails range from easy to moderate with quite a few lookout locations."
from $200 / night
Check Availability"Fishing lake is on the smaller side, but people were catching fish. Definitely in our top 5 New Jersey Campgrounds."
"4½ Stars Quick Weekend Getaway We stayed at Butterfly Camping Resort in Jackson, New Jersey, for a 2-night weekend in late-August. We’re so glad we did! "
from $64 - $78 / night
Check Availability"It feels like you're camping out in a field with mostly sand around. But having said that, I'd still recommend it for all of the positive they do have."
"Just from walking around I saw the two pools, an RC track, bocci, shuffle and board. They did have organized activities set up as well."
"They do their own haunted walk through that is just awesome! Everyone decorates. They have a dj every Saturday! Plenty of activities for the kids. They have cool raffles!"
"As a kid - close to 6 flags where we had season passes... it was Jellystone yogi bear at the time. Very close to 6 flags great adventure."
"Once you are there, you can walk right across the street to a bayside inlet and sandy shore that is not highly trafficked because no one can park there except those using the campground."
"Rangers at the entrance regulate admittance thus, providing a safe environment within the confines of the base."
from $30 - $50 / night
Check Availability"My wife and I, residing near the Commodore Barry, sought a brief respite. Our thirteen-year-old son was unable to join us, so we proceeded without him."
"Small campground W/ 8 spaces in the main area and 7 in an adjacent area. All spaces are level concrete With fill hookups and attached concrete patio."
GuideBasic clean older campground. No hookups. Water dump flush toilets and showers available. Very limited on campsites allowing dogs. Nice setting but traffic noise can be heard. Calms down later in evening. Generators ok and our quieter than road noise. Lots of mosquitos and bugs so bring your spray!
ScoutWe needed a pit stop….as a pit stop it serves its purpose…..would not stay here more than a night. Lots of seasonal run down campers. Tarps over campers. Bathrooms are neglected. Agree with previous reviewer that they have given into the seasonal camper.
ScoutVery nice family oriented, places the beach, which is great except for the birds watch out they come at you. They have a dog park basketball courts playground swimming just about everything.
ScoutNice site. Neighbor not to close. Bring extra water hose. The connection is not very close.
ScoutWe stopped here overnight on our way down south. Very convenient location, nice large lawn with beautiful tall shade trees, bathroom was extremely clean and you can see were just recently renovated. They had a pool and some basic playground equipment. Pet friendly. You have to enter the camping area by driving through an RV and truck storage area first. We would stay here again .
ScoutI love this location. Close to public transportation, great staff, and site security.
ScoutI stopped by in early October 2025 for one night, as I was on my home from Dad's. The place is attached to a trailer company. Most of the good camping spots are for RV's. There is a small area up the hill for tents. I was the only one in the Tent area. The restroom was clean and simple; two toilets and two sinks.
ScoutI got really into camping this year and this was a lovely place really close to my house and I love how easy it is to access and the fact that even if I wasn’t there on time for a check-in, I could still go to my site. Everything’s really easily accessible in terms of water and the bathrooms. I do a lot of car camping so I don’t necessarily do the hike in options, but they also had a bunch of different family locations and there’s a beach that’s really close by if that’s a part of the park, I believe.
TravelerReally pleased by our experience. The sites were large and well laid out. Bathhouse / showers were okay, but clean and in good repair. Verizon service was consistently 1 bar and hit 2 bars when I was lucky. Close enough to everything I wanted to visit on this trip. The Gateway National Recreation Area is about 90 minutes north. The Edwin B Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge is 25-30 minutes south and Cape May is about 70 minutes south. We'll be going back.
Camping options near Freehold, New Jersey range from wooded county parks to private resorts with diverse amenities. The region sits in New Jersey's coastal plain at elevations between 50-250 feet, characterized by sandy soil and mixed hardwood forests. Most campgrounds in the area operate on dirt or sand surfaces rather than paved sites, which affects site conditions especially after rainfall.
Archery practice at Turkey Swamp Park: The park offers designated archery facilities for visitors to practice their skills. According to Dan W., "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."
Wildlife viewing near Safari borders: Timberland Lake Campground provides unique wildlife viewing opportunities due to its location. One visitor noted, "Very close to Six Flags Great adventure. You can hear the lions in the morning. There is a road that goes between the campground and the Safari you can drive, walk, or bicycle down and see the animals!"
Mountain biking at Allaire State Park: The park offers trails for all skill levels, from beginners to experienced riders. A reviewer explained, "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."
Ice skating in winter months: Some parks offer seasonal activities beyond the typical camping season. As Patrick M. mentions about Turkey Swamp Park, "We go every year. It has everything the outdoorsman could ask for. 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."
Spacious pull-through sites: Many campers appreciate the generous site dimensions at certain campgrounds. Jean T. notes, "This campground has all pull-through sites. Nicely wooded with water and electric. Be sure to bring extra hose because the water spigot is a distance from the electric. Sites are level and well maintained."
Halloween festivities: Fall camping is popular for special events. Jessica D. says about Timberland Lake Campground, "We LOVE camping here in the fall!! They do their own haunted walk through that is just awesome! Everyone decorates. They have a dj every Saturday! Plenty of activities for the kids."
Family activities at Butterfly Resort: Families appreciate the range of organized activities. As Caitlin F. explains, "The campground was very well taken care of. The sites had good tree coverage and we didn't feel like we were right on top of the next site. There was tons of stuff to do. There's a pond to fish, trails to walk/bike, basketball, sand volleyball, the list goes on."
Natural setting with wildlife: Some campground areas offer unique wildlife experiences. JAEWOOK P. mentioned about Turkey Swamp Park, "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."
Sandy soil conditions: Most campgrounds in the area have sand-based sites which affects camping comfort. One camper at Butterfly Camping Resort mentioned, "Sites are sand and dirt, so be prepared for that. Absolutely no WiFi signal at all. Most campers are seasonal and typical rude NJ ppl."
Tick awareness: Some wooded areas have tick concerns during warmer months. A visitor warned, "I was so excited when we got here. The sites are spacious and it's really beautiful. But by the 2nd day I had 3 ticks on me. My dog had one and by the end my husband had 2."
Road noise: Proximity to highways affects sound levels at some campgrounds. A reviewer at Cheesequake State Park noted, "Like the title says, its ok. I think it would make a better day trip, family BBQ location. The Parkway is right there so its not a nice quiet place."
Early activity start times: Some campgrounds come alive early in the morning. Bill V. at Tip Tam Camping Resort observed, "The only downside I saw was people here are up way too early. 7am place was already loud. 7:45am a propane truck pulled in to fill the propane and was extremely loud. 8am people with leaf blowers and chopping wood. Don't expect to sleep past 7:30am."
Pedal car activities: Tip Tam Camping Resort offers unique transportation options for children. As Jenn M. noted, "The place was fun.. they have peddle cars and playgrounds. They deliver wood to your site by the truck full! Nice little store and staff are all friendly."
Pool movie nights: Some campgrounds offer special evening entertainment. Caitlin F. mentioned, "Both nights we were there, there were events being put on (a tractor ride, kickball, and a pool movie night). There was also a dog park which was very nice!"
Winter cabin options: Consider off-season camping in cabins for a different experience. Patrick M. from Allaire State Park shared, "This may be my favorite spot. I have stayed in all the spots they offer, yurt, cabin and the pull up sites. Getting a cabin in the winter and going for a snowy hike is wonderful there."
Dog-friendly amenities: Pet owners appreciate designated areas for their animals. Caitlin F. mentioned, "There was also a dog park which was very nice! The staff was extremely kind and helpful and took great care of us! Overall I highly recommend this campground, very family friendly."
Utility location challenges: Setup may require extra equipment based on hookup placements. Jean T. advises, "Be sure to bring extra hose because the water spigot is a distance from the electric. Sites are level and well maintained."
Sand management strategies: RVers should prepare for sandy conditions. Matt S. noted, "There were two observations I'd categorize as 'no park is perfect.' The site was sandy. The whole place is sandy. This is messy, especially after a bit of rain(which we had), and makes it a constant challenge to keep the sand out of the RV."
Site selection importance: Choosing the right site affects comfort throughout your stay. Lee D. mentions about Sandy Hook Gateway, "The site was clean and accommodating. Great way to escape the city for a night if you can't make it upstate!"
Seasonal decoration opportunities: RV sites provide space for holiday decorations during special event weekends. Jessica D. observed, "They do their own haunted walk through that is just awesome! Everyone decorates. They have a dj every Saturday!"
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Freehold, NJ?
According to TheDyrt.com, Freehold, NJ offers a wide range of camping options, with 72 campgrounds and RV parks near Freehold, NJ and 1 free dispersed camping spot.
Which is the most popular campground near Freehold, NJ?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Freehold, NJ is Turkey Swamp Park with a 4.4-star rating from 30 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Freehold, NJ?
According to TheDyrt.com, there is 1 free dispersed camping spot near Freehold, NJ.
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