Camping in southern New Jersey offers year-round opportunities with mild winters rarely dropping below 20°F and humid summers averaging 85°F. The region around Runnemede features a mix of Pine Barrens ecosystems and Delaware Valley watersheds, creating diverse camping environments within a 30-mile radius. Most campgrounds in this area close seasonally between late October and early April.
What to do
Kayaking the Mullica River: At Goshen Pond Campground in Wharton State Forest, campers can launch directly from sites. "Our site was right next to the Mullica River, and had excellent views if you walked just a couple steps from the tent. We were able to put our kayaks in right next to the site which was very convenient," notes Anna D.
Hiking natural trails: Multiple hiking paths weave through the Pine Barrens near campsites. "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," explains Jorah about Philadelphia South/Clarksboro KOA.
Swimming options beyond pools: Lake Kandle offers multiple water recreation choices. "Lake with swing and fishing and two pools. No pets no alcohol no store but they have a snack stand," reports Mya M., highlighting the diverse swimming options available beyond standard campground pools.
Stargazing without light pollution: The Pine Barrens provide excellent night sky viewing opportunities. When camping at Bodine Field in Wharton State Forest, Dina S. describes, "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 campers like
Clean facilities: Old Cedar Campground maintains high cleanliness standards. "The pool was nice and clean. Wifi worked well enough for us to stream Netflix and YouTube," reports Matt S., who appreciated the well-maintained amenities during their stay.
Proximity to Philadelphia: Campers value locations allowing day trips to the city. Jason E. notes about Philadelphia South/Clarksboro KOA, "This is a very nice KOA, just over the Delaware River from Philly. The park is clean, quiet, full of families. It's easy to navigate to the park from the interstate, and big rigs fit easily."
Waterfront sites: Hospitality Creek Campground offers premium lakefront options. "Our lakefront site (#57) was superb! It was between a small, paved boat ramp and a row of arborvitae trees on the other side separating us from the neighboring site," explains Matt S., describing the scenic waterfront accommodations.
Unique accommodations: For those seeking alternatives to traditional camping, Tinicum Island provides boat-in only camping. Bobby S. simply states, "A great place to stay if you have a watercraft," highlighting this distinctive camping option within reach of Runnemede.
What you should know
Seasonal limitations: Many best places to camp near Runnemede, New Jersey operate on restricted schedules. Old Cedar Campground runs from April 21 to October 9, while Goshen Pond Campground operates April 1 to October 31.
Reservation requirements: Summer weekends fill quickly at most campgrounds. Matt S. notes about Hospitality Creek: "We were met at the entry gate with a personalized folder containing lots of helpful information for our stay. I was impressed at how prepared they were for our arrival."
Site maintenance varies: Some campgrounds require vigilance for debris. Steve comments about Atsion Recreation Area: "There was a bag tied to a tree with someone's trash in it. Speaking of trash, there was a lot of little bits scattered throughout the site, I spent my camp setup time also picking out the worst offenders (bottle caps, broken glass, zip ties, broken off plastic bits of kids toys etc.)"
Noise considerations: At several campgrounds, fellow campers can impact the experience. Steve noted at Atsion: "Unfortunately 2 of them were taken by a large family group who were pretty loud until midnight - no fault of the campsite, just note that this place will have a higher frequency of this type of visitor."
Tips for camping with families
Activity scheduling: Four Seasons Family Campground provides structured programming for children. "Very quiet and peaceful at night with lots of activities for the kids during the day," notes Amanda M., highlighting the balance between entertainment and rest.
Multi-generational visits: Hospitality Creek Campground offers day visitor options. Craig W. explains, "The wonderful part was having them visit us - for $8 per day the grandchildren were able to play miniature golf, swim in the pool (they had pool toys to borrow) fish (and yes they caught bass), every Saturday they had an organized activity for the kids."
Playground access: For families with younger children, Philadelphia South/Clarksboro KOA provides several play areas. Nicole S. reports, "There was so much to do there a pool, lake, horseshoes, cornhole, playground, big pillow and even more. They offer so many activities during the day and text you so you don't forget."
Bathroom proximity: When camping with children, bathroom location becomes crucial. Paula at Philadelphia South/Clarksboro KOA notes, "It was cold so we asked to be put close to bathrooms so we could leave camper winterized. They accommodated us nicely."
Tips from RVers
Site selection: At Old Cedar Campground, Matt S. advises, "The water hookups are shared every other site (at least in the Fence Loop). I was lucky my 75' hose barely reached the distance needed. Be sure to bring extra hoses."
RV maneuvering: Ridley Creek State Park has specific limitations on RV size. The park accommodates smaller rigs but lacks facilities for larger motorhomes or trailers, making it better suited for tent camping or compact campers.
Hookup reliability: Jim G. reports about Philadelphia South/Clarksboro KOA: "The hookups were fine, cable was good, wifi was fairly fast but was prone to disconnects. Lots of shopping nearby, fortunately for me because I had to run to Home Depot for a quick repair item."
Delivery services: Several campgrounds offer on-site delivery of essentials. Nicole S. appreciated that at Philadelphia South/Clarksboro KOA "they also would deliver firewood to your fire ring which was a awesome touch," saving campers from carrying heavy loads.
