M
Michael M.
Scout
ScoutTurkey Swamp Park
Water/power at the campsite, and and centrally located dump station. Lots of trees and nice separation of sites
Equestrian Camping near Grenloch, NJ
2 campgrounds with availability this weekend
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Equestrian camping opportunities near Grenloch, New Jersey are limited, with several nearby state parks offering general camping but few dedicated horse facilities. Brendan Byrne State Forest provides camping in a pine barrens setting with trails that can accommodate horseback riding, though the campground itself lacks horse-specific amenities such as corrals or dedicated equestrian sites. The forest's extensive trail network includes some routes suitable for riding, with campsites that can accommodate vehicles with horse trailers. The camping area features clean bathroom facilities with showers, drinking water access points, and spacious sites that can fit multiple vehicles, though boundaries between sites may sometimes be unclear.
Trail access throughout the region provides options for day rides with horses, particularly in Brendan Byrne State Forest where miles of sandy trails wind through the distinctive pine barrens ecosystem. Riders should be prepared for predominantly flat, sandy terrain and potential seasonal issues with ticks, especially during warmer months. Located approximately 30 minutes from Grenloch, Fair Hill Natural Resources Management Area in neighboring Maryland offers more developed equestrian opportunities with trail riding, though without dedicated horse corrals at campsites. Winter camping tends to offer more seclusion and fewer crowds at these locations, with some areas remaining open year-round despite seasonal limitations. Visitors planning equestrian activities should contact parks directly to confirm current horse policies and trail access.
Best Equestrian Campgrounds near Grenloch (7)
1. Brendan Byrne State Forest
"Campsite decent size, but some don't have clear boundaries to neighbors, and sometimes not optimally configured (e.g., the site next door's fire pit was placed on the edge of its site/right next to my"
"First off, I will start by saying you have to drive a good amount of distance to get into the campground and that is something I really enjoyed!"
Check Availabilityfrom $3 - $60 / night
2. Lums Pond State Park Campground
"There are some equestrian and tent sites as well. Lots of boating (electric motors only) and kayaking on the pond and a decent amount of hiking."
"I took her older cousins to the fishing pier, and we didn't even get a nibble, but I think it was too cold for panfish that close to shore."
2 Sites AvailableAvailable this weekend
from $27 - $45 / night
3. French Creek State Park Campground
"We were looking for someplace close to the city but away from the hustle and bustle of our city life, this was the perfect little steal-away; relatively close by, great car camping spots, nice easy hikes"
"Activities See the photo that shows 35 miles of hiking trails. It's an excellent brochure! "
1 Site AvailableAvailable this weekend
from $20 - $90 / night
4. Turkey Swamp Park
"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!"
"Electrical and water are at the outer edge of each site so you might want an extension cord and/or hose."
Check Availabilityfrom $42 - $79 / night
5. Hibernia County Park
"This campground has 2 small loops, the Lake Loop and the Fiddler's Loop. Lake loop is the bigger of the two, however the “sites” are smaller and it's more open. It is popular with group tenters."
"Large campsites at the Lake Loop. Map is a little deceiving- the sites are farther from the lake than I expected and there are no running water bathrooms. Very clean and wooded sites."
Check Availabilityfrom $15 - $50 / night
6. Blackbird State Forest Campground
"The only thing about this site specifically is the trail was close by so you’d occasionally see people walking by but not enough that it didn’t still feel secluded."
"I was only one in the forest ATM but saw some hikers occasionally throughout the day walking by."
Check Availabilityfrom $25 / night
7. Fair Hill Natural Resources Management Area
Drive Time
- 17 min from Philadelphia, PA
- 29 min from Vineland, NJ
- 39 min from Trenton, NJ
- 39 min from Atlantic City, NJ
Recent Equestrian Camping Photos near Grenloch, NJ
1 Photos of 7 Grenloch Campgrounds • uploaded by The Dyrt campers
Equestrian Camping Reviews near Grenloch, NJ
205 Reviews of 7 Grenloch Campgrounds
- DDiane M.Scout
Brendan Byrne State Forest
Just ok
Restrooms are filthy with mold and mildew.
Water puddled on the restroom floor.really gross.
Cabin was mostly clean. The windows were full of dirt and bugs on the tracks.mattresses were terrible.The fireplace was nice. Kitchen was clean.
Can t wait to move on to a cleaner park.
Adeline M.
GuideBrendan Byrne State Forest
Beautiful campground, loud campers
Beautiful campground but made the mistake of going on a holiday weekend, the campgrounds next to us were screaming and blasting music all day and throughout the night so we ended up leaving early. A beautiful campground when there aren’t noisy capers ruining it.
Mary S.ScoutLums Pond State Park Campground
Lums Pond campground
First time at this campground really like it a lot will be returning. The bathrooms are always clean. The grounds are always kept up. Just a really nice place to stay. Most of the sites have some kind of shade.
- CCarlos E.Scout
Turkey Swamp Park
Really nice campground
Stayed three nights in a tent and enjoyed it very much. Sites have electrical hookups, shared water connections, large picnic table, and fire ring with adjustable grate. Electrical and water are at the outer edge of each site so you might want an extension cord and/or hose. Bathrooms are clean; showers have separate stalls but they’re clustered together (not the most private). There are hiking and biking trails, a lake, and archery park. Staff are friendly. Office is open through 9pm, and firewood, ice, and bait for fishing are available. Site C3 is in an okay spot; it’s close to the bathroom and laundry room, but also right next to the playground. We were able to visit the beach; easy 25 minute drive to Asbury Park.
- AAimee K.
TravelerTurkey Swamp Park
Great Park
Beautiful park and very peaceful. Rangers are super friendly. This is exactly what camping should be.
Matt S.
LegendFrench Creek State Park Campground
Quiet Park with a Tight Fit
We spent a weekend at French Creek State Park as our home base for the Chester County Balloon Festival. We stayed for 2 nights at a full-hookup paved site, which ran us $55.25 per night.
WHAT I LIKED:
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Peace& Quiet: The state park itself was lovely, serene, and felt nice and spacious.
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Prime Location: At just 30 minutes away from the balloon festival, this is the closest campground.
WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE SO MUCH:
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The"Leveling" Challenge: We were at site#C-241, which had a pretty significant slope. It took a few boards under the rear wheels and fully extended jacks just to get us anywhere near level.
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Tight Fit for Big Rigs: Even though there was plenty of open space behind our site, the actual driveway pad was too short to comfortably fit our motorhome and Jeep together. Compared to other state parks we’ve visited, the interior roads and layouts felt a bit on the tight side.
WOULD WE COME BACK?
- Probably. While the site geometry required a little extra setup muscle, it’s hard to beat the location if you're visiting the area or catching the balloon festival.
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Nancy W.LegendLums Pond State Park Campground
Clean, big-rig friendly, large sites.
Overall, this is a nice, small (about 65 sites) state park with plenty of recreational opportunities inside the park. There is nice separation between sites so you don’t feel like you are on top of your neighbor. Tall trees are scattered about which provide shade at some sites but overall, the park is pretty open. Roads getting to the park are easy to navigate with any size RV. Within the park, roads are paved and free of potholes and there are no low hanging branches. Since the roads are one-way they are not very wide so backing in big-rigs can be a little tight and you might have to run over the grass.
All RV sites are full hook-up and there is a separate area for tents and there is one canvas yurt for rent. The tent sites are nice in that they are tucked along the wood line slightly away from RVs with more privacy and shade. The only downside is that they are pretty far away from the centrally located bathroom and showers. The bathroom has separate rooms for showers which is nice and private. They were tended to daily and very clean. Also, located in the center of the campground is a playground, camp store and laundry. The dumpsters and recycle bins are located in a separate area on the way out of the campground and were frequently full and overflowing. Campsites are paved and some have wide enough that the patio is paved but others have a narrow pad for the RV and gravel patio. We discovered that most sites are level but a few are not (like 22 and 24). The campground is very clean and camp hosts were diligent about picking up trash and cleaning out fire pits every day.
Across the pond (north of the campground) is where most of the amenities are located such as concessions, ball fields, horseshoe pits, disk golf, and more. For those wanting to fish there is a pier in the campground and a self-serve vending machine with bait in it. There are additional fishing piers located in other parts of the park and there are boats, canoes, kayaks, and paddleboards for rent. We stopped in at the Nature Center but it was a bust– just a few taxidermy specimens and not much information. One of the most popular areas of the park is Go Ape which is a ropes/zip line course through the canopy (which does require admission fee). There are nice trails that leave right from the campground– some 17 miles in all. There is a boat launch about a quarter mile from the campground entrance which is suitable for trailerable boats and paddle craft but there are no docks so you can’t leave your boat tied up there. There is an off-leash dog area but it is located far from the campground so it’s best to drive.
- SShannon D.Scout
Lums Pond State Park Campground
Lums Pond
Bathrooms are clean and staff is nice
Guide to Grenloch
Turkey Swamp Park and Brendan Byrne State Forest offer the most accessible camping options near Grenloch, New Jersey, with both located within 30-45 minutes of town. The pine forests and wetland areas typical of this region create a distinctive camping environment across all seasons, with moderate to high humidity during summer months. Campgrounds in this area tend to operate on a reservation system due to limited capacity, especially during peak season from May through October.
What to do
Trail riding opportunities: Several campgrounds near Grenloch accommodate equestrian activities with designated trails. Fair Hill Natural Resources Management Area in Maryland offers extensive trail riding options, though camping is limited to group sites. A camper notes that "There are two primitive youth group camping areas. There are specific rules that need to be followed and the guidelines are on the website."
Fishing and boating: Many nearby campgrounds feature lakes with various fishing opportunities. Turkey Swamp Park provides a stocked lake for fishing. One visitor mentioned, "There's a nice lake to kayak or paddle boat on" and another noted that "They sell bait at the Ranger office." Most lakes restrict watercraft to non-motorized or electric motors only.
Hiking network: The surrounding state forests and parks maintain trail systems with varying difficulty levels. Hibernia County Park features "Walking/hiking trails and the lake were super peaceful" according to one camper. Another visitor mentioned the park has "a half dozen, easy trails, the longest is around 2 miles."
What campers like
Privacy between sites: Campers frequently mention site spacing as a positive feature. At Blackbird State Forest Campground, visitors appreciate that "Only 8 sites in the campground, very spaced apart. Each site has lots of room." Another camper noted the "spacious campsite, grill, picnic table, firepit, parking for 2-3 cars plus overflow parking."
Clean facilities: Well-maintained bathrooms and showers rank high on camper satisfaction. One camper at Lums Pond State Park Campground praised "Great bath houses, always super clean" while another mentioned "The bathroom facilities and laundry are clean and modern. There are separate, individual shower rooms."
Winter camping options: Several campgrounds remain open year-round, offering a different camping experience. A camper at French Creek State Park Campground mentioned, "Stayed over for one night in early December. Showers and bathrooms were great!" The reduced crowds during colder months appeal to those seeking solitude.
What you should know
Bug protection essential: Ticks and mosquitoes are prevalent, particularly in warmer months. A visitor to Turkey Swamp Park warned, "By the 2nd day I had 3 ticks on me. My dog had one and by the end my husband had 2." Another camper at Brendan Byrne State Forest advised, "Ticks were very active on this visit be sure to remember your bug spray and tuck your pants in your socks!"
Limited hookup options: Many campgrounds in the region offer primitive or partial hookup sites. At French Creek State Park Campground, "There are 200 individual sites in four loops, some with full hookups for RVs, some with electric only but mostly primitive sites."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian
campsite near Grenloch, NJ?
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Grenloch, NJ?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Grenloch, NJ is Brendan Byrne State Forest with a 4.5-star rating from 20 reviews.
What is the best site to find
equestrian camping near
Grenloch, NJ?
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Grenloch, NJ?
TheDyrt.com has all 7 equestrian camping locations near Grenloch, NJ, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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