103 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Campgrounds near Hamilton Square, NJ range from developed RV parks with full hookups to primitive tent sites, with several options within a 30-minute drive, including Turkey Swamp Park and Timberland Lake Campground. These locations primarily offer developed camping with a mix of tent sites, RV hookups, and cabin rentals. Most campgrounds in this region maintain seasonal operations, typically opening from early spring through late fall, with Brendan Byrne State Forest standing as one of the few year-round options for campers seeking off-season accommodations.
Camping availability varies significantly by season, with most facilities operating from April through October or November. The moderate climate makes spring and fall particularly pleasant for outdoor recreation. One visitor noted, "They do their own haunted walk through that is just awesome! Everyone decorates. Very close to Six Flags Great Adventure." Reservations are strongly recommended for weekend stays and holiday periods, especially at popular locations like Timberland Lake and Turkey Swamp Park. Many campgrounds in the area offer both primitive tent sites and full-hookup RV sites, though regulations and amenity availability differ between public and private facilities.
The mixed-use campgrounds near Hamilton Square typically feature lake access, swimming facilities, and family-oriented activities. Several facilities include amenities like showers, electric hookups, and sanitary dump stations, making them suitable for both tent and RV camping. Campground reviews highlight varying experiences with site quality and maintenance. One camper observed that Timberland Lake Campground has "a pretty lake, a bridge and is very woodsy, not just a camper parking lot like some other campgrounds." Sites with water views are consistently rated higher and tend to book quickly during summer months. Washington Crossing State Park, temporarily closed for 2024, has historically offered more primitive tent camping experiences for those seeking less developed options, though without electrical hookups or shower facilities.
"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."
from $42 - $79 / night
Check Availability"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."
"Washington Crossing Historic Park, straddling Pennsylvania and New Jersey along the Delaware River, is one of those rare places where you can literally camp in history."
"I always look forward to going because it is consistently clean, great for riding bikes and taking pets for a walk and children for a stroll PLUS it is significant historically and it is enjoyable for"
from $50 - $100 / night
Check Availability"Despite being conveniently located right off US1 and just 15 to 20 minutes west of I95 – as this retailer is located in a fairly normal-paced suburban location, you are going to like that yes, while there"
"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!"
from $3 - $60 / 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"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"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."
"We had a bad luck of the draw being next to a very loud, inebriated family with unruly dogs but luckily they only were there the one night."
"Unfortunately, the bathhouse near our site had no hot water, but they were working on it, so I’m sure it won’t be for long. Well stocked store. It was our very first camping day."
from $78 - $98 / night
Check Availability"The crystal-clear water is home to huge lake trout and the forests are bursting with wildlife. The sunsets across the lake are to die for."
"Once you get to the campground trail it’s pretty easy going on asphalt surface."
GuideThis campground is part of the Wharton State Forest and has several campgrounds in the area. Great wooded sites right on a lake. Pretty good separation between sites with good tree separation between sites. Some road noise not overly affecting site.
ScoutRestrooms 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.
ScoutOn Friday, September 4, 2026, I rented a trailer and brought my family to Cheesequake State Park to celebrate our 10th wedding anniversary over the extended Labor Day weekend. Around 9:20 PM—well before the park's designated 10:00 PM quiet hours—we were sitting inside our canopy, playing Jenga, and listening to low background music. Two officers from the Matawan Police Department approached our campsite. They were polite and courteous, simply offering a standard reminder to wrap things up by 10:00 PM. Before they could leave, however, a third, senior officer intervened. Wanting to"show them how it's done," he made the two polite officers return and stand by to watch as he demonstrated how to aggressively harass campers. Flashlight in hand, the senior officer approached with an immediate hostile attitude, treating us like criminals as he demanded to know who rented the site. He began reiterating rules and claimed we had too many vehicles. We had three cars, one belonging to my brother-in-law's girlfriend, who was visiting with her daughter. She had paid the$10 visitor fee at the main office and was instructed by staff to obtain the gate access code from us, the primary renters, if she got locked in. No staff member ever informed her of an 8:00 PM visitor departure deadline, leading us to reasonably assume visitors were permitted until quiet hours began at 10:00 PM. The officer rudely snapped that she had been given wrong information. The senior officer then used profanity in front of three small children, aggressively telling her to ("get her shit and get the fuck out!") in that manner or use profanity, the officer went from hostile to furious. He angrily declared that these were official violations and threatened that he could be issuing us tickets instead. Desperately searching for anything and everything to throw at us, he demanded that we turn off our idling car—which was supplying power to our campsite—and instructed us to make sure the campfire was doused before shutting down for the night. He then proceeded to shine his flashlight into our private setup—including our canopy, tents, and the inside of our trailer—searching for any other possible violation while the two polite officers were forced to watch. What was supposed to be a special 10th wedding anniversary celebration with my family was completely ruined by a senior officer misusing his authority to put on an unnecessary display of intimidation. Worse than just ruining our night, he spent that evening teaching those two police officers how to be bad cops. He corrupted two officers in real time, demonstrating firsthand exactly why most people have lost faith in the police force. The next day we was ready for them. We turned off our lights and quietly by the fire while they went next door to harass an asian family that had just set up camp and had their leds lights on.
RangerWe stayed just a couple nights here on our way north. The camp host was helpful before our stay and during check-in. Our site was pretty isolated from the others, so it was very quiet (no complaints here). There is a decent mix of sunny sites by the river and shady sites under the trees. The weather was perfect mid September. There wasn't anything spectacular for me, but it was a good experience and it was a nice taste of fall PA scenery. Beware that the roads are tight for a big rig. Side note, it did seem like most campers lived there.
GuideBooked the day before—even on the holiday weekend! Just 1.5 hours outside of NYC, site was a bit close to the neighbors (fire pit was very far back and basically in the neighbors’ campsite, but we put up a “privacy clothesline” and hung a tarp over it for a bit of extra coverage.
The staff was friendly and helpful, they said it was the busiest they’ve seen the campground all year (there were lots of large groups but everyone seemed to settle down by 9:30pm
Poison ivy was EVERYWHERE at our site so make sure to stick to the open areas and the paths. Lots of families around, we felt very safe Bathrooms were fine—it was my impression they’re usually cleaner but the high traffic of the weekend left a bit to be desired, (lots of families around=dirty diapers in the bathroom trash bin) but it’s camping! I’m not gonna argue w a flushing toilet!
GuideBeautiful 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.
ScoutAs far as experience it was good. The main issue was the campsite where we were was uneven and caused many of the sleeping arrangements that we had to be not level. This seems to be a specific issue to the group campsite number two as when we went inwards it seemed like everything else was much better.
ScoutI spent 4 days and 3 nights with my 6th grade Girl Scouts. We were at sites 23 and 24 which worked out great because they back up against each other. The bathrooms were super clean and well maintained. There are outlets at the bathroom building by the sink to charge any electronics. The playground is adequate and the field is big for playing. There are many things to do close by too like the observatory, Round Valley beach, Grounds for Art, etc. We all really enjoyed ourselves and plan on returning.
ScoutStayed 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.
Camping sites near Hamilton Square, New Jersey span across several state forests and private facilities, with the New Jersey Pine Barrens creating distinctive camping environments throughout the region. Elevations remain relatively flat around 100 feet above sea level, contributing to easy access but also occasional drainage issues during heavy rainfall. The proximity to both Atlantic coastal influences and inland waterways creates unique microclimates at various campgrounds.
Hiking and trail exploration: Brendan Byrne State Forest provides extensive trail networks through the Pine Barrens ecosystem. "Lots of good hiking trails, most the sites have pretty decent privacy from the other ones," notes one camper about Brendan Byrne State Forest. The trails offer varying difficulties with some sections requiring proper footwear due to boggy conditions.
Fishing and paddling: Turkey Swamp Park offers multiple water activities on its lake. "Turkey Swamp is a great spot, a lot of different things to do. Fishing, Tent Camp, Van Camping, Open Field, BBQ, Kayaking, Canoeing. The list goes on," shares a visitor to Turkey Swamp Park. The lake features a small boardwalk and boat dock with rental options available during summer.
Wildlife viewing: The Delaware River corridor near Washington Crossing provides excellent bird watching. "There are farms and animals to see, hikes along the Delaware river, Bowman's tower with a great view of the surrounding area and much more," reports a visitor familiar with the area's natural attractions.
Diverse landscapes: Round Valley offers a unique reservoir setting with paddle-in access. "The water is crystal clear, the area is clean. There's bathrooms and pumps but we just filtered the water from the reservoir instead which tasted a million times better than the well water," notes a camper at Round Valley State Park.
Winter activities: Some parks maintain year-round operations with seasonal advantages. "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," shares an experienced visitor to Turkey Swamp Park.
Historical context: Washington Crossing area combines camping with Revolutionary War history. "Every year, they re-enact Washington's troops crossing the Delaware! It was VERY cold the year I went. To warm up, there is a small visitor's center where they have a reproduction of the famous painting," explains a visitor to Washington Crossing State Park.
Seasonal closures: Most campgrounds operate April through October with limited winter options. "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! Made me feel super secluded," reports a Brendan Byrne visitor regarding the park's year-round accessibility.
Tick precautions: The wooded areas require proper protection during warm months. "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," warns a visitor to Turkey Swamp Park.
Site conditions: Many campgrounds feature sandy soil which affects comfort and setup. "The entire park was dirty sand with weeds growing everywhere," notes a reviewer at Butterfly Camping Resort. This sandy base is common throughout the Pine Barrens region.
Activity-rich options: Several campgrounds offer structured entertainment for children. "The campground was super clean too. It was perfect!" reports a family that visited Turkey Swamp Park with 2- and 3-year-old children, noting they didn't encounter any insect problems.
Swimming facilities: Pool availability varies widely between campgrounds. "Pool was open for a couple days following the lifting of restrictions for COVID. Overall, a nice campground that is close to Six Flags," shares a visitor to Timberland Lake Campground who stayed with children.
Weekend entertainment: Some campgrounds offer scheduled activities. "Lots of activities for young children (swimming pool) and close to major roads," notes a Butterfly Camping Resort visitor, highlighting the organized events that keep families engaged.
Hookup variability: Electric services differ significantly between parks. "Sites came with fire pit, large picnic bench, and lamp stand. Plenty of parking space. Good tree coverage. Only one bathroom, bit of a walk but clean and many amenities available," reports an RV camper at Tip Tam Camping Resort.
Campground navigation: Large rigs face challenges at some locations. "This place is not big-rig friendly, difficult to navigate some of the turns in our 45' motorhome and taking scratches from tree branches that should be trimmed," warns a motorhome owner about Butterfly Camping Resort's internal roads.
Water access planning: Some sites require extra-long hoses. "Some sites unlevel. Bring a LONG water hose. Nice lake. Showers and washers and dryers," advises a visitor to Turkey Swamp Park, noting the sometimes challenging water hookup arrangements.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best family camping options near Hamilton Square?
Butterfly Camping Resort is an excellent family option with a large playground and numerous activities for children. The sites are spacious with privacy-enhancing trees and shrubs, and the resort maintains clean facilities including bathrooms. While the fishing lake is relatively small, it's still productive for anglers. For a more natural setting, Atsion Family Camp in Wharton State Forest offers tent and trailer sites plus cabin rentals. Located off US 206, this Department of Environmental Protection facility provides families with a more rustic camping experience while still maintaining necessary amenities. Both locations cater specifically to families seeking outdoor adventures near Hamilton Square.
Where can I find campgrounds near Hamilton Square?
Several campgrounds are within driving distance of Hamilton Square. Philadelphia South/Clarksboro KOA is about 20 minutes from Philadelphia and offers full hookups for RVs, though it closes during winter months and reopens in April. Another option is Turkey Swamp Park in Freehold, a county park featuring 2,283 acres with a 17-acre lake and hiking trails. Other nearby options include Timberland Lake Campground near Cream Ridge and Pine Cone Resort near Freehold, both offering various amenities for campers. These campgrounds provide convenient bases for exploring the Hamilton Square area while enjoying the natural surroundings of central New Jersey.
What camping is available near Hamilton Square, NJ?
According to TheDyrt.com, Hamilton Square, NJ offers a wide range of camping options, with 103 campgrounds and RV parks near Hamilton Square, NJ and 1 free dispersed camping spot.
Which is the most popular campground near Hamilton Square, NJ?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Hamilton Square, NJ is Turkey Swamp Park with a 4.4-star rating from 32 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Hamilton Square, NJ?
According to TheDyrt.com, there is 1 free dispersed camping spot near Hamilton Square, NJ.
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