Best Campgrounds near Hamilton Square, NJ

The Hamilton Square area in New Jersey features several established campgrounds 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.

Best Camping Sites Near Hamilton Square, New Jersey (100)

    1. Turkey Swamp Park

    28 Reviews
    Freehold, NJ
    18 miles
    Website
    +1 (732) 462-7286

    $42 - $79 / night

    "   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!"

    "Heavily wooded and supremely quiet, it’s located not far from anywhere you’d want to be. 30 minutes to the shore. Every site is a pull-through, large and spacious with great woodland views. 30amp and"

    2. Timberland Lake Campground

    12 Reviews
    Cream Ridge, NJ
    12 miles
    Website
    +1 (732) 928-0500

    "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."

    3. Washington Crossing State Park - TEMP CLOSED FOR 2024

    8 Reviews
    Titusville, NJ
    13 miles
    Website
    +1 (609) 737-0623

    $50 - $100 / night

    "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"

    "Good for biking and dog walking."

    4. Brendan Byrne State Forest

    18 Reviews
    Chatsworth, NJ
    24 miles
    Website
    +1 (609) 726-1191

    $3 - $60 / night

    "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!"

    5. Butterfly Camping Resort

    10 Reviews
    Toms River, NJ
    20 miles
    Website
    +1 (732) 928-2107

    $64 - $78 / night

    "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! "

    6. Cheesequake State Park Campground

    19 Reviews
    Matawan, NJ
    26 miles
    Website
    +1 (732) 566-2161

    $200 / night

    "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."

    7. Adventure Bound Camping (Tall Pines)

    3 Reviews
    Roosevelt, NJ
    14 miles
    Website
    +1 (856) 451-7479

    "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."

    8. Indian Rock RV Resort and Campground

    3 Reviews
    Cream Ridge, NJ
    15 miles
    Website
    +1 (732) 928-0034

    $78 - $98 / night

    "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."

    9. Round Valley State Park Campground

    25 Reviews
    Lebanon, NJ
    29 miles
    Website
    +1 (908) 236-6355

    "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."

    10. Tip Tam Camping Resort

    9 Reviews
    Toms River, NJ
    22 miles
    Website
    +1 (732) 363-4036

    "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."

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Recent Reviews near Hamilton Square, NJ

655 Reviews of 100 Hamilton Square Campgrounds


  • Jessica V.
    Sep. 13, 2025

    Tohickon Family Campground

    Great weekend spot

    We went with friends for a weekend. Both families have little kids and it was a great spot with a playground, construction digging area, and a bunch of activities for the kids to do. We went in September so the pool was closed but it looked like a nice size. Full hook ups which was great! Also they have a nice stream that everyone went fishing at. They are building some new sites at the end of the property.

  • Stuart K.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 5, 2025

    Round Valley State Park Campground

    Get Your Hard-Core Hiking In To Enjoy This CG

    Located just south of I78 and near the small hamlets of Clinton and Lebanon, what I love most about Round Valley SP is the fact that it has its very own eponymous fresh water reservoir, which spanning some 2,350 acres and is 180 feed deep in the middle, this body of water provides a solid amount of upside for anyone wanting to kayak, canoe or swim. One of the greatest assets at this particular SP CG are the wonderful rangers who keep this place in such tip-top condition year-round. From the North Picnic Area, Bray’s Hill Preserve and Round Valley Beachhead to the East Picnic Area, Round Valley Farm on the eastern side of the reservoir as well as Round Valley Rec Area, there’s a lot to explore at this SP.

    One interesting fact about this place– believe it or not– it is the only NJ SP that actually offers up true wilderness camping(a.k.a. primitive), which can only be accessed by hiking 3 to 6 miles– or if you come with your own boat, you can access by water– and can be found on the SE corner of the reservoir. There is a second area nearby called Spruce Run Recreation Area that can be accessed by driving to this location, which is on the other side of I78 NW of Round Valley SP. That said, if you’re looking to camp here at Round Valley, I highly recommend you boat in as the hiking path is incredibly difficult to manage without hauling all of your camping gear, so coming in with a ton of gear is even more difficult/ prohibitive.

    When you finally do arrive to this primitive CG immersed in NJ’s thick wild foliage, you’ll experience waterfront bliss with a crystalline bevy of trout-infused reservoir water, and you won’t get much in the way of amenities, apart from a few random water pumps and some rocks piled in a circle that, um, I guess makes up a fire ring. While there are backwoods-style bathroom pits, these are very ill-managed and you’ll come across the‘stank’ well before actually even arriving here, so we just didn’t use them. There’s picnic tables, but the one we had was in pretty rough condition. The thing I found odd about the place is that after hiking so far in to get to this location, you’re not allowed to swim in the reservoir, which kind of defeats the entire point IMHO. That said, the views are amazing and because there’s nothing else in these parts, you will experience true peace in nature.

    Insider’s tips? Here’s a few:(1) Whether hiking or kayaking to this CG, you will want to bring as little with you as possible– packing too much to come here just isn’t worth the work;(2) We found parking in the Southern Lot to be perfectly fine and while we were initially worried about leaving our vehicle parked there for a few nights, we were reassured by the park rangers who patrol the lot constantly;(3) While the water in the reservoir may look crystal clear, it is not crystal clean and I would STRONGLY encourage anyone who thinks that it is OK to drink from the reservoir to at least use a Life Straw to ensure they don’t get sick;(4) I have hiked throughout the entire US and consider myself somewhere between a moderate to skilled hiker and I found these trails challenging and uneven, so while the hike we made was only 3 miles, it was not easy and I would be worried about someone breaking an ankle getting to this CG– so at a minimum, ensure you are wearing proper hiking boots. Seriously, for what this SP puts you through to access this CG one really needs to question why they’re being charged anything at all in the first place.

    Happy Camping!

  • J
    Aug. 31, 2025

    Turkey Swamp Park

    Fantastic camping ground

    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. It was perfect!

  • Scott K.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 3, 2025

    Bass River State Forest

    Fantastic Experience

    My first time solo camping and it couldn’t have gone better. The staff there are top notch. Clean site. So much to do. Couldn’t recommend enough.

  • Erik W.
    Jul. 21, 2025

    Boulder Woods Campground

    Amazing campground with helpful staff and disc golf course

    The name says it all. It has boulders and woods.  The spots are tight to get into but the staff will offer to park your camper using your vehicle. I let them park mine and I'm really glad I did.  It was super tight.  Gorgeous place though.  They also have a disc golf course and they rent and sell discs.  That's where we fell in love with disc golf.

    We stayed there in August 2017.

  • M
    Jul. 6, 2025

    Holly Acres RV Park

    Nice campground

    The sites are on the smallish side, but the staff is super nice and the facilities are maintained and clean

  • Jesse G.
    Jun. 22, 2025

    Brendan Byrne State Forest

    Clean, Friendly but Unclear and Arbitrary Rules

    Overall we enjoyed our stay. I will say that the rules of the campsites are ambiguous on the website and when we first arrived were unaware that if using an RV in a tent site you are not allowed to add another tent to the site. There is a two tent limit per site despite the site allowing up to 6 people. We ended up needing to purchase another site which was thankfully open for us to use, however I would have purchased it next to our original site had I known about the limitations.

    Otherwise, the stay was pleasant. The bathrooms were clean and the staff was friendly. They do patrol the sites with a police presence in the evening.

  • T
    Jun. 21, 2025

    Thousand Trails Chestnut Lake

    VERY FRIENDLY AND ACCOMMODATING STAFF

    Very helpful staff and wonderful atmosphere. We were made to feel very welcome and well taken care of. Couldn’t ask for any better. The showers are basic but far from the worst I’ve experienced, clean and stocked. Limited store supply selection but Wawa is a 15 minute drive and Walmart is roughly the same so that’s good enough for me. Pool is well taken care of and the lake is nice. Mosquitoes are bad but that’s to be expected being near water of any kind so can’t complain too much it is what it is. Overall a nice spot to stop for some time away from the hustle and bustle of life.

  • Howard P.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 16, 2025

    Adventure Bound Camping (Tall Pines)

    Beautiful and family oriented

    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 secured site 53, a deluxe site offering ample space for our 29VBUD and Ram. The site was level and meticulously maintained, as were the dirt roads. The atmosphere was tranquil and relaxing. Numerous children and abundant activities kept them engaged. Our son truly missed a delightful experience. We departed on Sunday, but the serene ambiance almost prompted us to extend our stay. The sounds of families creating memories enhanced our enjoyment. We certainly plan to return when our grandson is older.


Guide to Hamilton Square

Camping near Hamilton Square, New Jersey, offers a mix of beautiful nature and fun activities for everyone. Whether you're looking for a peaceful retreat or an adventurous getaway, there are several campgrounds to choose from.

What to do:

  • Hiking: Explore the trails at Round Valley State Park Campground. One reviewer mentioned, "The hike in was a tough one! Weather was 95 and sunny on the hike in, which didn't make it any easier." So, be prepared for a workout!
  • Fishing and Boating: At Turkey Swamp Park, you can enjoy fishing and rent boats. A visitor shared, "The lake has fishing & boat rentals. No gas motors. There's no swimming at the lake."
  • Wildlife Watching: Brendan Byrne State Forest is great for spotting deer and other wildlife. One camper noted, "There were lots of deer around but we kept our ankles covered and avoided the higher grass."

What campers like:

  • Clean Facilities: Campers appreciate the cleanliness at places like Mountainview Campground. A reviewer said, "Bathrooms/showers are always very clean as well as the grounds."
  • Spacious Sites: Many campgrounds offer roomy sites. At Spruce Run Recreation Area, one camper mentioned, "Campsites well spaced apart."
  • Friendly Staff: Campers often highlight the helpfulness of the staff. A visitor at Turkey Swamp Park said, "The ranger were really nice."

What you should know:

  • Limited Amenities: Some campgrounds, like Atsion Family Camp — Wharton State Forest, have basic facilities. A camper noted, "The bathrooms are the typical old NJ state park set up- it does the job but it’s seen better days."
  • Noise Levels: Be aware of potential noise from nearby roads or other campers. One camper at Spruce Run Recreation Area mentioned, "Late at night you can hear the drone of a major highway."
  • Check-in Confusion: At places like Atsion Family Camp, check-in can be tricky. A visitor said, "Check in was confusing as it is across the street & closes promptly at 4pm."

Tips for camping with families:

  • Choose Family-Friendly Campgrounds: Look for spots like Turkey Swamp Park, which has a playground. One camper said, "There's a nice playground in the campground."
  • Plan for Activities: Make sure to have activities planned. A family at Mountainview Campground enjoyed, "The staff took us out to the site with our bundles of firewood and helped us back the camper into the perfect place."
  • Pack Snacks: Keep snacks handy for the kids. A camper at Cheesequake State Park Campground mentioned, "Great people. Nice internet connectivity."

Tips from RVers:

  • Check Site Sizes: Make sure your RV fits the site. A reviewer at Brendan Byrne State Forest noted, "There are not many RV sites in the 3 loops."
  • Bring Long Cables: At Mountainview Campground, one camper said, "Electric and water hookups were a little far apart at site 27 so it was good we had long cables/hoses."
  • Be Prepared for Dust: Some campgrounds have unpaved roads. A visitor at Turkey Swamp Park mentioned, "None of the roads are paved. All are packed sand."

Camping near Hamilton Square, New Jersey, has something for everyone. Whether you're hiking, fishing, or just enjoying the outdoors, you'll find a spot that fits your needs.

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 100 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 28 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.