Campgrounds near Hammonton, New Jersey range from heavily wooded sites in the Pine Barrens to coastal locations within 30 miles of Atlantic City beaches. Winter camping options remain limited with Shady Pines Campground in Absecon being one of the few year-round facilities. Temperatures typically range from 26°F in winter to 86°F in summer, with higher humidity levels from June through September.
What to do
Fishing opportunities: At Thousand Trails Chestnut Lake in Port Republic, campers enjoy lake fishing less than 20 miles from Hammonton. "Good fishing, good people, nice shaded and sunny spots, beautiful pool. Cons; bugs, no store, stay away from the front middle spots, they flood when it rains," shares one frequent visitor.
Beach access: Cape May beaches are accessible from campgrounds 35-45 miles southeast of Hammonton. A camper at Sun Retreats Avalon noted, "We were close to the Cape May beaches. Cold Spring Brewery wasn't too far and was fun."
Brewery tours: Several small breweries operate within 15-30 minutes of Hammonton campgrounds. "There's a cute brewery right around the corner and a burger place called Tony Beef. We liked them both!" reported a camper at Shady Pines Campground.
Biking trails: Flat terrain around many campgrounds creates good cycling conditions. "This is a nice, flat campground so great for bike riding," mentioned a visitor at Sun Retreats Avalon, where paved roads throughout the facility accommodate riders of all ages.
What campers like
Swimming options: Many campgrounds offer both pools and natural swimming areas for cooling off. At Sun Retreats Seashore Campsites & RV Resort, "Love the pool, lake, waterslides, and proximity to cape may," a camper explained, highlighting multiple water recreation options.
Wildlife viewing: Several campgrounds feature natural ponds or marshland where wildlife can be observed. A visitor at King Nummy Trail Campground mentioned, "These sites have beautiful views of the marsh and sunset."
Community activities: Seasonal events and gatherings create social opportunities. At Mays Landing Resort, one visitor experienced, "Halloween decorations were the best. My daughter really enjoyed the scavenger hunt... It was Saturday and they were rocking. I dont know if the person playing the music was a professional DJ, he was incredible."
Clean facilities: Bathroom maintenance rates highly in camper feedback. "The bathhouse was clean AND air conditioned!!!!!" exclaimed one camper at Sun Retreats Avalon, while another visitor to Shady Pines noted, "We have a small TT so my family did utilize the bathrooms for shower conveniece after the beach and they were SUPER clean."
What you should know
Site leveling challenges: Many RV sites near Hammonton, New Jersey require extra leveling equipment. A camper at Mays Landing Resort reported, "Site are very unleveled so the staff switched us to a pull thru space that was a tad bit more level but still very unleveled."
Seasonal resident majority: Several campgrounds primarily serve long-term or permanent residents. "This is more like a long term stay place that has a couple of short term sites," noted one visitor to Mays Landing Resort, while another observed it "gave more of a Mobil home park feel."
Variable site spacing: Site dimensions and privacy levels vary considerably between campgrounds and even within the same facility. At Sun Retreats Avalon, a camper with a large rig noted, "The roadways are narrow and there isn't a lot of maneuvering room. We stayed in site 402a and it was a nightmare backing in and getting out of."
Noise considerations: Weekend gatherings can create noise concerns at some locations. "We were put off by the behavior of the seasonal campers... The golf carts were the absolute worst, people don't obey the speed limit on these things (and there are a lot of them whizzing around...)," reported a camper at Sun Retreats Seashore Campsites.
Tips for camping with families
Kid-friendly amenities: Select campgrounds with multiple recreation options for different age groups. At Echo Farms RV Campground in Ocean View, location proves advantageous as it's "centrally located around 4 beaches" according to one visitor, providing various swimming options.
Bug protection: Insect repellent remains essential, especially in wooded areas or near water. "The bugs were INSANE!" warned one tent camper at Sun Retreats Seashore Campsites, while a Thousand Trails Chestnut Lake visitor listed "bugs" as the main drawback of an otherwise positive experience.
Safety considerations: Some campgrounds feature water hazards requiring extra vigilance with small children. At Mays Landing Resort, a camper cautioned, "Parents of small children and toddlers: the tent loop is surrounded by water on 3 sides. There is no safety fence. The water is mostly standing water so expect mosquitoes."
Accommodation options: Beyond tent and RV sites, some campgrounds offer cabin rentals. "Our parents stayed in a cabin which was very nice with a bedroom, living/kitchen, and bathroom," noted a Sun Retreats Avalon visitor, providing an option for family members who don't own camping equipment.
Tips from RVers
Site selection strategy: Research specific site dimensions and layout when booking RV sites near Hammonton. At Sun Retreats Avalon, one RVer warned about specific challenges: "The roadways are narrow and there isn't a lot of maneuvering room... there are trees all the way up to the street which limits your turn radius as well as cement marker poles."
Long-term camper insights: Connect with seasonal residents for local knowledge. At Shady Pines Campground, a camper found this beneficial: "There are several contract workers staying there and we found them to be really helpful and knowledgeable about the surrounding area and RV care. Their rigs were impeccable!"
Leveling equipment: Pack extra leveling blocks, especially for campgrounds with sloped sites. One RVer at Shady Pines observed, "I can definitely see where the previous reviewer said they had trouble with leveling from front to back. We have a very small TT and pulled back as far as we could otherwise we would have been on a slope as well."
Pull-through availability: Call ahead to confirm pull-through availability for larger rigs. At Thousand Trails Chestnut Lake, a visitor noted the convenience of "pull through" sites, though availability may be limited during peak season, with another camper mentioning "We weren't sure about this campground. We booked through Thousand Trails and you can't reserve sites."
