Turkey Swamp Park offers extensive cabin accommodations near Highlands, New Jersey. Located in Freehold Township, this county park campground provides three cabin rentals with wooded surroundings and access to a 17-acre lake. Cabins at Brendan Byrne State Forest, approximately 35 miles from Highlands, are situated within the New Jersey Pine Barrens and operate year-round. Seasonal considerations and specific amenities vary significantly between these options.
What to do
Archery range access: Turkey Swamp Park features a dedicated archery range where visitors can practice their skills. According to Patrick M., "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."
Fishing opportunities: The lake at Turkey Swamp Park provides fishing access with bait available for purchase. Katheryn N. notes, "There is pretty lake with good fishing and they sell bait at the Ranger office."
Hiking trails: Brendan Byrne State Forest offers extensive hiking options through the Pine Barrens. According to Benjamin K., "The walking trails! There are probably hundreds of miles of trails through the woods and bogs to explore. Can't tell you how much I love it. Could spend a whole vacation just with these trails and never leave this state park."
Boating options: Rental boats are available at Turkey Swamp Park for exploring the lake. Dan W. shares, "Boat rental rates are acceptable and there are four different styles to choose from."
What campers like
Spacious, wooded sites: Butterfly Camping Resort provides private camping spaces with natural barriers. Tina D. explains, "the sites are cozy and each lined with natural shrubbery and in some cases fencing. they're well maintained and raked between campers."
Clean facilities: Many campers appreciate the well-maintained bathroom facilities. At Butterfly Camping Resort, Caitlin F. notes, "The campground was very well taken care of."
Pull-through access: Timberland Lake Campground offers convenient pull-through sites with water access. Aaron E. reports, "Stayed here from June 24th-27th on site 38. It was a really nice size, and the kids could fish right off the dock on the back."
Rustic cabin features: Basic cabin accommodations provide a camping experience without needing a tent or RV. A camper at Brendan Byrne State Forest commented, "I have stayed in all the spots they offer, yurt, cabin and the pull up sites. It is well maintained with numerous trails to hike. Getting a cabin in the winter and going for a snowy hike is wonderful there."
What you should know
Seasonal pest concerns: Like many wooded areas in New Jersey, ticks can be an issue during warmer months. A camper at Turkey Swamp Park cautions, "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."
Site surface conditions: Many campgrounds in the area have sandy or dirt surfaces rather than gravel. At Timberland Lake Campground, Robyn W. states, "My biggest issue is the sand for all pull-throughs. Sand... so hard even with rugs to pull out of trailer."
Limited shower facilities: Some campgrounds have restricted shower access. At Pine Cone Campgrounds, Bradley B. notes, "The campsite has only two showers, and they are not designed for simultaneous use. To make matters more challenging, you must pass through one shower to access the other."
Noise considerations: Highway noise can affect some campgrounds in the region. A camper at Allaire State Park mentioned, "Noisy with highway traffic. Well maintained though."
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Allaire State Park has playground facilities for children. Several reviewers mention this feature, with Beau B. noting there are "Lots to do in the area!"
Swimming options: Many local campgrounds offer swimming pools. At Butterfly Camping Resort, Caitlin F. shares, "There was tons of stuff to do. There's a pond to fish, trails to walk/bike, basketball, sand volleyball, the list goes on and on."
Bug preparedness: For families camping with young children, insect protection is essential. Jaewook P. had a positive experience at Turkey Swamp: "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!"
Halloween events: Fall camping includes special activities for children. At Timberland Lake Campground, Jessica D. recommends, "We LOVE camping here in the fall!! 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."
Tips from RVers
Hookup availability: Most cabin rentals near Highlands lack RV hookups, but dedicated RV sites at Adventure Bound Camping provide full connections. Howard P. reports, "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."
Water connection length: At Turkey Swamp Park, Jean T. advises, "Be sure to bring extra hose because the water spigot is a distance from the electric."
Road conditions: Many campgrounds have dirt or sand roads that can be challenging for larger rigs. At Adventure Bound Camping, Matt S. cautions, "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."
Parking space limitations: Check site dimensions before arrival to ensure adequate space. Lee D. notes about Turkey Swamp Park, "Sites in Loops B-E all have pull-thru driveways. Sites are all level, very generous in size, and reasonably spaced apart for privacy."
