Turkey Swamp Park campground in Freehold Township offers spacious tent and RV campsites set among mature pines and hardwoods. The campground features 64 sites arranged in five loops, with dirt roads throughout and pull-through driveways in Loops B-E. Most sites are level, generously sized, and spaced to provide reasonable privacy, each equipped with a lantern hook, picnic table, and fire ring.
What to do
Archery practice: Turkey Swamp Park features an archery range open to campers. One visitor commented, "Plenty to do over a 2 night stay. Archery, boating, fishing, and hiking. Boat rental rates are acceptable and there are four different styles to choose from."
Winter recreation: Mahlon Dickerson Reservation in Jefferson offers year-round camping with seasonal winter activities. "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," notes one regular camper.
Mountain biking: Allaire State Park provides diverse biking terrain from easy paved paths to challenging single track trails. A reviewer explains, "Great camp ground and State Park. Very clean with professional staff. Lots to do in the area! Mountain Biking from easy, paved trails to several miles of single track with everything in between."
What campers like
Wooded privacy: The natural setting at Turkey Swamp Park creates a genuine forest camping experience. A camper observed, "Sites are in the woods and widely spaced apart to give you privacy and the feeling of being out in the Forrest. Sites are tent and RV sites and you are allowed to have a tent on the site with an RV at no extra charge."
Wilderness camping options: Round Valley State Park offers true wilderness camping accessible by hiking or boating. A camper explains, "This is a great campground that is super private and quiet - great for getting out to enjoy the sights and sounds of nature. It's a pretty strenuous hike, but you'll be rewarded for the effort!"
Waterfront sites: Spruce Run Recreation Area features campsites with direct reservoir access. "Stayed here 2 nights in May, Friday-Sunday. Our site was on the water and it was really nice. A duck visited us every morning," reports one visitor who appreciated the waterfront setting.
What you should know
Bathroom facilities: The bathroom and shower building at Turkey Swamp Park is located in D Loop, which can be inconvenient for campers in other areas. One camper noted, "Bath/Shower House: Very clean. Soap and paper towels are provided. The only thing missing were hooks or shelves for toiletries but there was a large bench that could be used. Since it is located in the D Loop it would have been helpful to have pathways leading from the other loops."
Tick prevention: Wooded sites in central New Jersey can have significant tick populations during warmer months. A camper warned, "I was so excited when we got here. The sites are spacious and it's really beautiful. But by the 2nd day I had 3 ticks on me. My dog had one and by the end my husband had 2."
Road noise: Some campgrounds in the area experience traffic noise from nearby highways. At Spruce Run, one camper mentioned, "Not including the bathroom situation, the only con to this campground is its proximity to the highway. You can hear 78, especially at night once the campground settles down."
Tips for camping with families
Bug preparation: When glamping close to Keyport, New Jersey with children, pack appropriate insect repellent. One family who stayed 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! Overall a great time."
Children's activities: Turkey Swamp Park offers playgrounds within the campground area. A camper mentioned, "Centralized playground for the kids with bathrooms and showers next door. Staff was awesome! Attentive and outgoing. We really enjoyed our stay."
Weekend planning: Family-oriented campgrounds in New Jersey often become significantly busier on weekends. A Spruce Run camper observed, "There were a decent amount of people on Friday, but significantly more on Saturday. Park employees and park police drive around through the day."
Tips from RVers
Water hookups: At Timberland Lake Campground, RV sites come with varying amenities. A camper reported, "Campground has friendly staff and plenty of activities for children of all ages. Playground, basket ball, beautiful pool and for an extra fee beach access."
Hose planning: At Mahlon Dickerson Reservation, water connections may require extra equipment. A camper advised, "Very clean and quiet. Website lists water hook ups at long distances but they have hose reels to help with that. Our site (15) said 75' however the 50' hose reel made it to our rv connection."
Site surfaces: Many campgrounds in central New Jersey have dirt or sand pads rather than gravel or concrete. At Timberland Lake, one RVer mentioned, "I scored this a 4 because you can't beat the price for area. However my biggest issue is the sand for all pull-throughs. They do offer full hookups that include cable if you have the outdoor wire."
