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Wharton State Forest offers diverse camping opportunities within 20 miles of Clementon, New Jersey, with Atsion Family Camp and Goshen Pond providing tent sites and cabin accommodations. The surrounding region includes Philadelphia South/Clarksboro KOA and Old Cedar Campground, featuring full hookups for RVs, cabin rentals, and primitive tent camping areas. The Pine Barrens ecosystem dominates the landscape, creating a unique environment for both developed campgrounds and more rustic camping experiences within a short drive of Philadelphia.
Camping in the Clementon area operates primarily from April through October, though several sites like Atsion Family Camp remain open year-round. Wharton State Forest campgrounds typically require reservations, especially during summer weekends when water recreation draws crowds. The sandy terrain of the Pine Barrens affects campsite conditions, with many locations featuring unpaved roads and natural surfaces. Limited cellular coverage exists throughout much of the forested areas, particularly at more remote camping areas like Goshen Pond. As one camper noted, "This is a great location, short ride to Atsion lake. If you find yourself needing supplies, there's a walmart and other stores only 15-20 mins away."
Waterfront camping receives consistently high ratings from visitors to the Clementon area, with Goshen Pond and Atsion Recreation Area offering popular water-adjacent sites. Based on reviews from The Dyrt, campers appreciate the balance of natural surroundings and proximity to urban amenities: "This campground was mostly empty while we were there in August. Our site was very quiet, but a lot of the sites are close together without any barriers." Many tent and RV sites throughout the region provide fire rings and picnic tables, though amenities vary widely between state forest campgrounds and private facilities. The contrast between primitive camping in Wharton State Forest and full-service private campgrounds allows visitors to choose their preferred camping style, from secluded forest settings to family-friendly campgrounds with swimming pools, playgrounds, and organized activities.
"Atsion Family Campground Off US 206 and about 1/2 a mile up Atsion Road in New Jersey’s Wharton State Forest, you’ll find the Atsion Family Campground."
"It was a great location, closest site to the water with beautiful views. Super convenient if you're a Kayaker, you can launch right off that spot. Its a huge site, away from other sites."
"We did Chinatown and walked part of the Schuylkill River trail which we accessed by parking near Fairmount Park."
"In addition to the peaceful vibe, the people are friendly, the little office store has everything you forgot to pack, and if you look around the campground edges or follow the walking trail into the woods"
"The park was easy to find and located a short distance from the highway. We were met at the entry gate with a personalized folder containing lots of helpful information for our stay."
"We love the lake side campsites."
"Quiet Getaway Weekend
We went to Old Cedar Campground in Monroeville, New Jersey, for a quiet getaway weekend. This is a small and basic campground, not a resort. No fancy amenities."
"Not close off the highway, but wooden sites. Seems as though people spend their summers there. Pool was beautiful and looked new. Mini golf was decrepit and looked abandoned. Store was nice."
from $31 - $50 / night
Check Availability"It's only a one minute walk from the parking area to the site. Our site was right next to the Mullica River, and had excellent views if you walked just a couple steps from the tent."
"Great sites, great trails, lots of hiking and off road trails for dirt bike/atv/ trucks. Pretty good boating/ fishing. Just gotta check often for chiggers and ticks."
"I grew up near the pine barrens and would camp here many times with friends. If you want off the beaten path and not close to anyone... this is IT! You might even see the Jersey Devil :)"
"Best part about the campground is that it's right on the 50 mile Batona Trail so it's a great stop-over assuming you've made reservations. No first-come first-serve."
"There are grocery stores close by like Walmart about 20 minutes away. The beach is nice and clean. We rented canoes near the beach."
"Outside, to the back of the cabin, was a small deck with picnic table, a grill, and a fire ring. Beyond that you will find a path to the lake with beautiful swans."
from $20 - $65 / night
Check Availability"Lake with swing and fishing and two pools. No pets no alcohol no store but they have a snack stand. Make sure to get an end campsite or your table will be by the sanitary dump."
"They have many amenities form a lake to swim or fish, to playgrounds,theres a convenient store and even an arcade, and the best part is all the farms around."
from $50 - $150 / night
Check Availability"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"
"Sand roads crisscross the whole area and navigation can be a bit tricky the first time around. The campgrounds are clean and simple."
from $3 - $60 / night
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ScoutWe needed a pit stop….as a pit stop it serves its purpose…..would not stay here more than a night. Lots of seasonal run down campers. Tarps over campers. Bathrooms are neglected. Agree with previous reviewer that they have given into the seasonal camper.
LegendWe spent a weekend at Avalon Campground to tour the trailers at the Vintage Trailer Rally. We toured about 15 RVs which was a lot of fun. The owners all took time to share details about their renovations and how they use the trailer.
For me, this is a 4-star campground because of lack of wifi and cable tv. We normally bring our own wifi, but are waiting on a replacement unit to arrive this week. That’s why I was hoping they’d have wifi, or at least cable tv as a backup.
THINGS I LIKED:
— Nice campground— nothing fancy, but everything worked and it was pretty clean and well-maintained
— Friendly staff including an escort to the site(which was a good size with working utilities)
— Lots of nearby beach towns
— Easy access from Exit 17 off Garden State Parkway
— They have a concrete pickleball court which we enjoyed
THINGS I DIDN’T LIKE SO MUCH:
— WiFi cost extra fee and didn’t work well at all
— Cable TV reception wasn’t good
WOULD WE COME BACK?
Absolutely, this is a great spot! They’re adding a swimming pool which is under construction now, so that should be a good addition
LegendOverall, this is a nice, small (about 65 sites) state park with plenty of recreational opportunities inside the park. There is nice separation between sites so you don’t feel like you are on top of your neighbor. Tall trees are scattered about which provide shade at some sites but overall, the park is pretty open. Roads getting to the park are easy to navigate with any size RV. Within the park, roads are paved and free of potholes and there are no low hanging branches. Since the roads are one-way they are not very wide so backing in big-rigs can be a little tight and you might have to run over the grass.
All RV sites are full hook-up and there is a separate area for tents and there is one canvas yurt for rent. The tent sites are nice in that they are tucked along the wood line slightly away from RVs with more privacy and shade. The only downside is that they are pretty far away from the centrally located bathroom and showers. The bathroom has separate rooms for showers which is nice and private. They were tended to daily and very clean. Also, located in the center of the campground is a playground, camp store and laundry. The dumpsters and recycle bins are located in a separate area on the way out of the campground and were frequently full and overflowing. Campsites are paved and some have wide enough that the patio is paved but others have a narrow pad for the RV and gravel patio. We discovered that most sites are level but a few are not (like 22 and 24). The campground is very clean and camp hosts were diligent about picking up trash and cleaning out fire pits every day.
Across the pond (north of the campground) is where most of the amenities are located such as concessions, ball fields, horseshoe pits, disk golf, and more. For those wanting to fish there is a pier in the campground and a self-serve vending machine with bait in it. There are additional fishing piers located in other parts of the park and there are boats, canoes, kayaks, and paddleboards for rent. We stopped in at the Nature Center but it was a bust– just a few taxidermy specimens and not much information. One of the most popular areas of the park is Go Ape which is a ropes/zip line course through the canopy (which does require admission fee). There are nice trails that leave right from the campground– some 17 miles in all. There is a boat launch about a quarter mile from the campground entrance which is suitable for trailerable boats and paddle craft but there are no docks so you can’t leave your boat tied up there. There is an off-leash dog area but it is located far from the campground so it’s best to drive.
ScoutBathrooms are clean and staff is nice
ScoutNice site. Neighbor not to close. Bring extra water hose. The connection is not very close.
GuideThis campground has everything. Conveniently located, short drive to Dover, Wilmington, Annapolis and Baltimore. The sites were very large and spacious. Sites can accommodate any type of trailer or vehicle. Plenty of site hookups, areas for tents. There is a camp store, several washer and dryers. The best private, individual shower booths and even a pond to go fishing in.
ScoutThe area was well maintained, lots for the kids to do, and everyone that worked there was so nice. Close to beaches and food. We’ll be back!
TravelerThis is the most quietest campground. Perfect when you need to go somewhere to think. The people here are very nice. The wildlife is amazing
ScoutOkay so I haven't actually been here yet I am looking for somewhere to put my rv long term. I guess I was just wondering why the other person made this place sound so horrible. Is it because of the people who can only afford to survive long term at this campsite or was this another time that stigma took over instead of knowledge or is the place a real dangerous dump. I guess I need to check this place out for myself.
The Pine Barrens terrain near Clementon creates specific challenges for campers, with sandy soil affecting site conditions and equipment selection. Most campgrounds in this region close in late October, though some tent sites in Wharton State Forest remain accessible year-round. Cell service varies widely across campsites, with reception strongest at private campgrounds closer to Williamstown and weakest in remote forest locations.
Fishing opportunities: At Hospitality Creek Campground, visitors can fish directly from waterfront sites. One camper mentioned, "Nice waterfront sites, level, and the hookups worked." The lake allows personal kayaks, and rentals are available for paddleboats to access more fishing spots.
Hiking the Batona Trail: The 53-mile Batona Trail runs through several Pine Barrens campgrounds, offering flat terrain ideal for beginners. A camper at Batona Campground noted, "Each campsite includes a fire pit with a grate (no picnic tables). There are two outhouses and one water source within the campground."
Swimming options: Multiple swimming locations exist within 15 miles of Clementon. Hospitality Creek features two pools and a swimming lake, while Lake Kandle offers "Lake with swing and fishing and two pools." During summer weekends, swimming areas fill quickly, especially at state park beaches.
Primitive camping experience: Goshen Pond Campground offers walk-in tent sites near water. A visitor explained, "This campground (Goshen Pond) was mostly empty while we were there in August. Our site was very quiet, but a lot of the sites are close together without any barriers."
Easy water access: Many campers appreciate sites with direct water access. A reviewer at Atsion Family Camp shared, "LOVE!!!! I always get site #8 and it has an amazing view of the lake. While camping at atsion family campground, you have free access to the recreation center (the beach and some trails)."
Farm proximity: Several campgrounds sit near local farms with seasonal picking. At Four Seasons Family Campground, a visitor noted, "They have many amenities from a lake to swim or fish, to playgrounds, there's a convenient store and even an arcade, and the best part is all the farms around. You can go apple picking and such at all the beautiful orchards that surround the campgrounds."
Tick and insect concerns: The Pine Barrens ecosystem requires vigilant tick checking. A camper at Brendan Byrne State Forest warned, "Ticks were very active on this visit be sure to remember your bug spray and tuck your pants in your socks!" Another visitor at Goshen Pond mentioned, "Great sites, great trails, lots of hiking and off road trails for dirt bike/atv/ trucks. Just gotta check often for chiggers and ticks."
Sandy roads: Many campground access roads consist of loose sand. One visitor observed, "The road into the campground is about 1 mile of loose sand. It can be accessed by a standard vehicle." Standard passenger vehicles can navigate these roads when driven slowly.
Bathroom facilities vary widely: State forest campgrounds often have basic facilities. A camper at Batona noted, "Bathrooms are very basic. Fresh water pump is located at entrance to campground," while private campgrounds typically offer full shower facilities.
Playground access: Philadelphia South/Clarksboro KOA offers extensive children's activities. A visitor mentioned, "This campground was so well maintained. There was so much to do there a pool, lake, horseshoes, cornhole, playground, big pillow and even more. They offer so many activities during the day and text you so you don't forget."
Swimming safety: Most swimming areas have designated hours with lifeguards. At Hospitality Creek, "The pools are nice and have on-duty lifeguards all day," making it safer for families with young children.
Water depth considerations: Lakes in the Pine Barrens region have tea-colored water with limited visibility. Parvin State Park features graduated swimming areas marked by ropes, with a camper noting, "Great for families with tree covered lake access, plus playground."
Site size limitations: Many of the best places to camp near Clementon, New Jersey have restrictions for larger rigs. An RVer at Old Cedar Campground shared, "Stayed for 10 days. A bit pricey for what ya get, in my opinion. Many spots had trees but we couldn't get one as they stated our rig would not fit."
Hookup locations: Water hookups at some campgrounds require planning. A camper noted, "The water hookups are shared every other site (at least in the Fence Loop). I was lucky my 75' hose barely reached the distance needed. Be sure to bring extra hoses."
Dump station access: Several campgrounds have seasonal dump station availability. At Parvin State Park, a visitor advised, "The dump station is sometimes secured has a combination lock. Ask for the combination during check-in."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular campground near Clementon, NJ?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Clementon, NJ is Atsion Family Camp — Wharton State Forest with a 4.3-star rating from 24 reviews.
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