M
Michael M.
Scout
ScoutTurkey Swamp Park
Water/power at the campsite, and and centrally located dump station. Lots of trees and nice separation of sites
Equestrian Camping near Somerdale, NJ
7 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
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Equestrian amenities at campgrounds near Somerdale, New Jersey typically include wide, open campsites that accommodate trailers. Brendan Byrne State Forest offers sites spacious enough for both camping equipment and horse trailers, with access to an extensive network of trails through the Pine Barrens. Most sites provide adequate room for setting up temporary corral panels, though the forest doesn't feature permanent horse corrals. The campground maintains clean restrooms and shower facilities that are particularly valuable after a day of riding. Sites include fire rings and picnic tables, with potable water available throughout the camping loops. The pine forest setting provides natural shade for horses during summer months.
The trail system within Brendan Byrne State Forest features sandy terrain typical of the Pine Barrens, suitable for novice to intermediate riders. Multiple trail options connect directly to the campground, allowing for rides ranging from short loops to full-day excursions. Riders should prepare for occasional low-flying aircraft from the nearby joint military base. The sand roads throughout the park provide additional riding options beyond the designated trail system. French Creek State Park and Fair Hill Natural Resources Management Area, both within driving distance, offer additional equestrian camping opportunities with more developed facilities. Horse owners should bring their own feed, temporary containment systems, and water buckets as most campgrounds in the region do not provide specialized equine amenities beyond spacious sites and trail access.
Best Equestrian Campgrounds near Somerdale (7)
1. Brendan Byrne State Forest
"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!"
from $3 - $60 / night
Check Availability2. French Creek State Park Campground
"We were looking for someplace close to the city but away from the hustle and bustle of our city life, this was the perfect little steal-away; relatively close by, great car camping spots, nice easy hikes"
"Activities See the photo that shows 35 miles of hiking trails. It's an excellent brochure! "
from $20 - $75 / night
Check Availability3. Lums Pond State Park Campground
"There are some equestrian and tent sites as well. Lots of boating (electric motors only) and kayaking on the pond and a decent amount of hiking."
"I took her older cousins to the fishing pier, and we didn't even get a nibble, but I think it was too cold for panfish that close to shore."
from $22 - $40 / night
Check Availability4. Turkey Swamp Park
"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!"
"Electrical and water are at the outer edge of each site so you might want an extension cord and/or hose."
from $42 - $79 / night
Check Availability5. Hibernia County Park
"This campground has 2 small loops, the Lake Loop and the Fiddler's Loop. Lake loop is the bigger of the two, however the “sites” are smaller and it's more open. It is popular with group tenters."
"Large campsites at the Lake Loop. Map is a little deceiving- the sites are farther from the lake than I expected and there are no running water bathrooms. Very clean and wooded sites."
from $15 - $50 / night
Check Availability6. Blackbird State Forest Campground
"The only thing about this site specifically is the trail was close by so you’d occasionally see people walking by but not enough that it didn’t still feel secluded."
"I was only one in the forest ATM but saw some hikers occasionally throughout the day walking by."
from $25 / night
Check Availability7. Fair Hill Natural Resources Management Area
Drive Time
- 17 min from Philadelphia, PA
- 31 min from Trenton, NJ
- 40 min from Vineland, NJ
- 49 min from Atlantic City, NJ
Recent Equestrian Camping Photos near Somerdale, NJ
1 Photos of 7 Somerdale Campgrounds • uploaded by The Dyrt campers
Equestrian Camping Reviews near Somerdale, NJ
205 Reviews of 7 Somerdale Campgrounds
- DDiane M.Scout
Brendan Byrne State Forest
Just ok
Restrooms are filthy with mold and mildew.
Water puddled on the restroom floor.really gross.
Cabin was mostly clean. The windows were full of dirt and bugs on the tracks.mattresses were terrible.The fireplace was nice. Kitchen was clean.
Can t wait to move on to a cleaner park.
Adeline M.
GuideBrendan Byrne State Forest
Beautiful campground, loud campers
Beautiful campground but made the mistake of going on a holiday weekend, the campgrounds next to us were screaming and blasting music all day and throughout the night so we ended up leaving early. A beautiful campground when there aren’t noisy capers ruining it.
Mary S.ScoutLums Pond State Park Campground
Lums Pond campground
First time at this campground really like it a lot will be returning. The bathrooms are always clean. The grounds are always kept up. Just a really nice place to stay. Most of the sites have some kind of shade.
- CCarlos E.Scout
Turkey Swamp Park
Really nice campground
Stayed three nights in a tent and enjoyed it very much. Sites have electrical hookups, shared water connections, large picnic table, and fire ring with adjustable grate. Electrical and water are at the outer edge of each site so you might want an extension cord and/or hose. Bathrooms are clean; showers have separate stalls but they’re clustered together (not the most private). There are hiking and biking trails, a lake, and archery park. Staff are friendly. Office is open through 9pm, and firewood, ice, and bait for fishing are available. Site C3 is in an okay spot; it’s close to the bathroom and laundry room, but also right next to the playground. We were able to visit the beach; easy 25 minute drive to Asbury Park.
- AAimee K.
TravelerTurkey Swamp Park
Great Park
Beautiful park and very peaceful. Rangers are super friendly. This is exactly what camping should be.
Matt S.
LegendFrench Creek State Park Campground
Quiet Park with a Tight Fit
We spent a weekend at French Creek State Park as our home base for the Chester County Balloon Festival. We stayed for 2 nights at a full-hookup paved site, which ran us $55.25 per night.
WHAT I LIKED:
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Peace& Quiet: The state park itself was lovely, serene, and felt nice and spacious.
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Prime Location: At just 30 minutes away from the balloon festival, this is the closest campground.
WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE SO MUCH:
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The"Leveling" Challenge: We were at site#C-241, which had a pretty significant slope. It took a few boards under the rear wheels and fully extended jacks just to get us anywhere near level.
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Tight Fit for Big Rigs: Even though there was plenty of open space behind our site, the actual driveway pad was too short to comfortably fit our motorhome and Jeep together. Compared to other state parks we’ve visited, the interior roads and layouts felt a bit on the tight side.
WOULD WE COME BACK?
- Probably. While the site geometry required a little extra setup muscle, it’s hard to beat the location if you're visiting the area or catching the balloon festival.
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Nancy W.LegendLums Pond State Park Campground
Clean, big-rig friendly, large sites.
Overall, 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.
- SShannon D.Scout
Lums Pond State Park Campground
Lums Pond
Bathrooms are clean and staff is nice
Guide to Somerdale
Equestrian camping opportunities near Somerdale, New Jersey extend beyond the Pine Barrens region. Most sites are situated within 40-60 minutes from Somerdale, with seasonal availability typically from April through November. Horse-friendly campgrounds in this region provide varying levels of equestrian amenities, though most require riders to bring their own containment systems and water buckets.
What to do
Trail riding at multiple parks: Turkey Swamp Park provides several short hiking trails suitable for horseback riding, with the longest trail measuring 2.5 miles. As one visitor noted, "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."
Lake activities between rides: Lums Pond State Park Campground offers water recreation options after trail rides. "There are two side compartments for water bottles which are deep and stretchy. They definitely keep your bottles in tack and can even handle an umbrella without worry of it falling out," noted one camper about carrying supplies to the lake.
Explore historical sites: When staying at equestrian campgrounds near Somerdale, you can visit nearby historical attractions. At Hibernia County Park, "There is an old mansion that gives tours on weekends," according to one reviewer, providing cultural activities between trail rides.
What campers like
Private, spacious sites: Blackbird State Forest Campground provides ample room for horse trailers and equipment. "Only 8 sites in the campground, very spaced apart. Each site has lots of room, very much enjoyed our stay and will return!" writes one camper, highlighting the privacy important for those with horses.
Clean facilities: French Creek State Park Campground maintains well-kept shower facilities appreciated after dusty trail rides. A visitor reported, "Bathrooms were very nice and clean with large showers. Nice area to wash dishes." The cleanliness extends to equestrian areas as well.
Seasonal beauty: Fall camping is particularly recommended for horseback riders. At Brendan Byrne State Forest, one camper noted, "Quite site with pretty foliage," making autumn an ideal time for trail riding when temperatures are cooler for horses and riders alike.
What you should know
Site selection for trailers: When booking at Turkey Swamp Park, choose sites carefully for trailer accommodation. "Some sites unlevel. Bring a LONG water hose," advises one camper, which is particularly relevant when setting up horse trailer parking.
Wildlife awareness: Ticks and other wildlife can affect horses and humans. One visitor warned, "By the 2nd day I had 3 ticks on me. My dog had one and by the end my husband had 2," highlighting the need for proper tick prevention for both riders and horses.
Reservation requirements: During peak seasons, securing sites for horse trailers requires advance planning. At French Creek, a reviewer noted, "We were able to book our sites online which was also a nice feature," though equestrian sites often fill quickly during prime riding seasons.
Tips for camping with families
Kid-friendly activities between rides: Brendan Byrne State Forest offers family activities when not on horseback. One camper shared, "They do patrol the sites with a police presence in the evening," providing security for families with children and valuable horses.
Playground access: For families with both riders and non-riders, look for campgrounds with play areas. A visitor to Lums Pond observed, "Our daughter really enjoyed the playground (which was excellent, by my standards). The only complaint I have is that the kiddie swings seem to be modeled after the seasickness machine."
Safety considerations: Horse camping with children requires extra planning. At Turkey Swamp, a camper with young children reported, "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!" This can be valuable when managing both children and horses.
Tips from RVers
Trailer positioning: At equestrian campgrounds with limited hookups, creative positioning is often necessary. At Hibernia County Park, a reviewer with a 28-foot fifth wheel advised, "They aren't level, but nothing a little creative positioning can't fix," which applies equally to horse trailers.
Water management: For RVers bringing horses, water access is crucial. A visitor to Lums Pond recommended, "If you are coming in an RV, you should come with a full water tank," as water access points may not be convenient to equestrian sites.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Somerdale, NJ?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Somerdale, NJ is Brendan Byrne State Forest with a 4.5-star rating from 20 reviews.
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What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Somerdale, NJ?
TheDyrt.com has all 7 equestrian camping locations near Somerdale, NJ, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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