Best Campgrounds near Manahawkin, NJ

Campgrounds near Manahawkin, New Jersey provide access to both coastal and woodland settings, with options ranging from tent sites to full RV hookups and cabin rentals. Baker's Acres Campground and Sea Pirate Campground feature family-friendly facilities within 15 miles of Long Beach Island beaches. The region includes several established campgrounds with wooded sites that offer varying levels of amenities, from basic tent camping to fully-equipped glamping accommodations. State forests like Bass River and Brendan Byrne offer more rustic camping experiences with hiking trails and natural scenery.

Access to campgrounds varies seasonally, with most facilities operating between April and October. "The location is great because it's close to Long Beach Island and even closer to the Tuckerton Seaport. Lots to see and do within a 30-minute drive depending on traffic," noted one visitor about Sea Pirate Campground. Summer months bring higher demand and often require advance reservations, particularly for holiday weekends. Many campgrounds in the area feature sandy terrain due to the region's pine barrens ecosystem, which can create challenges during rainy periods. Water pressure can fluctuate at some facilities during peak usage times, and insects can be prevalent in wooded areas, especially near water features.

Campers consistently highlight the family-oriented nature of campgrounds in the Manahawkin area. The developed campgrounds typically offer amenities such as swimming pools, playgrounds, game rooms, and scheduled activities, making them popular with families seeking recreational options. According to one camper, "We liked the interesting vignettes they created around the campground as well as the goldfish pond near the office and store." Sites with mature shade trees receive positive mentions in reviews, providing relief during hot summer months. Many campgrounds maintain a traditional, rustic camping atmosphere while still offering modern conveniences. Proximity to beaches and boardwalks on Long Beach Island represents a significant draw for visitors, with driving times ranging from 10-40 minutes depending on traffic and location.

Best Camping Sites Near Manahawkin, New Jersey (89)

    1. Baker's Acres Campground

    15 Reviews
    Eagleswood, NJ
    5 miles
    Website
    +1 (609) 296-2664

    $43 / night

    "We stayed at Baker’s Acres Campground in Little Egg Harbor, New Jersey, for a weekend in mid-August. So did the rains of Hurricane Henri! "

    "Our site was decently sized, level, and nicely bordered with trees that gives you a sense of privacy."

    2. Bass River State Forest

    18 Reviews
    Tuckerton, NJ
    10 miles
    Website
    +1 (609) 296-1114

    "We have never camped here before, but wanted to hike the Batona trail nearby."

    "I'm particularly fond of the dog friendly loop, its a newer loop and the bathrooms are more modern than the others scattered around. "

    3. Sea Pirate Campground

    7 Reviews
    Eagleswood, NJ
    5 miles
    Website
    +1 (609) 296-7400

    "We stayed at Sea Pirate Campground in West Creek, New Jersey, for a week in mid-August We’re so glad we did! "

    "They have a great store and eatery near the pool. Purchases can be easily made using their wristbands(provided at check-in). No need to carry cash or credit cards around the campground. "

    4. Wading Pines Camping Resort

    17 Reviews
    Chatsworth, NJ
    16 miles
    Website
    +1 (609) 726-1313

    "The campground is very close to home, and a lot of people around our area (central jersey) go there yearly or have seasonal sites there, but for us, it was our first time at the campground."

    "Very nice wading river next to the camp grounds. You can tube down the river from one end of camp to the other."

    5. Brendan Byrne State Forest

    18 Reviews
    Chatsworth, NJ
    20 miles
    Website
    +1 (609) 726-1191

    $3 - $60 / night

    "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!"

    6. Atlantic Shore Pines Campground

    5 Reviews
    Tuckerton, NJ
    12 miles
    Website
    +1 (609) 296-9163

    $65 - $220 / night

    "This place is very close to Bass River State Park with lots of hiking and outdoor activities. Restaurants and stores in Tuckerton are just a few minutes away."

    7. Long Beach RV Resort

    2 Reviews
    Manahawkin, NJ
    6 miles
    Website
    +1 (609) 698-5684

    8. Bodine Field — Wharton State Forest

    8 Reviews
    Egg Harbor City, NJ
    15 miles
    Website
    +1 (609) 561-0024

    "You’re right next to the wading river/creek with that amazing cedar water. As well as a quick drive Harrisville Pond which mine as well be a lake."

    "Bodine Field is one of several camping locations within Wharton State Forest.

    I am writing this review over a year after our stay so forgive me if the details are lacking."

    9. Thousand Trails Chestnut Lake

    7 Reviews
    Port Republic, NJ
    16 miles
    Website
    +1 (888) 707-1477

    "Limited store supply selection but Wawa is a 15 minute drive and Walmart is roughly the same so that’s good enough for me. Pool is well taken care of and the lake is nice."

    "pros

    pull through

    friendly front desk

    clean showers and toilet

    free cable

    great lounge

    close to Long Beach Island and Atlantic city

    well kept area

    nice pool and playground

    right off the parkway"

    10. Godfrey Bridge — Wharton State Forest

    8 Reviews
    Chatsworth, NJ
    16 miles
    Website
    +1 (609) 561-0024

    "I try to stay away from campgrounds with electrical hookups, because the sound of generators is not exactly the serenity of nature I'm looking for."

    "Bonus points for being driving distance to multiple locations that we could take our kayaks."

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Recent Reviews near Manahawkin, NJ

421 Reviews of 89 Manahawkin Campgrounds


  • J
    Aug. 31, 2025

    Turkey Swamp Park

    Fantastic camping ground

    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! The campground was super clean too. It was perfect!

  • Tiffany P.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 22, 2025

    Ocean View Resort Campground

    Lots of fun

    This place had a lot to do with kids! Lake, pool, ice cream, arcade, mini golf, mining station, activities. Does get very crowded and definitely have to book a head. We loved where our site was located. Will definitely be visiting again.

  • Scott K.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 3, 2025

    Bass River State Forest

    Fantastic Experience

    My first time solo camping and it couldn’t have gone better. The staff there are top notch. Clean site. So much to do. Couldn’t recommend enough.

  • Frank J.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 24, 2025

    Belleplain State Forest

    Relatively new to this

    Stayed in site 116 in CCC section (only section with electric and water). Good privacy. Check-in went smoothly. Staff at office said all the roads in the CCC section were 2-way. Not wide enough in my opinion but we didn't have a problem. Restrooms/showers were ok. Sea Isle City is not too far away if you're into the Jersey shore, restaurants, live music.

  • M
    Jul. 6, 2025

    Holly Acres RV Park

    Nice campground

    The sites are on the smallish side, but the staff is super nice and the facilities are maintained and clean

  • Jesse G.
    Jun. 22, 2025

    Brendan Byrne State Forest

    Clean, Friendly but Unclear and Arbitrary Rules

    Overall we enjoyed our stay. I will say that the rules of the campsites are ambiguous on the website and when we first arrived were unaware that if using an RV in a tent site you are not allowed to add another tent to the site. There is a two tent limit per site despite the site allowing up to 6 people. We ended up needing to purchase another site which was thankfully open for us to use, however I would have purchased it next to our original site had I known about the limitations.

    Otherwise, the stay was pleasant. The bathrooms were clean and the staff was friendly. They do patrol the sites with a police presence in the evening.

  • Stephen W.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 22, 2025

    Ocean City Campground & Beach Cabins

    Clean spacious sites, friendly staff

    We stay here at least two times each year. Staff is so friendly and helpful. The section we stay has very clean, spacious sites.

  • T
    Jun. 21, 2025

    Thousand Trails Chestnut Lake

    VERY FRIENDLY AND ACCOMMODATING STAFF

    Very helpful staff and wonderful atmosphere. We were made to feel very welcome and well taken care of. Couldn’t ask for any better. The showers are basic but far from the worst I’ve experienced, clean and stocked. Limited store supply selection but Wawa is a 15 minute drive and Walmart is roughly the same so that’s good enough for me. Pool is well taken care of and the lake is nice. Mosquitoes are bad but that’s to be expected being near water of any kind so can’t complain too much it is what it is. Overall a nice spot to stop for some time away from the hustle and bustle of life.

  • Anne H.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 20, 2025

    Belleplain State Forest

    quiet, huge sites, great hiking trails

    Positive: Our site was HUGE!!!! It was also super private with trees and a lot of privacy from the road and our neighbors.   We had friends stay in the lean-tos nearby and others visit.  We had room to park several cars.  This would be a great site for an RV plus a few tents.   The roads were all recently paved.    There are 3 campgrounds here: North Shore, Miesle and CCC.   CCC is the only one with electric and water hookups on site.  We used our RV bathrooms most of the time and stayed 3 nights.

    The Kayak and Canoe rentals were right near us.  The nature center had planned activities for families each day.    The swimming lake was beautiful.  We biked the trails, and hiked others that didn't allow bikes.  They are putting in new bathrooms at Miesle this year.    If you don't mind dry docking, then stay on that side.   I was happy to see that they had cans for recycling. which often campgrounds do not. 

    Negative: 

    -We were NOT happy that the bathrooms next to us were closed, apparently for years, and it was not noted.  We purposely booked in 105 due to the proximity.  The other bathrooms in the CCC were a good walk, and pretty run down.    I was impressed that they had a laundry facility though. 

    -Also, there was a dip in the site when backing in and our fifth wheel was bending to the point of rubbing the top of our truck when backing in.  It also had rained and there were puddles in the sand.

    -Virtually NO cell service with AT&T, TMobile or Verizon.  AT&T we the better of the 3. Our Winegard/Gateway give us no internet which we normally get.  There'd be way too many trees for Starlink.   We were able to tune into some really dorky TV stations.  One was in Japanese, two were in Spanish, and got some oddball stations in English. 
    - The worst was the dump station.  It is just a little hole on the side of the road and the ONLY dump station for the 3 campgrounds!  It was very unlevel and not easy to fully dump our tanks.  It was also Memorial Day weekend and the line at checkout caused us to wait 2 hours to dump!! Of course then we hit all kinds of traffic coming home. 

    We might be back and stay in CCC closer to the open bathrooms, but they REALLY need to do something about the dump stations.


Guide to Manahawkin

Camping near Manahawkin, New Jersey, offers a mix of beautiful nature and fun activities for everyone. Whether you're looking for a family-friendly spot or a quiet retreat, there are plenty of campgrounds to choose from.

What to do:

  • Explore the outdoors: Many campgrounds, like Sun Outdoors Cape May, are close to hiking trails and beaches. One camper mentioned, "I appreciated how clean the space was & it's close proximity to activities in Cape May."
  • Fishing and boating: At Turkey Swamp Park, you can enjoy fishing and rent boats on the lake. A reviewer noted, "The lake has fishing & boat rentals. No gas motors."
  • Visit historical sites: Atsion Family Camp — Wharton State Forest is near historical sites like Batsto Village. One visitor shared, "Nearby is the Atsion Recreation Area, which offers fishing, walking, biking and horseback trails."

What campers like:

  • Clean facilities: Campers appreciate well-maintained restrooms and showers. A review for Bass River State Forest said, "The campground was clean and well maintained."
  • Friendly staff: Many visitors mention the helpfulness of campground staff. A camper at Philadelphia South/Clarksboro KOA said, "Everyone we came in contact with staff wise was so friendly."
  • Spacious sites: Campers enjoy having enough space for their tents or RVs. A review for Belleplain State Forest noted, "The sites are big. The bathrooms are a little old, but we really enjoy camping there."

What you should know:

  • Limited cell service: Many campgrounds have poor cell reception. A visitor at Wharton State Forest mentioned, "Cell service was fair.. No WiFi."
  • Road noise: Some campgrounds are near busy roads, which can be noisy. A camper at Brendan Byrne State Forest said, "There was some low flying air traffic going in to the joint base nearby."
  • Bugs in summer: Be prepared for bugs, especially in warmer months. A review for Bass River State Forest warned, "There were many bugs and many of them got in my tent."

Tips for camping with families:

  • Activities for kids: Look for campgrounds with playgrounds and organized activities. A parent at Philadelphia South/Clarksboro KOA said, "There was so much to do there... even more."
  • Plan for meals: Bring easy-to-cook meals or snacks. A camper at Turkey Swamp Park mentioned, "The staff was very friendly and welcoming."
  • Check for pet policies: If you’re bringing pets, make sure the campground allows them. A reviewer at Sun Outdoors Cape May noted, "Pets are allowed."

Tips from RVers:

  • Check site sizes: Make sure your RV fits the site. A visitor at Atsion Family Camp — Wharton State Forest said, "If you are a master maneuver-er then this wouldn't be a concern for you."
  • Look for amenities: Choose campgrounds with electric hookups and dump stations. A camper at Bass River State Forest mentioned, "The bathroom (shower room?) was reasonably clean."
  • Arrive early: Popular campgrounds can fill up quickly, especially on weekends. A reviewer at Belleplain State Forest said, "All the electric sites are usually booked weeks or months out."

Camping near Manahawkin, New Jersey, has something for everyone, from families to RV enthusiasts. Just remember to plan ahead and enjoy the great outdoors!

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular campground near Manahawkin, NJ?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Manahawkin, NJ is Baker's Acres Campground with a 4.3-star rating from 15 reviews.