Best Dog-Friendly Camping near Manahawkin, NJ

My family and I stayed at Tip Tam this weekend. The owners and staff were very friendly and accommodating. The camp store was great also. As it is very early in the season the pools were not yet open but appear to be very nice. There are alot of activities with in the campground as well that were impressive. Just from walking around I saw the two pools, an RC track, bocci, shuffle and board. They did have organized activities set up as well. There is also a pavillion in the middile of the campground with a Ms Pacman/Galaga classic arcard game, as well as a small library and soda machine. AT&T cell service was good. Te site are very close together, and you can hear your neighbors easily. There is not currently a dog park, but the owner told me that they were going to be constructing one in the future. There is a Monmouth County dog park under five minutes away that is huge. There are many close by food options and stores as well.

My husband and I came to this campground for a quick weekend getaway with our dogs. We had a great time!

The campground was very well taken care of. The sites had good tree coverage and we didn’t feel like we were right on top of the next site. 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. Both nights we were there, there were events being put on (a tractor ride, kickball, and a pool movie night). There was also a dog park which was very nice!

The staff was extremely kind and helpful and took great care of us!

Overall I highly recommend this campground, very family friendly. We’ll be going back!

Bakers acres was beautiful. It’s set back in the woods and peaceful and quiet but still has all the amenities to keep my gremlins entertained. We scored a site next to the playground that features a huge monkey bar set up, a ship, and a playhouse complete with kitchen. Not to mention swings and bouncers too. The pool was a lot of fun and kept my little fish busy all day. The staff are all welcoming and helpful. We felt right at home and enjoyed taking the dogs to the new dog park to let out some energy. My favorite part by far was the early morning walks with my coffee through the dirt trails of the campground. We got to enjoy a day at LBI and a night out on the OC boardwalk too since this campground is so convenient to all the area has to offer.

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(#Zoo-1) was a level back-in with 50-amp electric, water, sewer, and cable. It was easy to pull in and accommodates larger rigs. The hook-ups were all well-maintained and worked fine. We had plenty of room to fit our car too. The site included a picnic table and fire ring. My favorite thing about this campground is that most of the sites have plenty of trees and shrubs for semi-privacy, shade, and a rustic feel. 

This campground has been family run for over 50-years and has an interesting history that’s worth reading more about. Our site is located across from the pickle ball court which used to be a petting zoo(now the site# should make sense, right?). We came because we wanted to experience one of New Jersey’s oldest campgrounds. We liked the interesting vignettes they created around the campground as well as the goldfish pond near the office and store. 

Baker’s Acres is well-maintained. The amenities include a swimming pool, lots of sports courts/fields, and a bunch of family-friendly scheduled activities. There is a camp store with all the usual items as well as bath and laundry facilities. The wifi service was ok, but costs$1 per day per device. Our Verizon cell service worked fine. 

The front office staff were all friendly and we love that, especially when checking in at a new campground. 

Drive time to Tuckerton Seaport is about 10-minutes and Long Beach Island is about 35-minutes depending on traffic. There are plenty of stores within a 5-mile drive if you should need anything including Walmart, super markets, convenience stores, and several restaurants. 

Our only minor negative was that our site was sandy dirt which created a bit of a mess, especially after the rain. It is the Jersey shore, after all. This would have been 5 stars if the site had gravel, grass, or was finished with concrete. It’s a pet peeve, but I hate having to constantly clean up to keep the sand out of our RV. 

This is a great old-fashioned campground close to LBI. We’ll can’t wait to go back!

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. Large sights kids had fun.

Very family friends and pet friendly. Mostly quiet. There is NO Wi-Fi. Plenty of trails and things to do. Only downside was our site 252 had a giant spotlight on our site from dusk and until dawn. It felt as if someone’s car headlights were shining on us all night. We’ll be sure to pick a different spot next visit.

We have been camping at Bass River since I was a baby. The newest addition of extra pet friendly sites have made it even better because we can bring the pup. The sites are a great size and many are set back enough that you have privacy. Many great memories of canoeing and fishing on the lake and is a great family-friendly campground.

Arrived at 1pm on Wednesday. Check in was smooth. They allowed me to drive around first and pick out a campsite before checking in. They charge $5 extra for a dog. So far it is very quiet and that's what I was looking for. It's just a short drive to the ocean is:Cape May, Ocean City New Jersey.

We had a great time out at Belleplain! The only downside is the cell service, but it’s not their fault! The park itself was very quiet, clean, and they even had parks for our littles to play at! The restrooms were clean as well- which to me is a BIG PLUS! A lot of the campsites are very spacious as well, which was nice, as we have a large family and a large tent! Pets are also allowed with no size restrictions with vaccination records and a leash!

They have kayaks available to rent to row across the peaceful Nummy Lake. They also have events regularly scheduled for things to do with your family and friends, like bird watching for instance! They also have hiking trails and bikes!

This was our first trip to Butterfly and we will be back! Large playground and lots of activities for the kids. Site was large, and had trees and shrubs separating the sites (we had stayed on 105A). Friendly staff and clean bathrooms. Fishing lake is on the smaller side, but people were catching fish. Definitely in our top 5 New Jersey Campgrounds.

This place was recommended to us by a friend when we first started camping. We've been back many times since then. It's very close to everything, but you don't even need to leave the campground! There are a ton of activities! Certain areas in the campground are very "buggy" and it can get a little pricey, but it's the best place we've been to in New Jersey so far.

   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! They have 2283 acres. A 17 acre lake. Some hiking trails & a nice campground! The sites are all pullthrough. There's lots of vegetation for "privacy". We had a site on the perimeter, which are forest views. Only problem is none of the roads are paved. All are packed sand. We could tell it rained recently because of the muddy tracks. Fortunately it didn't rain while we were there!

  Shower/bathrooms are clean, but dated. They're checked regularly. The bath house is for the entire campground. 3 out of the 4 women's were working. There's a shared dressing area. 

There's a laundry that doesn't take quarters. EPay. 

There's a nice playground in the campground.

 They have 3 cabins for rent, with forest views.

 The lake has fishing & boat rentals. No gas motors. There's no swimming at the lake. Cell service was fair.. No WiFi. 

They have an archery range. 

    This was my favorite campground on our trip! I really enjoyed camping here! There's a rustic retro quality to the place. I adored the campsites & I didn't see any really bad ones.

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

Our site (#201) was a level pull-thru with 50-amp electric, water, sewer, and cable. It was easy to pull in and can accommodate larger rigs. The hook-ups were all well-maintained and worked fine. We had plenty of room to fit our car too. The site included a picnic table and fire ring. 

The gated campground was clean and well-maintained. The heated swimming pool was large and the water crystal clear. The store was stocked with typical essentials like supplies, fire wood, and snacks. Daily trash collection was a nice convenience. Wifi service was strong and our Verizon cell service worked fine. 

The front office staff were all friendly and we love that, especially when checking in at a new campground. 

Drive time to Long Beach Island ranged between 3-40 minutes each trip we took depending on traffic. There are plenty of stores within a 5-mile drive if you should need anything including Walmart, super markets, convenience stores, and several restaurants. 

Our only minor negatives were that the firewood sold in the store was so wet it wouldn’t light and they charge an additional$5 if you want it delivered to your site. And our site was really sandy and dirty which created a bit of a mess, especially after some rain, but it is the Jersey shore. 

This is a great campground with a nice pool and good proximity to LBI. We’ll can’t wait to go back!

4½ Stars Quick Weekend Getaway 

We stayed at Butterfly Camping Resort in Jackson, New Jersey, for a 2-night weekend in late-August. We’re so glad we did! 

Our site(#90) was a level pull-thru with 50-amp electric, water, sewer, and cable. It was roomy, shady, and easy to pull in and out. The hook-ups were all well-maintained and worked fine. We had plenty of room to fit our car too. The site included a picnic table, charcoal grill, and fire ring. 

The gated campground was clean and well-maintained. The swimming pool was large and the water crystal clear. The store was stocked with typical essentials like supplies, fire wood, and snacks. Most of the neighboring RVs were nice and in good shape. The park has bath facilities, a dump station on the way out, and lots of play areas. 

The front office staff were all friendly and we love that, especially when checking in at a new campground. When I called for a last-minute reservation, they seemed glad to have us. 

This park is close to Great Adventure and not far from the Jersey shore if that’s in your plans. 

There were two observations I’d categorize as ‘no park is perfect.’ The site was sandy. The whole place is sandy. This is messy, especially after a bit of rain(which we had), and makes it a constant challenge to keep the sand out of the RV. If the site had gravel, grass, or some other surface, this would be a 5-star review. They offer wifi which is nice to have, but it didn’t work very well. I realize this is a common complaint at many campgrounds, but we’ve come to want to stay connected(at least, a little). 

This is a really nice campground with inviting pool and facilities. We can’t wait to go back!

★★★ Quiet Getaway Weekend 

We went to Spacious Skies Country Oaks in Dorothy, New Jersey, for a quiet getaway weekend. This is a small and basic campground, not a resort. No fancy amenities. We stayed in Site# 14- a pull-thru with 50-amp, water, and sewer. The hookups seemed to work just fine. There is a small concrete patio(which I like), fire ring(filled with trash from the previous camper), and picnic table. 

We went for a quiet weekend, so it didn’t bother us too much that there was no Wi-Fi and no cable TV. It would’ve been nice to have cable and/or Wi-Fi since it rained through most of our stay. I understand there is supposed to be Wi-Fi, but it wasn’t working. Our Verizon mobile service worked fine. And they plan to offer TV in the future. 

The pull-thru sites(# 12-15) are packed together so tightly that our sitting area was bordered by the hookups from the neighboring site. That’s a little unpleasant. And there are no trees for shade or privacy. Most of the rest of the sites in the campground are better spaced apart and wooded. I believe most of those sites are seasonal, but they seemed to be maintained. 

This was our second stay at SSCO, but first since a change of ownership to Spacious Skies a few months ago. I’m hoping the new owners make some upgrades to services and maintenance. If so, we’ll be back. 

THINGS I LIKED: The staff we met were all friendly and attentive- especially Kim, Eileen, and Jack Basic campground without resort-like amenities Quiet place to stay 

THINGS I’D CHANGE: Offer Wi-Fi Offer cable TV(this cost a star) The pull-thru sites are packed too close(this cost a star) 

NOTE: I try to review the places we stay based on what they’re trying to be. Resorts with water parks and lots of amenities should be reviewed differently than basic campgrounds in my opinion. Every place starts with 5-stars and loses stars for things I believe could and should be better.

★★★★ 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. We stayed in Site# 51 in the Fence Loop- a pull-thru with 50-amp, water, and sewer. The hookups seemed to work just fine. The all-grass site just fit our 37’ motor home(see photos). 

This was our first stay at this campground— and we’re glad we went. The most unique aspect we found was the cow pasture(see photos). It was a lot of fun watching the cows eating and interacting. I intentionally reserved the site we had to be close. This row of sites lacked the trees for shade and privacy found at most other sites around the campground. 

The pool was nice and clean. Wifi worked well enough for us to stream Netflix and YouTube. We didn’t use the shower or laundry facilities. 

The website, posted signs, confirmation email, and check-in instructions all included a list of strict rules regarding conduct while on property and everyone seemed to abide by them during our stay. The language seems a bit rude at first, but we all agreed we’d rather stay at a place with hands-on management and compliant campers than deal with noise and unsafe conditions. 

Couple of negatives and tips: 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. There’s no cable TV which wasn’t an issue for us because we have plenty of streaming options. Bring your own entertainment if you’re used to watching TV. 

If your travels take you in the area of Salem County, NJ, this place is worth checking out. You might like the cows and the basic quiet surroundings as much as we did! 

NOTE: I try to review the places we stay based on what they’re trying to be. Resorts with manicured grounds, water parks, and lots of amenities should be reviewed differently than basic campgrounds in my opinion. Every place starts with 5-stars and loses stars for things I believe could and should be better.

We went to Ocean View Resort in New Jersey to kick off the 2022 season in our new Fleetwood Discovery LXE. And we’re glad we did! 

This campground is located less than two miles from Exit 17 off the Garden State Parkway. It’s located a short drive from popular shore towns including Avalon, Sea Isle City, Cape May, and Ocean City. We found the park easy to access and navigate. 

The check-in process was easy and the front office staff was friendly. I appreciate being expected when stepping up to the front desk. 

The most amazing part of our experience was our‘Deluxe 50 Amp Pull Thru’ site# E19. It was HUUUUUUGGGGGGE! See my photos. Our site had full hookups including 50-amp electricity, good water pressure, easily-accessed sewer connection, cable TV with limited channels(some were not clear), and Wi-Fi which was hopelessly slow. Tall trees provided some shade and privacy. The site was covered in gravel and stone, which is great because it didn’t get muddy after the rainstorm we experienced one night. I highly recommend sites E15-E27(E14 slopes too much for my preference). Most sites are seasonal trailers or-park models, but they appeared generally clean and maintained. 

The campground, our site, and facilities we visited were clean and well-maintained. Not all facilities were open as the full season begins in a few weeks. The campground store carries a variety of food and drinks, camping and RV supplies, clothing, pool toys, and souvenirs. This came in handy when I needed to replace a damaged sewer hose. 

It’s a good sign when it’s difficult to think of negative comments. If I’m being nit-picky, I’d share that the trash and recycling dumpsters were overflowing and unsightly. This could be because it was opening weekend. The firewood they sold was nice and dry, but they don’t deliver it to the sites. This meant I could only purchase what I could carry for my walk back to my site.(I believe offering delivery would be a major convenience for campers and result in increased sales for the campground.) 

This was their opening weekend for the 2022 season. While we expected inconveniences or less-than-ideal conditions, we found the place was prepared for the new season and we had no issues. The lake, swimming pool, and cafe hadn’t opened yet, but we’ll be sure to visit those amenities during our next visit later this summer. 

THINGS I LIKED: Site was huge and clean with well-maintained full hookups, gravel, and shade trees. Campground is clean and maintained. Store was well-stocked 

THINGS I’D CHANGE: No delivery for firewood Slow Wi-Fi Limited working cable TV channels

Went in April. Allows dogs after a deposit. Must purchase their firewood. Good bathrooms/showers. Great location for hitting the 4x4 trails.