RV camping in Mantua, New Jersey provides access to parks within 30-50 miles of Philadelphia. Situated in Gloucester County's suburban landscape, this location offers a mix of forested areas and developed amenities. Many campgrounds in this region feature concrete or gravel pads that accommodate larger rigs but may require leveling blocks due to uneven terrain at some facilities.
What to do
Wildlife viewing at local lakes: At Thousand Trails Chestnut Lake in Port Republic, campers can fish at the on-site lake. "Good fishing, good people, nice shaded and sunny spots, beautiful pool," reports Aimee D., though she warns to "stay away from the front middle spots, they flood when it rains."
Brewery visits within 15 minutes: Near Shady Pines Campground, guests can enjoy craft beer just minutes away. "There's a cute brewery right around the corner and a burger place called Tony Beef. We liked them both!" shared Amanda M., who found the location convenient for beach access at nearby Brigantine.
Tour Amish Country: The rural areas surrounding Spring Gulch Resort Campground offer cultural experiences. Paulina B. describes it as a "Hidden Amish Country Gem" with "tons of amenities for families including mini golf, an arcade, pools, fishing ponds, etc. Not to mention live music on the weekends!"
What campers like
Level concrete pads for easy setup: Village Scene Park in Hatfield offers year-round access with solid infrastructure. Will P. notes the "very accommodating and helpful" staff, while Stuart K. appreciates the "safe, quiet suburban location" with "full-hookup RV sites with 30/50 amp, water, and sewer."
Clean, air-conditioned facilities: Many campers highlight bathroom quality as a deciding factor. Becca U. described Spring Gulch's bathhouses as having "individual bathrooms and showers. Each was pretty clean and spacious," a contrast to other parks where bathrooms can be hit-or-miss.
Weekend entertainment options: Several campgrounds offer scheduled activities and entertainment. Herbert from Mays Landing Resort mentioned a Saturday night gathering: "It was a Saturday and they were rocking. I don't know if the person playing the music was a professional DJ, he was incredible. He has to be the greatest campsite DJ ever."
What you should know
Uneven sites require preparation: At Mays Landing Resort, Daniel C. found "sites are very unleveled so the staff switched us to a pull thru space that was a tad bit more level but still very unleveled." This is consistent across several parks in the region, so bring extra leveling blocks.
Seasonal population differences: Many RV parks near Mantua have significant seasonal resident populations. Sonyia W. observed at Mays Landing Resort that it's "more like a long term stay place that has a couple of short term sites," while Cyn D. noted the spots are "super crowded with really narrow, winding streets."
Noise levels vary by weekend: Holiday and summer weekends can be particularly busy. Jen R. from Spring Gulch Resort cautioned, "We camped here over Memorial Day weekend and it was full," suggesting visitors might "camp here again but not over a holiday."
Tips for camping with families
Pool and lake access timing: Families should note operating hours for water amenities. Beth B. at Spring Gulch Resort found "not enough staffing to keep amenities like pool open after 5 during the week," suggesting families plan afternoon activities accordingly.
Playground quality varies significantly: Before booking, check recent reviews about playground conditions. Herbert's daughter at Echo Farms RV Campground "really enjoyed the scavenger hunt," though Mike noted sites were "very small no grass no privacy but the good thing about it was with centrally located around 4 beaches."
Check which recreation equipment is provided: Some campgrounds offer free sporting equipment. Beth B. mentioned Spring Gulch has "lots of sports gear available for free to use within park, has to be returned by 5 when main office closes."
Tips from RVers
Advance calls recommended over apps: Experienced RVers suggest calling parks directly rather than relying on reservation systems. Carl S. at Thousand Trails Lake & Shore mentioned their neighbor "recommended calling rather than using the Thousand Trails app" after noticing "plenty of empty sites" despite the app showing no availability.
Site selection strategies: When given the option to choose your site, RVers recommend driving through first. Carl S. noted "the resort did not reserve a particular site and suggested that we drive around and select the one we liked," getting them "a nice level site with a concrete pad under the picnic table."
Marking temporary absences: For class B or smaller RVs planning day trips, bring materials to mark your site as occupied. Carl S. shared, "we needed some way to designate that the site was taken if we went out. The resort did not plan for this but they did come out and give us a length of caution tape to use to block the site."