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PARK ADVISORY: Allaire State Park Family Camping is closed until further notice. The NJ Department of Environmental Protection will start work on the construction of a new bathroom/shower facility. Group Camping will re-open April 1st.
Campsites: There are forty-five tent and trailer sites with fire rings and picnic tables. Flush toilets and shower facilities are within walking distance. Trailer sanitary station is open April 15 through October 15. Campsites are open from April 1 - December 15.
Shelters: There are ten shelters. Shelters are cabin-like structures with wood stove for heat and two double-deck bunks, which sleep up to four people. Each site includes a fire ring and picnic table. Accessible to persons with disabilities. Shelters are open from April 1 - December 15.
Group campsites: Six group sites with fire rings, picnic tables. Sites A, B, C, and D hold a maximum capacity of 50 people. Fee: New Jersey Resident $100 per night; Non Resident $200, per night. Sites E and F hold a maximum capacity of 25 people. Fee: NJ Resident $50 per night; Non Resident $100 per night. Open open from April 1 - December 15.
$42 - $79 / night
See the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island right from the property. How great is that!?
Liberty Harbor RV Park is OPEN 365 days a year. for your convenience and also accept check-ins 24/7 even if the office is closed. The NY Waterway Ferry leaves from Liberty Harbor and runs Monday to Friday to Pier 11 at the foot of Wall Street (does not operate on weekends or holidays). Other Ferry options that run 7 days a week are located within walking distance.
Or you can walk up Marin Blvd. 5 blocks to the Grove St. PATH subway station which can take you up to 33rd Street and 6th Avenue or to the World Trade Center Site.
The PATH train is another great option to get you where you are going. You can walk up Marin Blvd.
Either way… Manhattan is just a 15-minute ride away. Stay a day or two or a week or two…it’s up to you. We have maps and directions to anywhere you want to visit and our friendly staff is always willing to help you get there.
You can check your email, pick up a package, or send a fax from our office. We even have postcards to send to your friends.
Whether you have a small motorhome, a big bus, slide-outs, or a tow car…it’s never a problem at Liberty Harbor RV. We do suggest making reservations. We want to make your stay a wonderful experience so you’ll want to come back again and again.
Call today – 800.646.2066 / 201.516.7500
$149 / night
Brendan Byrne State Forest is in the Pine Barrens of New Jersey, a unique ecosystem known for its sandy soils, acidic waters and diverse plant and animal life. Campers can explore the forest's numerous hiking and biking trails or go fishing or boating in the nearby streams and lakes. The forest also offers a range of educational programs and interpretive displays, providing visitors with the opportunity to learn about the region's natural and cultural history. Visitors can also enjoy a meal at one of the forest's many picnic areas, or spend the day exploring the nearby towns and attractions. There’s also disc golf and guided nature walks.
$3 - $60 / night
Traveler
Turkey Swamp is a great spot, a lot of different things to do. Fishing, Tent Camp, Van Camping, Open Field, BBQ, Kayaking, Canoeing. The list goes on. I’ve been here a few times, every time I’m here I barely touch my phone.
LegendWe 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.
Traveler
We stayed on a mon/tues at the end of August and the campground was fairly empty and quiet except for a few generators running & air planes/ helicopters going over. There is an air force base in the area.
Site 33 is the back corner so we did get a bit more traffic going past to get on the sand trails. There is also background noise from the road, but not too loud. There are not many RV sites in the 3 loops - just a handful which is a shame because many of the sites marked as tent only look like they could easily accommodate most RVs, especially smaller rigs.
The dump station is locked so get the combo from the office if you want to use it. The ranger station is a bit of a drive from the camping area so if you don’t have cell service make sure you get it at check in.
Go down to the pond and check out the carnivorous plants- one of the most unique things in this area!
Several choices for hiking, but it’s the pine barrens so it is flat and sandy and ticks can be overwhelming at some times of the year.
Overall this is one of the nicer & quieter options for pine barrens camping
Traveler
My first time camping trip in a few decades... So can't compare to others (yet).
My campsite was 34W, right next the reservoir. Nice location however the website said it was full shade. The picnic table was in shade. The spot for the RV was full sun.
Pros:
Reasonable cost from NJ state website. I paid $41 for 2 days.
Campsites well spaced apart.
Staff friendly.
Boats/Kayaks can be rented.
Cons:
Showers were cold water only and very cold at that.
Late at night you can hear the drone of a major highway.
Ranger
This RV park is literally just a parking lot and quite expensive for what it is.
The location is great, but the surrounding streets may be hard to maneuver with an RV if you’re a newbie. You can see the Statue of Liberty from the park, and there were several cafes and restaurants within walking distance.
If you’re looking for actual amenities, this probably isn’t the park for you. But if you just need a base camp for doing tourist activities in NYC then this place will do.
There is 24 hour security which is nice as well. We felt safe while we were there, but it was also fairly empty too.
Legend
Allaire State Park is a favorite spot of mine. In addition to their tent sites and group gathering areas (we have had several family reunions here), we enjoy all the activities! There is a historical village where you can visit a blacksmith shop and other spaces to learn about the history. They have a flea market many weekends in the summer months and in early fall. They also. Have Halloween themed events like a hayride. Lots of walking paths surround the park & you are also close to Belmar, Point Pleasant, Manasquan (all fun shore towns). Bathroom maintenance could use some sprucing up, but other than that- great place to visit.
ScoutThis has been closed way before August of 2023. My wife said she seen feds or some type of authority there with hound dogs when she was driving by one day when they closed it. The park said it’s for “bathroom renovations” but a bathroom renovation with a simple design like they have shouldn’t take over a year to do. I want to camp here with my kids since it’s close and every time I drive by it’s still closed. What the heck is going on here???
Other than that the experience we had camping for a weekend was pretty nice and enjoyable. There was a cold spell that came through for the weekend we were there and it was very cold at night, but we ruffed it out.
GuideThis was definitely a unique camping experience for me. The forest is absolutely beautiful, but not by any design. Instead, nature is just doing its thing. Sand roads crisscross the whole area and navigation can be a bit tricky the first time around.
The campgrounds are clean and simple. Some reviews mentioned that the borders between sites are a bit murky, which I agree with. In the larger loop, one site easily blends into another. I stayed in the smaller loop (1-13), which was simple and a bit more private. The bathrooms nearby were immaculately clean, which hasn’t been the case at many other state campgrounds. There was some occasional road noise, but nothing that kept me up at night. However, there was some low flying air traffic going in to the joint base nearby. It wasn’t terrible, but it was definitely noticeable.
In a pinch, there’s a Wawa about 5 minutes away from the campground. Beyond that, there’s a bar and a gas station a bit further away. Anything else is a bit of a hike. If you want to get away and feel like you’re truly in nature, this is a good spot to visit.
ScoutWe stayed here on our first night with the campervan. Had lots of room. The ranger were really nice.
Traveler
Here on business but didn’t pull the camper up, (from Texas) Tent camped for a couple of weeks. The place is beautiful, and the sites are very nice. They have put a lot of effort in over many years out here. Each site RV or Tent is well thought out. Bathrooms/showers are always very clean as well as the grounds. Would Absolutely recommend !!
TravelerTurkey Swamp is a county park located in Monmouth County, NJ. This beautiful park has some of the nicest campsites in a wooded area. Biking and hiking trails are located in the park so no need to travel beyond the park. If you want to travel, Freehold, NJ is nearby offering restaurants, breweries, shopping, and more.
GuideFirst off, the rep on the phone who says Love all the time is just pure joy!
This campground is like a parking lot, with absolutely nothing but a spot to park. It’s pricy, but if your planning on seeing everything NYC has to offer, you can’t get a better base camp unless you got a room in the city.
It’s super close to public transportation. There’s cute good food spots all around. You feel safe for being in a big city. You can see Lady Liberty from the park.
Was it my favorite place to stay, no. But for the time we spent at home at the campground, which was minimal, it worked perfect. We got to spend 8 days in the city exploring, we were exauhsted, but we felt we did the city good!
TravelerMy experience was just what I needed. It was quiet, the one family I met was so kind. It was late fall so not many campers. The energetically outlet was so important and the bathrooms were clean. No complaints at all.
GuideQuiet campground in a beautiful area of NJ. Sites were spacious. Electric and water hookups were a little far apart at site 27 so it was good we had long cables/hoses. Bathrooms were small but super clean. Camp wood that was sold was dry and did not smoke (which is rare to find)! Price was very reasonable. Would come back again.
TravelerOnly 8 electric sites. You basically pull off side of parking lot and camp there. Lake was closed so did not swim. If you get there on a day they clean the showers not bad. Very run down. Had to pick up trash from previous campers. AT&T great service.
RangerThis place is only for those that wish to relax and have peace which is exactly what we seek. Sites are huge and very private. You didn’t even know that there were people around you. Bathhouse was very very clean. First time here, but we will be back.
ScoutWe stayed in a RV and a tent. There were eight people in total sleeping on the site. We stayed July 1 and 2nd. The actual site was nice and was close to the bathrooms. There was plenty of shade as the sun moved throughout the day. The park used to be a swim attraction but the water is not safe to swim in because of a dangerous algae bloom. While walking around, it gave off an abandoned summer camp feel. There were maybe six structures (concessions, changing rooms, etc) that were all boarded up. Thursday night was quiet. We were able to sit outside and enjoy the sounds of nature. The next night, there were many more people there. In one site, campers set up at least five tents. They were very loud past the curfew time of 10. Quiet hours were not taken seriously on that night.
ScoutStayed at one of the primitive sites. Very clean and quite. Bath stalls and showers are basic but clean. Great spot for stargazing. Owners are very nice.
ScoutWooded sites, restrooms with showers clean and well stocked. Peaceful family campground. Lake for kayaking and paddle boats to rent.
GuideGreat arrival experience—the office has their act together—but registration closes at 4pm. This was our second visit to the sleepy NJ park and campground and our first time renting a shelter along with a campsite to accommodate different levels of camping comfort. The shelter has two sets of bunk beds. Combining campsite 54 with the adjacent Shelter C gave us the opportunity to spread out and have a great area for all of our gear including our badminton set. Shelter C is surrounded by many lovely trees so there is lots of shade. Campsite 54 has no trees and is nestled up against a thicket of bushes which is home to many birds, rabbits, and deer—a great site if you bring your own shade.
This is a relatively rustic campground though it does offer a dishwashing station. The bathrooms need to be renovated—busted up fixtures—and are not well-tended/cleaned, though the staff is very friendly. (It didn’t seem like they were equipped with good cleaning equipment/products to achieve good results.)
Prices above are for NJ residents—$48 for shelter, $20 for campsite.
TravelerJust like any other organized camp ground part of your experience is who is near you. The site itself is exactly what you want/expect but this state forest has a 12-13 mile loop with a nice lake area about 3/4 of the way through that is really nice. Have been here on many occasions. Like anywhere in this area the mosquitoes are bad in the summer for plan for that but if you are looking for a straightforward camping experience with a nice trail network this is your place.
GuideIf you want to visit NYC and surrounding areas, this is the place. Expensive but... When you look at local hotel rates, not so much. Getting in and out is not for someone in a brand new 45' travel trailer. Know your rig and know how to maneuver it in tight spaces. This is not for the timid RV driver. Security is tight. I would recommend talking to and meeting the guards before you leave so it doesn't feel like your mama just caught you sneaking out to drink in high school. They said it can get roudy outside the RV park at peak season but, before the Surf bar opens, it is both safe and quiet.
ScoutA bit close to each other but we winter camp so it was empty super clean and easy to get too
ScoutOk Park, only 30 amps, a little hard with a larger rv but did see some 5ers come in. Make sure you have 100 feet of water hose! You share a spigot with another site and you park lengthwise.
RangerWe stayed in the "Shelter" which was a nice little cabin with a wood stove, table w/benches and two bunkbeds (one of which was nestled behind a partition). There was a front porch w/awning, fire ring and picnic table.
Plenty of wood deadfall for the campfire to be found just behind the shelter. There are also lovely mature birch trees flanking the entrance road, stop there to grab the fallen branches for kindling. (Birch has natural flammable properties and will even burn when wet).
The bathrooms had a shower and outdoor dishwashing sink. They were clean and stocked with soap/toilet paper, but bring a towel to dry your hands if you don't want to use the air-dryer.
The grounds were well kept and the park rangers were non-intrusive and friendly. The campground area we were in was open and at night you could see right into our little cabin. Bring a sheet to hang over the windows.
There were some bugs in the wood stove that startled us the first night, they were also on the window and between the window and the screen. Looking them up online they appeared to be stinkbugs, but didn't smell, thankfully. Citronella essential oil on the window and a nice fire took care of them the first night...for the most part. They didn't bite or go after our food, they just fly a bit loudly and crash into the window, an unusual sound. A few spiders around, but that can be expected when you camp. No mosquitos, no ticks. As for the ticks, there were lots of deer around but we kept our ankles covered and avoided the higher grass in the morning when the dew was still making everything wet.
The boat rental was closed for the season. We went to Di Mola's Pizzeria and Restaurant the second night and the food was excellent - it was not crowded for sit down but tons of traffic for people coming in to pick up orders.
We went to the nearby Ken Lockwood Gorge after we checked out Sunday morning, this was beautiful. The road into the park had a lot of potholes, but we did ok with our "vintage" toyota camry. Where the road access ends are two small parking areas. Plenty of people were fly fishing or walking their dogs. The road continues to travel on foot along the river.
GuideMy experience here was okay but not the best. The park office was easy to find but finding the campground wasn’t. There wasn’t an address for it (only the Park entrance) and there was no signs for which way the campground was once you pull out of the office. Once we finally found the campground, it was quite crowded! We pulled it and found our campsite. It was in the middle of the loop but not heavily shaded so it was very exposed and opened. There was the standard picnic table, fire ring, etc. There was unfortunately many small pieces of trash left by previous campers that we took the time to clean. The bathrooms could tell it was the end of the day when we went but only got worse the next day. It didn’t appear to be cleaned the entire time we were there. By next day, there was feces on the floor and no toilet paper in many of the stalls.
GuideNot a ton of RV’s or children for the most part. Clean and quiet spot.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Matawan, NJ?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Matawan, NJ is Allaire State Park - TEMPORARILY CLOSED with a 3.6-star rating from 18 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Matawan, NJ?
TheDyrt.com has all 6 equestrian camping locations near Matawan, NJ, with real photos and reviews from campers.
