Camping cabins near Mays Landing, New Jersey offer shelter in the Pine Barrens region, an area characterized by sandy soil and dense pine forests. With hot, humid summers reaching average highs of 85°F and mild winters with lows around 25°F, cabin rentals provide comfort during all seasons. The region's acidic soil and flat terrain create a unique ecosystem for camping experiences.
What to do
Kayaking on local rivers: Winding River Campground offers kayaking trips with transportation services. "Awesome place to camp to hit the river. Staff is good. Sites are nice. Always a plus when you can bring your golfcart," notes Arnold M. Visitors can choose from 2, 3, and 5-hour trip options that return directly to the campsite.
Fishing at stocked ponds: Thousand Trails Chestnut Lake provides fishing opportunities in their well-maintained lake. "Lake has plenty of fish," reports Paul B. The lake is accessible from multiple points and doesn't require additional permits beyond your New Jersey fishing license.
Miniature golf and arcade games: Family-friendly activities at Ocean View Resort Campground include recently renovated facilities. "They just completed a new camp store building that has everything you could think of from camping gear to beach chairs and floats! They also have a cafe that also sells ice cream. The food was very reasonably priced and good," says Ray L.
What campers like
Beach proximity: Multiple rental cabins sit within 30 minutes of Jersey Shore beaches. "Ocean View Resort was an excellent resort for our family with two toddlers. Kids loved the Splash Park, Arcade, Tram Car, playgrounds and Lake. So much to do at this resort. We also left the resort and went crabbing and went to the Cape May zoo," shares Ann Marie M.
Pool and water amenities: Whippoorwill Campground offers clean swimming facilities. "Pool is very nice only thing i wished they had was a fishing lake but theres lakes in the area. Place is clean and staff is nice," notes Arnold M. The pool area provides relief during hot summer days when cabin interiors can get warm.
Pine Barrens hiking trails: Bass River State Forest connects to numerous nature trails. "We walked and explored, kayaked, and sang by the fire. The camp sites have plenty of room for the kids to run around and set up there own areas," shares Matthew H. These trails range from easy half-mile loops to more challenging 5+ mile hikes through the pine forests.
What you should know
Seasonal limitations: Most cabin rentals have restricted availability from April through October, with few winter options. A visitor to Atsion Family Camp noted, "Our site was right on Wading River and we launched our kayaks right at the site! Our tent is has a full view of the sky and at night it was like a planetarium as we admired the sky from our cots."
Insects and pests: The Pine Barrens region has significant mosquito and tick populations, especially May through September. "There were a lot of ticks when we stayed in May so keep that in mind," warns Gennifer K. about Bass River State Forest. Insect repellent is essential for outdoor activities.
Weather considerations: Cabins vary widely in insulation quality and temperature control. "Your rig will be covered in sand and it's quite buggy. However, it has a state park feel with the trees," mentions Michelle C. about camping at Winding River.
Tips for camping with families
Splash pad options for kids: Ocean View Resort Campground has water play areas specifically for younger children. "Ocean View Resort was an excellent resort for our family with two toddlers. kids loved the Splash Park, Arcarde, Tram Car, playgrounds and Lake," says Ann Marie M. The splash pad is open from Memorial Day through Labor Day.
Quiet hours enforcement: Campgrounds have varying degrees of nighttime noise control. One camper at Whippoorwill noted the "Quiet Hours rule of 11 PM to 8 AM is a joke as is the 5 MPH rule(watch your kids!)." Plan your cabin location accordingly if traveling with small children who need early bedtimes.
Playground accessibility: Most cabin rentals include access to playground facilities. At Mays Landing Resort, "It has a nice playground for the little kids," though another visitor noted "It's more of a closed net group of people as we rarely had anyone wave to us."
Tips from RVers
Site leveling challenges: Many cabin and RV sites require significant leveling. "Site are very unleveled so the staff switched us to a pull thru space that was a tad bit more level but still very unleveled," reports Daniel C. about Mays Landing Resort. When booking cabin rentals, ask specifically about site grade.
Bathroom facilities: Shared bathroom quality varies significantly between campgrounds. At Ocean City Campground, "Everything we saw was in great condition, perfectly working order, clean, and looked new," notes Matt S. This contrasts with other facilities that may have more basic amenities.
Campground navigation: Interior roads can be challenging for larger vehicles. At Mays Landing Resort, one visitor mentioned "spots are super crowded with really narrow, winding streets. It was a maze." This is important when coordinating arrival times and unloading gear at cabin rentals.
