Best Tent Camping near Mays Landing, NJ

Recent Tent Reviews near Mays Landing, New Jersey

423 Reviews of 14 Mays Landing Campgrounds

• 

  Stephanie H.

  Ranger

  

  May. 2, 2021

  Sun Outdoors Cape May

  Tent camping

  Went for a a scout event May 2019 and was enjoyable. Lots to do. Caught a lot of fish. Tent camping.

• 

  Dina S.

  Traveler

  

  Aug. 29, 2019

  Atsion Family Camp — Wharton State Forest

  Fun and natural experience

  Wharton Forest has several campgrounds.

  We tent camped at Atsion in 2015: had flush toilets and was close to the checkin station/store as well as the beach on the lake. Some sites were right on the water and the sites were very big.

  We wanted a more rustic experience and tent camped at Bodine campground in 2018. 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. Pit toilets, pump water, fire ring, nice big site. Road in is sandy but it is the pine barrens. Although we were there on Friday the 13th, sadly neither Jason or the Jersey Devil stopped by for s’mores.

• 

  Ashley R.

  Traveler

  

  Nov. 24, 2021

  Goshen Pond — Wharton State Forest

  Awesome

  The boyfriend and I stayed for a weekend at one of the primitive tent sites. Our site was private and secluded. We had a great time.

• 

  April L.

  Guide

  

  Jul. 9, 2018

  Sun Retreats Seashore Campsites & RV Resort

  Amazing location but watch out for those mosquitos

  There were so many great things about this campground. It was beautiful and had so many different amenities including a little man made beach in the center of the campground. Our only issues were it was pretty pricey for tent camping (65 a night) and the mosquitos were INSANE! Also, a few of the showers were down, so it was difficult to get in there and everything cost extra. It was a quarter run shower. The location was perfect if you wanted to visit Cape May or go into Wildwood only 15 minutes away. I’d say it is perfect for RV’s, campers, or if you are renting a cabin for your family, but as a tent camp location it was a little extravagant for what we were looking for with our trip.

• 

  Alyssa D.

  Legend

  

  May. 17, 2020

  Sun Outdoors Cape May

  Stayed here as a kid...

  & it was a great time! Need to go back now that I’m older...

  We had a pop-up so I can’t speak to tent camping at this one!

  Like most KOAs with standard activities, family friendly environment.

• 

  Joshua B.

  Scout

  

  Jun. 23, 2019

  Philadelphia South/Clarksboro KOA

  Great little koa

  A small koa but very nice, I stayed in a cabin for my MTB race weekend. Great! Pool is a tad small. Restrooms very clean and good looking tent sites.

• 

  Justin S.

  Traveler

  

  Jul. 10, 2019

  Turkey Swamp Park

  Very nice campground

  Clean, well spaced lots. Electric and water with every site. $30 gets you a tent site. We rented a paddle boat for $15 and cruised the lake. Will be back

• T

  Tylen L.

  Traveler

  

  Nov. 15, 2024

  Turkey Swamp Park

  10/10

  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.

• 

  Matthew H.

  Scout

  

  Jan. 25, 2021

  Bass River State Forest

  Family camp out

  This is a cool little area with trails and a lake. 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. Great area for tent camping.

• A

  Alex T.

  Traveler

  

  Dec. 1, 2019

  Batona — Wharton State Forest

  Great hike and camping ground

  Paid a visit mid November. Hiked from the Batso Office to the Mullica River tent sites. Trail could get a tad sandy but it's well maintained. Would definitively come visit again and stay more than one night.

• 

  Travyl Couple !.

  Ranger

  

  Dec. 31, 2019

  Philadelphia South/Clarksboro KOA

  Close to Philadelphia

  We stayed here for 3 nights while visiting family In Philadelphia. It is a 20 minute ride into Philly and Uber was was quick and responsive.

  *note- this does close for winter and reopens in April but call park for exact closure dates because they do change.

  This is a nice KOA with full hook ups, tent sites,cabins, and even glamping cabins. There is a pool that is open Memorial Day- Labor Day. They also have a catch and release pond and we found a pickleball court at a nearby city park.

  We did Chinatown and walked part of the Schuylkill River trail which we accessed by parking near Fairmount Park. This is a great area to explore with gorgeous views and easy access to the River trail. (There are rentals for everything here- kayaks/bikes etc)

  IF we had a car with us- we would have considered taking the ferry from Camden’s Ferry Terminal next to Wiggins Park to Philly. (This is also near the Adventure Aquarium and the battleship New Jersey) Here is a link to information about the ferry-

  https://www.delawareriverwaterfront.com/places/riverlink-ferry

  This is a great location for exploring Philadelphia.

  Happy Camping! Pamela and Keith

• 

  AdventureStang

  Ranger

  

  Jun. 12, 2021

  Old Cedar Campground

  Not the best experience

  We got there, the host wasn’t very friendly. We had to pay $50 per night for a tent site that was sandy mud. The facilities were nice and they had a pool and some other amenities. Somebody found a snake in there trailer so watch out for those 😂

• 

  Ashley R.

  Traveler

  

  Nov. 24, 2021

  Godfrey Bridge — Wharton State Forest

  Awesome

  Our group stayed for an extended weekend trip at one of the primitive tent sites. It was awesome, and we all had a great time. Unfortunately, we had neighbors that were being obnoxiously loud for multiple hours past the "quiet time", but even that didn't ruin our trip. Bonus points for being driving distance to multiple locations that we could take our kayaks.

• 

  Christopher E.

  Traveler

  

  Sep. 9, 2020

  Shellbay Campgrounds

  Decent Campsite for Tenting

  We stayed here because it was within biking distance of the beaches at Stone Harbor, Wildwood, and Cape May. The tent sites were close together and since it was Labor Day weekend it was pretty full. There were a lot of things for kids to do but it was not the kind of camp ground for peace and quiet. Several sites were playing music until 11:00 every night. The bathrooms were a little worse for the wear but the pool looked nice.

• 

  Jeff J.

  Guide

  

  Jun. 6, 2021

  Bass River State Forest

  Very large camp sites, near to lake, very clean, bathrooms and showers

  A beautiful camping area that is affordable, each site is very large, very clean and well maintained, bathrooms and showers 24/7. The camp ground area is very large and signed extremely well making finding your campsite easy. Bathrooms and showers can be a hike. If you can bring a portable toilet, I'd recommend that. $25 for a primitive tent site with fire pit that is very large area for a family or friends, and far from the road. We stayed at the site to kayak with our outdoor group called "A Good Paddling".

• 

  M J.

  Guide

  

  Sep. 14, 2019

  Sun Retreats Seashore Campsites & RV Resort

  Good spot in Cape May

  Tent site was fantastic, level, trees are well trimmed, but still with good coverage, sites are a nice size. Close enough to the bathroom and water options. Campground well appointed. Nice pool, clean showers, quarters for a shower. We paid $40 night in almost mid September. Its just faucets for water, no sinks for a dishwashing station. You are in a busier campground with lots of RVs, travel trailers and vacation rentals, so its not some peaceful small state campground. Only complaint really would be the folks who drove their golf  carts like maniacs. Some enforcement from management would be good there.

• J

  Jorah

  Guide

  

  Sep. 12, 2024

  Philadelphia South/Clarksboro KOA

  Peaceful New Jersey

  I arrived on a Tuesday a few days after they closed the pool, and by Wednesday I had the whole row of tent sites to myself. Maybe that's why it was so peaceful, but every night after my cacophonous conference in Philadelphia, I couldn't wait to turn down Timberlane Road and see that little KOA sign glowing in the darkness. In addition to the peaceful vibe, the people are friendly, the little office store has everything you forgot to pack, and if you look around the campground edges or follow the walking trail into the woods, you will find wonderful native plants like blueberry, viburnum, clethra, and meadow beauty.

• Y

  Yvonne T.

  Scout

  

  Jul. 24, 2022

  Timberline Lake Camping Resort

  Not a quiet getaway, crowded yet. Family friendly

  My friends brought us here, they are family of 4 they have booked tents and cabins over the last 4 years. It's a very large mostly RV park with tent sites mixed in. Mostly seasonal RV people, packed to the hilt. Very large campground, yet small sites, crowded tons of people. Horrible wifi, zero cell service, small swimming area crowded on lake. Great if you are looking for a seasonal spot in an RV community obsessed with American flags and you have a young family, there's a small crowded pool, playground, etc. Boring for my teen, too crowded for my liking. Lots of activities for familiesBring tons of deet-biting flies unbearable. Not my preferred camping getaway but aside from horrible internet and zero cell service, it's a nicely run campground if you are social, have an RV and young children.

• 

  Hallie M.

  Traveler

  

  Jul. 30, 2018

  Godfrey Bridge — Wharton State Forest

  Serenity in the Pine Barrens

  Wharton State Forest has a few primitive campgrounds, which is what I'm looking for. 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.

  This is a review for GOSHEN POND campground, which you can reserve online. Goshen Pond isn't actually a pond, but actually just a very wide, slow moving section of the Mullica River. It's kayakable and canoe-able, but very shallow and swampy, so it doesn't make for good swimming. The Pine Barrens has a fascinating ecology - the ground is very sandy and nutrient-poor, which means that it suits fast-growing pines which live a short life and then die. The constant decay of trees in the area causes the copious amounts of rivers in Wharton State Forest to have a signature brown color. Just want to point it out - it's still clean and lovely, but not very clear.

  The benefits to this Pine Barren ecology is that it makes for almost perfect camping. The ground is always very soft and sandy, which makes for comfortable sleeping. It's noticeably NOT rocky. It also means that there's always plenty of kindling available for collecting.

  The GOSHEN POND camping area is great. Each campsite has room for 1-2 tents, and a fire ring. I personally prefer some privacy when I camp, and some of the sites offer this and some don't. There are some sites that the reservation site lists as RV sites, but they are rarely used by RVs and are actually the most secluded, so I would recommend them for tent camping as well. Site 3 is nice and private, and site 7 has the best view and easiest access to the pond. Avoid the sites in the center circuit of the map - they're very close together.

  GOSHEN POND campground is connected to two equestrian trails, which make for great hiking. In your plans, keep in mind that Wharton State Forest is very flat, so you'll likely be able to cover a lot of ground much more quickly than you would on mountainous terrain.

  There is a parking area, and the sites are variable distances from those areas. The RV sites will allow you to pull up directly to your campsite, but the rest of the tent sites are short walks away. You certainly don't need to plan for a backpacking adventure, but keep in mind that you won't have immediate access to your car.

  There is a water pump near the parking area, and pit toilets. There are no flushing toilets, which I prefer at a campsite.

  In review, the pros to GOSHEN POND are:

  1. Soft, flat sleeping surfaces
  2. Easy access to hiking trails and a kayakable "pond" that connects to the Mullica River system.
  3. Plenty of kindling in the area.
  4. Quiet and remote-feeling.
  5. Some sites are very private.
  6. Dogs allowed.
  7. Water available.

  Some downsides to GOSHEN POND:

  1. No picnic table at any site, nor seating around the ring. I recommend bringing camp chairs and either a cooler to be a food prep surface or a folding table.
  2. MOSQUITOS. Holy crap. Goshen Pond is nearly stagnant, so it is a breeding ground for mosquitos. I came back looking like a leper. I'm going back this weekend, and am investing in some 97% deet bug repellent and a mosquito net for my campsite.
  3. Soot. Don't know what this is about, but at campsite 3, where I stayed the last time, there was a ton of soot in the soil, which just stuck to everything. You would wash yourself, and then be black with soot moments later. We eventually just succumbed to the soot and allowed ourselves to be dirty, but it was an annoyance. In the pictures, you can see the effect of it on my (normally) white dog.

  Overall, I will definitely be returning to Goshen Pond and would recommend it to anyone who is interested in a primitive campsite that truly feels like it's away from everything.

• H

  Herbert

  Traveler

  

  Oct. 4, 2020

  Mays Landing Resort

  First Camping Trip

  This was my daughters and I first camping trip. The place seemed like it was alot of regulars so it had a community vibe. The staff was very accommodating and gracious. The onsite stores prices were very inexpensive which surprised me. Halloween decorations were the best. The playground was great my daughter really enjoyed the scavenger hunt. The miniature golf course could have been maintained better, but it was so inexpensive I couldn't consider it an issue. Our tent site was right next to the pond. It was a Saturday and they were rocking. I dont know if the person playing the music was a professional DJ, he was incredible. He has to be the greatest campsite DJ ever. It was definitely a vibe. If he's not on the payroll and the owners read this the person playing the music Oct 3rd deserves some sort of compensation.

• 

  Jackie F.

  Legend

  

  Aug. 22, 2021

  Sun Retreats Seashore Campsites & RV Resort

  Will not be back

  Our tent site was on a slope, and completely flooded the fire ring when it rained. The fire ring was also missing the grilling grate so we couldn’t cook on it. Most of the showers in the bath houses were broken and you have to pay for them so bring your quarters! All the drink machines were busted and the mosquitos were absolutely unbearable. I contacted the company office and they basically said too bad, so sad. The sites are right on top of one another with hardly any space between. Won’t be back! The fire department drives around at 7am selling hoagies through a mega phone. Still unsure how I feel about that, but that’s up to you to decide! Cape May is just so busy so they really don’t care about your quality of stay. But we will definitely be trying somewhere else next time.

• 

  Cheryl W.

  Guide

  

  Aug. 31, 2018

  Atlantic Blueberry RV Park

  Great Find , Lots of attractions & things to do and close to the beach!

  Atlantic Blueberry has a lot to offer campers from seasonal sites to large pull through sites for RV's as well as sites for tent camping. Located in Port Republic not far from Brigantine & Atlantic City. The park has a nice size pool as well as a kiddie pool. There is also a playground for the kids, camp store with some basic supplies as well as some planned activities on the weekends. We spent a month here while visiting family and while it was pretty busy on the weekends the weekdays were pretty quiet. The staff were very pleasant, accommodating and helpful. We would definitely stay here again. The only reason I gave only 4 stars is the description on there website does not make it clear what the difference is between premium & deluxe hookups. We thought we had booked a fhu site but are only able to dispose of our grey water. The black tank must be pumped out for an additional charge. Otherwise we would stay here again if we could get a site with full sewer hookup.

• 

  Christine D.

  Guide

  

  Aug. 31, 2016

  Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park - Elmer

  Family Fun Campground (but an occasional buzzkill)

  We are annual visitors to Yogi Jellystone in Elmer, NJ by virtue of location, as it is close to home and a convenient spot for several people in our x-large camping crew.

  The pro's: This campground is well-designed with spots that can make most campers happy. There are wooded tent sites, field sites, full plug-in RV sites, and RVs and cabins for rent. There is a sizable splash park and pool with giant inflatable water. They have recreational activities for kids and families from ice-cream parties to bingo to hayrides to movies on a giant screen in the rally field. There is something for almost everyone.

  The con's: It is our "per night" most expensive camping trip each year and runs us close to $165 for a weekend with a site with water and electric. This might seem reasonable for families who enjoy all the bells and whistles and activities but we are just looking for a place to gather with our camping friends and we rarely indulge in the activities. The other con is that someone akin to a "campground bouncer" (that is really a thing) will harass and threaten you and your group throughout the night for even so much as laughter and guitar playing after quiet hours. My group makes a concerted effort (and succeeds) in booking a large area away from most other campers. Regardless of the distance we create, they shut us down every year. But we are a resilient group and it sometimes takes until the wee hours until we truly shut down.

  A pro: They haven't kicked us out yet.

• 

  Stuart K.

  Legend

  

  Oct. 1, 2023

  Alverthorpe Private Park

  Suburban Residential Campground

  Located just due south of Abington and north of Cheltenham right outside of Philly, Alverthorpe Private Park is a hidden gem tucked into the forested wilds in what is surprisingly an otherwise densely populated leafy tree-lined shady suburban area. One moment you are slowly passing stately homes in pristine residential surroundings and the very next, you’ll pull into this nicely shielded protected neighborhood park that offers up tons of recreational opportunities, in addition to a nice plot of shaded land perfect for suburban tent camping bliss – although you’ll need to be a resident in order to camp here, which was a major bummer to learn. 

  As for the park itself, don’t follow your GPS if you intend to find this place, as you’ll have to enter on the south side of the park, which has the only main entrance. Here, you’ll pass a little check-in kiosk, where depending upon why you are there, as there could be many reasons, the nice older gentleman will point you in the right direction. From here you will turn left and find ample parking for your vehicle (although to be clear, this is not a spot for RVs or 5th Wheelers). If you are coming here to camp, you’ll have a bit of a hike for about a 1/3 mile, where you’ll want to follow the walkway towards the lake, after which a nice 18 hole golf course will be on your right. Once at the lake, you’ll see the group shelter where there is a super-cool 4-sided chimney perfect for late night marshmallow roasting or for BBQing. 

  Just up the hill to the left and behind the shelter is where you’ll make your way to the actual campground. Careful, because up until this point, making your way to the campground has been pretty easy as you will have walked on nice wide paved sidewalks, perfect for hiking in or pulling your gear behind you, but at this stage, you’ll have to maneuver some uneven quasi steep steps before finally making it to the campground area. Once you’ve arrived, you’ll have your pick of about a dozen ill-kept sites and a fairly nasty shelter that is definitely in need of not only upkeep and basic sanitation, but likely would benefit from some much-needed repairs. All of the sites either have an in-ground firepits and standing grills, or there are enough spread around where you can easily use the ones not being used throughout the tenting community. There was one running spigot of water up here, but it was so gross we didn’t use it. There’s also a nice access point to the lake from here where you could easily go for a nice walk or even tow your kayak behind you. 

  As for Alverthorpe itself, this is a magnificent well taken care of park, so I was surprised to see that the campground area didn’t receive the same level of TLC. If that doesn’t bother you, then you’ll be happy here as the whole place, as previously mentioned, is tucked behind a little suburban outcrop so it is extremely quiet. Here’s a lineup of all the amenities you’ll find: baseball field, basketball court, fishing, football field, grills, lake, mini-golf, pavilions and shelters, kid’s playground, restrooms, tennis courts, walking and biking trails and a swimming pool. To make a reservation to camp here, you’ll have to call the main office and the cost is $15 per night ... and again, don't forget to either be a resident or get one to vouch for you! 

  Insider’s tips? Here’s a few: (1) While this residential park packs a lot of entertainment options, when it comes to camping, there isn’t much. So I would definitely encourage you to bring EVERYTHING you might need to have a great experience – from chairs, tables, BBQ and even a brush and rake!; (2) After a good day of packing in a lot of activities, you might want to head out and enjoy a bite to eat or a couple of drinks – if so, you’re in luck as there are some really great spots just a short drive east of here, wherein I would recommend: Iron Hill Brewery, Hollywood Tavern and Gaul& Co. Malt House in Rockledge; (3) If you need any groceries, there’s a Giant Food Stores that has pretty much everything covered; and (4) Should you want to explore more of the surrounding nature offerings, I would suggest checking out Briar Bush Nature Center where there’s some great trail hiking as well as Morris Arboretum & Gardens, which is just beautiful. 

  Happy Camping!

• 

  Sara B.

  Scout

  

  Mar. 4, 2021

  Oldmans Creek Campground

  Mixed emotions

  Hey had nice owners and seemed like a family but there's just a dirty Lake which is better than nothing but it seems like the Southern Hicks of New Jersey all gather there it's pretty broke and run down.

• 

  Denise D.

  Guide

  

  Jun. 17, 2018

  Beachcomber Camping Resort

  Above my expectations!

  A beautiful wooded campground close to the beaches of Cape May, New Jersey. Very family oriented and really a great place for adults too. We stayed in a teepee and it is one of the coolest places I have camped. These days I like glamping and this was the best experience yet!

• 

  Denise D.

  Guide

  

  Jun. 18, 2018

  Beachcomber Camping Resort

  Beautiful wooded sites, lots to do and unique camping experiences.

  Fun for the whole family. Lots to do and the beautiful beaches of Cape May, New Jersey are a short 10 minute drive. The different types of camping/glamping experiences exceeded my expectations. We enjoyed the Deer Crossing Teepee which had far more luxuries than any other glamping I have done. Highly recommend this campground resort.