Camping near Monroeville, New Jersey offers diverse experiences in the Pine Barrens ecosystem, characterized by sandy soil, cedar swamps, and pine forests. The region maintains relatively mild temperatures throughout camping season, though summer nights can cool significantly with temperature drops of 15-20 degrees after sunset. Sites throughout the area range from primitive tent camping to fully-equipped glamping accommodations.
What to do
Water activities at Old Cedar Campground: Located in Monroeville, this campground features a clean swimming pool and fishing spots. According to a camper, "Nice pool, good fishing, staff is great," while another mentions "The pool was nice and clean. Wifi worked well enough for us to stream Netflix and YouTube."
Hiking trails in Belleplain State Forest: Just under an hour from Monroeville, this forest offers well-marked trails through pine and oak forest. A visitor noted, "We biked the trails, and hiked others that didn't allow bikes. They are putting in new bathrooms at Miesle this year." Another camper appreciated that "There are plenty of space for our tent. lake for swimming and you can rent boats. nice hiking trails and playground."
Go Ape adventures at Lums Pond State Park Campground: This Delaware park offers zipline and high ropes courses through the trees. One visitor mentioned, "Bike trails, Going Ape, kayaking and peaceful," highlighting the variety of activities. Another camper described their experience: "The trails were well marked, and the day we took a hike, we ended up on the equestrian trail that runs all the way around the pond. It was a long, but easy hike."
Tubing on the Wading River: Experience the local waterways at Wading Pines Camping Resort. As one camper described, "We did have a great time tubing on the river. Have someone drop you off at Hawkins Bridge and float down to the campground. A little over 2 hour ride." Another visitor shared, "Very nice wading river next to the camp grounds. You can tube down the river from one end of camp to the other."
What campers like
Spacious, private sites at Old Cedar Campground: Campers appreciate the roominess of this Monroeville campground. One reviewer noted, "The site offered electric and water... 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." Another camper mentioned the unique "cow pasture" view: "It was a lot of fun watching the cows eating and interacting. I intentionally reserved the site we had to be close."
Clean facilities at Parvin State Park: Located in Pittsgrove Township, this park maintains high standards for bathrooms and showers. A camper stated, "Bathrooms were clean but most of the faucets on the sinks were broken. The water has a very high iron content." Another noted, "Nice campsites, some big enough for trailers. Bathrooms were very clean."
Full hookup sites at Philadelphia South/Clarksboro KOA: This campground offers well-maintained services about 30 minutes from Monroeville. A visitor reported, "This is a nice KOA with full hook ups, tent sites, cabins, and even glamping cabins." Another mentioned, "The hookups were fine, cable was good, wifi was fairly fast but was prone to disconnects. Lots of shopping nearby, fortunately for me because I had to run to Home Depot for a quick repair item."
Glamping options near Monroeville, New Jersey: For those seeking luxury camping experiences, several campgrounds offer upscale accommodations. At Philadelphia South KOA, "My husband and I stayed for a week in one of the glamping tents. The staff was very friendly and the tents were more glamorous than we had tried before, but definitely had a good combination of woodsy and comfort."
What you should know
Water quality varies by campground: Several campers mention water issues at different sites. At Belleplain State Forest, a camper warned about the "dip in the site when backing in and our fifth wheel was bending to the point of rubbing the top of our truck when backing in. It also had rained and there were puddles in the sand." At Parvin State Park, a visitor noted, "The water has a very high iron content. I couldn't even use it for tooth brushing."
Cell service and connectivity challenges: If staying connected is important, research before booking. At Belleplain State Forest, a camper reported, "Virtually NO cell service with AT&T, TMobile or Verizon. AT&T we the better of the 3. Our Winegard/Gateway give us no internet which we normally get."
Weekend noise levels: Some campgrounds host entertainment that affects the camping atmosphere. At Wading Pines Camping Resort, a visitor mentioned, "Never stayed at Wading Pines, but have camped in the state park next to it and their live music (a terrible cover band) blasts every weekend until midnight into the park." Another camper noted, "On Saturday night, there is a DJ and a dance party from 7-10 pm. It is extraordinarily loud and somewhat impossible to navigate a car through that many people."
Dump station limitations: Plan ahead for departure day, especially on busy weekends. At Belleplain State Forest, a camper complained, "The worst was the dump station. It is just a little hole on the side of the road and the ONLY dump station for the 3 campgrounds! It was very unlevel and not easy to fully dump our tanks. It was also Memorial Day weekend and the line at checkout caused us to wait 2 hours to dump!!"
Tips for camping with families
Entertainment options at Jellystone Park South Jersey: This family-oriented campground provides extensive activities. According to a visitor, "The pool and surrounding amenities are nice and clean including lake, snack bar, and ice cream." Another family described their experience: "Been here 2 years in a row, going again this June (2022). We stay in the rental campers. They are new-ish Shasta campers, queen bed, 1 slide, rear bunks, 2 entrances. Very clean. Water area is great, splash pad is very fun so is the large blow up slide and pool area."
Age-appropriate activities: When planning glamping near Monroeville with kids, check height requirements for certain attractions. A parent at the former Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park in Elmer noted, "The pool and splash park were great but you needed to be at least 42 inches to go on the slide or bounce house."
Fishing opportunities: Kids often enjoy fishing at campgrounds like Old Cedar. As one family mentioned, "Nice playground, basketball court, 2 fishing areas. Almost all the seasonals are new(er) campers and even the older ones are well maintained." Another visitor noted, "My grandchildren loved visiting us, pool was clean - they had a few items that they could borrow - fishing was great - playground was adequate."
Educational experiences: Some campgrounds offer learning activities. A visitor to Wharton State Forest mentioned, "Across the street from the entrance is a home that sells sundries and firewood. Down at the Atsion office a mile away they can sell you firewood as well. Picalilli Inn isn't far, they have great wings. Batsto is a 15 minute drive."
Tips from RVers
Site selection at Mays Landing Resort: Choose sites carefully at this campground about 30 minutes from Monroeville. One RVer warned, "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." Another mentioned, "It's more of a closed net group of people as we rarely had anyone wave to us... The exit is very tight to get out of and all lanes are one way so be careful if you have a big rig."
Road conditions: Pay attention to campground roads when planning your approach. A camper at Wading Pines noted, "Check in was easy but the roads are narrow and we had a hard time getting on to site 145." At Mays Landing Resort, another RVer observed, "The park is a little run down and spots are super crowded with really narrow, winding streets. It was a maze."
Hookup locations: Some sites have unusual hookup arrangements. At Lums Pond, a camper mentioned, "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."
Seasonal considerations: Many campgrounds in the area have different operational seasons. Old Cedar Campground runs from April 21 to October 9, while Parvin State Park offers camping from April 1 to October 31. Mays Landing Resort operates April 1 to November 1, and Wading Pines Camping Resort is open April 15 to November 15.
