Cabin camping near Moorestown, New Jersey offers experiences in the Pine Barrens, an ecological region covering over 1.1 million acres with sandy, acidic soil supporting unique plant communities. The area maintains a moderate climate with summer temperatures averaging 85°F, though inland cabins can reach higher temperatures due to limited coastal breezes. Water access varies significantly between private and public cabin facilities throughout Burlington and Camden counties.
What to do
Kayaking and tubing on Wading River: Access the water directly from cabin sites at Wading Pines Camping Resort where "you can tube down the river from one end of camp to the other." The river provides a natural cooling activity during hot summer months, with one visitor recommending to "have someone drop you off at Hawkins Bridge and float down to the campground. A little over 2 hour ride."
Fishing at multiple lakes: Cabin campers can fish at Turkey Swamp Park's central lake where they "sell bait at the Ranger office." Many cabins offer lake proximity for convenient angling, and at Atsion Family Camp, waterfront cabin sites provide direct lake access as "two paths led down to the lake, about 20 feet."
Historic site exploration: Within a 15-minute drive from Brendan Byrne State Forest cabins, visitors can explore Batsto Village, a preserved iron-making town. A camper noted, "Batsto is a 15 minute drive. Hikes start either there or you can access from Atsion as well. There are little trails around the campsite too."
What campers like
Private woodland settings: Brendan Byrne State Forest cabins receive high marks for their secluded atmosphere. "Spacious campsite, although the closest water spigot wasn't working. Not a big problem as there are plenty of others," reported one visitor. Another mentioned, "most the sites have pretty decent privacy from the other ones."
Evening entertainment options: Some cabin facilities offer organized nighttime activities. At Timberland Lake Campground, "they do their own haunted walk through that is just awesome! Everyone decorates. They have a dj every Saturday!" This provides social opportunities beyond daytime activities.
Proximity to local vendors: Local businesses near cabin sites supplement camping needs. A visitor to French Creek State Park mentioned, "We found several places nearby to purchase wood, besides the supermarket and a nursery in town, there are a few residents that sell it right on their front lawn so be on the look-out en route to the park entrance."
What you should know
Bathroom facilities vary significantly: Cabin campers should check bathroom accessibility before booking. At Old Cedar Campground, "The bath house(s) are centrally located near the camp office," while at French Creek, a visitor noted "Showers were odd - one large stall but no separate dressing area so you have to be very careful so as not to get your stuff wet during the shower."
Seasonal availability changes: Not all cabin facilities operate year-round. A camper noted about Philadelphia South/Clarksboro KOA: "this does close for winter and reopens in April but call park for exact closure dates because they do change." Meanwhile, Turkey Swamp Park operates from "Apr 1 to Nov 15."
Tick prevention essential: Wooded cabin areas can harbor ticks, particularly in spring and early summer. One Turkey Swamp visitor reported, "by the 2nd day I had 3 ticks on me. My dog had one and by the end my husband had 2. That was so crazy because we were just sitting by our camper."
Tips for camping with families
Check playground proximity: Turkey Swamp Park offers "Centralized playground for the kids with bathrooms and showers next door," making it convenient for families with young children. A visitor noted there are "playgrounds both in the campground and by the office."
Consider weekend activity schedules: Many cabin facilities offer structured weekend programming. At Old Cedar Campground, "every Saturday they had an organized activity for the kids," and "The wonderful part was having them visit us - for $8 per day the grandchildren were able to play miniature golf, swim in the pool."
Bring extra water hoses: Water hookup configurations can challenge family cabin campers. A visitor to Old Cedar observed, "The water hookups are shared every other site. I was lucky my 75' hose barely reached the distance needed. Be sure to bring extra hoses."
Tips from RVers
Site surface considerations: RVers using cabins should note ground conditions. At Timberland Lake, a camper warned about "sand for all pull-throughs," adding "sand… so hard even with rugs to pull out of trailer." This affects equipment setup and cleanliness inside cabins.
Access road awareness: Some cabin areas have challenging approach roads. At French Creek State Park, "as soon as you turn off the main road to the park, all roads are dirt, which was a bit surprising. They were well-maintained and in dry weather, not a problem, but probably not if it was rainy."
Utility connections: For RVers alternating between their vehicles and cabins at Philadelphia South/Clarksboro KOA, the utilities are reliable. "The hookups were fine, cable was good, wifi was fairly fast but was prone to disconnects." This location also offers convenient access for urban exploration as "It is a 20 minute ride into Philly and Uber was was quick and responsive."
