Turkey Swamp Park in Freehold Township sits approximately 15 miles from Matawan, offering wooded campsites with water and electric connections. While equestrian facilities aren't available directly in Matawan, the surrounding Monmouth County parks system maintains several day-use horse trails. Most campgrounds within a 45-mile radius don't provide dedicated horse corrals, making overnight horse camping a challenge near Matawan.
What to do
Fishing and boating opportunities: Turkey Swamp Park features a lake where visitors can fish or rent watercraft during summer months. According to Tylen L., "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."
Winter recreation: Turkey Swamp Park remains accessible during colder months, offering unique winter activities. Patrick M. notes about a different park with similar winter options: "We go every year. It has everything the outdoorsman could ask for. Bring your bow and shoot at the hay barrels. Ice skate on the lake in the winter or just enjoy a gorgeous walk in the woods."
Hiking trails: The Pine Barrens region offers extensive trail systems for day hikes. At Brendan Byrne State Forest, a camper observed, "Lots of good hiking trails, most the sites have pretty decent privacy from the other ones," adding that the forest provides "Lots of trails and a wawa down the street if you forgot anything for your trip."
What campers like
Private wooded sites: Many campgrounds near Matawan feature secluded camping spots. One camper at Turkey Swamp Park described: "Sites in Loops B-E all have pull-thru driveways. Sites are all level, very generous in size, and reasonably spaced apart for privacy. A lantern hook, picnic table, and fire ring complete each site."
Clean facilities: Campground bathrooms in the region are generally well-maintained. A camper at Mountainview Campground reported: "Porta-potties were super clean and...actually smelled good??? Maybe they were just cleaned or they are just really well cared for. Either way, it was unusual for a campsite."
Wildlife viewing: For nature enthusiasts seeking equestrian-adjacent experiences near Matawan, the wooded settings offer wildlife encounters. One camper at Mountainview shared: "Only shortly after we settled into our tent did we hear foxes fighting right outside our tent, the snorts of deer, and there were bats right above us all night making noise!"
What you should know
Limited equestrian facilities: Horse-friendly camping options remain scarce near Matawan. No dedicated horse corrals exist at major campgrounds within a 30-mile radius. Equestrian day-use trails can be found at some parks, but overnight horse camping requires traveling further from the Matawan area.
Seasonal tick concerns: Prepare for ticks, especially during warmer months. A camper at Turkey Swamp Park noted: "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."
Noise factors: Some campgrounds experience highway noise despite their natural settings. At Spruce Run Recreation Area, a camper mentioned: "Late at night you can hear the drone of a major highway," while another noted: "It was very loud and rowdy into the late night. There were campers making lots of noise, arming/disarming their car alarms, slamming doors, cars driving in/out, bright lights flashing, etc. all PASSED 2am!!"
Tips for camping with families
Plan for playground access: Several campgrounds offer dedicated play areas for children. At Spruce Run Recreation Area, one reviewer highlighted: "Several playgrounds, boat launches, and life guarded swimming area." Similarly, Turkey Swamp Park features "age-appropriate playgrounds both in the campground and by the office."
Bug protection: For families camping with children, insect repellent is essential in New Jersey forests. Interestingly, one family at Turkey Swamp Park had a different experience: "We went camping with our 2- and 3-year-old kids. We were worried about bugs, but we didn't even use mosquito repellent and didn't get a single bite!"
Clarify site rules: Different campgrounds enforce varying policies about tent setups and capacity. At Brendan Byrne State Forest, a camper warned: "If using an RV in a tent site you are not allowed to add another tent to the site. There is a two tent limit per site despite the site allowing up to 6 people."
Tips from RVers
Water hookup preparation: At Turkey Swamp Park, water access points may require extra equipment. One RVer advised: "Bring a LONG water hose. Nice lake. Showers and washers and dryers."
Dump station access: Most campgrounds near Matawan offer sanitary dump stations, but not all sites have sewer hookups. At Spruce Run Recreation Area, a reviewer noted: "There are some RV sites with water & electric which are not on the water, but in the parking lot. I would consider getting one on the water to enjoy the water and one in the parking lot to hook up the RV."
Road conditions: When searching for horse-friendly campgrounds near Matawan, consider access road quality. At Mountainview Campground, a camper observed: "The drive to our site had some inclines and was relatively rocky and some vehicles would surely struggle," which could be problematic for horse trailers.
