H
Henry 
Scout
ScoutCape Henlopen State Park Campground
Cape Henlopen DE
Great place. Close to beach. No septic hookup
Camping near Ocean City, NJ
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SUMMARY PRESENTED BY
Campgrounds near Ocean City, New Jersey range from full-hookup RV parks to tent sites and cabin rentals, most within 15-20 minutes of the shore. The area features several family-friendly options like Ocean View Resort Campground, Whippoorwill Campground, and Ocean City Campground & Beach Cabins. Accommodations range from traditional tent sites to full-service RV hookups, with many properties offering cabin rentals for those seeking more comfortable shelter. Most campgrounds in the region operate seasonally, typically open from April through October, though a few like Belleplain State Forest offer year-round camping options.
Advance reservations are strongly recommended during summer months when beach traffic peaks and campgrounds reach capacity. "We had to call and reserve myself," noted one camper at Ocean City Campground, highlighting the importance of confirming bookings directly. Campground amenities vary considerably, with most offering electric hookups, drinking water, and shower facilities. The sandy terrain characteristic of the region affects campsite conditions, with some visitors noting the prevalence of sand at certain campgrounds. Weather considerations include hot, humid summers with occasional thunderstorms and relatively mild springs and falls. Most campgrounds enforce quiet hours beginning around 11 PM, though enforcement varies by property.
Campers consistently rate the swimming pools as major highlights at several campgrounds near Ocean City. "Pool was very nice with splash pad for the kiddos," remarked a visitor to Ocean City Campground. Many campgrounds maintain organized activities, particularly during summer weekends and holidays. Proximity to Ocean City beaches represents a significant draw, with most properties located within 15-30 minutes of the shore areas. Sites tend to be moderately sized, with some campgrounds offering more spacious options than others. Several reviewers note the prevalence of seasonal campers at certain properties, creating established communities within the campgrounds. Bathroom facilities receive mixed reviews across properties, with cleanliness varying by location and time of season. Most campgrounds in the area prohibit alcohol consumption in public areas, though enforcement policies differ.
Best Campgrounds near Ocean City (100)
1. Ocean View Resort Campground
"We went to Ocean View Resort in New Jersey to kick off the 2022 season in our new Fleetwood Discovery LXE. And we’re glad we did! "
"It's very close to everything, but you don't even need to leave the campground! There are a ton of activities!"
2. Belleplain State Forest
"They allowed me to drive around first and pick out a campsite before checking in. They charge $5 extra for a dog. So far it is very quiet and that's what I was looking for."
"Very nice campground tucked away in southern NJ. Clean facilities. Plenty of space for our tent. lake for swimming and you can rent boats. nice hiking trails and playground."
3. Whippoorwill Campground
"Ocean City beaches and boardwalk are just a short drive away and you can get beach badges right at the campground."
"The only thing that concerned us was there were a lot of little kids walking around unattended. We will def go back."
from $43 / night
Check Availability4. Ocean City Campground & Beach Cabins
"We stayed at Ocean City Campground for the Newmar Kountry Klub Mid-Atlantic States Rally. "
"Gravel under the trailer and small river rock around the picnic table and fire pit."
5. Ocean City Campground & Beach Cabins
"My familiy an I stayed at Ocean City Campground for a weekend get away. The staff was was very friendliy and the campstore/snack stand was impressive. The campground has a nice pool and covered area."
6. Thousand Trails Lake & Shore
"We stayed 2 nights at Land & Shore and the first night was Friday night and all 6 families that are members with our own sites were hanging out around a fire pit and at 1016pm someone security person"
"Close to beaches and food. We’ll be back!"
7. Sun Outdoors Cape May
"Stayed in a drive through, patio site with full hook-ups. It was situated on a corner spot. A lot of RV, golf cart, bike, and people traffic due to the location."
"The front of the park is close to the pool and store- if pool noise is a concern you should stay further back. A mix of seasonal,"cabins" and overnight camping. Park was very clean."
8. Thousand Trails Sea Pines
"well maintained, wonderful pool and splash pad, great location!!"
"Kids love the lake. Bathroom cleaned daily. Could use more showers. Nice and quiet at night."
9. Mays Landing Resort
"The tent loop is all the way in the back next to the pond. If you are arriving after office hours, 6pm or so, you have to call to get a gate code. Otherwise, you are locked out."
"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."
10. Spacious Skies Country Oaks
"As a returning traveler to Spacious Skies Campgrounds – Country Oaks in Dorothy, New Jersey, I continue to be impressed by the peaceful atmosphere, well-maintained facilities, and welcoming hospitality"
"There’s nothing much to do in the area without driving 45+ minutes away, so make this your destination of you’re looking for a restful time away from home. The Wi-Fi actually worked great."
from $36 - $999 / night
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Drive Time
- 18 min from Atlantic City, NJ
- 37 min from Vineland, NJ
- 58 min from Philadelphia, PA
- 1 hr 54 min from Dover, DE
Recent Camping Photos near Ocean City, NJ
180 Photos of 100 Ocean City Campgrounds • uploaded by The Dyrt campers
Whippoorwill CampgroundM
Ocean City Campground & Beach CabinsR
Ocean View Resort Campground
Belleplain State ForestJ
Thousand Trails Sea Pines
Sun Retreats Avalon
Mays Landing Resort
Winding River Campground
Atlantic Blueberry RV ParkS
Sun Outdoors Cape May
Atlantic Shore Pines Campground
Sun Retreats Seashore Campsites & RV Resort
Recent Reviews near Ocean City, NJ
536 Reviews of 100 Ocean City Campgrounds
TaylorScoutYogi Bear's Jellystone Park At Delaware Beaches
Yearly goers
Love it every year . We g for mother's Day. And the schedule for the events they do during even just the weekend make for fun filled hassle free weekend
Patel D.
TravelerBig Oaks Campground
⚠️ Think Twice Before Booking— Our Family Felt Targeted and Intimidated
I am writing this review because I genuinely want to warn other families before they book this campground. What should have been a relaxing camping trip turned into an extremely upsetting experience for our family. From the beginning, we felt singled out and unwelcome. We arrived at our campsite and then went to the office. We did not know that the campground required every guest to go to the office before going to their site. This was an honest misunderstanding. Instead of simply explaining the rule and moving on, the situation became unnecessarily confrontational, and we felt like the staff was looking for reasons to have an issue with us. What was especially upsetting was how our children were treated. Our children were riding scooters and were stopped and told that scooters were not allowed. We were extremely confused because we could clearly see much younger children riding/driving around the campground. Our 14-year-old was not allowed to do so, while we observed significantly younger white children being allowed to ride. What made this even worse was the way our children were spoken to. They came running back to us scared and intimidated by the interaction. As parents, that was extremely upsetting to see. There is a huge difference between calmly explaining a campground rule to a child and speaking to a child in a way that makes them feel frightened. If there is a rule that scooters are not allowed, then the rule should be applied consistently to every child, regardless of age or background. What we witnessed did not feel consistent. As the experience continued, we felt increasingly targeted. We were left with the strong impression that they did not want our family there. At one point, it honestly felt like they were trying to find reasons to get rid of us, which made us question whether the campground had overbooked and was looking for a way to push us out. We also had a very concerning experience regarding payment. We were forced to pay in cash and were not provided with a receipt. As paying guests, we found this extremely troubling and unprofessional. The entire experience left our family feeling uncomfortable, intimidated, and unwelcome. Camping with children should be about relaxing, enjoying the outdoors, and making good memories—not having your children come running back to you because they are scared of how an adult spoke to them. I cannot speak to anyone else's intentions, but**based on what we personally experienced and witnessed, we felt that our family was being treated differently because of our background. Seeing younger white children being allowed to do something that our children were stopped from doing made the situation even more concerning.I strongly recommend that families think twice before booking this campground. If you do decide to stay, make sure you understand every rule before arriving, document your interactions, and keep proof of every payment. We are sharing this review because other families deserve to know what our experience was like before spending their money and vacation time here. No family should leave a campground feeling intimidated, targeted, or unwelcome.
- Patel D.Traveler
Big Oaks Campground
⚠️ Think Twice Before Booking - Our Family Felt Targeted and Intimidated.
I am writing this review because I genuinely want to warn other families before they book this campground. What should have been a relaxing camping trip turned into an extremely upsetting experience for our family. From the beginning, we felt singled out and unwelcome. We arrived at our campsite and then went to the office. We did not know that the campground required every guest to go to the office before going to their site. This was an honest misunderstanding. Instead of simply explaining the rule and moving on, the situation became unnecessarily confrontational, and we felt like the staff was looking for reasons to have an issue with us. What was especially upsetting was how our children were treated. Our children were riding scooters and were stopped and told that scooters were not allowed. We were extremely confused because we could clearly see much younger children riding/driving around the campground. Our 14-year-old was not allowed to do so, while we observed significantly younger white children being allowed to ride. What made this even worse was**the way our children were spoken to. They came running back to us scared and intimidated by the interaction. As parents, that was extremely upsetting to see. There is a huge difference between calmly explaining a campground rule to a child and speaking to a child in a way that makes them feel frightened. If there is a rule that scooters are not allowed, then the rule should be applied**consistently to every child**, regardless of age or background. What we witnessed did not feel consistent. As the experience continued, we felt increasingly targeted. We were left with the strong impression that they did not want our family there. At one point, it honestly felt like they were trying to find reasons to get rid of us, which made us question whether the campground had overbooked and was looking for a way to push us out. We also had a very concerning experience regarding payment. We were forced to pay in cash and were not provided with a receipt. As paying guests, we found this extremely troubling and unprofessional. The entire experience left our family feeling uncomfortable, intimidated, and unwelcome. Camping with children should be about relaxing, enjoying the outdoors, and making good memories—not having your children come running back to you because they are scared of how an adult spoke to them. I cannot speak to anyone else's intentions, but**based on what we personally experienced and witnessed, we felt that our family was being treated differently because of our background.** Seeing younger white children being allowed to do something that our children were stopped from doing made the situation even more concerning.**I strongly recommend that families think twice before booking this campground.** If you do decide to stay, make sure you understand every rule before arriving, document your interactions, and keep proof of every payment. We are sharing this review because other families deserve to know what our experience was like before spending their money and vacation time here. No family should leave a campground feeling intimidated, targeted, or unwelcome.
Nadine R.
GuideAtsion Family Camp — Wharton State Forest
Not my vibe
I personally did not like this campsite. First of all, our site tag was leftover from SEPTEMBER. Did no one look at any of these sites and leave someone else’s registration posted there for almost a year? Wild. Our campsite had trash leftover from previous campers. The whole campground was loud - from other campers to just the sounds from the nearby road. If you are looking for peace it is NOT here. If you’re looking to have loud music time all night with no repercussions as your kids ride around yelling and carrying on past midnight then you’ll have a blast. The pros of this campsite was supposed to be the access to Lake Atsion but we were turned away at the gate at 12:30 as they stated they were at capacity. Checking into our campsite they specifically asked if we would be utilizing the recreation area so we would have a pass for entry, but that’s seemingly not in their logistical headcount. I would not visit here again.
John L.ScoutWading Pines Camping Resort
Poor sites
I recently stayed at Site 36, and unfortunately, my experience was very disappointing. The biggest issue was the campsite itself. Site 36 is extremely small, with neighboring campers only about 5 feet away on one side and roughly 12 feet behind the site. There was very little privacy, which made it difficult to relax. Many of the nearby sites appeared to be occupied by long-term or permanent residents. Several had large amounts of personal belongings stored under tarps, giving the area an unkempt appearance. In addition, the neighboring campsite had children's bikes, large toys, and other miscellaneous items overflowing onto the site I had rented, making it feel even more cramped. Another major concern was the constant cigarette and marijuana smoke. It was noticeable throughout much of the day, and because of the smoke, I couldn't comfortably leave my camper windows open. At over $110 per night for a full hookup site, I expected a much better experience. I understand the campground told me there were no other sites available, although I did notice a few empty sites during my stay. Whether those sites were reserved or unavailable for another reason, I can't say, but Site 346 should not be rented at this price given its condition and lack of privacy. Overall, I would not stay here again and cannot recommend to anyone looking for a relaxing camping experience. Its great for daily tubing but as a camper they lock the fence that gets you to the bridge so you have to take a long walk around although non campers can pull right up, it makes no sense to have a pass through that's locked.
Laura W.ScoutPomona RV Park and Campground
Small
Pulled in like noooo it’s super small tight but here for a week in a cabin kids had a great time nice people pool and weekend activities. We would come back
ryan H.ScoutGodfrey Bridge — Wharton State Forest
Primitive, vehicle accessible campground
$10/night for out of staters. About 30 well spaced sites. Every site has fire ring, some places half shaded. Pit toilets spaced around the campground. No water. Great cell service (5G) with Verizon
Matt S.
LegendAvalon Campground
Nice campground near lots of great beach towns
We spent a weekend at Avalon Campground to tour the trailers at the Vintage Trailer Rally. We toured about 15 RVs which was a lot of fun. The owners all took time to share details about their renovations and how they use the trailer.
For me, this is a 4-star campground because of lack of wifi and cable tv. We normally bring our own wifi, but are waiting on a replacement unit to arrive this week. That’s why I was hoping they’d have wifi, or at least cable tv as a backup.
THINGS I LIKED:
— Nice campground— nothing fancy, but everything worked and it was pretty clean and well-maintained
— Friendly staff including an escort to the site(which was a good size with working utilities)
— Lots of nearby beach towns
— Easy access from Exit 17 off Garden State Parkway
— They have a concrete pickleball court which we enjoyed
THINGS I DIDN’T LIKE SO MUCH:
— WiFi cost extra fee and didn’t work well at all
— Cable TV reception wasn’t good
WOULD WE COME BACK?
Absolutely, this is a great spot! They’re adding a swimming pool which is under construction now, so that should be a good addition
Guide to Ocean City
Camping near Ocean City, New Jersey offers access to both dense wooded landscapes and coastal environments within 15-20 minutes of the Atlantic shoreline. The region features predominantly sandy soil with pine forest terrain around most campgrounds. Many campsites close to Ocean City operate seasonally from April to October, with average summer temperatures reaching highs of 85°F and common afternoon thunderstorms during peak season.
What to do
Beach access: Campers at Belleplain State Forest can reach Sea Isle City with a short 20-minute drive. "About 20 minutes away from the Cape May zoo," notes one reviewer, highlighting the forest's convenient location despite feeling remote.
Rail trail biking: Sun Outdoors Cape May positions campers directly across from an 11-mile rail trail. "There is an 11 mile rail trail across the street as well," mentions a camper who appreciated this paved biking route that connects to local beaches.
Lake swimming and boating: Belleplain State Forest features a swim lake and boat rentals for day use. "The swimming lake was beautiful. We biked the trails, and hiked others that didn't allow bikes," explains a visitor who enjoyed water activities alongside land-based exploration.
Water park amenities: Ocean View Resort Campground built a pirate-themed splash pad for younger children. "Lake, pool, ice cream, arcade, mini golf, mining station, activities. Does get very crowded and definitely have to book a head," notes a camper who found plenty of water-based entertainment options.
What campers like
Spacious campsites: Ocean City Campground & Beach Cabins offers well-maintained, level sites with thoughtful landscaping. "Sites are very nice n level. Beautiful landscaping. Gravel under the trailer and small river rock around the picnic table and fire pit," describes a regular visitor.
Private wooded sites: Belleplain State Forest campsites offer good separation from neighbors. "Our site was HUGE!!!! It was also super private with trees and a lot of privacy from the road and our neighbors," reports a camper who appreciated the natural screening.
Clean facilities: Many campers note the cleanliness at Ocean City campgrounds. "Very nice campground! It seems as everything has recently been updated! Pool was very nice with splash pad for the kiddos," writes a holiday weekend visitor to Ocean City Campground.
Free recreation: Several campgrounds include complimentary activities. "Mini golf was Free yes free and also new. They also had a nice corn hole area," mentions a Memorial Day visitor to Ocean City Campground, surprised by the no-cost amenities.
What you should know
Wi-Fi limitations: Internet access is limited at most campgrounds in the area. "Virtually NO cell service with AT&T, TMobile or Verizon. AT&T was the better of the 3," explains a Belleplain visitor who struggled with connectivity due to dense tree cover.
Site selection challenges: Whippoorwill Campground requires careful planning for larger RVs. "Roads r tight to navigate and our site was a little difficult to back into," mentions a camper who still gave the campground five stars despite access challenges.
Seasonal resident presence: Many campgrounds maintain a mix of overnight and seasonal campers. "It seems to mostly be catered to seasonals...The seasonal fees seemed pretty expensive in my opinion," notes one visitor to Sea Pines.
Reservation requirements: Direct booking is often more reliable than third-party services. "DO NOT BOOK HERE. THEY WILL NEVER GET THE REQUEST. I had to call and reserve myself," warns a camper at Ocean City Campground, emphasizing the importance of calling campgrounds directly.
Tips for camping with families
Water features for different ages: Ocean View Resort Campground offers swimming options for various age groups. "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," shares a first-time Jersey shore camper.
Playground access: Mays Landing Resort provides play areas specifically designed for younger children. "It has a nice playground for the little ones," reports a reviewer who found it suitable for smaller kids despite finding the campground itself average.
Budget-friendly food options: Some campgrounds offer reasonably priced food service. "They also have a cafe that also sells ice cream. The food was very reasonably priced and good," notes a camper who appreciated not having to cook every meal.
Supervised water areas: Most campgrounds with water features provide lifeguards during peak season. "The lake is huge, the pools are crowded but fun. There is a splash pad for little ones. Our 3 yr old loved it," shares a family with young children.
Tips from RVers
Dump station logistics: Mays Landing Resort provides dump services but may require patience during busy weekends. "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!!" warns a holiday weekend camper.
Site leveling challenges: RVers should come prepared with leveling blocks at most area campgrounds. "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," explains an RVer who needed staff assistance with placement.
Campsite dimensions: Many RVers recommend checking site specifications carefully before booking. "After some strategizing, I backed in on a diagonal or there'd be no way to open our slides. This was ok, but it meant forfeiting the use of about half of the concrete pad," shares a visitor to Sun Outdoors Cape May who struggled with site constraints.
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Ocean City, NJ?
What camping is available near Ocean City, NJ?
According to TheDyrt.com, Ocean City, NJ offers a wide range of camping options, with 100 campgrounds and RV parks near Ocean City, NJ and 1 free dispersed camping spot.
Which is the most popular campground near Ocean City, NJ?
Which is the most popular campground near Ocean City, NJ?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Ocean City, NJ is Ocean View Resort Campground with a 4.4-star rating from 15 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Ocean City, NJ?
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Ocean City, NJ?
According to TheDyrt.com, there is 1 free dispersed camping spot near Ocean City, NJ.
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