Camping options near Pennington, New Jersey include both public and private campgrounds within a 30-mile radius. The area features a mix of wooded sites, lakeside camping, and RV parks accessible from major highways including I-95 and Route 1. Summer temperatures typically range from 70-85°F, with humidity levels often reaching 70% or higher during peak camping season.
What to do
Paddling activities: Turkey Swamp Park offers a 17-acre lake with kayak, canoe, paddleboat and rowboat rentals available during summer months. According to a camper, "There is a lake with a boat dock and a small boardwalk. Kayaking/Canoeing, fishing, and swimming. In the summer, canoe, kayak, paddle boats, and row boats are available for rental."
Hiking opportunities: Tohickon Valley County Park features connecting trails that link to the Appalachian Trail. One visitor noted, "Trails for miles that even connects to the AT, and when scheduled they open the dam up stream for some world class whitewater rafting."
Rock climbing: Active campers can access the climbing wall at Tohickon Valley. A reviewer mentioned, "Some of my favorite parts of this park are a good 100' rack wall perfect for climbing, great fishing, trails for miles."
Visit Philadelphia attractions: Liberty Harbor RV Park provides convenient access to New York City, but is also positioned for Philadelphia day trips. "The location can't be beat. 2 ferries that run to Manhattan. Path train is a 12 minute walk away that will take you to Manhattan," noted one RVer.
What campers like
Spacious campsites: Turkey Swamp Park offers pull-through sites with good separation between neighbors. A camper reported, "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."
Swimming options: Turkey Swamp Park maintains a swimming area during summer months. A recent camper shared their 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! The campground was super clean too."
Primitive camping experience: For those seeking a more rustic experience, Tohickon Valley County Park offers non-electric sites. One visitor described it as, "It's a small state run campground for tent camping. All the sites have a ton of room to stretch out! (Room for fire/grill pits)."
Seasonal events: Whitewater enthusiasts can take advantage of scheduled dam releases. "Two water releases each year in March and early November are very popular for whitewater rafters and many of these paddlers stay in the cabins and campground," noted a camper at Tohickon Valley.
What you should know
Reservation requirements: Many campgrounds in the area require advance booking, especially during summer months. At Little Red Barn Campground, campers should note, "132-site campground with a mix of no hookups or water and electric. Six of the sites are 'field sites' – on grass. Our site was chosen for us."
Bathroom facilities: Access to facilities varies significantly between campgrounds. One camper at Little Red Barn observed, "Our site had no shade, and it was a very hot day when we were there. I was surprised at the lack of camping options in this area."
Seasonal considerations: Most parks have limited operating seasons. A Turkey Swamp visitor warned, "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."
Alcohol policies: Some county and state parks prohibit alcohol. At Tohickon Valley, a camper mentioned, "This is no alcohol permitted in the park due to it being a state park, however that all depends on how open you are about it and the Park rangers."
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Indian Rock RV Resort provides family-friendly amenities. A camper shared, "We stayed two nights at this park because we wanted to spend a day at Six flags. Check in process was painless and the woman at the front desk was super nice and helpful."
Swimming options for children: Turkey Swamp Park maintains kid-friendly water facilities. A visitor noted, "There is a nice lake with good fishing and they sell bait at the Ranger office. There are lots of trails and the packed dirt roads are nice for bike riding. There are playgrounds and picnic areas as well."
Quiet environments: Some parks enforce noise restrictions. At Tohickon Valley, one camper described their experience: "Since it was late in the season, I called ahead to make sure this campground was still open. We arrived around 6 pm to a completely empty campground. Aside from occasional road noise on Cafferty Road, we didn't hear any noise."
Theme park proximity: Indian Rock RV Resort positions families close to Six Flags Great Adventure. A family noted, "We would camp here again to go to six flags because it was easy to drive back a few minutes after a long day at the park."
Tips from RVers
Big rig accessibility: Military Park NJ National Guard Training Center accommodates larger RVs with spacious sites. One RVer mentioned, "We stayed in site #1 with our 21' travel trailer. In our opinion this is the best site because you have an unobstructed view of Stockton Lake & the horizon over the ocean."
Electric service variations: RV sites near Pennington, New Jersey offer different amperage options. At Village Scene Park, a visitor noted, "Amenities include: 30/50 electrical amp on all sites, private mailboxes, public water and sewar hook-ups, 24 hour coin-operated laundry, WiFi (albeit quite low speed)."
Sewer connection challenges: Some rv campgrounds near Pennington have unusual sewer setups. A camper at Military Park observed, "Only annoying thing was the sewer hookup is about 18 inches off the ground so you need to lift the hose when emptying the tanks to ensure it actually fully drains."
Pull-through availability: Several parks offer convenient pull-through sites. At Turkey Swamp Park, a reviewer reported, "This campground has all pull-through sites. Nicely wooded with water and electric. Be sure to bring extra hose because the water spigot is a distance from the electric."
