Cabin camping options near Perth Amboy, New Jersey sit within the mid-Atlantic coastal plain region, characterized by sandy soil and mixed pine-oak forests. Most cabin facilities are located within 30-45 minutes of Perth Amboy, with peak season running April through October. Winter temperatures in the region typically range from 25°F to 45°F, while summer temperatures average 70°F to 90°F with moderate humidity.
What to do
Fishing and boating: Turkey Swamp Park offers a small lake with a boat dock where visitors can rent various watercraft during summer months. "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. I've been here a few times, every time I'm here I barely touch my phone," reports Tylen L. at Turkey Swamp Park.
Archery: Several campgrounds offer archery facilities for visitors looking for target practice. At Turkey Swamp Park, "There is an archery range and a council ring (campfire)," notes Lee D. Some facilities require you bring your own equipment while others provide rental options.
Winter recreation: Some state parks maintain year-round access with seasonal activities. "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," says Patrick M. about Mahlon Dickerson Reservation.
What campers like
Private wooded sites: Many campgrounds feature sites with good tree coverage. "Sites are in the woods and widely spaced apart to give you privacy and the feeling of being out in the Forrest," reports Katheryn N. about Turkey Swamp Park. Sites at many locations have natural buffers between camping spots.
Clean facilities: Most cabin locations maintain regular cleaning schedules, though quality varies by location. At Timberland Lake Campground, "Pool was open for a couple days following the lifting of restrictions for COVID," mentions Aaron E., who appreciated the campground's cleanliness and spacious sites.
Waterfront views: Several parks offer lakeside cabin options or camping near water. "Our site was on the water and it was really nice. A duck visited us every morning," shares Jules T. about their stay at Spruce Run Recreation Area.
What you should know
Sand management: Many campsites in the region have sandy soil. At Timberland Lake Campground, Robyn W. notes, "Two things I loved: 1. Cost, 2. Shade. One thing didn't love: 1. Sand… so hard even with rugs to pull out of trailer."
Tick awareness: Wooded sites in New Jersey can have ticks during warmer months. Bring appropriate repellent and check yourself regularly. One camper at Turkey Swamp Park noted encountering ticks despite staying near their camper.
Noise considerations: Some campgrounds are located near highways. "You can hear 78, especially at night once the campground settles down," notes Jules T. about Spruce Run Recreation Area. Sites deeper in wooded sections typically have less road noise.
Bathroom facilities: Quality varies across campgrounds. "The bathrooms and showers are clean and well maintained," mentions Katheryn N. about Butterfly Camping Resort, while others note inconsistent maintenance at different locations.
Tips for camping with families
Look for campgrounds with playgrounds: Multiple recreation areas offer children's facilities. "There are age-appropriate playgrounds both in the campground and by the office," notes Lee D. about Turkey Swamp Park. Some locations have both toddler and older-child equipment.
Consider scheduled activities: Some campgrounds organize regular events. "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!" shares JAEWOOK P. about their family experience at Turkey Swamp Park.
Halloween weekends: Many campgrounds host special fall weekend activities. "We went to timberland lake last fall. It happened to be the Halloween weekend which was full of excellent activities from pumpkin painting to piñatas and tricker treating," says Ann Marie M. about her family's experience at Timberland Lake Campground.
Tips from RVers
Water hookup length: Some sites require longer-than-standard water hoses. "Bring a LONG water hose," advises Shawn about Turkey Swamp Park, though some parks have hose reels available. "Website lists water hook ups at long distances but they have hose reels to help with that," notes antruze about Mahlon Dickerson Reservation.
Site levelness: Many cabins and RV sites in the region have varying degrees of levelness. "Sites in Loops B-E all have pull-thru driveways. Sites are all level, very generous in size, and reasonably spaced apart for privacy," shares Lee D. about Turkey Swamp Park.
Tree clearance: Watch for low-hanging branches at some campgrounds. "If bringing your RV, the safest bet is to reserve a spot with no shade as the other spots often times have very low hanging tree limbs," warns Douglas P. about Spruce Run Recreation Area.
