Woodbine, New Jersey camping options offer seasonal variety with temperatures ranging from 30°F in winter to 85°F in summer. The area sits at approximately 30 feet above sea level in New Jersey's Pine Barrens region, featuring sandy soil and dense pine forests that create natural drainage, reducing mud issues common at other campgrounds.
What to do
Hiking trails at Belleplain State Forest: Miles of hiking paths vary in difficulty from easy to moderate, with most trails under 5 miles long. The forest maintains year-round access to these trails. According to a reviewer, "I haven't camped here but we love the dog-friendly hiking trails. We have walked through the site areas and they seem to be a nice size but not offering too much privacy. We are usually there in the off season so not sure how crazy it gets in the warmer months with the lake being there."
Rail trail biking: The 11-mile rail trail across from Thousand Trails Lake & Shore provides a flat, easy ride suitable for all skill levels. A camper noted, "The beach is within 10ish minutes and is beautiful but your supposed to have passes, we biked around the area and along the beach it was very nice."
Kayaking and canoeing: Belleplain State Forest offers rentals near the campground with prices starting at $15/hour. A visitor shared, "The Kayak and Canoe rentals were right near us. The nature center had planned activities for families each day. The swimming lake was beautiful. We biked the trails, and hiked others that didn't allow bikes."
Nearby wildlife viewing: Cape May Zoo is located approximately 20 minutes from most Woodbine campgrounds and offers free admission with suggested donations. One camper mentioned, "About 20 minutes away from the Cape May zoo. nice hiking trails and playground."
What campers like
Lake swimming options: Sun Outdoors Cape May (formerly Holly Shores) features a lake with recreational equipment. A camper shared, "A nice lake with a giant inflatable slide, floating trampoline, kayak and paddle board rentals. A decent pool that tends to get a bit crowded, but does the trick."
Privacy between sites: Many campers appreciate the natural spacing at certain campgrounds. A reviewer at Belleplain State Forest noted, "Our site was HUGE!!!! It was also super private with trees and a lot of privacy from the road and our neighbors. We had friends stay in the lean-tos nearby and others visit. We had room to park several cars."
Proximity to beaches: Most campgrounds near Woodbine provide easy access to Jersey shore beaches within 10-15 minutes. A camper at Whippoorwill Campground stated, "Clean safe nice place to camp. Would recommend to anyone. Close to beaches and lots to do in the area."
Well-maintained facilities: Campers consistently mention clean bathrooms and updated amenities. At Ocean City Campground & Beach Cabins, a reviewer noted, "Everything we saw was in great condition, perfectly working order, clean, and looked new. Had fun interacting with staff, especially Leslie and Mitch."
What you should know
Variable bathroom conditions: Maintenance can differ seasonally. At Belleplain State Forest, a camper observed, "The bathrooms were disgusting. Little maintenance and cleaning was provided during our weekend stay, especially during a global pandemic."
Limited dump stations: Some campgrounds have minimal waste disposal facilities. A reviewer cautioned, "The worst was the dump station. It is just a little hole on the side of the road and the ONLY dump station for the 3 campgrounds! It was very unlevel and not easy to fully dump our tanks."
Cell service limitations: Signal strength varies significantly between campgrounds. A Spacious Skies Country Oaks visitor noted, "We went for a quiet weekend, so it didn't bother us too much that there was no Wi-Fi and no cable TV. It would've been nice to have cable and/or Wi-Fi since it rained through most of our stay."
Seasonal operating schedules: Most campgrounds near Woodbine operate from April through October, with limited facilities during shoulder seasons. A camper at Thousand Trails Lake & Shore mentioned, "We stayed early in the season and found it to be a little closed up still. It was very quiet and had a few chats with the Ladies in the office who were very nice and informative."
Tips for camping with families
Check activity calendars: Many campgrounds schedule regular family events, especially on weekends. A visitor to Ocean View Resort Campground shared, "Ocean View Resort was an excellent resort for our family with two toddlers. Kids loved the Splash Park, Arcade, Tram Car, playgrounds and Lake. So much to do at this resort."
Reserve well in advance for summer: Family-friendly sites book quickly between Memorial Day and Labor Day, often 6-12 months ahead. A camper noted, "Does get very crowded and definitely have to book ahead. We loved where our site was located."
Bring water toys: Campgrounds with lakes often allow inflatable rafts and personal water toys, adding value to your stay. A visitor to Ocean View Resort Campground shared, "This place had a lot to do with kids! Lake, pool, ice cream, arcade, mini golf, mining station, activities."
Check for free amenities: Some campgrounds offer complimentary features saving families money. A reviewer mentioned, "Mini golf was Free yes free and also new. They also had a nice corn hole area."
Tips from RVers
Site dimensions vary significantly: Research specific site measurements before booking. A camper at Seashore Campsites warned, "We were very disappointed at how tight a fit it would be for our 36' motorhome. After some strategizing, I backed in on a diagonal or there'd be no way to open our slides."
Level sites available: Many campgrounds offer concrete pads or graded gravel sites. At Spacious Skies Country Oaks, a visitor noted, "We stayed in pull-thru site #12 which was level, covered in clean gravel, had a concrete patio with picnic table and Adirondack chairs, and a nice fire ring. The site was big enough for our motor home."
Narrow interior roads: Some campgrounds have tight turning radiuses challenging for larger rigs. A visitor observed, "Staff at office said all the roads in the CCC section were 2-way. Not wide enough in my opinion but we didn't have a problem."
