Pet-friendly campgrounds near Pilesgrove offer varied terrain across Salem County's coastal plain region, which sits at elevations between 30-100 feet above sea level. The area features a mix of pine forests, farmland, and small waterways with summer temperatures averaging in the mid-80s. Campsites typically experience higher humidity levels from June through August when thunderstorms can develop quickly in the afternoon hours.
What to do
Hiking around lakes and ponds: Parvin State Park Campground features multiple walking paths around Parvin Lake. "The hiking is also very accessible because it's basically pancake flat terrain," notes John S., who appreciated the park's natural setting despite its relatively easy trails.
Swimming in designated areas: Hospitality Creek Campground provides both pool and lake swimming options under supervision. "The pools are nice and have on-duty lifeguards all day. We rode our bikes around, enjoyed time on the lake in a rented paddleboat," reports Matt S., who visited during summer.
Fishing for bass: Local ponds support different fish species with varying catch regulations. "Great fishing and nice trails. Nice campsites, some big enough for trailers," William W. mentions about Parvin State Park's fishing opportunities, which don't require additional permits for registered campers.
Rent paddleboats: Several campgrounds offer small watercraft rentals for exploring their lakes. A visitor at Hospitality Creek noted, "We enjoyed time on the lake in a rented paddleboat, and had a blast at the 70s-themed live concert at the pavilion on Saturday night."
What campers like
Clean bathroom facilities: Lums Pond State Park Campground receives consistent praise for maintenance. "Great bath houses, always super clean," reports al K., though he notes a design flaw: "Some engineering genius put the bath houses furthest from the people that need them most. Tent campers...keep your shoes handy, it's a hike."
Themed weekend activities: Seasonal programs keep children entertained at many locations. "They offer so many activities during the day and text you so you don't forget. The place is so clean including the bathrooms," Nicole S. shared about her experience at Philadelphia South/Clarksboro KOA.
Quiet weekday camping: For those seeking less crowded conditions, timing matters. "We spent a few weeks here, waiting for school to end so we could take our 6 year old granddaughter back to our home in Florida," Craig W. wrote about Old Cedar Campground, noting it was "Quiet during the week - numerous seasonal campers."
Nature observation: Wildlife viewing opportunities exist throughout the region. At Clarksboro KOA, one visitor discovered: "If you look around the campground edges or follow the walking trail into the woods, you will find wonderful native plants like blueberry, viburnum, clethra, and meadow beauty."
What you should know
Limited connectivity: Internet service varies significantly between properties. "The days of campgrounds not having to provide decent wifi are over," writes Matt S. about Hospitality Creek, explaining: "The park's wifi didn't work most of the time and was too slow when it did work to allow streaming or working on the computer."
Seasonal closures: Many campgrounds operate on limited schedules. At Lums Pond, Adam and Suzanne B. reported: "In February, about 1/4 of the sites were occupied. It was very quiet. The sites are large and well spaced." Check operating dates when planning off-season trips.
Surface conditions after rain: Unpaved areas can become challenging in wet weather. "The all-grass site just fit our 37' motor home," noted Matt S. about Old Cedar Campground, while another camper mentioned "it poured and hailed for 1 hr and it still made a swamp."
Fee structures vary: Additional charges beyond base camping fees can add up. A reviewer at Old Cedar Campground observed: "Reservation only includes 2 people - it's 8.00 per day for each additional person," which affects family camping budgets substantially.
Tips for camping with families
Check activity schedules: Adventure Bound Campground (formerly Yogi Bear's Jellystone) organizes kids' programming. "The campground is maintained and there are activities for the kids always brewing. We stayed fathers day weekend and they had a breakfast, games and crafts geared towards it," reports Nicole S.
Playground accessibility: Campgrounds with play structures attract families with younger children. At Clarksboro KOA, Jaquiline D. noted: "The campground has a playground, so good for kids, but not so much an all adults stay."
Height requirements: Water attractions sometimes have minimum size rules. At Adventure Bound, a visitor mentioned "the pool and splash pad were great but you needed to be at least 42 inches to go on the slide or bounce house," which might disappoint smaller children expecting full access.
Rental options for first-timers: Some locations offer camping equipment for those without gear. Nicholas V. shared about Adventure Bound: "We stay in the rental campers. They are new-ish Shasta campers, queen bed, 1 slide, rear bunks, 2 entrances. Very clean."
Tips from RVers
Road conditions: Interior campground roads vary in quality and width. Jim G. found Clarksboro KOA "quiet, well-kept, and relatively clean" but noted that "The roads and turns were tight for our 36' motorhome, but manageable."
Site selection strategy: RV camping requires considering utility placement. Lawrence P. reported at Old Cedar Campground: "Many spots had trees but we couldn't get one as they stated our rig would not fit... I beg to differ.... probably just a way of getting more $$ from us."
Hookup reliability: Quality of utilities differs between parks. Matt S. appreciated that at Hospitality Creek Campground, "The water, electric, and sewer hookups looked practically brand new (or at least really well maintained)."
Overflow parking options: Space for additional vehicles impacts comfort. Frank J. at Parvin State Park appreciated that "we were able to park our car basically anywhere on site so we could park close to our tent," an important consideration for RVers with tow vehicles.
Legend
