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Wharton State Forest offers several tent-only camping options within 30 miles of Elsinboro, New Jersey, with Goshen Pond and Batona campgrounds providing dedicated walk-in tent sites. The Mullica River area features backcountry tent camping accessible only by hiking or boating in. Blackbird State Forest in nearby Delaware (currently closed) previously offered primitive tent camping with spacious, well-separated sites. Hibernia County Park in Pennsylvania, about 45 miles northwest of Elsinboro, provides wooded tent campsites arranged in two distinct loops, with the Lake Loop being more suitable for group tent camping.
Most tent campgrounds in the region feature basic amenities suited for self-sufficient campers. Sites typically include fire rings with cooking grates, and some offer picnic tables. Ground surfaces vary from pine-needle covered dirt at Wharton State Forest to woodchips and grass at other locations. Water access differs significantly between campgrounds, with Batona featuring a hand-pumped water source that's unavailable in winter months. Vault toilets or pit latrines are standard at most primitive tent sites, while some locations like Hibernia County Park offer flush toilets within walking distance of the campground. Reservations are required for most Wharton State Forest tent sites, while Hibernia operates on a first-come, first-served basis except during special events.
Tent campers frequently mention the privacy and natural setting as highlights of their experience. According to reviews, Blackbird State Forest sites were "spaced out a good amount so each site has good privacy," though hikers occasionally passed by on nearby trails. At Goshen Pond, one camper appreciated that "you park off and walk in to your site," noting that this arrangement reduces vehicle noise despite increased foot traffic. Wharton's backcountry sites can feel crowded when multiple groups are present, with one visitor noting that "any more than 2-3 groups of campers and this ground would start to feel claustrophobic." Seasonal considerations include heavy tick presence in warmer months and bears frequenting some campgrounds, requiring proper food storage practices.
"This is a good free state forest with maybe 10 (or less) designated tent-camping sites, and designated areas for deer hunting."
"Spent a weekend in BO1, spacious campsite, grill, picnic table, firepit, parking for 2-3 cars plus overflow parking. Firewood was easy to get and was plenty of it."
from $25 / night
Check Availability"Terrific space for exploring"
"well marked trails great for hiking. pet friendly! we love walking here with our dog. there are even a few great spots to get a small creek swim in! It also has a greag picnic area with grills."
from $57 / night
Check Availability"Inexpensive $15 a night, but you only get picnic table and fire ring. No hook ups. Great children's pond for 12 and under. Brandywine creek and Chambers Lake are there too. Great playground."
"We loved the lake campground. My kids are age 3-12. There’s running water available, porta potties are very clean and don’t smell and are lit with a street lamp. Very quiet at night."
from $15 - $50 / night
Check Availability"Bears frequent this campground so be bear aware and practice proper food storage. "
"The Batona Campground is in the northern area of the Wharton State Forest and is a bit removed from most trails and other campgrounds in the park."
"I like campgrounds which have you park off and walk in to your site. There is more foot traffic, but you don't hear as many cars coming and going and driving past your site all the time."
"The boyfriend and I stayed for a weekend at one of the primitive tent sites. Our site was private and secluded. We had a great time."
"I’m following up on my review from over a year ago with new photos, updated weathered campers’ tales and a quick snapshot of HIGHLIGHTS and LOWLIGHTS: HIGHLIGHTS: (1) Rustic group camping nestled in nearly"
"The give you firewood—-if you bring your own, leave with any left over."
from $28 - $72 / night
Check Availability"Lots of tree cover running along a small running creek"
"You need a license to fish, and if you plan on catching Trout you need the Trout endorsement on the fishing licence, currently$9.90.The restroom facilities we're clean."
from $43 / night
Check Availability"Potable water is available in several places on each loop. The bathhouses are rebuilt recently and are very nice. Some walk in tent sites."
"This is Organized Group Tenting Only."
from $28 - $72 / night
Check Availability"This campground is hike-in or boat-in only, no car access. We camped here for one night on an overnight loop in Wharton State Forest. Wild blueberries abound during summer months!"
"Enjoyed a site away from the crowds. Quiet. Peaceful. Place is huge with many campsites to choose from. Checking in is slow so come early."
TravelerCountry Acres is a lovely, well maintained campground. Sites are level and bath house facilities clean and modern. Friendly staff in the office. Dog friendly. Local to all the Lancaster attractions. A complimentary farmland tour is offered by bus and it was great. They take you out into an area of Amish farms and shops and make a stop at 2 of these. The fresh Amish pretzels are amazing!
TravelerMany long term seasonal sites. Good community. Large shower house good and clean . Pool. Game room. Off leash dog park. Wooded/shady sites or no shade sunny sites. Lots of area to walk or play. Large field, basketball couture, frisky golf, play area and laundry room. We were here all summer (June-october). Lots to do in the area. Good food nearby. Ocean city 10 minutes away.
ScoutThis is one of the largest, if not the largest, campgrounds in Southern New Jersey. While on the pricier side, everything is top-notch. The roads are all paved, and not gravel (I hate trying to sleep and listening to the sound of stones grating together). The sites are more spacious than most campgrounds, so it doesn't seem so crowded. The bathrooms are all modern and spotless. There are numerous bathrooms which means most sites have one nearby. They do charge a quarter for showers to encourage water conservation and donate the money to conservation causes. The pool is large, as is the lake. Both are well-maintained. The camp store is enormous and is really nice and well-stocked with everything one might need from food to pool and beach stuff to camping supplies and equipment. There is a nice cafe with indoor and outdoor seating. The camp store has a lending library of books and DVDs. There are numerous activities that appear to be well-run, The grounds are shaded with many trees for a great wooded campground feel. The campground is so large that it has an internal shuttle with stations scattered about to help people go between the various important sites such as at the pool, the lake and the store. I found other campers, particularly the seasonals, to be more friendly than other campgrounds at the shore. This requires constant tree care including removing dead trees and branches which they do regularly. The staff is friendly and well-trained. I was in a tent, and when a rare October nor'easter came through, I was offered the opportunity to use a cabin free-of-charge. Fortunately my tent and equipment made it through days of rain and high winds just fine . On my first stay in May, I had to run my dog back to Baltimore towards the end of my trip where he was sadly diagnosed with incurable metastatic cancer. When I returned, I was late and unable to check out by 11, but they allowed me to take as much time as needed to clear the site, as nobody was staying there the next day, which was deeply appreciated - I was an emotional wreck. Oh, and I found the complimentary Wi-Fi to be a great service, and sufficiently fast to allow me to stream ultra-high-definition movies at my site - Most campgrounds charge extra for less-than-good service - a lot more. I find that a big bonus. Overall, I LOVE this campground and highly recommend it.
GuideThis campground is part of the Wharton State Forest and has several campgrounds in the area. Great wooded sites right on a lake. Pretty good separation between sites with good tree separation between sites. Some road noise not overly affecting site.
GuideWe stayed here to go to the Hershey RV show—about 55 min drive. Right in the center of Amish country. Campground is adults only. It was very clean. The bathrooms were very clean with great water pressure. The roads are tight for getting into sites. Site 5 was not level side to side. We met great people there.
ScoutThe campground is in excellent condition. The facilities are top notch. The excellence and care of the campground is evident. The 4 stars is only due to the road noise and many of the sites are on top of each other. You feel like your neighbor is at your camp fire.
ScoutLove 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
ScoutFirst time at this campground really like it a lot will be returning. The bathrooms are always clean. The grounds are always kept up. Just a really nice place to stay. Most of the sites have some kind of shade.
GuideMary & her crew run a great campground. Full hookup. Slow schedule during the week-camp store & pool mainly. Saturdays always have activities planned from bingo to quarter auctions, picnics & music. Each Saturday is different. Clean grounds. Nice playgrounds. Kiddie pool & nice size pool from 3-5’ deep. 2 cabins also available.
Tent camping near Elsinboro, New Jersey offers access to the Pine Barrens ecosystem, characterized by acidic sandy soil that creates the distinctive tea-colored streams throughout the region. Summer temperatures typically range from 75-90°F with high humidity, while spring and fall offer more moderate 55-75°F conditions. The sandy terrain in most camping areas requires careful tent stake placement, as traditional stakes often pull loose in the soft ground.
Seasonal wildlife viewing: At Fort Washington State Park Campground, bird enthusiasts can spot numerous species during migration seasons. "Come for Militia Hill, hawk watching, cross country ski, or disc golf, and the trails along the Wissahickon Creek," notes reviewer Sue C.
Water exploration: The Mullica River provides multiple paddling opportunities. "Start hike kayak trip at 206 hike 6 miles in camp then hike kayak out 5 miles to batsto," suggests Ragen W., describing the popular route near Mullica River — Wharton State Forest.
Trail connections: The Batona Trail (50 miles) runs directly through several campgrounds in the region. One camper at Batona Campground explains: "Best part of this campground is trailheads begin directly from campsites. Trails vary in length but all are flat and easily accessible."
Fishing spots: Several rivers and ponds offer fishing opportunities within a 45-minute drive. "I cought a beautiful Brown Trout here a few weeks ago! Great park... You need a license to fish, and if you plan on catching Trout you need the Trout endorsement on the fishing licence, currently $9.90," advises a reviewer at Evansburg State Park.
Site spacing: While the existing description mentions privacy at some locations, Blackbird State Forest Campground receives consistent praise for spaciousness. "Only 8 sites in the campground, very spaced apart. Each site has lots of room, very much enjoyed our stay and will return!" shares Sarah M.
Water access: Several sites offer direct river access for recreation. At Goshen Pond — Wharton State Forest, one camper notes: "Our site was right next to the Mullica River, and had excellent views if you walked just a couple steps from the tent. We were able to put our kayaks in right next to the site which was very convenient."
Terrain variety: The region offers diverse camping surfaces beyond just pine-needle covered dirt. According to a camper at Blackbird State Forest, "Each campsite features a picnic table or two, and a fire pit, plus one bundle of firewood. The ground is dirt covered with woodchips and sometimes evergreen needles -- pretty easy to sleep in a tent."
Quiet atmosphere: Many campsites maintain a peaceful environment despite being within an hour of urban areas. "Enjoyed a site away from the crowds. Quiet. Peaceful. Place is huge with many campsites to choose from," reports a visitor to Mullica River Campground.
Reservation systems vary: Beyond just first-come-first-served options, some parks have unique booking requirements. At Hibernia County Park, "This campground annually hosts the (super fun!) 'Old Fiddlers Picnic' the second weekend in August. This is the only weekend that you are REQUIRED to call in to reserve, and you must reserve both Friday & Saturday nights."
Toilet facilities: Bathroom options range widely across different camping areas. "There are only pit toilets in Fiddler's loop, however there is a bathroom with running water, flush toilets and electric outlets (no shower) within walking distance of the loop," explains Jennifer S. about Hibernia County Park.
Water availability: Water access varies seasonally at many sites. At Batona Campground, "A water pump provides fresh water but is not available in the winter," according to one reviewer.
Wildlife concerns: Proper preparation for insects and wildlife is essential. At Mullica River campground, a camper warns, "NOTE: There are LOADS of ticks in this area." Bears are also present in some camping areas, particularly at Batona Campground where campers are advised to "Be bear aware."
Loop selection: At Hibernia County Park, the two loops offer different experiences. "We loved the lake campground. My kids are age 3-12... The park ranger this weekend was the nicest and very helpful with directions to walk to the playground and indoor restrooms," shares Anna, noting amenities important to families.
Additional activities: Ridley Creek State Park offers family-friendly recreation beyond just camping. "This place is great for first time campers... They also have a tone of trails to hike on," suggests David K., making it suitable for introducing children to outdoor recreation.
Water safety: Lakes and ponds provide recreational opportunities, but with limitations. "It's also a 5 minute drive from Atsion lake, a great place for kayaking and swimming," notes a Goshen Pond camper, giving families options for water activities.
Terrain navigation: Sandy roads can challenge family vehicles. One camper at Batona notes: "The road into the campground is about 1 mile of loose sand. It can be accessed by a standard vehicle." This is important information when planning with children and gear.
Site dimensions: RV access is limited at most tent camping sites near Elsinboro. "The unpaved road into the site is narrow and tree lined. A larger RV would not fit," warns a reviewer from Batona Campground, emphasizing the need to check access before arrival.
Utilities planning: Susquehannock State Park Campground offers some sites with electric, but RVers need to plan for other utilities. "Two loops. One has a few sites with electric and some cabins. Potable water is available in several places on each loop," notes David G.
Dumping procedures: Most campgrounds in the region lack dump stations. At Hibernia County Park, "There is NO DUMP STATION. There are a few nearby campgrounds that will let you dump for a fee, otherwise, you'll have to look for a truck stop on the way home."
Site selection for larger vehicles: Certain spots accommodate larger units better than others. At Hibernia County Park, "As I said in the first paragraph, we mostly camp in a 28ft 5th wheel... we aren't level, but nothing a little creative positioning can't fix."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Elsinboro, NJ?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Elsinboro, NJ is Blackbird State Forest Campground with a 4.8-star rating from 6 reviews.
What is the best site to find tent camping near Elsinboro, NJ?
TheDyrt.com has all 19 tent camping locations near Elsinboro, NJ, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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