Horse camping opportunities near Toms River, New Jersey remain challenging to find. The nearest established campgrounds don't advertise specific equestrian facilities, though several parks in Ocean County offer day-use horse trails. Turkey Swamp Park in nearby Freehold Township sits on 1,200 acres of wooded terrain about 24 miles north of Toms River, with 64 campsites available from April through mid-November.
What to do
Fishing and boating: Turkey Swamp Park features a 17-acre lake with fishing and seasonal boat rentals. "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," notes camper Tylen L. about Turkey Swamp Park.
Winter activities: Some parks offer cold-weather recreation. Patrick M. describes his experience at Allaire State Park: "This may be my favorite spot. I have stayed in all the spots they offer, yurt, cabin and the pull up sites. It is well maintained with numerous trails to hike. Getting a cabin in the winter and going for a snowy hike is wonderful there."
Archery practice: Several parks provide designated archery ranges for visitors. "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," suggests Patrick M. about Turkey Swamp Park.
Trail exploration: The pine barrens offer extensive trail networks. Benjamin K. shares about Brendan Byrne State Forest: "The walking trails! There are probably hundreds of miles of trails through the woods and bogs to explore. Can't tell you how much I love it. Could spend a whole vacation just with these trails."
What campers like
Privacy between sites: Many campers appreciate the spacing at Turkey Swamp Park. "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," notes Lee D.
Clean facilities: Regular maintenance is a common positive. Katheryn N. states about Turkey Swamp Park: "The bathrooms and showers are clean and well maintained. There is a pretty lake with good fishing and they sell bait at the Ranger office."
Urban access: For those wanting to combine camping with city exploration, Liberty Harbor RV Park offers unique opportunities. Emily L. describes it as "Very plain & functional, no frills but right on the harbor & on the very edge of Jersey City, close to a ferry & the train that takes u across to New York City."
Pine barrens atmosphere: The distinctive ecosystem creates a special camping environment. "I grew up at this camp ground. Spent every summer here. Some of my favorite things about this place are it's far away from traffic noise. You can't hear any cars or any other noise from civilization at all," says Benjamin K. about Brendan Byrne State Forest.
What you should know
Tick prevention: Ticks are prevalent in many New Jersey woodlands. Laura Y. warns about Turkey Swamp Park: "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."
Seasonal variations: Weather conditions affect campground operations. Dan W. notes about Turkey Swamp Park: "Plenty to do over a 2 night stay. Archery, boating, fishing, and hiking. Boat rental rates are acceptable and there are four different styles to choose from."
Road conditions: Some parks have unpaved access roads. "As soon as you turn off the main road to the park, all roads are dirt, which was a bit surprising. They were well-maintained and in dry weather, not a problem, but probably not if it was rainy," explains Lee D.
Fire restrictions: Campfires may have specific permitted hours. Dorian P. mentions at Brendan Byrne State Forest: "Only weird rule I saw was that fires can only go from 6pm till 7am which was odd but wasn't a deal breaker."
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Multiple parks offer dedicated play areas. Dan W. describes Turkey Swamp Park: "Centralized playground for the kids with bathrooms and showers next door. Staff was awesome! Attentive and outgoing."
Bug management: Prepare for insects, especially during warmer months. "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," shares Jaewook P. about Turkey Swamp Park.
Site selection: Choose sites based on bathroom proximity when camping with children. "Sites in Loops B-E all have pull-thru driveways. Sites are all level, very generous in size, and reasonably spaced apart for privacy," notes Lee D.
Multiple tent options: Some parks allow flexible tent arrangements. Jesse G. notes about Brendan Byrne State Forest: "We ended up needing to purchase another site which was thankfully open for us to use, however I would have purchased it next to our original site had I known about the limitations."
Tips from RVers
Hookup availability: Water and electric connections vary by park. Joe R. explains about Liberty Harbor RV Park: "This is a pricey park, but options are limited. As in almost non-existent. This is a prime location for visiting the city or heading down the shore."
Site levelness: RV sites at most parks require minimal leveling. Lee D. notes about Turkey Swamp Park: "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."
Dump station access: While not all parks offer full hookups, dump stations are generally available. Shawn B. mentions about Liberty Harbor RV Park: "There is a dump station, but not the easiest to use."
Parking dimensions: Space considerations vary significantly between parks. "Sites kind of level and very close. Power and water, and convenient dump station if staying and needing to dump," explains Joe R.
