127 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Campgrounds near Runnemede, New Jersey range from full-service RV parks to rustic tent camping facilities within a 30-mile radius. Philadelphia South/Clarksboro KOA provides tent sites, RV hookups, cabins, and glamping accommodations approximately 12 miles southwest of Runnemede. Several mixed-use campgrounds populate the region, including Lake Kandle in Sewell and Atsion Family Camp in Wharton State Forest, which accommodate various camping styles including tent, RV, and cabin options. Most facilities in the area offer amenities such as showers, toilets, and picnic tables, with several providing electric hookups and water access for RVs.
Seasonal considerations affect camping availability throughout the region, with many campgrounds operating on limited schedules. Old Cedar Campground and Hospitality Creek Campground both operate seasonally from April to October, while others like Wharton State Forest's Goshen Pond Campground maintain similar seasonal limitations. Reservations are recommended, particularly for weekend stays during summer months when facilities reach capacity. The Philadelphia metropolitan area's proximity creates higher demand at developed campgrounds with full amenities. According to one visitor at Lake Kandle, "Lake with swing and fishing and two pools. No pets no alcohol no store but they have a snack stand. Make sure to get an end campsite or your table will be by the sanitary dump."
Campers consistently rate the Philadelphia South/Clarksboro KOA highly for its clean facilities and family-friendly atmosphere. The campground features a pond, pool, playground, and organized activities that appeal to families with children. Several visitors mentioned the convenience of this location for accessing Philadelphia attractions while maintaining a quiet camping environment. A review described it as "a 20 minute ride into Philly and Uber was quick and responsive." For those seeking a more natural setting, the Wharton State Forest campgrounds provide a more rustic experience within the New Jersey Pine Barrens. Urban camping options are also available, including unique accommodations like the boat-based "urban glamping" experience at Philly Love Boats at Pier 5 Marina, which offers an alternative to traditional tent and RV sites while providing city access.
"We did Chinatown and walked part of the Schuylkill River trail which we accessed by parking near Fairmount Park."
"In addition to the peaceful vibe, the people are friendly, the little office store has everything you forgot to pack, and if you look around the campground edges or follow the walking trail into the woods"
"Atsion Family Campground Off US 206 and about 1/2 a mile up Atsion Road in New Jersey’s Wharton State Forest, you’ll find the Atsion Family Campground."
"It was a great location, closest site to the water with beautiful views. Super convenient if you're a Kayaker, you can launch right off that spot. Its a huge site, away from other sites."
"Quiet Getaway Weekend
We went to Old Cedar Campground in Monroeville, New Jersey, for a quiet getaway weekend. This is a small and basic campground, not a resort. No fancy amenities."
"Not close off the highway, but wooden sites. Seems as though people spend their summers there. Pool was beautiful and looked new. Mini golf was decrepit and looked abandoned. Store was nice."
from $31 - $50 / night
Check Availability"The park was easy to find and located a short distance from the highway. We were met at the entry gate with a personalized folder containing lots of helpful information for our stay."
"We love the lake side campsites."
from $120 - $145 / night
Check Availability"They have many amenities form a lake to swim or fish, to playgrounds,theres a convenient store and even an arcade, and the best part is all the farms around."
from $50 - $150 / night
Check Availability"Lake with swing and fishing and two pools. No pets no alcohol no store but they have a snack stand. Make sure to get an end campsite or your table will be by the sanitary dump."
"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."
"We found a lot of really unique sites around the park. Will keep going back"
from $57 / night
Check Availability"It's only a one minute walk from the parking area to the site. Our site was right next to the Mullica River, and had excellent views if you walked just a couple steps from the tent."
"Great sites, great trails, lots of hiking and off road trails for dirt bike/atv/ trucks. Pretty good boating/ fishing. Just gotta check often for chiggers and ticks."
ScoutWe needed a pit stop….as a pit stop it serves its purpose…..would not stay here more than a night. Lots of seasonal run down campers. Tarps over campers. Bathrooms are neglected. Agree with previous reviewer that they have given into the seasonal camper.
ScoutChoose another campground unless you are certain you can arrive before 4pm. Otherwise, you'll not be allowed in. Owner is belligerent on this point, and from other comments, belligerent on other issues also.
We strongly recommend the nearby French Creek State Park campground.
LegendOverall, this is a nice, small (about 65 sites) state park with plenty of recreational opportunities inside the park. There is nice separation between sites so you don’t feel like you are on top of your neighbor. Tall trees are scattered about which provide shade at some sites but overall, the park is pretty open. Roads getting to the park are easy to navigate with any size RV. Within the park, roads are paved and free of potholes and there are no low hanging branches. Since the roads are one-way they are not very wide so backing in big-rigs can be a little tight and you might have to run over the grass.
All RV sites are full hook-up and there is a separate area for tents and there is one canvas yurt for rent. The tent sites are nice in that they are tucked along the wood line slightly away from RVs with more privacy and shade. The only downside is that they are pretty far away from the centrally located bathroom and showers. The bathroom has separate rooms for showers which is nice and private. They were tended to daily and very clean. Also, located in the center of the campground is a playground, camp store and laundry. The dumpsters and recycle bins are located in a separate area on the way out of the campground and were frequently full and overflowing. Campsites are paved and some have wide enough that the patio is paved but others have a narrow pad for the RV and gravel patio. We discovered that most sites are level but a few are not (like 22 and 24). The campground is very clean and camp hosts were diligent about picking up trash and cleaning out fire pits every day.
Across the pond (north of the campground) is where most of the amenities are located such as concessions, ball fields, horseshoe pits, disk golf, and more. For those wanting to fish there is a pier in the campground and a self-serve vending machine with bait in it. There are additional fishing piers located in other parts of the park and there are boats, canoes, kayaks, and paddleboards for rent. We stopped in at the Nature Center but it was a bust– just a few taxidermy specimens and not much information. One of the most popular areas of the park is Go Ape which is a ropes/zip line course through the canopy (which does require admission fee). There are nice trails that leave right from the campground– some 17 miles in all. There is a boat launch about a quarter mile from the campground entrance which is suitable for trailerable boats and paddle craft but there are no docks so you can’t leave your boat tied up there. There is an off-leash dog area but it is located far from the campground so it’s best to drive.
ScoutBathrooms are clean and staff is nice
TravelerThe camp site was amazing. Everything is neat and clean and really beautiful place so quiet.
ScoutNice site. Neighbor not to close. Bring extra water hose. The connection is not very close.
GuideThis campground has everything. Conveniently located, short drive to Dover, Wilmington, Annapolis and Baltimore. The sites were very large and spacious. Sites can accommodate any type of trailer or vehicle. Plenty of site hookups, areas for tents. There is a camp store, several washer and dryers. The best private, individual shower booths and even a pond to go fishing in.
ScoutThe area was well maintained, lots for the kids to do, and everyone that worked there was so nice. Close to beaches and food. We’ll be back!
LegendTucked just off Route 309 north of Quakertown, Melody Lakes Country Estate feels far less like a traditional campground and much more like a quiet, semi-permanent residential community, with a small pocket of opportunity for the occasional overnight RV stay if you happen to time it right.
While my review from a few years ago provides a ton of detail, I thought I would follow up that review with a topline of HIGHLIGHTS and LOWLIGHTS along with a smattering of new photos.
HIGHLIGHTS:(1) Peaceful, tucked-away setting surrounded by wooded acreage that gives the property a calm, removed feel from nearby roads;(2) Access to a range of community-style amenities including a pool, clubhouse, playground, and small fishing ponds;(3) Proximity to Quakertown makes it relatively easy to access groceries, restaurants, and basic supplies within a short drive;(4) Nearby outdoor options like the Upper Bucks Rail Trail provide a great outlet for hiking and biking;(5) Close to local gems like Kathy’s Country Kitchen, which is well worth the stop if you’re passing through.
LOWLIGHTS:(1) Extremely limited RV availability, with only a handful of spots, making it unreliable for spontaneous overnight stays;(2) Not a true campground experience, as the majority of the property is made up of semi-permanent or seasonal residences;(3) No tent camping options whatsoever, limiting flexibility for different types of campers;(4) Entrance is easy to miss with minimal signage, requiring careful navigation or prior knowledge to find;(5) Unclear availability of full hookups due to the limited number of transient sites and lack of consistent turnover.
Happy Camping!
Camping in southern New Jersey offers year-round opportunities with mild winters rarely dropping below 20°F and humid summers averaging 85°F. The region around Runnemede features a mix of Pine Barrens ecosystems and Delaware Valley watersheds, creating diverse camping environments within a 30-mile radius. Most campgrounds in this area close seasonally between late October and early April.
Kayaking the Mullica River: At Goshen Pond Campground in Wharton State Forest, campers can launch directly from sites. "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," notes Anna D.
Hiking natural trails: Multiple hiking paths weave through the Pine Barrens near campsites. "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," explains Jorah about Philadelphia South/Clarksboro KOA.
Swimming options beyond pools: Lake Kandle offers multiple water recreation choices. "Lake with swing and fishing and two pools. No pets no alcohol no store but they have a snack stand," reports Mya M., highlighting the diverse swimming options available beyond standard campground pools.
Stargazing without light pollution: The Pine Barrens provide excellent night sky viewing opportunities. When camping at Bodine Field in Wharton State Forest, Dina S. describes, "Our tent has a full view of the sky and at night it was like a planetarium as we admired the sky from our cots."
Clean facilities: Old Cedar Campground maintains high cleanliness standards. "The pool was nice and clean. Wifi worked well enough for us to stream Netflix and YouTube," reports Matt S., who appreciated the well-maintained amenities during their stay.
Proximity to Philadelphia: Campers value locations allowing day trips to the city. Jason E. notes about Philadelphia South/Clarksboro KOA, "This is a very nice KOA, just over the Delaware River from Philly. The park is clean, quiet, full of families. It's easy to navigate to the park from the interstate, and big rigs fit easily."
Waterfront sites: Hospitality Creek Campground offers premium lakefront options. "Our lakefront site (#57) was superb! It was between a small, paved boat ramp and a row of arborvitae trees on the other side separating us from the neighboring site," explains Matt S., describing the scenic waterfront accommodations.
Unique accommodations: For those seeking alternatives to traditional camping, Tinicum Island provides boat-in only camping. Bobby S. simply states, "A great place to stay if you have a watercraft," highlighting this distinctive camping option within reach of Runnemede.
Seasonal limitations: Many best places to camp near Runnemede, New Jersey operate on restricted schedules. Old Cedar Campground runs from April 21 to October 9, while Goshen Pond Campground operates April 1 to October 31.
Reservation requirements: Summer weekends fill quickly at most campgrounds. Matt S. notes about Hospitality Creek: "We were met at the entry gate with a personalized folder containing lots of helpful information for our stay. I was impressed at how prepared they were for our arrival."
Site maintenance varies: Some campgrounds require vigilance for debris. Steve comments about Atsion Recreation Area: "There was a bag tied to a tree with someone's trash in it. Speaking of trash, there was a lot of little bits scattered throughout the site, I spent my camp setup time also picking out the worst offenders (bottle caps, broken glass, zip ties, broken off plastic bits of kids toys etc.)"
Noise considerations: At several campgrounds, fellow campers can impact the experience. Steve noted at Atsion: "Unfortunately 2 of them were taken by a large family group who were pretty loud until midnight - no fault of the campsite, just note that this place will have a higher frequency of this type of visitor."
Activity scheduling: Four Seasons Family Campground provides structured programming for children. "Very quiet and peaceful at night with lots of activities for the kids during the day," notes Amanda M., highlighting the balance between entertainment and rest.
Multi-generational visits: Hospitality Creek Campground offers day visitor options. Craig W. explains, "The wonderful part was having them visit us - for $8 per day the grandchildren were able to play miniature golf, swim in the pool (they had pool toys to borrow) fish (and yes they caught bass), every Saturday they had an organized activity for the kids."
Playground access: For families with younger children, Philadelphia South/Clarksboro KOA provides several play areas. Nicole S. reports, "There was so much to do there a pool, lake, horseshoes, cornhole, playground, big pillow and even more. They offer so many activities during the day and text you so you don't forget."
Bathroom proximity: When camping with children, bathroom location becomes crucial. Paula at Philadelphia South/Clarksboro KOA notes, "It was cold so we asked to be put close to bathrooms so we could leave camper winterized. They accommodated us nicely."
Site selection: At Old Cedar Campground, Matt S. advises, "The water hookups are shared every other site (at least in the Fence Loop). I was lucky my 75' hose barely reached the distance needed. Be sure to bring extra hoses."
RV maneuvering: Ridley Creek State Park has specific limitations on RV size. The park accommodates smaller rigs but lacks facilities for larger motorhomes or trailers, making it better suited for tent camping or compact campers.
Hookup reliability: Jim G. reports about Philadelphia South/Clarksboro KOA: "The hookups were fine, cable was good, wifi was fairly fast but was prone to disconnects. Lots of shopping nearby, fortunately for me because I had to run to Home Depot for a quick repair item."
Delivery services: Several campgrounds offer on-site delivery of essentials. Nicole S. appreciated that at Philadelphia South/Clarksboro KOA "they also would deliver firewood to your fire ring which was a awesome touch," saving campers from carrying heavy loads.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular campground near Runnemede, NJ?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Runnemede, NJ is Philadelphia South/Clarksboro KOA with a 4.3-star rating from 21 reviews.
Keep Exploring
