1 campground with availability this weekend
Brendan Byrne State Forest offers equestrian camping opportunities within New Jersey's distinctive Pine Barrens landscape. The campground features marked trails suitable for horseback riding throughout the 37,000-acre forest. Several campsites can accommodate horse trailers with adequate parking space at designated areas. The forest maintains a network of sand roads and trails that cross through pine forest terrain, making it ideal for day rides directly from campsites. Bathrooms and showers are kept clean and well-maintained, with multiple water spigots available throughout the camping area. The campground experiences minimal traffic noise due to its remote location approximately 5 miles from main roads, creating a secluded environment for horses and riders.
Equestrian access at Brendan Byrne connects to an extensive trail system through the Pine Barrens, with routes varying from sandy forest paths to more established bridle trails. Horse owners should note that while specific horse corrals are not provided, the spacious campsites allow for portable corral setup or highline systems. Ticks can be prevalent in certain seasons, particularly affecting both horses and riders during warmer months. The surrounding forest offers plenty of room for horses to move around, though riders should be aware of occasional air traffic from the nearby joint base. Water access points are available throughout the campground for horse hydration needs. The forest's relatively flat, sandy terrain provides straightforward riding conditions suitable for various experience levels, with multiple trail options ranging from short loops to longer distance routes through the distinctive Pine Barrens ecosystem.
"Campsite decent size, but some don't have clear boundaries to neighbors, and sometimes not optimally configured (e.g., the site next door's fire pit was placed on the edge of its site/right next to my"
"First off, I will start by saying you have to drive a good amount of distance to get into the campground and that is something I really enjoyed!"
from $3 - $60 / night
"There are some equestrian and tent sites as well. Lots of boating (electric motors only) and kayaking on the pond and a decent amount of hiking."
"I took her older cousins to the fishing pier, and we didn't even get a nibble, but I think it was too cold for panfish that close to shore."
Available this weekend
from $17 - $32 / night
"The only thing about this site specifically is the trail was close by so you’d occasionally see people walking by but not enough that it didn’t still feel secluded."
"I was only one in the forest ATM but saw some hikers occasionally throughout the day walking by."
from $25 / night
ScoutRestrooms are filthy with mold and mildew.
Water puddled on the restroom floor.really gross.
Cabin was mostly clean. The windows were full of dirt and bugs on the tracks.mattresses were terrible.The fireplace was nice. Kitchen was clean.
Can t wait to move on to a cleaner park.
GuideBeautiful campground but made the mistake of going on a holiday weekend, the campgrounds next to us were screaming and blasting music all day and throughout the night so we ended up leaving early. A beautiful campground when there aren’t noisy capers ruining it.
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.
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
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.
TravelerThis is the most quietest campground. Perfect when you need to go somewhere to think. The people here are very nice. The wildlife is amazing
LegendWe spent a long weekend with family at Lums Pond State Park Campground and so glad we did.
We paid $46 per night plus fees for a FHU 50 Amp Back-in site(#56).
This place is a gem, even among nice state parks.
THINGS I LIKED:
Easy access from I-95
Beautiful park setting with fantastic site— spacious, level, good-working hookups, and paved
Friendly and helpful staff
Great state park with lots to do (kayaking, biking, and more)
THINGS I DIDN’T LIKE SO MUCH:
WOULD WE COME BACK?
ScoutOverall we enjoyed our stay. I will say that the rules of the campsites are ambiguous on the website and when we first arrived were unaware that if using an RV in a tent site you are not allowed to add another tent to the site. There is a two tent limit per site despite the site allowing up to 6 people. 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.
Otherwise, the stay was pleasant. The bathrooms were clean and the staff was friendly. They do patrol the sites with a police presence in the evening.
Brendan Byrne State Forest provides equestrian camping near Williamstown, New Jersey within 37,000 acres of the distinctive Pine Barrens ecosystem. The campground requires reservations in advance with sites starting at $20 per night. Camping areas feature vault toilets and potable water access points throughout the grounds, with campsites positioned along sand roads that provide direct trail access for riders.
Ride local trails year-round: Brendan Byrne State Forest offers numerous trail options for horseback riding in all seasons. "Nice and quiet, sites are spaced out enough to offer privacy. Good trees for hammocking! Plenty of room for a few tents at each site," notes Lindsay D., who appreciates the accessibility of hiking trails directly from campsites.
Explore multi-use paths: The forest contains several trail loops varying in length from 2-10 miles, accommodating different riding abilities and time constraints. "Lots of good hiking trails, most the sites have pretty decent privacy from the other ones," explains Dan M., highlighting the well-maintained trail network throughout the forest.
Visit nearby attractions: Lums Pond State Park Campground offers additional outdoor activities within driving distance. "Great park setting with fantastic site—spacious, level, good-working hookups, and paved," reports Matt S., who also mentions "Great state park with lots to do (kayaking, biking, and more)."
Clean facilities: Campers consistently mention the well-maintained bathroom facilities. "Very well maintained campsites and facilities," writes Marcus N. about Brendan Byrne. "The bathrooms were clean and the staff was friendly. They do patrol the sites with a police presence in the evening," adds Jesse G.
Site privacy: Blackbird State Forest Campground provides spacious sites with good separation. "Only 8 sites in the campground, very spaced apart. Each site has lots of room, very much enjoyed our stay and will return!" reports Sarah M., highlighting the private feel of the camping experience.
Quiet atmosphere: The remote location creates a peaceful environment. "It's far away from traffic noise. You can't hear any cars or any other noise from civilization at all," notes a camper about Brendan Byrne State Forest. Another camper mentions, "First off, I will start by saying you have to drive a good amount of distance to get into the campground and that is something I really enjoyed! Made me feel super secluded."
Campfire regulations: Fire restrictions apply with specific hours allowed for campfires. "Only weird rule I saw was that fires can only go from 6pm till 7am which was odd but wasn't a deal breaker," states Dorian P. regarding Brendan Byrne's fire policies.
Tick prevention essential: The Pine Barrens region has significant tick activity, especially during warmer months. "Ticks were very active on this visit be sure to remember your bug spray and tuck your pants in your socks! Overall a great time," advises Megan S., emphasizing the importance of protective clothing and regular tick checks for both humans and horses.
Campsite selection: Fair Hill Natural Resources Management Area offers alternative equestrian camping options with specific requirements. "There are two primitive youth group camping areas. There are specific rules that need to be followed and the guidelines are on the website," explains Gen F.
Water access planning: Arrange campsites near water sources when visiting with children and animals. "Very Decent Camp in the Pine Barrens, Lots of potable water hydrants around the campground so not far of a walk to fill any water needs you may have," advises Dan M. about Brendan Byrne.
Playground availability: Some nearby campgrounds offer additional family amenities. "Our daughter really enjoyed the playground (which was excellent, by my standards)," shares Mark about their experience at Lums Pond State Park.
Hiking with kids: Lums Pond State Park provides family-friendly trails. "The trails were well marked, and the day we took a hike, we ended up on the equestrian trail that runs all the way around the pond. It was a long, but easy hike," notes Mark, describing accessible terrain for families with children.
Site regulations: Be aware of specific RV rules that may limit additional camping setups. "If using an RV in a tent site you are not allowed to add another tent to the site. There is a two tent limit per site despite the site allowing up to 6 people," cautions Jesse G. about Brendan Byrne's sometimes confusing regulations.
Hookup availability: Plan for limited or no hookups at most equestrian sites. At Blackbird State Forest, a camper notes, "Each site has a fire pit, a grill, and two tables with a decent amount of space for tents," but mentions no hookups for RVs, requiring self-containment.
Winter camping considerations: Some parks remain open year-round but with seasonal limitations. "In February, about 1/4 of the sites were occupied. It was very quiet. The sites are large and well spaced. Many are in full sun," reports Adam and Suzanne B. about winter camping conditions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Williamstown, NJ?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Williamstown, NJ is Brendan Byrne State Forest with a 4.5-star rating from 20 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Williamstown, NJ?
TheDyrt.com has all 4 equestrian camping locations near Williamstown, NJ, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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