Tent campsites in the Wharton State Forest provide the primary options for tent camping near Somers Point, New Jersey. Located within the Pine Barrens ecosystem approximately 30 miles northwest of Somers Point, these campgrounds offer a variety of primitive and established tent sites. Goshen Pond, Batona, and Mullica River campgrounds feature tent-specific areas with varying levels of accessibility and amenities. Shellbay Campgrounds in Cape May Court House, about 20 miles south of Somers Point, also accommodates tent campers seeking proximity to coastal attractions.
Most tent campgrounds in the region feature sandy soil characteristic of the Pine Barrens, creating naturally soft tent pads but requiring proper staking. Walk-in tent locations are common, particularly at Goshen Pond where campers park and carry gear a short distance to their sites. Potable water is available at select campgrounds including Batona and Red Wing Lakes, while others offer only basic facilities with pit toilets or vault latrines. The camping season typically runs from April 1 to October 31, with some locations like Shellbay extending slightly later into fall. Fire rings are provided at most sites, though campers should verify current fire restrictions before arrival.
The Pine Barrens tent camping experience offers unique ecological features and relative seclusion. Sites at Goshen Pond and Batona provide direct access to hiking trails, including the 50-mile Batona Trail that connects multiple campgrounds. One camper noted that "the ground is soft and comfortable to sleep on, not rocky at all, like almost weird how few rocks there are," highlighting the distinctive sandy terrain. Tent campers should be prepared for the region's abundant wildlife, including ticks which several reviewers mentioned as requiring vigilance. Primitive backcountry sites like Mullica River campground require either hiking or paddling to access, creating greater solitude but demanding more preparation. During weekdays and off-season periods, even the more established tent campgrounds remain peaceful with minimal crowding.
"Swimming lake catch and release lake sells wood has bath houses, electric, water and sewer hookups. They always have something going on. And a skeet range http://www.redwinglakes.com/lakes.html"
"You’re right next to the wading river/creek with that amazing cedar water. As well as a quick drive Harrisville Pond which mine as well be a lake."
"Bodine Field is one of several camping locations within Wharton State Forest. I am writing this review over a year after our stay so forgive me if the details are lacking."
"Looking for a trip to the Jersey shore (near Stone Harbor, Avalon, Wildwood, Cape May, & more) - look no further than Shellbay Camping Resort."
"I remember my excitement to go camping, meet other kids at the campground, and have plenty of things to do close by (beach, shopping, swimming pool)"
"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."
"Great location for Questival, would visit again. Easy access and felt very safe and secluded."
"Close to the main roads but feels remote."
"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."
"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."
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.
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.
ScoutI’ve stayed here multiple times over the past 15 years and I have enjoyed each trip.
Depot Travel Park is a well-maintained family-owned campground. It is also reasonably priced, especially given the location that is within a bicycle ride to the beach, the ocean, and lots of shops and restaurants in Cape May. It is the only campground on the Cape May side of the canal.
Please note that this is not a resort campground and it doesn’t have a pool. There is so much to do in Cape May that is doesn’t need to be a resort.
Since it’s not a resort campground, there are not many golf carts, so most people use their bicycles or cars to get around. That also makes the campground pretty quiet, even during the peak of summer.
The campground sells firewood and propane, but there is no camp store. Again, it doesn’t really need one, since there is a farmers market at the end of the driveway, and a CVS and an ACME supermarket within bicycle riding distance.
If your site doesn’t have a sewer hookup, the dump station is a little awkward to access, but they have a daily honey wagon for a reasonable fee, which is great. If you notify the office the day before you need it and they are usually there in the morning.
They close for the season n October, but they reopen briefly during the Cape May Christmas Parade weekend in December. That’s one thing that I’d like to do soon.
I really like this campground and I am always recommending it to friends.
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.
ScoutGreat place. Close to beach. No septic hookup
TravelerI am writing this review because I genuinely want to warn other families before they book this campground. What should have been a relaxing camping trip turned into an extremely upsetting experience for our family. From the beginning, we felt singled out and unwelcome. We arrived at our campsite and then went to the office. We did not know that the campground required every guest to go to the office before going to their site. This was an honest misunderstanding. Instead of simply explaining the rule and moving on, the situation became unnecessarily confrontational, and we felt like the staff was looking for reasons to have an issue with us. What was especially upsetting was how our children were treated. Our children were riding scooters and were stopped and told that scooters were not allowed. We were extremely confused because we could clearly see much younger children riding/driving around the campground. Our 14-year-old was not allowed to do so, while we observed significantly younger white children being allowed to ride. What made this even worse was the way our children were spoken to. They came running back to us scared and intimidated by the interaction. As parents, that was extremely upsetting to see. There is a huge difference between calmly explaining a campground rule to a child and speaking to a child in a way that makes them feel frightened. If there is a rule that scooters are not allowed, then the rule should be applied consistently to every child, regardless of age or background. What we witnessed did not feel consistent. As the experience continued, we felt increasingly targeted. We were left with the strong impression that they did not want our family there. At one point, it honestly felt like they were trying to find reasons to get rid of us, which made us question whether the campground had overbooked and was looking for a way to push us out. We also had a very concerning experience regarding payment. We were forced to pay in cash and were not provided with a receipt. As paying guests, we found this extremely troubling and unprofessional. The entire experience left our family feeling uncomfortable, intimidated, and unwelcome. Camping with children should be about relaxing, enjoying the outdoors, and making good memories—not having your children come running back to you because they are scared of how an adult spoke to them. I cannot speak to anyone else's intentions, but**based on what we personally experienced and witnessed, we felt that our family was being treated differently because of our background. Seeing younger white children being allowed to do something that our children were stopped from doing made the situation even more concerning.I strongly recommend that families think twice before booking this campground. If you do decide to stay, make sure you understand every rule before arriving, document your interactions, and keep proof of every payment. We are sharing this review because other families deserve to know what our experience was like before spending their money and vacation time here. No family should leave a campground feeling intimidated, targeted, or unwelcome.
TravelerI am writing this review because I genuinely want to warn other families before they book this campground. What should have been a relaxing camping trip turned into an extremely upsetting experience for our family. From the beginning, we felt singled out and unwelcome. We arrived at our campsite and then went to the office. We did not know that the campground required every guest to go to the office before going to their site. This was an honest misunderstanding. Instead of simply explaining the rule and moving on, the situation became unnecessarily confrontational, and we felt like the staff was looking for reasons to have an issue with us. What was especially upsetting was how our children were treated. Our children were riding scooters and were stopped and told that scooters were not allowed. We were extremely confused because we could clearly see much younger children riding/driving around the campground. Our 14-year-old was not allowed to do so, while we observed significantly younger white children being allowed to ride. What made this even worse was**the way our children were spoken to. They came running back to us scared and intimidated by the interaction. As parents, that was extremely upsetting to see. There is a huge difference between calmly explaining a campground rule to a child and speaking to a child in a way that makes them feel frightened. If there is a rule that scooters are not allowed, then the rule should be applied**consistently to every child**, regardless of age or background. What we witnessed did not feel consistent. As the experience continued, we felt increasingly targeted. We were left with the strong impression that they did not want our family there. At one point, it honestly felt like they were trying to find reasons to get rid of us, which made us question whether the campground had overbooked and was looking for a way to push us out. We also had a very concerning experience regarding payment. We were forced to pay in cash and were not provided with a receipt. As paying guests, we found this extremely troubling and unprofessional. The entire experience left our family feeling uncomfortable, intimidated, and unwelcome. Camping with children should be about relaxing, enjoying the outdoors, and making good memories—not having your children come running back to you because they are scared of how an adult spoke to them. I cannot speak to anyone else's intentions, but**based on what we personally experienced and witnessed, we felt that our family was being treated differently because of our background.** Seeing younger white children being allowed to do something that our children were stopped from doing made the situation even more concerning.**I strongly recommend that families think twice before booking this campground.** If you do decide to stay, make sure you understand every rule before arriving, document your interactions, and keep proof of every payment. We are sharing this review because other families deserve to know what our experience was like before spending their money and vacation time here. No family should leave a campground feeling intimidated, targeted, or unwelcome.
Tent campsites near Somers Point, New Jersey primarily cluster within the Pine Barrens ecosystem, where Atlantic coastal plains meet New Jersey's distinctive inland forest. The region averages 45 inches of rainfall annually, creating a unique camping environment with sandy soil that drains quickly after storms. Summer temperatures typically range from 75-90°F, while spring and fall camping seasons offer more moderate 50-70°F conditions with lower humidity.
Kayaking on Wading River: Access the water directly from Bodine Field Campground for paddling excursions. "You're right next to the wading river/creek with that amazing cedar water. As well as a quick drive Harrisville Pond which mine as well be a lake. Good fishing for pickerel as well as a decent trail that goes around the entire pond," notes camper Dan M.
Hiking the Batona Trail: The 50-mile trail connects multiple camping areas throughout Wharton State Forest. At Batona — Wharton State Forest, "trailheads begin directly from campsites. Trails vary in length but all are flat and easily accessible," according to Meghan G.
Beach visits: Tent campers staying at Shellbay Campgrounds can access coastal attractions. "We stayed here because it was within biking distance of the beaches at Stone Harbor, Wildwood, and Cape May," reports Christopher E., making it a practical base for day trips to Atlantic beaches.
Secluded camping experiences: Wharton State Forest offers genuine privacy during weekdays. At Goshen Pond — Wharton State Forest, "our site was very quiet, but a lot of the sites are close together without any barriers, so if the campground got crowded it wouldn't be very private," notes Anna D.
Fishing opportunities: The region's waterways offer productive fishing. Bodine Field provides "good fishing for pickerel" according to Dan M., while other ponds and streams throughout the Pine Barrens support various freshwater species.
Swimming options: Red Wing Lakes Campground features a dedicated swimming lake separate from their fishing lake. Barry G. mentions that the campground has a "swimming lake catch and release lake sells wood has bath houses, electric, water and sewer hookups."
Distance from urban areas: The Pine Barrens camping areas provide genuine wilderness despite proximity to major cities. At Batona Campground, Isabella M. appreciated the "easy access and felt very safe and secluded," making it accessible for weekend escapes from Philadelphia or New York.
Insect awareness: Ticks and chiggers require vigilance in the Pine Barrens. At Goshen Pond, visitors should expect "lots of bugs (ticks)" according to Amy C., while Eldad K. advises to "check often for chiggers and ticks."
Sandy roads: Vehicle access to campgrounds can require navigating unpaved sandy roads. At Batona — Wharton State Forest, "the road into the campground is about 1 mile of loose sand. It can be accessed by a standard vehicle," notes Meghan G.
Limited facilities: Many Pine Barrens campgrounds provide only basic amenities. At Bodine Field Campground, "potable water is available along with a couple Porta potties" according to Adeline M., while most sites have only fire rings without picnic tables.
Seasonal water availability: Water access varies throughout the camping season. William W. confirms the Mullica River Campground's status: "The campground is open, it was closed because of covid in 2020," but campers should verify current water availability.
Group site options: Several campgrounds offer designated areas for larger family gatherings. "Very open basically sandy field with a handful of trees in the middle, group sites available," notes Dan M. about Bodine Field, making it suitable for multi-family camping trips.
Swimming access for children: Families appreciate campgrounds with designated swimming areas. Red Wing Lakes Campground provides a swimming lake separate from fishing areas, creating safer water recreation for children.
Activity planning: Shellbay Campgrounds offers family-friendly amenities near coastal attractions. Alyssa D. recalls, "I remember my excitement to go camping, meet other kids at the campground, and have plenty of things to do close by (beach, shopping, swimming pool)."
Noise considerations: Weekend crowds can impact family camping experiences. At Bodine Field, "during the off season is in and during the week, it's very peaceful and awesome place to be. During the weekend it's very populated and tends to be pretty noisy," warns Adeline M.
Site size restrictions: RVers should research campground access limitations. At Batona Campground, Meghan G. notes that "sites are suitable for tents or small campers. The unpaved road into the site is narrow and tree lined. A larger RV would not fit."
Hookup availability: Red Wing Lakes Campground provides full hookups for RV camping. "Electric, water and sewer hookups" are available according to Barry G., making it one of the better-equipped options for RVers near Somers Point.
Seasonal considerations: Most campgrounds in the region operate seasonally. Shellbay Campground runs "from May - October 1" according to Suzi S., aligning with the typical camping season throughout the Pine Barrens.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Somers Point, NJ?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Somers Point, NJ is Red Wing Lakes with a 5-star rating from 1 review.
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TheDyrt.com has all 12 tent camping locations near Somers Point, NJ, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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