6 campgrounds with availability this weekend
Sun Outdoors Cape May permits pets at all their camping accommodations including tents, RVs, cabins, and glamping sites. The campground provides a mix of tent sites with sand boxes, pull-through RV spots with concrete patios, and well-maintained seasonal areas. Beachcomber Camping Resort and Sun Retreats Seashore also welcome pets throughout their properties, offering fire rings, picnic tables, and full hookups for RV campers. Most campgrounds maintain clean grounds with helpful staff, though site sizes vary considerably between locations. Several campers note that Holly Shores (now Sun Outdoors) has large, clean sites with concrete patios and stone/gravel pads that accommodate pets comfortably.
Cape Henlopen State Park Campground and Delaware Seashore State Park provide pet-friendly accommodations a short drive from Tabernacle, with camping available for tents, RVs, and cabins. Both parks maintain shower facilities and laundry amenities while offering water access. Belleplain State Forest allows pets year-round at their tent and RV sites. Many campgrounds in the area feature swimming pools, lakes, and planned activities for families with pets. Campers should note that sites at certain properties like Seashore Campsites can be tightly packed with barely enough room for a camper and picnic table, creating challenges for pets needing space. The campgrounds' proximity to Cape May attractions provides convenient options for pet owners wanting to explore the region.
"This campground is also very pet friendly ❤️. We come back as often as possible."
"Stayed in a drive through, patio site with full hook-ups. It was situated on a corner spot. A lot of RV, golf cart, bike, and people traffic due to the location."
"There is also a section of walk-in tent sites, each with 1 parking spot semi close by. (Bring a wagon if you stay at one of these)."
"There are miles upon miles of walking and biking trails. There are nice play facilities for kids, loads of water and beach access."
Available this weekend
from $35 - $105 / night
"Great Location and close to Cape May City. 10 min drive to Washington Street Mall. Lots to do during the day."
"Beautiful main building. close to a lovely walking trail."
"A beautiful wooded campground close to the beaches of Cape May, New Jersey. Very family oriented and really a great place for adults too."
"Lots to do and the beautiful beaches of Cape May, New Jersey are a short 10 minute drive. The different types of camping/glamping experiences exceeded my expectations."
from $42 / night
"They allowed me to drive around first and pick out a campsite before checking in. They charge $5 extra for a dog. So far it is very quiet and that's what I was looking for."
"Pets are also allowed with no size restrictions with vaccination records and a leash! They have kayaks available to rent to row across the peaceful Nummy Lake."
"It's very close to everything, but you don't even need to leave the campground! There are a ton of activities!"
"We went to Ocean View Resort in New Jersey to kick off the 2022 season in our new Fleetwood Discovery LXE. And we’re glad we did! "
"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."
"Good site location"
"There are nice lighted bike / walking paths over the bridge to get from one side to the other that offer great views."
"It was almost hard to sit outside. The weather was sunny but cooler than we’d hoped. Our site faced the inlet and bridge which was beautiful but again with the wind we couldn’t sit outside much."
Available this weekend
from $35 - $352 / night
"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)"
"Looking for a trip to the Jersey shore (near Stone Harbor, Avalon, Wildwood, Cape May, & more) - look no further than Shellbay Camping Resort."
"well maintained, wonderful pool and splash pad, great location!!"
"Kids love the lake. Bathroom cleaned daily. Could use more showers. Nice and quiet at night."
ScoutWe stayed at the group site campground with our horse. We found the sites to be large, and clean. The staff is very friendly and helpful, and they have fall activities for the family, at the lake and nature hikes. The porta potty's are very clean, have hand sanitizer and plenty of paper. Will be returning again in a few weeks. Plenty of trails to ride on. A true gem in our own backyard.
ScoutQuiet primitive campsites with slight road noise. We didn’t hear any train during our stay. We stayed at site 10 on the left branch where the newer gravel tent sites are in the pines. The potalet is nearby. It’s was dark at our campsite when we arrived. Nice and level gravel pad with plenty of room - sites are large enough to pull into and k turn if needed (although we saw the sign saying to park parallel to the site entrance in the morning- we have a roof top tent on our vehicle). When I put my headlamp on there were all these tiny sparkles on the ground out among the pine trees surrounding our campsite. When I walked up really close to one and shined my lamp on it, I saw that they are pretty big spiders. A little unnerving but also pretty? Told my brain I was in a glittery fairy forest and slept fine. 🤣
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.
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.
GuidePretty easy camping trip, plenty of room to set up camp. Level spots. We stayed on south inlet campground. They have small camp store multiple laundry and bath houses. Great stay if you enjoy fishing, as. You can fish the inlet at the campground. They have a very nice playground for kids as well! Only negative is no camp fires allowed, they do have a community area you can have a camp fires allowed. Also no wifi
ScoutMy check in was for 8-6-2026, and bc I’m a new driver and wanted to beat traffic I got there early (7am) so I sit there waiting till check in time. When suddenly the park police show up. He’s accusing me of camping over night there. I told him simply I wasn’t and where I was night prior (would never sleep somewhere without permission). So we go to the store to kill time before we check in. Come back for Check in and the whole staff in just the office alone were so arrogant and cold to my mom and I, leaving rude comments to us and not only where they like that but the staff outside the office was acting like that alongside the rangers and park police. They would watch us the whole visit in the distance parking there cars a little ways watching everything we did,even driving by slowly a bunch of times in just an hour alone. My mom and I couldn’t do anything with out them showing up 2 mins later. Example we were walking our dog enjoying our time(trying to) and all of a sudden one of the office ladies pulls up right in front of us speeding, parks their car, gets out and walks a distance from us standing there and taking pictures of us…. For walking our dog who’s on a leash and didn’t even do anything. The whole trip we felt uncomfortable and unwanted and to find out they police when we were going on walks where coming up to campers near us bribing them with free firewood to get any information on use (told to us by other camper). I paid a lot of money to be harassed and followed the whole time. We never did anything we abide by every rule and keep to ourselves everywhere we go. They even made my mother cry…
ScoutGreat place. Close to beach. No septic hookup
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
Several campgrounds near Tabernacle offer pet-friendly accommodations within a 30-mile radius. Most properties maintain specific pet policies that vary by season and camping area. The terrain consists primarily of flat, wooded areas with sandy soil typical of southern New Jersey's coastal plain region. Summer temperatures average 85-90°F with high humidity, while spring and fall provide milder conditions that many campers find more comfortable for outdoor activities.
Hiking trails access: Cape Henlopen State Park Campground features over 20 miles of trails through pine forests with views of sand dunes. "There are miles upon miles of walking and biking trails. There are nice play facilities for kids, loads of water and beach access," notes Lisa B. The park's historic WWII observation towers provide additional exploration opportunities.
Beach activities year-round: Delaware Seashore State Park Campground beaches stay relatively uncrowded compared to other Jersey Shore locations. "The beaches are quiet. I hear it gets packed and I see that it's hard to book if you don't book early. Our experience was awesome!" shares Chris G. The park allows dogs on designated beaches depending on season and time of day.
Rail trail cycling: Sun Outdoors Cape May provides access to an 11-mile rail trail directly across from the campground. "There is an 11 mile rail trail across the street as well," notes Joel A. Campers mention the convenience of reaching multiple trail heads without driving to other locations.
Free beach parking options: Campers staying at Sun Outdoors have identified free beach parking alternatives. "Sunset and beaches on either side if ferry terminal jetti are free and no cost to park. They are on the bay so small waves," advises Brian C., making this valuable information for pet owners wanting beach access without additional fees.
Unique accommodation options: Beachcomber Camping Resort offers distinctive lodging beyond standard tent and RV sites. "We stayed in a teepee and it is one of the coolest places I have camped. These days I like glamping and this was the best experience yet!" writes Denise D. The resort also features yurts for those seeking alternative camping experiences.
Clean, modern bathhouses: Cape Henlopen maintains updated facilities that receive positive comments. "The bathrooms were clean and modern. The camp store had lots of little items that I needed. And there was a Little Library," Jennifer S. reports. Multiple reviewers note the quality of shower facilities as an important consideration for tent campers.
Spacious wooded sites: Belleplain State Forest gets high marks for site size and natural setting. "Our site was HUGE!!!! It was also super private with trees and a lot of privacy from the road and our neighbors," according to Anne H. The campground offers electric and water hookups only in the CCC section.
Lake swimming alternatives: Many pet-friendly campgrounds feature lakes as beach alternatives. Ocean View Resort Campground provides "a huge swimming pond with a beach," according to Ray L., who adds they "just completed a new camp store building that has everything you could think of from camping gear to beach chairs and floats!"
Variable site sizes: Sites at Shell Bay Campgrounds and other properties differ considerably in size and privacy. "The tent sites were close together and since it was Labor Day weekend it was pretty full," Christopher E. mentions. Reservation systems often don't guarantee specific site assignments, requiring early arrival for better selection.
Seasonal crowding patterns: Most campgrounds near Tabernacle experience significant seasonal variation. "We stayed in site 116 in CCC section (only section with electric and water). Good privacy. Check-in went smoothly," notes Frank J. about Belleplain State Forest during off-peak season, contrasting with holiday weekend experiences.
Limited cell service: Connectivity varies widely across campgrounds. Anne H. reports at Belleplain: "Virtually NO cell service with AT&T, TMobile or Verizon. AT&T we the better of the 3." This information proves crucial for campers needing to stay connected or those hoping to disconnect completely.
Dump station challenges: Several reviewers note difficulties with waste disposal. "The worst was the dump station. It is just a little hole on the side of the road and the ONLY dump station for the 3 campgrounds! It was very unlevel and not easy to fully dump our tanks," warns Anne H. about Belleplain State Forest.
Water activities for children: Ocean View Resort Campground offers multiple water options for families with pets. "This place had a lot to do with kids! Lake, pool, ice cream, arcade, mini golf, mining station, activities," shares Tiffany P. The property recently upgraded its facilities to include a pirate-themed splash pad.
Playground access: Many pet-friendly campgrounds maintain play areas. Harry L. notes at Ocean View: "It's a nice campground that has been investing in upgrades over the last few years. A few years ago they added a pirate themed splash pad by the pool and last year they unveiled a brand new mini golf course."
Rental equipment availability: Cape Henlopen provides complimentary equipment. "Free bike rentals are available, some with baby seats and trailers," mentions Lisa B., adding that the "nature center (FREE) complete with touch tanks and knowledgeable park staff" provides additional family entertainment options during inclement weather.
Scheduled activities: Dog-friendly campgrounds frequently offer organized events. "We've stayed here 2 years in a row. We returned due to all the activities the campground offers for the kids," explains Dave R. about Sun Outdoors Cape May, noting the "giant inflatable slide, floating trampoline, kayak and paddle board rentals."
Site selection strategy: Thousand Trails Sea Pines uses a unique reservation system. Cynthia H. explains: "It is a place where you reserve a spot but then pick out your specific site once you get there," which allows flexibility but requires early arrival for better options.
Pad surfaces vary: Campgrounds offer different pad materials. "Spots can tight and lots of trees, sometimes making it difficult to get in and out of," notes Patti K. about Sea Pines, while others mention concrete pads at some locations and sand or gravel at others.
Entry access limitations: Several reviewers mention challenges with campground entrances. "The entry gate was tight with no room to park while registering. I ended up down the wrong way on a one-way road because there was no signage," warns Matt S. about Sun Outdoors Cape May, suggesting new visitors arrive during daylight hours.
Off-season flexibility: Some dog-friendly campgrounds accommodate unscheduled RV arrivals during quiet periods. Kirsten J. reports: "Once in the fall on the way to Delaware. I called and they let us stay the night even though they don't book online during off season."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Tabernacle, NJ?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Tabernacle, NJ is Sun Outdoors Cape May with a 4.1-star rating from 26 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Tabernacle, NJ?
TheDyrt.com has all 84 dog-friendly camping locations near Tabernacle, NJ, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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