Best Tent Camping near Toms River, NJ

Recent Tent Reviews in Toms River

344 Reviews of 18 Toms River Campgrounds

• T

  Tylen L.

  Traveler

  

  Nov. 15, 2024

  Turkey Swamp Park

  10/10

  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. I’ve been here a few times, every time I’m here I barely touch my phone.

• J

  Jakob B.

  Traveler

  

  Oct. 26, 2024

  Pomona RV Park and Campground

  2 months or so

  People are very friendly, never had a problem. Met some good people. They have internet, TV, open gear around, city water, sewer, always there to help.

• M

  Michele D.

  Scout

  

  Oct. 20, 2024

  Baker's Acres Campground

  Haven't been there - no tent sites

  Website says no tents any more

• 

  Kevin C.

  Ranger

  

  Oct. 2, 2024

  Cheesequake State Park Campground

  Urban Camping in crazy town

  The physical facilities are in good condition and are well maintained. The park is very big and is located inside and urban area.

  The campsite appears to be designed as a disbursed camping design. However, there is not enough trees and folage to provide any privacy.

  The camping area is located on a loop road I would estimate to be about a mile long. There is one restroom/shower house. Some campsites are close but our site was a 1/1 mile away.

  The strangest thing is that hunting is allowed in the state park except on Sundays. There was a sign near our camp site saying don't shoot here because there is a city street 40 yards away. However they don't seem to mind if you shoot towards the camp sites.

  Other campers near us were LOUD and stayed up well past the quiet time. They were annoying!!

• 

  Brenda G.

  Traveler

  

  Sep. 1, 2024

  Cheesequake State Park Campground

  Not bad

  Was my very first time camping out, went with my pups and my sons and did the van camping. The spot I had was very well shaded and pretty quiet. The only thing I wasn't big on was how far the trails are, would have to actually drive to it and park in a limited parking area. Due to weather didn't take the risk so am unable to give an opinion on it, but something to remember for the next trip. Only 30-35 min off the parkway, so nice and convenient.

• 

  Nicole S.

  Ranger

  

  Aug. 31, 2024

  Wading Pines Camping Resort

  Close to home Campground

  The campground is very close to home, and a lot of people around our area (central jersey) go there yearly or have seasonal sites there, but for us, it was our first time at the campground. The campground was full of plenty of amenities like basketball, volleyball, cornhole, playground, pool, crafts, bands, a lake, and fishing. The place was clean, and there was no garbage around.

  The positives were there were plenty of things to do and they also have this great river that goes through the place so you can walk and throw your tube in and float to the other side of the park 30 mins later get out and do it again. They campground will also bring you up the river further and drop you off on a canoe trip. There is an added cost for rental. I like that they allow you to bring your own golf cart and/ or electric scooters or bikes. They had an old school playground which was better then any new one out there. The store was fully stocked with anything you could possibly want or need. They had a band which played Saturday night and people lined up golfcarts from all over and just lived for this concert.

  The negatives are for me campgrounds spots were right on top of one another but they were big spots they dont have tons of trees or shade which. They did have many seasonal sites, which sometimes turns me off and can make the place look a little trashy. The other negative was that the pool was freezing because they would pump water out every night. Someone told us there was an issue with the chemicals, and the pool looked greener every day. The bathrooms by the pool were older and always dirty.

• 

  Cynthia K.

  Legend

  

  Aug. 30, 2024

  Turkey Swamp Park

  My favorite!

     We stayed in New Jersey for our 5th campground on the East Coast: Turkey Swamp Park in Freehold. This is a County park.

   Near some Revolutionary War battlefields.

   I really liked this park! They have 2283 acres. A 17 acre lake. Some hiking trails & a nice campground! The sites are all pullthrough. There's lots of vegetation for "privacy". We had a site on the perimeter, which are forest views. Only problem is none of the roads are paved. All are packed sand. We could tell it rained recently because of the muddy tracks. Fortunately it didn't rain while we were there!

    Shower/bathrooms are clean, but dated. They're checked regularly. The bath house is for the entire campground. 3 out of the 4 women's were working. There's a shared dressing area. 

  There's a laundry that doesn't take quarters. EPay. 

  There's a nice playground in the campground.

   They have 3 cabins for rent, with forest views.

   The lake has fishing & boat rentals. No gas motors. There's no swimming at the lake. Cell service was fair.. No WiFi. 

  They have an archery range. 

      This was my favorite campground on our trip! I really enjoyed camping here! There's a rustic retro quality to the place. I adored the campsites & I didn't see any really bad ones.

• L

  Laura G.

  Traveler

  

  Aug. 28, 2024

  Brendan Byrne State Forest

  Nice spot in the pines

  We stayed on a mon/tues at the end of August and the campground was fairly empty and quiet except for a few generators running & air planes/ helicopters going over. There is an air force base in the area.

  Site 33 is the back corner so we did get a bit more traffic going past to get on the sand trails. There is also background noise from the road, but not too loud. There are not many RV sites in the 3 loops - just a handful which is a shame because many of the sites marked as tent only look like they could easily accommodate most RVs, especially smaller rigs.

  The dump station is locked so get the combo from the office if you want to use it. The ranger station is a bit of a drive from the camping area so if you don’t have cell service make sure you get it at check in.

  Go down to the pond and check out the carnivorous plants- one of the most unique things in this area!

  Several choices for hiking, but it’s the pine barrens so it is flat and sandy and ticks can be overwhelming at some times of the year.

  Overall this is one of the nicer & quieter options for pine barrens camping

• L

  Laura G.

  Traveler

  

  Aug. 21, 2024

  Atsion Family Camp — Wharton State Forest

  Ok camp spot- nice if you can get lakefront

  We did 2 weekday nights with our dog and 19’ RV in Aug ‘24.

  The dog friendly sites are limited & not the sites with lake access. It will also cost an extra $5/night.

  Check in was confusing as it is across the street & closes promptly at 4pm. (Not at the recreation area where we pulled in first)

  Site 34 was close to the road with regular traffic noise & car headlights even shined in the camper at night. There is also a fair amount of plane traffic from a small local airport…and several other campers were running generators so it was not exactly quite camping.

  Bathrooms are the typical old nj state park set up- it does the job but it’s seen better days. Dump station works well with trash & recycling drop off next to it. The roads are soft sand and can get rough after a rain storm.

  If you are looking to kayak or canoe on the lake it has a ramp to drop in. That is the main attraction here & there is a beach on the other side of the lake.

  Overall- nothing too special It’s not a site I would return to unless we could get water front, but dogs are not allowed there - so we won’t be rushing back because of that & the proximity to the road .

• Y

  Yoshi Y.

  Scout

  

  Jul. 8, 2024

  Bass River State Forest

  Close to restaurants and Walmart. Lots of bugs during summer.

  I went there in late June and it was my first time camping. The campsite was clean overall. Staff were friendly and helpful.

  There was no platform, so you need to set up the tent on the ground. Most of the sites were not on grass but just dirt ground.

  Going camping in a forecast during summer time might not be the best idea. There were many bugs and many of them got in my tent as I forgot to zip the door after setting it up.

  The bathroom (shower room?) was reasonably clean, but I have only been to this camp site, so there is no comparison. One of the restroom has broken lights.

  There is little to no signal inside the park. But once you drive out, you will have some signal. The campsite is close to a Walmart and a few other restaurants, which is good.

• 

  Beth R.

  Legend

  

  Jul. 5, 2024

  Adventure Bound Camping (Tall Pines)

  Overpriced

  Pros: 50 AMP, sewer & water hookup Nice amenities

  Cons: Sand sites Overpriced Tight site & hard to get in/out for big rigs

• 

  Matt S.

  Legend

  

  Jun. 17, 2024

  Jellystone Park South Jersey

  Relaxing Father's Day Weekend

  We stayed in Site 122, a Red Carpet Pull-Thru RV site, at Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park Camp Resort South Jersey for Father’s Day weekend. This was our third stay at this campground, but the first since new owners took over and converted it to a Jellystone. 

  THINGS I LIKED: 

  1. Everything, including our site, was in great condition, clean, and good working order 

  2. Our site was directly across from the Pavilion which was great for Saturday night’s live band 

  3. Our site included a nice concrete pad big enough to park our 45’ motorhome+ toad 

  4. Our site was roomy with plenty of mature shade trees 

  5. The pool and surrounding amenities are nice and clean including lake, snack bar, and ice cream 

  WOULD WE COME BACK? 

  Absolutely, this is a nice place for a few days of downtime.

• 

  Trip Over Life

  Ranger

  

  Jun. 13, 2024

  Batona — Wharton State Forest

  Barona Campground

  Small campground right on the Batons Trail. Water is seasonal. Be bear aware.

• 

  Katie M.

  Scout

  

  Jun. 10, 2024

  Pine Cone Resort

  Ok

  Cool

• 

  Katie M.

  Scout

  

  Jun. 10, 2024

  Jellystone Park South Jersey

  Great

  Great spot

• 

  Gennifer K.

  Traveler

  

  Jun. 3, 2024

  Bass River State Forest

  Great spot

  The campground was clean and well maintained.  It's very close to civilization but you get the camping experience.  There were a lot of ticks when we stayed in May so keep that in mind.

• 

  Matt S.

  Legend

  

  May. 27, 2024

  Adventure Bound Camping (Tall Pines)

  Deceiving Website

  We stayed at Adventure Bound Tall Pines in Elmer, New Jersey, for Memorial Day weekend for a quick getaway. Despite reserving and paying for a“Premium” site, it fell far short. But there were still a few things we liked… 

  THINGS I LIKED: 

  1. Super-friendly staff, especially Allie, who was courteous and seemed to try to make things right 

  2. Lots of mature shade trees 

  3. DJ at the pool Saturday and Sunday and live band Saturday evening 

  4. Close proximity to Delsea Drive-in Theatre and Cohenzick Zoo 

  THINGS I DIDN’T LIKE SO MUCH: 

  1. I reserved and paid-in-full for a premium site which listed 50-amp service and a concrete pad. Nope. Only 30-amp service and no concrete pad. When I called the office, assuming there must’ve been a mistake, I was told by two different staff members that their website is“wonky.” I wouldn’t mind as much, but this weekend was 90-degrees each day and humid, so it would’ve been good to have air conditioning. 

  2. The entire park was dirty sand with weeds growing everywhere 

  3. This place is not big-rig friendly, difficult to navigate some of the turns in our 45’ motorhome and taking scratches from tree branches that should be trimmed 

  4. I paid$432 for 3-nights and feel like I was taken 

  WOULD WE COME BACK? 

  Nope. I’m sticking with campgrounds that give you what you paid for.

• J

  Jonathan L.

  Guide

  

  May. 19, 2024

  Bass River State Forest

  Still a great campground

  Bass River has become my go-to destination for quick weekend getaways. The south shore campground has a ton of sites with varying degrees of privacy, but all are easy to get to and within a short walk of the restrooms.

  The staff at this location is fantastic. I wanted to make some adjustments to my reservation and they took care of everything without issue. The only noise you’ll get is from Stage Road, but it doesn’t have a continuous flow of traffic, especially at night. Amenities nearby include Walmart, Tractor Supply and Wawa, all within a 10-minute drive. I haven’t done much hiking here, but they do have a few great trails.

  Overall, this a great campground for just about anyone.

• D

  Dave B.

  Guide

  

  May. 5, 2024

  Tip Tam Camping Resort

  Nice place to visit

  My family and I stayed at Tip Tam this weekend. The owners and staff were very friendly and accommodating. The camp store was great also. As it is very early in the season the pools were not yet open but appear to be very nice. There are alot of activities with in the campground as well that were impressive. Just from walking around I saw the two pools, an RC track, bocci, shuffle and board. They did have organized activities set up as well. There is also a pavillion in the middile of the campground with a Ms Pacman/Galaga classic arcard game, as well as a small library and soda machine. AT&T cell service was good. Te site are very close together, and you can hear your neighbors easily. There is not currently a dog park, but the owner told me that they were going to be constructing one in the future. There is a Monmouth County dog park under five minutes away that is huge. There are many close by food options and stores as well.

• 

  Joe D.

  Scout

  

  Apr. 26, 2024

  Thousand Trails Chestnut Lake

  typical thousand trail campground

  pros

  pull through

  friendly front desk

  clean showers and toilet

  free cable

  great lounge

  close to Long Beach Island and Atlantic city

  well kept area

  nice pool and playground

  right off the parkway- easy to get to and easy to go places

  Cons

  small unshaded campsites

  I liked it and would go back

• D

  Dave B.

  Guide

  

  Apr. 8, 2024

  Atlantic Shore Pines Campground

  Great Stay at Atlantic Shore Pines Campground!

  My family and I stayed here this weekend. The campground is now known as Atlantic Shore Pines. This place is very close to Bass River State Park with lots of hiking and outdoor activities. Restaurants and stores in Tuckerton are just a few minutes away. This campground is about 20 minutes from LBI, and 35 minutes from Ocean City. The site we had was a pull through and very spacious. The whole place was quiet and clean. The staff was very friendly and helpful. AT&T cell service was great. We will definitely stay here again.

• P

  Phantom S.

  Traveler

  

  Apr. 6, 2024

  Crystal Springs Lodges & RV Resort

  Run from this place

  Extremely rude manager who will charge you for anything he can. Artie has zero people skills! If you give a card or deposit, expect to get excess charges. Poor Verizon connection, no wifi in some areas.

• 

  Nicole S.

  Ranger

  

  Mar. 13, 2024

  Sea Pirate Campground

  Closing out the camping year 2023

  Came the weekend before the real Halloween, and the grounds were pretty deserted. We rented a golf cart and did some of the activities like painting and playing bingo. It was a cooler bit. It was still a very nice weekend for october. We enjoyed the grounds they are beautiful with the pools, lake, and ocean. It has a great store with basically everything you could need. The arcade left a lot to be desired and could use some more things. We took a hayride around the park, which was fun. Would Def go back!!

• 

  Trip Over Life

  Ranger

  

  Dec. 4, 2023

  Batona — Wharton State Forest

  Primitive Campground on the Batona Trail

  The Batona Campground in Wharton State Forest is a small campground best suited for tent campers. It can get busy (and rowdy) on weekends. The road into the campground is sand.

  A water pump provides fresh water but is not available in the winter. There's at least two pit toilets in the campground - don't expect luxury.  Bears frequent this campground so be bear aware and practice proper food storage. 

  Best part about the campground is that it's right on the 50 mile Batona Trail so it's a great stop-over assuming you've made reservations. No first-come first-serve. Site 6 is one of the more private sites as it's tucked into the back corner.

• 

  Stuart K.

  Legend

  

  Oct. 1, 2023

  Alverthorpe Private Park

  Suburban Residential Campground

  Located just due south of Abington and north of Cheltenham right outside of Philly, Alverthorpe Private Park is a hidden gem tucked into the forested wilds in what is surprisingly an otherwise densely populated leafy tree-lined shady suburban area. One moment you are slowly passing stately homes in pristine residential surroundings and the very next, you’ll pull into this nicely shielded protected neighborhood park that offers up tons of recreational opportunities, in addition to a nice plot of shaded land perfect for suburban tent camping bliss – although you’ll need to be a resident in order to camp here, which was a major bummer to learn. 

  As for the park itself, don’t follow your GPS if you intend to find this place, as you’ll have to enter on the south side of the park, which has the only main entrance. Here, you’ll pass a little check-in kiosk, where depending upon why you are there, as there could be many reasons, the nice older gentleman will point you in the right direction. From here you will turn left and find ample parking for your vehicle (although to be clear, this is not a spot for RVs or 5th Wheelers). If you are coming here to camp, you’ll have a bit of a hike for about a 1/3 mile, where you’ll want to follow the walkway towards the lake, after which a nice 18 hole golf course will be on your right. Once at the lake, you’ll see the group shelter where there is a super-cool 4-sided chimney perfect for late night marshmallow roasting or for BBQing. 

  Just up the hill to the left and behind the shelter is where you’ll make your way to the actual campground. Careful, because up until this point, making your way to the campground has been pretty easy as you will have walked on nice wide paved sidewalks, perfect for hiking in or pulling your gear behind you, but at this stage, you’ll have to maneuver some uneven quasi steep steps before finally making it to the campground area. Once you’ve arrived, you’ll have your pick of about a dozen ill-kept sites and a fairly nasty shelter that is definitely in need of not only upkeep and basic sanitation, but likely would benefit from some much-needed repairs. All of the sites either have an in-ground firepits and standing grills, or there are enough spread around where you can easily use the ones not being used throughout the tenting community. There was one running spigot of water up here, but it was so gross we didn’t use it. There’s also a nice access point to the lake from here where you could easily go for a nice walk or even tow your kayak behind you. 

  As for Alverthorpe itself, this is a magnificent well taken care of park, so I was surprised to see that the campground area didn’t receive the same level of TLC. If that doesn’t bother you, then you’ll be happy here as the whole place, as previously mentioned, is tucked behind a little suburban outcrop so it is extremely quiet. Here’s a lineup of all the amenities you’ll find: baseball field, basketball court, fishing, football field, grills, lake, mini-golf, pavilions and shelters, kid’s playground, restrooms, tennis courts, walking and biking trails and a swimming pool. To make a reservation to camp here, you’ll have to call the main office and the cost is $15 per night ... and again, don't forget to either be a resident or get one to vouch for you! 

  Insider’s tips? Here’s a few: (1) While this residential park packs a lot of entertainment options, when it comes to camping, there isn’t much. So I would definitely encourage you to bring EVERYTHING you might need to have a great experience – from chairs, tables, BBQ and even a brush and rake!; (2) After a good day of packing in a lot of activities, you might want to head out and enjoy a bite to eat or a couple of drinks – if so, you’re in luck as there are some really great spots just a short drive east of here, wherein I would recommend: Iron Hill Brewery, Hollywood Tavern and Gaul& Co. Malt House in Rockledge; (3) If you need any groceries, there’s a Giant Food Stores that has pretty much everything covered; and (4) Should you want to explore more of the surrounding nature offerings, I would suggest checking out Briar Bush Nature Center where there’s some great trail hiking as well as Morris Arboretum & Gardens, which is just beautiful. 

  Happy Camping!

• 

  Leslie R.

  Legend

  

  Sep. 17, 2023

  Alverthorpe Private Park

  Couldn't stay on cross-country road trip

  Restricted to only residents. Looks nice, if you can actually stay here.

• 

  Bradley B.

  Guide

  

  Sep. 13, 2023

  Pine Cone Campgrounds

  Quiet, Safe, but small annoying things.

  A Peaceful Retreat with Room for Improvement 

  I recently had the pleasure of staying here, and I wanted to share my experience with fellow travelers. Overall, it was a tranquil and secure place, but there were a few aspects that could use some attention. 

  Pros: Serene and Secure: One of the standout features is the peaceful environment it offers. During my weeks-long stay, I never once had to contend with loud noises or intrusive traffic, creating a truly peaceful atmosphere that's perfect for those seeking a quiet getaway. 

  Cons: Bathroom Facilities: Unfortunately, the campsite falls short in terms of its bathroom facilities. The stall doors are quite small and lack privacy, which can be a discomfort for many guests. Moreover, only one stall has a functioning lock, which can be inconvenient during peak times. Limited Showers: The campsite has only two showers, and they are not designed for simultaneous use. To make matters more challenging, you must pass through one shower to access the other, limiting the privacy and convenience for guests. Additionally, the absence of temperature regulation can be a drawback. 

  Maintenance Concerns: During my two-week stay, I noticed a cleanliness issue that needs addressing. There was persistent trash in one of the showers throughout my visit, which was disappointing. 

  Recommendations: If you're considering a stay here I'd recommend opting for their cabins. Having stayed in them previously, I found them to be clean, spacious, and overall delightful accommodations. They provide a more comfortable and enjoyable experience compared to the campsite facilities. 

  Additional Note: One aspect to be aware of is that the owner doesn't seem to like dogs. If you're traveling with furry companions, it's essential to plan accordingly.

  In conclusion, They offers a peaceful and secure retreat, but there are areas in need of improvement, particularly regarding the bathroom facilities. For a more comfortable stay, I highly recommend their cabins. With some attention to the mentioned concerns, this campsite could become an even more appealing destination for nature enthusiasts like myself.