Best Campgrounds near Tuckerton, NJ

Tuckerton, New Jersey and the surrounding Pine Barrens region offer several established campgrounds catering to various camping styles and preferences. Notable options include Baker's Acres Campground in nearby Parkertown and Sea Pirate Campground in West Creek, both providing tent sites, RV hookups, and cabin rentals. The Atlantic Shore Pines Campground in Tuckerton itself features nearly 200 campsites with multiple accommodation types including glamping options. State-managed areas like Bass River State Forest and Wharton State Forest provide more rustic camping experiences within the characteristic pine forest ecosystem that defines this coastal region.

Seasonal considerations strongly influence camping experiences in the Tuckerton area, with most private campgrounds operating from April through October. The peak summer season brings higher temperatures and increased mosquito activity, particularly in wooded areas near water. Many campgrounds require advance reservations during summer weekends and holidays when beach-goers flock to nearby Long Beach Island. Public forests like Wharton State Forest offer year-round camping options with more primitive facilities. Cell service varies throughout the region, with stronger coverage near developed areas and spotty reception in more remote forest locations. A camper noted: "The bugs were just unbearable day and night. You couldn't even sit outside by the fire. Even walking the dog was a challenge."

Family-friendly amenities distinguish many campgrounds in the Tuckerton area, with swimming pools, playgrounds, and organized activities frequently mentioned in positive reviews. Several facilities offer convenient access to Long Beach Island beaches, typically a 25-35 minute drive depending on traffic conditions. Sandy campsites are common throughout the region due to the natural terrain of the Pine Barrens. As one visitor mentioned, "The sites were sandy and they had trick-or-treating and Halloween activities that many kids enjoyed." Campgrounds with full hookups tend to attract longer-term seasonal campers, while tent sites often provide more wooded privacy. Water-based recreation opportunities, including fishing and boating access, complement the camping experience at locations like Wading Pines Camping Resort which offers boat-in camping options along with traditional sites.

Best Camping Sites Near Tuckerton, New Jersey (95)

    1. Bass River State Forest

    18 Reviews
    Tuckerton, NJ
    5 miles
    Website
    +1 (609) 296-1114

    "The site we had was large with a trail that lead down to a stream. It looks like due to covid that every other camp site is being used."

    "We have never camped here before, but wanted to hike the Batona trail nearby."

    2. Baker's Acres Campground

    15 Reviews
    Eagleswood, NJ
    3 miles
    Website
    +1 (609) 296-2664

    $43 / night

    "We stayed at Baker’s Acres Campground in Little Egg Harbor, New Jersey, for a weekend in mid-August. So did the rains of Hurricane Henri! "

    "Our site was decently sized, level, and nicely bordered with trees that gives you a sense of privacy."

    3. Wading Pines Camping Resort

    17 Reviews
    Chatsworth, NJ
    13 miles
    Website
    +1 (609) 726-1313

    "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."

    "Very nice wading river next to the camp grounds. You can tube down the river from one end of camp to the other."

    4. Sea Pirate Campground

    7 Reviews
    Eagleswood, NJ
    3 miles
    Website
    +1 (609) 296-7400

    "We stayed at Sea Pirate Campground in West Creek, New Jersey, for a week in mid-August We’re so glad we did! "

    "They have a great store and eatery near the pool. Purchases can be easily made using their wristbands(provided at check-in). No need to carry cash or credit cards around the campground. "

    5. Atlantic Shore Pines Campground

    5 Reviews
    Tuckerton, NJ
    5 miles
    Website
    +1 (609) 296-9163

    $65 - $220 / night

    "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."

    6. Thousand Trails Chestnut Lake

    7 Reviews
    Port Republic, NJ
    8 miles
    Website
    +1 (888) 707-1477

    "Limited store supply selection but Wawa is a 15 minute drive and Walmart is roughly the same so that’s good enough for me. Pool is well taken care of and the lake is nice."

    "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"

    7. Bodine Field — Wharton State Forest

    8 Reviews
    Egg Harbor City, NJ
    11 miles
    Website
    +1 (609) 561-0024

    "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."

    8. Godfrey Bridge — Wharton State Forest

    8 Reviews
    Chatsworth, NJ
    13 miles
    Website
    +1 (609) 561-0024

    "I try to stay away from campgrounds with electrical hookups, because the sound of generators is not exactly the serenity of nature I'm looking for."

    "Bonus points for being driving distance to multiple locations that we could take our kayaks."

    9. Timberline Lake Camping Resort

    3 Reviews
    Port Republic, NJ
    8 miles
    Website
    +1 (609) 296-7900

    $45 - $60 / night

    "Nice quiet campground right on a huge lake, good fishing, dog beach, human beach, awesome pool. Tons of activities. Great staff. Tents and RVs welcome."

    10. Brendan Byrne State Forest

    18 Reviews
    Chatsworth, NJ
    22 miles
    Website
    +1 (609) 726-1191

    $3 - $60 / night

    "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!"

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Recent Reviews near Tuckerton, NJ

441 Reviews of 95 Tuckerton Campgrounds


  • SThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 29, 2025

    Turkey Swamp Park

    Private wooded sites

    Nice, remote, private. Some sites unlevel. Bring a LONG water hose. Nice lake. Showers and washers and dryers.

  • Aly E.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 28, 2025

    Batona — Wharton State Forest

    Good spot to sleep

    The camp road was kinda hard to get around direction wise you couldn’t tell what was a road and what was a campsite. It was Saturday night and only two other campers but one was a huge group but thankfully not too loud. Two pit toilets that was pretty bad shape but we are used to disperse camping without toilets so we didn’t complain.

  • Scott K.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 20, 2025

    Winding River Campground

    Great Place

    Really enjoyed everything about this place. Kayaks. Camping. All of it. Clean and friendly.

  • J
    Aug. 31, 2025

    Turkey Swamp Park

    Fantastic camping ground

    We went camping with our 2- and 3-year-old kids. We were worried about bugs, but we didn’t even use mosquito repellent and didn’t get a single bite! The campground was super clean too. It was perfect!

  • Tiffany P.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 22, 2025

    Ocean View Resort Campground

    Lots of fun

    This place had a lot to do with kids! Lake, pool, ice cream, arcade, mini golf, mining station, activities. Does get very crowded and definitely have to book a head. We loved where our site was located. Will definitely be visiting again.

  • Scott K.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 3, 2025

    Bass River State Forest

    Fantastic Experience

    My first time solo camping and it couldn’t have gone better. The staff there are top notch. Clean site. So much to do. Couldn’t recommend enough.

  • Frank J.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 24, 2025

    Belleplain State Forest

    Relatively new to this

    Stayed in site 116 in CCC section (only section with electric and water). Good privacy. Check-in went smoothly. Staff at office said all the roads in the CCC section were 2-way. Not wide enough in my opinion but we didn't have a problem. Restrooms/showers were ok. Sea Isle City is not too far away if you're into the Jersey shore, restaurants, live music.

  • M
    Jul. 6, 2025

    Holly Acres RV Park

    Nice campground

    The sites are on the smallish side, but the staff is super nice and the facilities are maintained and clean

  • Jesse G.
    Jun. 22, 2025

    Brendan Byrne State Forest

    Clean, Friendly but Unclear and Arbitrary Rules

    Overall 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.


Guide to Tuckerton

Camping sites near Tuckerton, New Jersey are characterized by the distinctive ecology of the Pine Barrens, a coastal plain with sandy soil and acidic water bodies that create a unique environment for recreation. The region sits at a low elevation of approximately 10 feet above sea level, creating extensive wetland areas and waterways that offer paddling opportunities. Campsites throughout the area typically feature sandy terrain requiring extra tent stakes and ground covers for secure setup.

What to do

Water recreation on cedar-tinted waters: Bass River State Forest offers excellent lake access for fishing, canoeing and kayaking. "The camp ground area is very large and signed extremely well making finding your campsite easy. We stayed at the site to kayak with our outdoor group called 'A Good Paddling'," notes Jeff J. about Bass River State Forest.

Tubing on Wading River: The shallow, slow-moving waters create perfect conditions for summer floating. "The river is right there to go tubing or kayaking. Playground is cool. They allow golfcarts which is a plus in my book," explains Arnold M. from Wading Pines Camping Resort. The river's distinctive cedar water creates a rustic outdoor experience.

Hiking through pine forests: Brendan Byrne State Forest provides extensive trail networks for day hikes. "There are probably hundreds of miles of trails through the woods and bogs to explore. Can't tell you how much I love it. Could spend a whole vacation just with these trails and never leave this state park," shares Benjamin K. The trails connect to major Pine Barrens pathways suitable for half-day or full-day excursions.

What campers like

Spacious, private sites: Many campers appreciate the room to spread out at Baker's Acres Campground. "Quaint and rustic, heavily wooded. Makes you feel like your camping, not just lined up next to a bunch of campers. Great service and amenities, very friendly and helpful staff," says Joel N. The campground maintains natural barriers between sites.

Easy beach access: Multiple campgrounds serve as affordable bases for exploring nearby shore areas. "The trip into LBI was an easy one. We borrowed beach tags from the camp store for a fee and headed to the Brant Beach section of LBI," shares Becca U. Many campgrounds provide beach tag rental services to reduce daily beach access costs.

Clean facilities: Campers consistently mention facility maintenance as a strength. "The bathhouse at the pool could use an update but it was clean and the toilets flushed and the spigots worked! The red bathhouse was nice with separate shower/toilet rooms," notes another visitor. Most campgrounds clean bathroom facilities 1-2 times daily during peak season.

What you should know

Seasonal bug activity: Insect populations vary significantly throughout camping season. "Very rustic and secluded, no showers/running water. Outhouses all around the campground. Best during the week when not very many campers/groups are around," advises Adeline K. about Bodine Field Campground. Spring and early summer typically bring more tick activity while late summer increases mosquito presence.

Water pressure fluctuations: Some campgrounds experience utility challenges during peak usage. "We had a problem with our site: extremely low water pressure, often below 20 PSI. It was so low at times, that we couldn't take showers or flush the toilet," reports Matt S. about Sea Pirate Campground. Keeping water containers filled as backup helps during high-demand periods.

Weekend noise levels: Several campgrounds host entertainment that creates ambiance differences between weekday and weekend camping. "Wading Pines has live music (a terrible cover band) that they blast from 7 until 11-12 pm that echoes through the park," explains Jim F. Most entertainment schedules run Friday-Saturday nights during summer months.

Tips for camping with families

Halloween camping events: Many campgrounds offer extended Halloween celebrations. "We 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. We took a hayride around the park, which was fun," writes Nicole S. about Sea Pirate Campground. These themed weekends typically run weekends from late September through October.

Family-friendly lake activities: Bass River State Forest offers safe swimming and paddling options. "This is a cool little area with trails and a lake. We walked and explored, kayaked, and sang by the fire. The camp sites have plenty of room for the kids to run around and set up there own areas," shares Matthew H. The lake is supervised by lifeguards during peak summer season.

Site selection for privacy: When booking with children, request sites away from main roads. "My two teen kids loved the pool and the basketball court. The adults there were friendly and welcoming," notes Jessica A. Corner sites typically offer more space and fewer walking paths through your camping area.

Tips from RVers

Site surface conditions: RV campers should prepare for predominantly sandy sites. "The sites were level and somewhat sandy (You're in the Pine Barrens, it should be expected). The bathhouses near our site were cleaned 2x daily and the best part is, they're private!" advises Karen S. about Thousand Trails Chestnut Lake. Plastic mats or outdoor rugs help reduce sand tracking into campers.

Access road considerations: Many campgrounds have narrow access roads requiring careful navigation. "Backing my rig into the site, and exiting, was a bit challenging due to the angle and size of the service road but we managed well enough," reports Jim G. Calling ahead to request pull-through sites can help larger RVs avoid tight turns.

Seasonal connections: The Tuckerton area has a high percentage of seasonal campers. "There were seasonals in front and behind us who weren't very friendly and one woman looked annoyed we were there. Our neighboring transient campers were very nice," notes Stacy D. Requesting sites in transient camping sections can create better short-term camping experiences.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular campground near Tuckerton, NJ?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Tuckerton, NJ is Bass River State Forest with a 4.4-star rating from 18 reviews.