Brendan Byrne State Forest encompasses over 37,000 acres of pine barrens ecosystem approximately 15 miles southeast of Vincentown, New Jersey. The terrain consists primarily of sandy soil with mixed pine and oak forests. Camping areas offer access to an extensive network of trails with varying difficulty levels, many of which connect directly to camping loops.
What to do
Archery practice: Turkey Swamp Park features a dedicated archery range where visitors can practice their skills. According to visitor Patrick M., "Bring your bow and shoot at the hay barrels. Ice skate on the lake in the winter or just enjoy a gorgeous walk in the woods."
Mountain biking: Allaire State Park maintains several miles of single-track trails appropriate for various skill levels. Visitor Beau B. notes, "Mountain Biking from easy, paved trails to several miles of single track with everything in between. Working village and antique train are available most of the year."
Fishing opportunities: The freshwater lakes at Turkey Swamp Park provide good fishing conditions year-round. Dan W. reports, "Plenty to do over a 2 night stay. Archery, boating, fishing, and hiking. Boat rental rates are acceptable and there are four different styles to choose from."
What campers like
Trail connectivity: Brendan Byrne State Forest offers immediate trail access from campsite areas. Benjamin K. shares, "The walking trails! There are probably hundreds of miles of trails through the woods and bogs to explore. Could spend a whole vacation just with these trails and never leave this state park."
Spacious sites: Campsites at Turkey Swamp Park provide ample space between neighbors. Katheryn N. confirms, "Sites are in the woods and widely spaced apart to give you privacy and the feeling of being out in the Forrest. There are tent and RV sites and you are allowed to have a tent on the site with an RV at no extra charge."
Year-round availability: Some equestrian campgrounds near Vincentown remain open throughout winter months. Lisa S. explains her experience at Allaire State Park: "We found this campground one night when we were in NJ. It ended up snowing that night. The bathrooms were clean and warm."
What you should know
Tick prevention: Several New Jersey horse campgrounds report tick issues during warmer months. Laura Y. warns about Turkey Swamp Park: "By the 2nd day I had 3 ticks on me. My dog had one and by the end my husband had 2. That was so crazy because we were just sitting by our camper."
Campfire regulations: Some parks enforce specific campfire hours. Dorian P. mentions at Brendan Byrne State Forest: "Only weird rule I saw was that fires can only go from 6pm till 7am which was odd but wasn't a deal breaker."
Noise considerations: Highway proximity affects some camping areas. Justin S. reports about Allaire State Park: "Tent camped July 1st. Clean bathrooms. Sites are a little too close together. Noisy with highway traffic. Well maintained though."
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Several equestrian campgrounds near Vincentown include dedicated play areas. Dan W. notes about Turkey Swamp Park: "Centralized playground for the kids with bathrooms and showers next door. Staff was awesome! Attentive and outgoing."
Water activities: Some parks offer multiple water-based options. Tylen L. shares about Turkey Swamp Park: "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."
Limited insect issues: Despite wooded settings, some periods have minimal mosquito activity. Jaewook P. reports: "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!"
Tips from RVers
Water access planning: RV sites may require extended hose connections. Shawn from Turkey Swamp Park advises: "Nice, remote, private. Some sites unlevel. Bring a LONG water hose. Nice lake. Showers and washers and dryers."
Pull-through availability: Lee D. describes the site layout at Turkey Swamp Park: "Sites in Loops B-E all have pull-thru driveways. Sites are all level, very generous in size, and reasonably spaced apart for privacy. A lantern hook, picnic table, and fire ring complete each site."
Weather-dependent access: Some campgrounds have dirt roads that may become challenging during wet periods. Lee D. also notes: "As soon as you turn off the main road to the park, all roads are dirt, which was a bit surprising. They were well-maintained and in dry weather, not a problem, but probably not if it was rainy."
