Camping spots near Vineland, New Jersey range from lakeside tent sites to family-focused campgrounds with splash parks. The sandy soil of the Pine Barrens provides excellent drainage after rain but may create challenges for tent staking. Winter temperatures in the region can drop to freezing at night from November through March, with occasional snow affecting road access to more remote camping areas.
What to do
Kayaking at local lakes: Belleplain State Forest offers rental options at Lake Nummy. "We stayed in a yurt. it was a great experience that we would definitely do again. There is a small lake that was great to kayak on," notes Lisa S. after visiting Belleplain State Forest.
Hiking on flat terrain: Multiple hiking trails at Parvin State Park accommodate various skill levels. "The hiking is also very accessible Because it's basically pancake flat terrain," reports John S. about his cabin stay. Frank J. adds, "Nice hiking trails. If you want privacy, don't choose sites right next to hiking trails."
Fishing opportunities: Several campgrounds offer fishing access, including Old Cedar Campground. Arnold M. reports, "Love this place. It a mom and pops kinda campground. Nice pool, good fishing, staff is great." Some Mays Landing Resort campers enjoy the nearby pond, though Herbert notes, "My tent site was right next to the pond. It was a Saturday and they were rocking."
Tubing and water activities: The Great Egg Harbor River offers tubing and paddling experiences. "We had friends stay in the lean-tos nearby and others visit. The Kayak and Canoe rentals were right near us," shares Anne H. about her stay at Wharton State Forest.
What campers like
Waterfront sites: Campers praise the lakefront access at several campgrounds. "We love the lake side campsites," notes Arnold M. about his experience at Hospitality Creek Campground. Another camper, Matt S., elaborates: "Our lakefront site(#57) was superb! It was between a small, paved boat ramp and a row of arborvitae trees on the other side separating us from the neighboring site."
Rustic cabin options: Several parks offer basic cabin accommodations. "The cabins are more rustic than most, which I enjoyed. While there was a stove the heating, which was necessary in November, was accomplished via a stove," shares John S. about Parvin State Park Campground.
Large, private sites: Some campgrounds offer more spacious accommodations. "Our site was HUGE!!!! It was also super private with trees and a lot of privacy from the road and our neighbors," explains Anne H. about her Wharton State Forest site, adding, "We had room to park several cars. This would be a great site for an RV plus a few tents."
Swimming amenities: Many campgrounds feature pools or swimming areas. "Sea Isle City is not too far away if you're into the Jersey shore, restaurants, live music," notes Frank J. about his stay at Belleplain State Forest. At Hospitality Creek, Matt S. reports, "The pools are nice and have on-duty lifeguards all day."
What you should know
Water quality issues: Some campgrounds experience water problems. At Belleplain, Amanda M. reports: "The bathrooms were disgusting. Little maintenance and cleaning was provided during our weekend stay." Frank J. at Parvin notes: "Bathrooms were clean but most of the faucets on the sinks were broken. The water has a very high iron content."
Campground rules vary: Some locations have strict quiet time enforcement. Matt S. explains about Old Cedar Campground: "The website, posted signs, confirmation email, and check-in instructions all included a list of strict rules regarding conduct while on property and everyone seemed to abide by them during our stay."
Sandy terrain challenges: Many campgrounds feature sandy soil. Steve notes about Wharton State Forest: "The ground is sandy and there were puddles in the sand." Similarly, Danielle S. reports about Mays Landing: "Site F17 is the lowest point of the tent loop, which won't be a problem unless it rains."
Cell service limitations: Connectivity varies significantly across locations. Anne H. observes: "Virtually NO cell service with AT&T, TMobile or Verizon. AT&T was the better of the 3." Frank J. confirms at Parvin: "Verizon cell service was between 1 and 2 bars."
Tips for camping with families
Kid-friendly activities: Several campgrounds offer organized events. Nicole S. reports about Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park: "The campground is maintained and there are activities for the kids always brewing. We stayed fathers day weekend and they had a breakfast, games and crafts geared towards it."
Swimming options for children: Many locations have designated swimming areas. Nicholas V. notes about Jellystone: "Water area is great, splash pad is very fun so is the large blow up slide and pool area." April E. adds about Belleplain: "Very nice campground tucked away in southern NJ. Clean facilities. lake for swimming and you can rent boats."
Playground access: Several campgrounds feature play areas. Nicole S. mentions: "My 3 yr old loved the playground and pool." Herbert observed at Mays Landing: "The playground was great my daughter really enjoyed the scavenger hunt."
Site selection for safety: Parents should consider site location carefully. Danielle S. warns about Mays Landing: "Parents of small children and toddlers: the tent loop is surrounded by water on 3 sides. There is no safety fence. The water is mostly standing water so expect mosquitoes."
Tips from RVers
Hookup availability: RV campers should check utilities before booking. At Spacious Skies Country Oaks, Matt S. notes: "We stayed in Site# 14- a pull-thru with 50-amp, water, and sewer. The hookups seemed to work just fine."
Site leveling requirements: Many sites require leveling blocks. Daniel C. from Mays Landing cautions: "Sites are very unleveled so the staff switched us to a pull thru space that was a tad bit more level but still very unleveled."
Road conditions: Some campgrounds have challenging access roads. Cynthia notes about Parvin: "Very narrow roads to sites, so not big rig friendly there but most sites are quite large. No gravel or pads on sites, just bare ground." She adds, "My rig is 31 ft class C and it was fine for me but a larger rig may have a tough time maneuvering the narrow roads."
Dump station planning: At some campgrounds, dump stations can be problematic. Anne H. warns: "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."
