Turkey Swamp Park in Freehold Township sits within a wooded setting surrounded by Monmouth County's rolling hills, approximately 20 miles from Voorhees. The park's terrain includes sandy soil typical of the New Jersey Pine Barrens region, with wooded areas interspersed with small lakes and ponds. Winter temperatures can drop below freezing while summer days average around 85°F.
What to Do
Archery practice: Turkey Swamp Park features an archery range where campers can practice their skills. "Great place to shoot at the hay barrels," notes Patrick M. who visits annually.
Water recreation: The lake at Turkey Swamp Park provides fishing, boating and other water activities. "There is a lake with a boat dock and a small boardwalk. Kayaking/Canoeing, fishing, and swimming. In the summer, canoe, kayak, paddle boats, and row boats are available for rental," reports Lee D.
Winter activities: Mahlon Dickerson Reservation offers year-round cabin accommodations with winter opportunities. "We love camping here in the fall!! They do their own haunted walk through that is just awesome! Everyone decorates," shares Jessica D. about the seasonal activities at nearby campgrounds.
Hiking trails: Several parks offer short hiking trails suitable for beginners and families. "There are several short (longest one is 2.5 miles) hiking trails that are fairly well-marked but can be a bit confusing at times," mentions a Turkey Swamp visitor.
What Campers Like
Private wooded sites: Timberland Lake Campground in Cream Ridge offers cabin rentals with natural surroundings. "This campground has a pretty lake, a bridge and is very woodsy, not just a camper parking lot like some other campgrounds!" notes Jessica D.
Family-friendly atmosphere: Many cabins near Voorhees, New Jersey, are designed with families in mind. "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!" shares JAEWOOK P. after staying at Turkey Swamp Park.
Clean facilities: Butterfly Camping Resort maintains well-kept amenities. "Large playground and lots of activities for the kids. Site was large, and had trees and shrubs separating the sites. Friendly staff and clean bathrooms," notes Jen W.
Site spacing: Most campers appreciate the generous sizing of campsites at regional parks. "Sites are all level, very generous in size, and reasonably spaced apart for privacy," reports a reviewer about Turkey Swamp Park.
What You Should Know
Seasonal operations: Most cabin facilities operate from April through October. "The campground was only about 20% occupied when we were there at the end of April, so our stay was a quiet one," notes a visitor to Turkey Swamp Park.
Wildlife awareness: Spruce Run Recreation Area and other parks require proper food storage. "There are some bear warnings here so that gave us a bit of pause with our three little boys," mentions Greg S.
Insects can be prevalent: Ticks and other insects are common in wooded areas. "By the 2nd day I had 3 ticks on me. My dog had one and by the end my husband had 2," warns LAURA Y. about her stay at Turkey Swamp Park.
Bathhouse access: Central facilities may require walking. "The bathhouse is located in the D Loop. Since it is located in the D Loop it would have been helpful to have pathways leading from the other loops," explains a camper.
Tips for Camping with Families
Activity planning: Mountainview Campground offers a relaxed environment for families. "Stayed at one of the primitive sites. Very clean and quite. Bath stalls and showers are basic but clean. Great spot for stargazing," notes Scott A.
Playground access: Many campgrounds feature play areas for children. "There are age-appropriate playgrounds both in the campground and by the office," mentions a Turkey Swamp visitor.
Weekend activities: Seasonal events are common at many parks. "They have a dj every Saturday! Plenty of activities for the kids. They have cool raffles!" reports Jessica D. about weekend programming.
Bring extra shoes: Sandy or muddy conditions can be challenging with children. "Playground was big, but all sand which every kid had all in their shoes," notes Kirsten J. about her experience at Butterfly Camping Resort.
Tips from RVers
Water connections: Pine Cone Resort provides hookups for cabin and RV campers. "You get a table, fire ring without a grill, water, electric, and enough room for a large cabin tent or a few small tents," explains Jesse C.
Road conditions: Some campgrounds have unpaved access roads. "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," notes a camper about Turkey Swamp Park.
Leveling requirements: Bring leveling blocks for some sites. "Sites in Loops B-E all have pull-thru driveways. Sites are all level, very generous in size, and reasonably spaced apart for privacy," shares a reviewer.
Hose length: Water connections may require longer hoses. "Website lists water hook ups at long distances but they have hose reels to help with that. Our site (15) said 75' however the 50' hose reel made it to our rv connection," advises a visitor to Mahlon Dickerson Reservation.
