M
Michael M.
Scout
ScoutTurkey Swamp Park
Water/power at the campsite, and and centrally located dump station. Lots of trees and nice separation of sites
Tent Camping near Winslow, NJ
1 campground with availability this weekend
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Wharton State Forest offers several tent camping opportunities near Winslow, New Jersey, with multiple campgrounds scattered throughout the 122,000-acre pine barrens. Goshen Pond Campground features walk-in tent sites situated along the Mullica River with secluded, primitive options. The Batona Campground provides tent-specific sites directly connected to the 50-mile Batona Trail, making it popular with hikers and backpackers seeking access to the extensive trail network. Both areas operate seasonally from April 1 to October 31, with facilities shutting down during winter months.
Most tent camping areas in Wharton State Forest have minimal amenities designed for wilderness experiences. Walk-in tent sites at Goshen Pond require campers to park and carry gear to their camping area, increasing privacy but requiring extra effort. Tent sites typically feature sand or pine needle surfaces with little grading. While some areas like Batona Campground offer basic pit toilets and seasonal drinking water from hand pumps, others like Mullica River Campground are accessible only by hiking or boating in. According to one visitor, "Be bear aware and practice proper food storage" as bears frequent these campgrounds.
The tent camping experience in the pine barrens provides a unique wilderness setting within reasonable proximity to urban areas. Sandy trails and access roads characterize the region, with loose sand sometimes challenging for vehicles without four-wheel drive. "We were wholly unprepared to hike about 8 miles to a campground, despite that and the thunderstorm, had an amazing time," noted one Lower Forge camper. Primitive backcountry campgrounds like Lower Forge and Mullica River create opportunities for multi-day hiking or paddling trips. Tent campers should be prepared for ticks and chiggers, particularly during warmer months, as multiple reviews mention these as common concerns. The walk-in tent sites throughout the forest typically offer more privacy and separation from neighboring campers than drive-in areas, particularly at less-visited campgrounds.
Best Tent Campgrounds near Winslow (21)
1. Goshen Pond — Wharton State Forest
"I like campgrounds which have you park off and walk in to your site. There is more foot traffic, but you don't hear as many cars coming and going and driving past your site all the time."
"The boyfriend and I stayed for a weekend at one of the primitive tent sites. Our site was private and secluded. We had a great time."
2. Batona — Wharton State Forest
"Bears frequent this campground so be bear aware and practice proper food storage. "
"The Batona Campground is in the northern area of the Wharton State Forest and is a bit removed from most trails and other campgrounds in the park."
3. Mullica River — Wharton State Forest
"This campground is hike-in or boat-in only, no car access. We camped here for one night on an overnight loop in Wharton State Forest. Wild blueberries abound during summer months!"
"Enjoyed a site away from the crowds. Quiet. Peaceful. Place is huge with many campsites to choose from. Checking in is slow so come early."
4. Abbot Sawmill
"Close to the main roads but feels remote."
5. Bodine Field — Wharton State Forest
"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."
6. Lower Forge Camp
"Looking for a place to escape without having to drive out of your way to get to? Lower forge is the place."
Check Availabilityfrom $5 / night
7. Buttonwood Hill — Wharton State Forest
"Great location for Questival, would visit again. Easy access and felt very safe and secluded."
8. Hawkins Bridge — Wharton State Forest
"Wharton State Forest has a few campsites available for primitive camping (my preferred choice). This is a review for HAWKINS BRIDGE."
"This is a primitive campsite near the river. There is water but just compost toilets that are bit few for the size campground."
9. Red Wing Lakes
"Swimming lake catch and release lake sells wood has bath houses, electric, water and sewer hookups. They always have something going on. And a skeet range http://www.redwinglakes.com/lakes.html"
10. Tinicum Island
Drive Time
- 21 min from Vineland, NJ
- 28 min from Atlantic City, NJ
- 29 min from Philadelphia, PA
- 49 min from Trenton, NJ
Recent Tent Camping Photos near Winslow, NJ
24 Photos of 21 Winslow Campgrounds • uploaded by The Dyrt campers
Tent Camping Reviews near Winslow, NJ
587 Reviews of 21 Winslow Campgrounds
Stuart K.
LegendWashington Crossing State Park - TEMP CLOSED FOR 2024
Revolutionary History near Delaware River
Nestled along the picturesque Delaware River in beautiful Bucks County, Washington Crossing Historic Park is one of those destinations where American history practically jumps out from behind every tree. This sprawling, beautifully preserved historic park commemorates George Washington's daring Christmas night crossing of the Delaware in 1776, with charming colonial buildings, expansive green spaces, shaded walking paths and lovely riverfront scenery. Divided into Upper and Lower sections, the park offers plenty to explore, from historic homesteads and interpretive exhibits to scenic picnic areas and the impressive Bowman's Hill Tower. Unfortunately, while the park delivers a wonderful outdoor experience, traditional overnight camping isn't part of the equation unless your a Boy Scout or accompanying one of their troops.
HIGHLIGHTS: (1) Spectacular Revolutionary War history at the very site of Washington's legendary Delaware River crossing; (2) Beautifully maintained grounds featuring mature trees, open lawns and scenic riverfront views; (3) Fascinating colonial-era buildings, historic demonstrations and educational exhibits that bring America's founding history to life; (4) Wonderful recreational opportunities, including walking, cycling, fishing, kayaking and picnicking; and (5) Convenient proximity to charming New Hope, the Delaware Canal towpath and Bowman's Hill Tower, offering plenty of opportunities to extend your adventure.
LOWLIGHTS: (1) No conventional public tent or RV camping, with overnight group camping restricted to organized Scout groups by prior arrangement; (2) No dedicated RV campsites, electrical hookups, water connections or dump station; (3) Park grounds generally close at sunset, limiting opportunities to linger into the evening; (4) Some historic buildings and attractions require admission fees or operate on limited schedules; and (5) Periodic restoration projects and special events can restrict access to certain areas, while the historic Washington Crossing Bridge's three-ton weight limit makes it unsuitable for larger RVs.
Happy Camping!
Andrea B.
TravelerColonial Meadows Family Campground
Great park
Many long term seasonal sites. Good community. Large shower house good and clean . Pool. Game room. Off leash dog park. Wooded/shady sites or no shade sunny sites. Lots of area to walk or play. Large field, basketball couture, frisky golf, play area and laundry room. We were here all summer (June-october). Lots to do in the area. Good food nearby. Ocean city 10 minutes away.
- JJohn Y.Scout
Ocean View Resort Campground
One of the best campgrounds I have ever stayed in
This is one of the largest, if not the largest, campgrounds in Southern New Jersey. While on the pricier side, everything is top-notch. The roads are all paved, and not gravel (I hate trying to sleep and listening to the sound of stones grating together). The sites are more spacious than most campgrounds, so it doesn't seem so crowded. The bathrooms are all modern and spotless. There are numerous bathrooms which means most sites have one nearby. They do charge a quarter for showers to encourage water conservation and donate the money to conservation causes. The pool is large, as is the lake. Both are well-maintained. The camp store is enormous and is really nice and well-stocked with everything one might need from food to pool and beach stuff to camping supplies and equipment. There is a nice cafe with indoor and outdoor seating. The camp store has a lending library of books and DVDs. There are numerous activities that appear to be well-run, The grounds are shaded with many trees for a great wooded campground feel. The campground is so large that it has an internal shuttle with stations scattered about to help people go between the various important sites such as at the pool, the lake and the store. I found other campers, particularly the seasonals, to be more friendly than other campgrounds at the shore. This requires constant tree care including removing dead trees and branches which they do regularly. The staff is friendly and well-trained. I was in a tent, and when a rare October nor'easter came through, I was offered the opportunity to use a cabin free-of-charge. Fortunately my tent and equipment made it through days of rain and high winds just fine . On my first stay in May, I had to run my dog back to Baltimore towards the end of my trip where he was sadly diagnosed with incurable metastatic cancer. When I returned, I was late and unable to check out by 11, but they allowed me to take as much time as needed to clear the site, as nobody was staying there the next day, which was deeply appreciated - I was an emotional wreck. Oh, and I found the complimentary Wi-Fi to be a great service, and sufficiently fast to allow me to stream ultra-high-definition movies at my site - Most campgrounds charge extra for less-than-good service - a lot more. I find that a big bonus. Overall, I LOVE this campground and highly recommend it.
- bbob J.
GuideAtsion Family Camp — Wharton State Forest
Pine Barrens New Jersey
This campground is part of the Wharton State Forest and has several campgrounds in the area. Great wooded sites right on a lake. Pretty good separation between sites with good tree separation between sites. Some road noise not overly affecting site.
- DDiane M.Scout
Brendan Byrne State Forest
Just ok
Restrooms are filthy with mold and mildew.
Water puddled on the restroom floor.really gross.
Cabin was mostly clean. The windows were full of dirt and bugs on the tracks.mattresses were terrible.The fireplace was nice. Kitchen was clean.
Can t wait to move on to a cleaner park.
- AAmanda N.Scout
The Depot Travel Park
Enjoyed my stay
I’ve stayed here multiple times over the past 15 years and I have enjoyed each trip.
Depot Travel Park is a well-maintained family-owned campground. It is also reasonably priced, especially given the location that is within a bicycle ride to the beach, the ocean, and lots of shops and restaurants in Cape May. It is the only campground on the Cape May side of the canal.
Please note that this is not a resort campground and it doesn’t have a pool. There is so much to do in Cape May that is doesn’t need to be a resort.
Since it’s not a resort campground, there are not many golf carts, so most people use their bicycles or cars to get around. That also makes the campground pretty quiet, even during the peak of summer.
The campground sells firewood and propane, but there is no camp store. Again, it doesn’t really need one, since there is a farmers market at the end of the driveway, and a CVS and an ACME supermarket within bicycle riding distance.
If your site doesn’t have a sewer hookup, the dump station is a little awkward to access, but they have a daily honey wagon for a reasonable fee, which is great. If you notify the office the day before you need it and they are usually there in the morning.
They close for the season n October, but they reopen briefly during the Cape May Christmas Parade weekend in December. That’s one thing that I’d like to do soon.
I really like this campground and I am always recommending it to friends.
Adeline M.GuideBrendan Byrne State Forest
Beautiful campground, loud campers
Beautiful campground but made the mistake of going on a holiday weekend, the campgrounds next to us were screaming and blasting music all day and throughout the night so we ended up leaving early. A beautiful campground when there aren’t noisy capers ruining it.
Mary S.ScoutLums Pond State Park Campground
Lums Pond campground
First time at this campground really like it a lot will be returning. The bathrooms are always clean. The grounds are always kept up. Just a really nice place to stay. Most of the sites have some kind of shade.
Guide to Winslow
Wharton State Forest offers several tent-only camping areas near Winslow, New Jersey, with options ranging from walk-in sites to backcountry tent locations. Goshen Pond Campground features secluded primitive tent sites with access to the Mullica River, while Batona Campground provides tent camping opportunities along the 50-mile Batona Trail. Lower Forge and Mullica River campgrounds offer more remote tent camping experiences, requiring hikers to trek between 5-8 miles to reach these backcountry sites.
Most tent campgrounds in the Pine Barrens region operate seasonally from April 1 to October 31, with limited or no services during winter months. Sites typically feature basic fire rings but limited amenities. Tent campers should be prepared for sandy terrain throughout the area, as many access roads consist of loose sand that may be challenging for standard vehicles. The Batona Campground has primitive toilet facilities and a hand-powered water pump at the entrance, while other areas like Lower Forge offer only basic pit toilets. According to one visitor, "There is a pit toilet, but did not check its status," indicating facilities may be minimal at backcountry sites.
Tent sites throughout Wharton State Forest provide varying levels of privacy and natural experiences. Areas farther from major access points offer deeper seclusion, though site boundaries at some locations can be close together. "Individual sites are closely packed, which was not a problem as we were the only ones there. Any more than 2-3 groups of campers and this ground would start to feel claustrophobic," noted one camper about Lower Forge. The walk-in tent sites at Goshen Pond create a quieter experience without vehicle traffic directly past camping areas. Tent campers frequently encounter wildlife, including ticks which are abundant in warmer months. Many sites provide direct access to hiking trails, with some tent-only areas positioned along waterways perfect for kayaking or canoeing, allowing campers to engage with the natural environment of the Pine Barrens.
Frequently Asked Questions
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campsite near Winslow, NJ?
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Winslow, NJ?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Winslow, NJ is Goshen Pond — Wharton State Forest with a 4.7-star rating from 6 reviews.
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tent camping near
Winslow, NJ?
What is the best site to find tent camping near Winslow, NJ?
TheDyrt.com has all 21 tent camping locations near Winslow, NJ, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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