Denise
where can we go?
Answer
What kind of camping do you want to do?
Car (tent), RV and Cabin Camping:
Most State Parks have campsites where you can park your car and setup your tents, or even park a small camper. Fire rings and picnic benches are provided, restrooms with showers are nearby, but no electrical, sewer or on-site water. Pets and alcohol are forbidden. Up in Northern NJ: Stokes State Forest, Highpoint State Park, Worthington State Forest and Wawayanda State Park are nice. Down at the Southern end there's Belleplain and Corsen's Inlet for car and small RV camping. But my favorite state campgrounds are in Wharton State Forest in the New Jersey Pine Barrens. See the NJ DEP website for the complete list of state parks and campgrounds. All parks feature hiking trails, many have lakes with fishing, canoeing/kayaking and swimming areas, some allow mountain biking and horse riding.
There are private commercial campgrounds throughout the state where you can car camp or park an RV. Private campgrounds are more expensive but provide conveniences such as electric, on-site water and sewer connections. Game rooms, movies, swimming pools and other coordinated activities are provided at most commercial campgrounds. Most commercial campgrounds permit pets and *responsible* alcohol consumption. The most popular commercial campgrounds are in Southern NJ in and around Cape May, where the seashore attractions of Cape May and Wildwood are just a few minutes away. Beachcombers is my favorite commercial campground in the Cape May area. I've also stayed at several commercial campgrounds in the Pine Barrens, Wading Pines is my favorite.
Backpacking
If you want to go backpacking, the Appalachian Trail cuts through Northern NJ for 42 miles and is considered one of the top hiking trails in the US. The views in the NJ section are spectacular, but the terrain can be tough. The Batona Trail through the NJ Pine Barrens is also beautiful, and is much flatter and easier to follow. There are remote camp sites at several state forests that are not accessible to vehicles but are accessible to hikers, canoes and kayaks.
Canoeing/Kayaking
If canoeing or kayaking are your passion, the Pine Barrens again is the place to go in NJ. The Batsto, Mullica, Oswego and Wading Rivers offer plenty of remote scenery and accessible camping spots, and there are many outfitters to rent canoes or kayaks if you don't have your own. There are also some commercial and state campgrounds along the Delaware River on both the NJ and PA side of the river.
Summary
If you're sensing a common thread here you're not mistaken. My favorite area of NJ is the Pine Barrens. You have opportunities to fish, hike, canoe, kayak, shop, dine, explore historic sites and ghost towns, drive off-road on sand roads, geocache, and just sit back and enjoy the outdoors. It is my #1 choice for camping in NJ. But if you're more into the seashore attractions, the commercial campgrounds in the Cape May area are fantastic and draw visitors from throughout the Eastern USA and even international visitors.
What kind of camping do you want to do?
Car (tent), RV and Cabin Camping:
Most State Parks have campsites where you can park your car and setup your tents, or even park a small camper. Fire rings and picnic benches are provided, restrooms with showers are nearby, but no electrical, sewer or on-site water. Pets and alcohol are forbidden. Up in Northern NJ: Stokes State Forest, Highpoint State Park, Worthington State Forest and Wawayanda State Park are nice. Down at the Southern end there's Belleplain and Corsen's Inlet for car and small RV camping. But my favorite state campgrounds are in Wharton State Forest in the New Jersey Pine Barrens. See the NJ DEP website for the complete list of state parks and campgrounds. All parks feature hiking trails, many have lakes with fishing, canoeing/kayaking and swimming areas, some allow mountain biking and horse riding.
There are private commercial campgrounds throughout the state where you can car camp or park an RV. Private campgrounds are more expensive but provide conveniences such as electric, on-site water and sewer connections. Game rooms, movies, swimming pools and other coordinated activities are provided at most commercial campgrounds. Most commercial campgrounds permit pets and *responsible* alcohol consumption. The most popular commercial campgrounds are in Southern NJ in and around Cape May, where the seashore attractions of Cape May and Wildwood are just a few minutes away. Beachcombers is my favorite commercial campground in the Cape May area. I've also stayed at several commercial campgrounds in the Pine Barrens, Wading Pines is my favorite.
Backpacking
If you want to go backpacking, the Appalachian Trail cuts through Northern NJ for 42 miles and is considered one of the top hiking trails in the US. The views in the NJ section are spectacular, but the terrain can be tough. The Batona Trail through the NJ Pine Barrens is also beautiful, and is much flatter and easier to follow. There are remote camp sites at several state forests that are not accessible to vehicles but are accessible to hikers, canoes and kayaks.
Canoeing/Kayaking
If canoeing or kayaking are your passion, the Pine Barrens again is the place to go in NJ. The Batsto, Mullica, Oswego and Wading Rivers offer plenty of remote scenery and accessible camping spots, and there are many outfitters to rent canoes or kayaks if you don't have your own. There are also some commercial and state campgrounds along the Delaware River on both the NJ and PA side of the river.
Summary
If you're sensing a common thread here you're not mistaken. My favorite area of NJ is the Pine Barrens. You have opportunities to fish, hike, canoe, kayak, shop, dine, explore historic sites and ghost towns, drive off-road on sand roads, geocache, and just sit back and enjoy the outdoors. It is my #1 choice for camping in NJ. But if you're more into the seashore attractions, the commercial campgrounds in the Cape May area are fantastic and draw visitors from throughout the Eastern USA and even international visitors.
Where are some good places to go camping?
Im planning a camping trip for me and my boyfriend this summer. We want to be away from everyone but i dont want it to just be some place in the woods. i want it to be somewhere beautiful with breath taking scenery. somewhere in new jersey would be nice but somehow i dont think im going to find what im looking for here lol but anywhere that could be a days drive away would be perfect. any ideas?
Answer
I believe the three most scenic camping spots in NJ are the northwest corner along the Kittatinny Mountain Range (Stokes State Forest, High Point State Park), a bit farther south and on the Delaware River (Bulls Island State Park, though it might still be closed due to flood damage from last year), and the NJ Pinelands (Wharton State Forest, Bass River State Forest, Brendan T. Byrne State Forest).
A day's drive from central NJ can put you as far south as Florida, almost halfway across the US, or deep into several provinces in eastern Canada. The number of beautiful places within that area are too numerous to list. It's hard to choose a favorite, but Acadia National Park on the eastern coast of Maine would be high on the list, and it never gets as crowded as the popular parks out west.
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I believe the three most scenic camping spots in NJ are the northwest corner along the Kittatinny Mountain Range (Stokes State Forest, High Point State Park), a bit farther south and on the Delaware River (Bulls Island State Park, though it might still be closed due to flood damage from last year), and the NJ Pinelands (Wharton State Forest, Bass River State Forest, Brendan T. Byrne State Forest).
A day's drive from central NJ can put you as far south as Florida, almost halfway across the US, or deep into several provinces in eastern Canada. The number of beautiful places within that area are too numerous to list. It's hard to choose a favorite, but Acadia National Park on the eastern coast of Maine would be high on the list, and it never gets as crowded as the popular parks out west.
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