I recently spent a long weekend camping at Turkey Swamp campground in Freehold Township, New Jersey—and it turned out to be a surprisingly refreshing escape from suburban life. We were just trying to find some place new and were not disappointed.
Arrival & First Impressions
The campground is part of the Monmouth County park system, with 2,283 wooded acres and a 17-acre lake. As soon as you get off the main road, you know you are on a campground.
No more paved roads just slow driving unless you want to jostle your brains. The place instantly calms you and leaves civilization behind…mostly.
At the ranger station you’ll check in, get the gate code (the campground is gated at night), and pick up your site assignment. Be sure you get the code correct — some campers have had trouble accessing the site after hours. Some of the friendliest people you will ever encounter are the park rangers. They can answer most questions you have about the grounds and surrounding areas and do it with a smile. If you forgot to pick up firewood or ice and don’t want to do that 20-minute drive to the store, they’ve got you covered.
We wound up getting a site across the road from the bathrooms. Good score on our part since we have kids and those late-night pee walks are not to be envied. We had to rush the setup as the skies looked like they were ready to open up on us. The dense tree cover gave us good shade and a feeling of privacy between sites but they were not umbrellas. As soon as the tarp hit the ground, so did pellets of rain, so we camped out in the car for 15 minutes. Afterwards, our neighbors, seeing our young ones in the car, came over to help us set up. Campers are the best.
Spacious setup
Each site includes a picnic table, fire ring (with cooking grate), lantern hook, and a trash/recycling bin. Our car and 10-person tent fit comfortably without feeling cramped for space. The spacing, overall, was generous enough so you don’t feel right on top of your neighbors.
Experience tip: Set up the tent away from the path as the roads are sand/dirt. In the rain, your weekend home will get splashed by your well-meaning neighbors going a bit too fast for the weather. Our site was fine but some sites are not perfectly level so you might want to be aware of where you pitch your tent in the event of rain.
The campground offers such amenities as:
- Showers: A central bathhouse (in Loop D) with warm showers and toilets that are clean and frequently serviced.
- Laundry & dump station: On-site laundry machines (coinless, pay via app) and a dump station as well.
- Boat rentals & lake access: The park offers rentals of canoes, kayaks, paddle boats, and rowboats. The lake is beautiful, calm, and makes for a nice paddling or fishing break. I worked hard on the last day.
- Trails & recreation: You’ll find about 9 miles of trails, an archery range, playgrounds.
There is no official park wifi but that’s ok because cell service is reliable and a decent strength, unlike some campgrounds we have visited over the years. This campground is ideal if you want to unplug. The forest canopy is dense, filtering light and muffling sounds. The evenings are quiet, the trails are plentiful and the animals are around. One night near dusk as we were cooking, we spotted deer passing through an adjacent site, heard an owl at a distance, and saw fireflies dancing in patches of clearing. The lake itself attracts waterfowl and frogs. For a campground so close to developed areas, the wildlife presence feels genuine but not intrusive.
Practical Tips
- Book early — summer and holiday weekends fill up quickly. The earlier in the year you book, the better your chances of success.
- Be Protected — bring long sleeves for cool nights. insect repellent and sunscreen are a must.
- Be mindful of the weather — heavy rains may cause puddling or muddy roads.
- Get the gate code confirmed — write it down where you won’t lose it.
- Plan activities— you can kayak, fish, or bring a bow if you’re into archery. The trails are nice for casual walks or loops.
- Don’t forget your power – cell phone chargers, extra batteries for flashlight, headlamps, etc
- Practice Cleanliness — Bring garbage bags, don't leave food out, especially overnight, take out what you bring in
Add comment
Comments