Egg Harbor Lake Campground

The Great Outdoors

Camping at Egg Harbor Lake Campground is a good base for exploring the Wharton State Forest, which sprawls across almost 123,000 acres to the north. It protects a large tract of Atlantic coastal pines within the New Jersey Pinelands National Reserve, with walking trails, a beautifully preserved mansion, and a cluster of industrial ruins among its highlights. Head to the 18th-century bog iron and glass manufacturing site of Batsto Village to learn about the region’s industrial heritage or rent a canoe to explore the tranquil waters of the Mullica River at your leisure.Directly north of the Wharton State Forest is the Brendan T. Byrne State Forest, which is crisscrossed by around 25 miles of hiking, mountain biking, and cross-country skiing trails. It encompasses just over 37,000 acres, including the Cedar Swamp Natural Area that’s renowned for its population of threatened Helonias bullata. If you want to stretch your legs, you can explore along the multi-use Mount Misery Trail (also accessible to mountain bikers) or follow the 50-mile-long Batona Trail. Don’t miss a visit to Whitesbog Village, a historic town founded in the 1870s that was once surrounded by one of the largest berry farms in New Jersey.Keen birdwatchers should make the one-hour drive south to the Cape May National Wildlife Refuge, an 11,000-acre protected area that provides critical habitat for migratory bird species. Each year, it’s visited by hundreds of thousands of shorebirds on their annual migration, which takes them from Central and South America to their breeding grounds high up in the Arctic. This Wetland of International Importance offers exceptional sightings, with highlights including yellow-throated warblers, peregrine falcons, American kestrels, and threatened piping plovers.

Exploring the City

Egg Harbor City campers are on the doorstep of several supermarkets where you can stock up on grocery supplies, as well as gas stations, if you need to fill up your RV rental. There’s also a wide choice of dining establishments for those nights when you don’t feel like cooking, ranging from fast-food joints to pizzerias and American-style diners.Campsites at the Egg Harbor Lake Campground are around 30 minutes’ drive from Atlantic City, which is packed with casinos, shopping centers, and restaurants. You can soak up all the beachfront action along the Atlantic City Boardwalk or browse the bargains available at the Tanger Outlets. If you’re traveling with kids, don’t miss a visit to Storybook Land, with rides and attractions themed around popular children’s stories. Adults can try their luck in the numerous casinos, many of which also offer spas, high-end shopping, and nightly entertainment shows.Also in Atlantic City is the Absecon Lighthouse, which stands as the tallest lighthouse in New Jersey. Dating back to the mid-19th century, the lighthouse was deactivated in 1933 and is now open to the public as a tourist site and museum. Browse the historical artifacts on display in the replicated 1925 Keeper’s House and learn about the shipwrecks that lie offshore, then climb the 228 steps that lead to the top of the lighthouse for sweeping views across the coastline.A short drive southwest of Atlantic City in Margate City is Lucy the Elephant, a six-story-tall, 90-ton elephant that was originally built in 1881. She’s now listed as a National Historic Landmark and is always a hit with kids, who can climb onto her back for incredible views across the Atlantic Ocean. It’s also possible to tour the interior of the elephant, which once served as a quirky hotel.Whether you want to explore the Pine Barrens or get your entertainment fix in Atlantic City, book a travel trailer rental in Atlantic County and start planning your New Jersey RV camping trip.