Surf N Stream Campground

The Great Outdoors

Camping at the Surf & Stream Campground is a good base for visiting Cattus Island County Park, which was used as a sheep and corn farm during the 18th century before being transformed into a hunting and fishing retreat in the late 19th century. In the 1970s, new laws were passed in New Jersey limiting development in the coastal wetlands, and the island was purchased by Ocean County. Aside from its maritime upland forest, the island is home to freshwater wetlands dominated by red and swamp maples and black gums that can be explored along a series of boardwalks. Be sure to stop in the Cooper Environmental Center to learn about the native vegetation and local wildlife, including displays of live reptiles and fish.Directly south of the Surf & Stream Campground is the playfully-named Double Trouble State Park, which is managed by the New Jersey Division of Parks and Forestry. It takes its name from the Double Trouble Historic Village, a cranberry farm and packing plant that was established in 1909. The village and company were named after a group of muskrats breached the local dam twice in a single week, causing “double trouble.” Several historic structures dating from the early 20th century can be seen in the park today, including a restored sawmill and cranberry sorting house. Explore along the 1.5-mile-long Double Trouble State Park Nature Trail, which forms part of the New Jersey Coastal Heritage Route.A 30-minute drive from the Surf & Stream Campground is the Brendan T. Byrne State Forest, which encompasses just over 37,000 acres and the remains of Whitesbog Village. It’s traversed by around 25 miles of hiking, mountain biking, and cross-country skiing trails, including the multi-use Mount Misery Trail and the 50-mile-long Batona Trail. A highlight of the Brendan T. Byrne State Forest is the Cedar Swamp Natural Area that’s renowned for its population of threatened Helonias bullata.

Exploring the City

Toms River campers can pick up grocery supplies at one of the local supermarkets, with several gas stations nearby if you need to fill up your RV rental. There’s also a good choice of fast-food restaurants and eateries available in Toms River, as well as a pizzeria located adjacent to the RV campground.Just seven minutes’ drive from the Surf & Stream Campground is Insectropolis, a unique learning center that’s dedicated to the humble insect. There are thousands of exotic species on display, as well as interactive touchscreens where you can learn interesting facts about their lifecycles and behaviors. Watch as ants forage for food in their live ants' nest and pretend you are a termite as you crawl through the museum’s mud tube. Insectropolis is also home to an observation beehive and allows visitors to touch live tarantulas and scorpions.Also in Toms River is the Robert J. Novins Planetarium, which boasts an immersive dome where shows are presented throughout the week. Aside from their sky shows and full-dome movies, the planetarium also hosts laser music shows accompanied by a soundtrack featuring popular artists, such as The Beatles and Pink Floyd. Gaze up at the night sky while learning about the visible constellations, then shop for space-related souvenirs in the planetarium’s store.If you’re traveling with kids, don’t miss a visit to the Popcorn Park Zoo, a small wildlife park in Forked River. It’s home to a variety of abandoned, injured, and abused wildlife, with its name referring to the box of popcorn that visitors were provided with on entry to feed particular animals. Today, the zoo is home to over 200 animals, including Siberian tigers, American black bears, and Bengal tigers, as well as an Arabian camel and several species of monkeys.Whether you want to explore the wetlands of Cattus Island or discover the cultural attractions of Toms River, book an RV rental in Ocean County and start planning your trip.