When you’re living in New Jersey, it’s easy to take the state’s bustling cities and suburban comforts for granted. But as a survival prepper, you know that those comforts can quickly disappear in the face of an emergency, and it’s essential to know where to go when you need to disappear into the wilderness. The Garden State may be best known for its beaches and boardwalks, but it also has a wealth of hidden gems perfect for prepping, camping, and honing your survival skills. Whether you’re looking for a weekend retreat to test your self-sufficiency or a remote location to weather a long-term crisis, New Jersey has something to offer.
Here’s a list of the 30 best campsites in New Jersey every prepper should know about, along with a breakdown of their features to help you get the most out of your time in the wild. These campgrounds offer both convenience and seclusion, and each one presents unique opportunities for testing and refining your survival strategies.
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1. Wharton State Forest
Located in the Pine Barrens, Wharton State Forest is perfect for survival training. It’s one of New Jersey’s largest state forests and features hundreds of miles of trails, dense woods, and secluded areas ideal for practicing bushcraft, shelter-building, and navigation. The area’s remoteness makes it a top choice for any prepper looking for a place to disappear.
2. High Point State Park
On the border of New Jersey and New York, High Point offers sweeping views and a rugged landscape that’s great for survival scenarios. It’s home to the state’s highest point, and while the park is popular for hiking and scenic views, it’s easy to find quiet, remote areas to practice your survival skills.
3. Stokes State Forest
Situated in the Kittatinny Mountains, Stokes State Forest has diverse landscapes, from forests to marshes, ideal for foraging, hunting, and survival training. Its secluded campsites and quiet surroundings make it a perfect location to sharpen your survivalist instincts.
4. Round Valley Reservoir
Round Valley offers a range of recreational activities, but its isolated campsites provide an opportunity for long-term camping in a lakefront environment. It’s an excellent spot for prepping with access to water, fishing, and shelter-building practice.
5. Spruce Run Recreation Area
Located near Clinton, this park offers a more family-friendly environment, but with its dense woods and varied topography, it provides the perfect backdrop for wilderness survival. You can practice fire-starting, foraging, and fishing in the nearby reservoir.
6. Belleplain State Forest
With its expansive pine forest, Belleplain is a great place to practice navigation skills and living off the land. The area offers plenty of opportunities for hunting and fishing, as well as survivalist training in the wild.
7. Lea Brook Reservoir
A quiet, off-the-beaten-path location, Lea Brook is a great spot for those seeking solitude. Its rugged terrain and proximity to water make it a top choice for prepping scenarios that involve building shelters or honing water purification techniques.
8. Maurice River Campground
This is an excellent spot for prepping, with ample opportunities for fishing, water survival, and shelter building. The surrounding terrain is varied and offers plenty of room for testing out your skills without interference.
9. Allaire State Park
Known for its historic village, Allaire also has rugged woodland areas perfect for survivalists. You’ll find plenty of campsites, along with forested areas for practicing navigation and building shelters.
10. Bass River State Forest
This hidden gem offers dense forests and access to pristine water sources. Bass River is great for practicing water purification, fishing, and navigation, with plenty of isolated campsites for privacy.
11. Rancocas State Park
A lesser-known park with thick forests and small streams, Rancocas offers a peaceful environment for survivalists looking to practice their skills without being disturbed. It’s a great spot for building survival shelters and honing your stealth skills.
12. Whipple Hill Preserve
A quiet, off-grid location, Whipple Hill is the perfect spot to practice long-term survival skills. The preserve’s rugged landscape and quiet atmosphere make it ideal for testing your endurance and skillset.
13. Pine Barrens Campground
Nestled deep in the Pine Barrens, this site offers easy access to the dense woodlands for survival training. The campground itself is a no-frills, primitive site, ideal for a true prepper experience.
14. Barnegat Lighthouse State Park
While it’s a more well-known location, Barnegat offers a coastal environment perfect for prepping with a maritime focus. Learn watercraft survival, fish for food, and practice setting up shelter in a coastal environment.
15. Dunnfield Creek Campground
This small, remote campground is located within the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. The area offers dense forests and rugged terrain ideal for practicing skills like fire-starting, navigation, and finding shelter.
16. Cheesequake State Park
With its diversity of ecosystems, Cheesequake offers a variety of terrain, from marshes to forested areas. This park is perfect for preppers seeking to practice their skills in multiple environments.
17. Lake Lenape Park
Offering tranquil lakeside views, Lake Lenape is great for learning about water-based survival strategies, including fishing, boating, and water purification. It also has plenty of secluded campsites for testing your long-term survival skills.
18. Turkey Swamp Park
Ideal for preppers looking for isolation, Turkey Swamp is located in central New Jersey, providing ample opportunities for survival skills practice in a secluded, low-traffic area. You’ll find dense woods and access to water for prepping activities.
19. Hickory Run State Park
Located just across the border in Pennsylvania, Hickory Run offers everything a survivalist could want: dense forests, rugged terrain, and access to freshwater streams. This park is great for long-term survival practice.
20. Ringwood State Park
Nestled in the northern part of the state, Ringwood offers easy access to forested areas and rolling hills perfect for honing your skills in navigation, shelter building, and foraging.
21. Kittatinny Valley State Park
Great for those looking to practice wilderness survival in a variety of terrains, Kittatinny Valley offers hiking trails, remote campsites, and dense forests ideal for prepping scenarios.
22. Wildcat Ridge Wildlife Management Area
Located in northern New Jersey, Wildcat Ridge is remote and rugged, offering opportunities for hunting, fishing, and camping. The wildlife in the area is abundant, making it a great spot for honing your survival skills.
23. Silver Lake Park
A peaceful lakeside spot, Silver Lake is great for learning water purification methods and fishing. The park is less crowded than others, offering a quiet and isolated environment to practice your prepping skills.
24. Sourland Mountain Preserve
Offering over 2,000 acres of woodland, the Sourland Mountain Preserve is a perfect training ground for survivalists. Its varied terrain and isolation make it a prime spot for prepping activities.
25. Whitesbog Village
A historic location, Whitesbog offers easy access to the Pine Barrens and its many resources. It’s perfect for preppers who want to combine historical knowledge with practical survival skills.
26. Van Saun County Park
Although it’s a family-friendly park, Van Saun offers woods and secluded areas ideal for survival training. It’s close to major urban centers, allowing you to practice prepping scenarios in a more controlled setting.
27. Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge
Perfect for preppers looking for an off-grid wilderness experience, Great Swamp is home to diverse wildlife and wetland areas, making it ideal for practicing hunting and foraging skills.
28. Washington Crossing State Park
Located along the Delaware River, this park offers historical significance and a natural environment for prepping. You’ll find plenty of wooded areas for shelter-building and fishing in the river.
29. Fortescue State Marina
For a water-based prepping experience, Fortescue is a top pick. Situated along the Delaware Bay, it’s great for practicing water survival and testing your skills in a coastal environment.
30. Cape May Point State Park
At the southern tip of New Jersey, this park offers a mix of beach and woodland survival training opportunities. It’s perfect for testing your skills in both coastal and forested environments.
Whether you’re prepping for a worst-case scenario or just want to experience New Jersey’s natural beauty while honing your survival skills, these 30 campsites provide the perfect environments to test your abilities and connect with the wild. From dense forests and rugged mountains to remote lakes and coastal areas, New Jersey has a wealth of terrain that offers the perfect opportunity for survivalists to prepare for whatever comes next.
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