prepper destinations – TheDailyChristian

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.

When it comes to prepping, the right location can make all the difference. In Pennsylvania, nature offers a multitude of opportunities for survivalists to practice their skills, refine their strategies, and enjoy the rugged beauty of the outdoors. Whether you’re looking to build shelter, practice foraging, or just enjoy some peace and solitude while honing your survival instincts, Pennsylvania’s wilderness provides an excellent environment for all preppers. The following list of the 30 best camping sites in Pennsylvania will help you prepare, practice, and thrive.

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1. Ricketts Glen State Park

Ricketts Glen, with its dense forests and more than 13,000 acres of land, is one of the best spots for survivalists looking to practice wilderness skills. The park offers numerous trails, ranging from easy to difficult, and its many streams, waterfalls, and remote camping areas make it perfect for honing your skills in water procurement, shelter building, and navigation.

2. Allegheny National Forest

If you’re looking for an expansive wilderness to truly test your prepping skills, the Allegheny National Forest provides it. With over half a million acres of rugged terrain, this national forest allows preppers to practice long-term survival tactics like trapping, fishing, and identifying edible plants.

3. Pine Creek Gorge (The Grand Canyon of Pennsylvania)

The Pine Creek Gorge is a majestic and remote location that provides an incredible setting for learning and practicing wilderness survival skills. The deep ravines and sheer cliffs offer natural shelter-building opportunities, and its streams and dense woods are ideal for hunting and fishing practices.

4. Promised Land State Park

Located in the Pocono Mountains, Promised Land is a peaceful, secluded park with dense woodlands and serene lakes. Survivalists can take advantage of the park’s remote location for off-grid practice, including shelter building and fire-starting. The surrounding forest offers ample foraging opportunities, making this spot ideal for an extended stay.

5. Cherry Springs State Park

Known for its exceptional stargazing, Cherry Springs is also a fantastic place for preppers. With miles of woods, this park offers excellent opportunities to practice fire-building, navigation, and even camouflage techniques. The park’s remote location allows for a truly off-the-grid experience.

6. Trough Creek State Park

For preppers looking to explore rugged terrain, Trough Creek provides a challenging environment. The park features deep gorges and steep ravines, perfect for testing your navigation skills and understanding of topography. It also provides secluded camping areas that will allow you to practice your shelter-building techniques.

7. Michaux State Forest

Michaux State Forest is another excellent option for survival preppers who are looking to practice bushcraft skills. The forest’s expansive trail network offers an opportunity to work on navigation and orienteering, while its varied ecosystems are perfect for testing your skills in wild edibles and trapping.

8. Lackawanna State Park

For those in northeastern Pennsylvania, Lackawanna State Park offers an ideal spot to practice survival tactics. The park features a mix of forests and meadows, allowing you to practice fire-starting and shelter-building techniques. It’s a good location for learning to navigate in mixed environments, with several trails and ample wildlife.

9. Bald Eagle State Park

Located in central Pennsylvania, Bald Eagle State Park offers a combination of flat land and steep hills, which make it perfect for various survival scenarios. The park has numerous secluded spots for camping, allowing you to practice skills like fishing, trapping, and using natural resources to your advantage.

10. French Creek State Park

French Creek offers a unique wilderness environment for preppers. Its diverse ecosystem, with wetlands, woodlands, and streams, provides plenty of opportunities for practicing various survival skills. The park is also less crowded, so you can spend extended periods there without distractions.

11. Cook Forest State Park

Cook Forest is known for its towering trees and pristine environment, which make it a great location for anyone wanting to test their wilderness survival skills. The park’s dense forests allow you to practice stealth and camouflage techniques, while its remote campsites offer perfect isolation for long-term prepper activities.

12. Sproul State Forest

Sproul State Forest is a prime location for survivalists who enjoy deep, isolated wilderness. The park features vast woodlands, remote lakes, and several camping areas that are perfect for practicing long-term off-grid living, including foraging, hunting, and making shelters.

13. Tuscarora State Forest

Tuscarora is known for its peaceful environment and vast hiking trails, making it ideal for those looking to practice navigation and wilderness survival. Its remote setting makes it a perfect location for extended stays, offering plenty of opportunities to sharpen your skills in fire-making, shelter-building, and food procurement.

14. Weiser State Forest

For survival preppers who prefer a dense, unbroken forest, Weiser State Forest is one of the best locations in Pennsylvania. The forest provides a variety of habitats, including mountainous areas, wetlands, and old-growth woodlands, which offer a great space for practicing survival skills in diverse environments.

15. Snyder-Middleswarth Natural Area

For those who are looking for true isolation, the Snyder-Middleswarth Natural Area offers an excellent environment for prepper training. This 7,000-acre area is home to some of the most untouched and wild landscapes in Pennsylvania, making it perfect for practicing deep wilderness survival skills.

More of Pennsylvania’s Best Camping Sites for Survival Preppers

Shickshinny Trails
Tionesta Scenic Area
Ohiopyle State Park
Mountaintop Campground
Sullivan County Campground
Little Pine State Park
Clear Creek State Park
Gifford Pinchot State Park
Nockamixon State Park
Delaware Canal State Park
Ravensburg State Park
Benezette Elk Country Visitors Center
Laurel Ridge State Park
Shawnee State Park
Cooksburg Campground

Survival Prepping in Pennsylvania’s Wilderness

Pennsylvania’s vast wilderness areas provide ideal settings for preppers to hone their survival skills. From building shelters in the deep woods to fishing in remote lakes, these camping sites provide a variety of landscapes that simulate real-world survival scenarios. The state’s diverse environment allows for testing various survival tactics in different ecosystems, including woodlands, wetlands, and mountainous areas. As a prepper, this means you’ll get the opportunity to practice building fires, identifying edible plants, hunting, fishing, and more.

Many of these parks and forests are remote and less frequented, which allows for a greater sense of isolation—a key component of survival prep. The isolation also provides an excellent chance to practice off-the-grid living, away from modern distractions. Additionally, many of these sites feature rugged, untamed landscapes that can challenge even the most experienced preppers.

Before heading out, remember to properly prepare: pack essential gear, plan for the weather conditions, and always have a reliable map and compass. You never know when you might need to use your skills to make it out of a tricky situation!