Atsion Family Campground
Wharton State Forest
Shamong, NJ
Address: Atsion Road, Shamong, NJ 08088
Coordinates: 39°44’45.37″N, 74°44’38.22″W
Directions:
On Atsion Road, turn onto the dirt road with the sign for Atsion Family Campground. Drive down and the campsites will be in two loops on either side.
Access:
Dirt road, but accessible by pretty much any vehicle.
Website for official info:
http://www.nj.gov/dep/parksandforests/parks/wharton.html
Website for campsite booking and pricing:
www.camping.nj.gov
Rules:
Campground Map:
Camped here earlier this month, which FINALLY completes my “camped at every campground in Wharton State Forest” challenge. If you don’t like completely roughing it, this is the campground for your, as its the cushiest one in Wharton State Forest.
Facilities (campground):
Water: Several spigots around the camp
Bathrooms – One bathroom complete with flush toilets and showers!
Food protection – no bear boxes (low bear risk, but have been spotted in the area, most famously on the school playground in nearby Atco). Store food in car, especially if you don’t want to make friends with skunks or raccoons.
Facilities (each site):
Group campsites – None
Regular campsites – Fifty sites, with maximum of two tents and/or six people. All are drive up. Each one has a table and a small fire ring. One central bathroom, so plan accordingly if being close to the bathroom is important. Sites by the lake 4. 6. 8, 10, 12 are supposed to be extra nice.
Site 15, which is typical…
Seasons:
Open year round! Unsure if water is turned off in the winter or not.
Other tips:
As with all sites in the New Jersey State Parks – no alcohol is allowed. They do and will write tickets.
The lake is quite pretty. Check it out especially around sunrise or sunset when the light is prettiest.
The lake is canoe or kayak-able.
They have some pet friendly sites here, but not all are.
Small RVs are allowed here. There is a dump station, but no hook ups.
Camping here gives you free access (with your receipt) to the Atsion Lake Recreation Area.
The Atsion Ranger Station is NOT open year round, and usually closes really early (4 PM) when it is open, so be aware. The park police are pretty good about if you don’t get there to get your permit in time, as most people work, but its a good idea to at least have a print out or screen shot of your online reservation (which is NOT the same as your permit).
Nearby trails and things to see:
Atsion Lake is nearby, great for swimming or canoeing in the summer.
Canoeing the Mullica River from Atsion to Pleasant Mills. Pine Barrens Adventures is the closest rental for boats, and is on Atsion Road near the campground. They also offer canoe, hiking, a van tours of the pine barrens.
The ghost town of Atsion (with the Atsion Ranger Station, where you’ll pick up your camping permit).
Atsion Lake Hikes – Shamong, NJ
Mullica River Trail – Shamong to Batsto, NJ
Pipers Corner Preserve – Shamong, NJ
Experiences at the campground? Helpful hints for folks? Please leave them in the comments for folks to see, or e-mail them to southjerseytrails@gmail.com and we’ll tack them onto the bottom here!
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