Cancellation alerts

Bass River State Forest

We watch every site at Bass River State Forest 24/7, then email you the moment a cancellation opens up.

69% of weekends booked at top sites·Peak May–Jul·203 sites

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Park favorites

The 10 most popular campsites at Bass River State Forest

The hardest sites to book at this park, reserving 69% of weekend nights in peak season (May–Jul). Set up an alert and we'll email you on cancellations.

Site 186

Best here

Ranked #1 of 203

Tent · Sleeps 6

Site Cabin 5

Top pick

Ranked #2 of 203

CABIN · Sleeps 6 · Waterfront

Site Cabin 1

Top pick

Ranked #3 of 203

CABIN · Sleeps 6 · Waterfront

Site Leanto 6

Top pick

Ranked #4 of 203

Lean-to · Sleeps 6

Site 009

Top pick

Ranked #4 of 203

Pet Friendly Tent · Sleeps 6

Site Group A

Standout

Ranked #6 of 203

Group Camp · Sleeps 25

Site Cabin 4

Standout

Ranked #7 of 203

CABIN · Sleeps 6 · Waterfront

Site Cabin 2

Standout

Ranked #8 of 203

CABIN · Sleeps 6 · Waterfront

Site 047

Standout

Ranked #9 of 203

Pet Friendly Tent · Sleeps 6

Site Group F

Decent

Ranked #10 of 203

Group Camp · Sleeps 25

These sites rebook within minutes of being cancelled. Set an alert at Bass River State Forest and we’ll email you the moment one opens up.

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About this park

Alcohol is prohibited.Pets are prohibited in overnight facilities unless designated pet friendly site. Pet Friendly Campsites require license and innoculation paperwork and additional cost. Campsites: 176 tent and trailer sites with fire rings and picnic tables. Flush toilets, showers and laundry facilities are within walking distance of all sites. No hook-ups provided. Each site accommodates a maximum of six campers, two vehicles (including trailers) and two tents. Trailer sanitary station is open March 1 through November 30. Campsites open all year. New Jersey Residents: $20 per night; Non-Residents: $25 per night. Group Campsites : Six group campsites with water and pit toilets are within walking distance. Each site accommodates a maximum of 25 campers. Parking is directly on the site. Open all year. $2/person/night based on the capacity of the campsite for NJ residents and $4/person/night for Non Residents. Six licensed vehicles only are permitted to park on each group campsite, within the campsite limit signs. Additional vehicles are required to pay $5.00 per night and park in the designated parking area. No pets allowed. Lean-tos : Nine handicap accessible lean-tos each with a hardwood floor and a woodburning stove. Outdoor picnic table, fire ring and grill. Flush toilets, showers, and laundry facilities are within walking distance. Located on the south shore. Accommodates a maximum of six people. Open all year. New Jersey Residents: $35 per night; Non-Residents: $40 per night. No pets allowed. Shelters : Six lakeside shelters with two bunk rooms, one double-deck bunk in each room, a living room with a picnic table and bench, woodburning stove, fire ring and screened double door. Outdoor grill for cooking, table and benches. Flush toilets and shower facilities are nearby. Shelters are located along the north shore of Lake Absegami. Accommodates a maximum of four people. Open April 1 through October 31. New Jersey Residents: $48 per night; Non-Residents: $60 per night. No pets allowed. Cabins : Six lakefront cabins with living room with double-deck bunk and fireplace; two bunk rooms with double-deck bunks; kitchen with running water, electric stove, refrigerator; bathroom with shower, toilet, and sink. Screened-in porch faces lake. Outdoor fire rings. Electricity. Each accommodates a maximum of six people. No pets allowed. Cabins are located along the north shore of Lake Absegami. Open April 1 through October 31. New Jersey Residents: $75 per night; $525 per week; Non-Residents: $85 per night; $595 per week Picnic Facilities : Located near the beach are 74 picnic tables with charcoal grills, a picnic shelter, restrooms, athletic field for games and playground. Pets are permitted at the picnic area on a six foot leash. Alcoholic beverages are prohibited. Group Picnic Area for larger groups. It holds a capacity of 50 people, provides shelter, playfields and playground equipment. It may be reserved for a fee: Saturday of Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day $55 NJ Resident/ $65 Non Resident; Day after Labor Day to Friday before Memorial Day $80 NJ Resident/$90 Non Resident Cancellation fee is 50% of fee. Groups of 20 or more people shall reserve picnic facilities at least five days in advance. Such group use is not permitted on Holidays except as authorized by the Superintendent. A public boat launch is located north of the recreational area parking lot. Powered boats are limited to electric motors only. A canoe, kayak, rowboat concession is operated during the summer months. Coast guard approved life preservers are required.

Location
Absegami Natural Area (128 acres) A self guided nature trail loops through this wetland forest, where Atlantic white cedars share the canopy with red maple and magnolia. The Pinelands white cedar swamp and surrounding oak-pine forest community make up the Absegami Natural Area. West Pine Plains Natural Area (3,830 acres) This unique stunted forest ecosystem, known locally as the Pygmy Forest, is globally rare and supports an extensive forest of pine and oak trees that may obtain a canopy height of only four feet at maturity. New Jersey contains the largest acreage of this forest community type worldwide. The area also supports an endangered plant species - the broom crowberry - and numerous rare species of moths. Trails Bass River State Forest has eight easy walking (non-ADA accessible) trails from 1 to 3.2 miles. The 1/2 mile self-guided Absegami Trail includes a wooden foot bridge with benches. All trails start at the second parking lot at the beach. Animals, birds and plant life of the Pine Barrens may be found. A trail brochure is available at the office, or on the portion of the Pink Trail that passes through the old Civilian Conservation Corps camp near East Greenbush Road. This guide describes the camp foundations. Batona Trail This easy walking trail, well marked with pink blazes, runs for 50 miles through Bass River State Forest, Wharton State Forest and Brendan T. Byrne State Forest, crossing streams and passing through forested areas that were once bustling towns with names such as Four Mile, Butler, Martha and Washington. This portion of the Batona Trail is maintained by the NJ State Park Service, Outdoor Club of South Jersey and the Batona Hiking Club.

Nearby
Tuckerton Seaport Long Beach Island Atlantic City Historical Smithville Village Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge Bass River State Forest offers hiking, biking and horse trails. Visit the Batsto Historic Village, Tuckerton Seaport, Long Beach Island, Atlantic City destinations. Fishing is subject to New Jersey's Fish and Wildlife Laws. Freshwater species are mainly pickerel, sunfish, and catfish. Fishing License are available nearby.Hunting is permitted in large parts of the forest and is subject to New Jersey's Fish and Wildlife Laws. Game found in the forest include deer, rabbit, and grouse. Contact the forest office for further details. Please visit www.njparksandforests.org for fishing and hunting regulations.

Important information

Alchohol and smoking is prohibited. Reservations can be made 11 months in advance. REFUND/CANCELLATION POLICY: The standard campsite cancellation fee is the cost of two night's stay for NJ Residents $40.00, Non NJ Residents $50.00 whichever is less plus applicable NICUSA transaction fees a 24 hour notice is required. All other overnight facilities (cabins, shelters, and leanrtos) if cancelled seven days or less prior to your check in date, a one night use fee in addition to the NICUSA transaction fees will be deducted from any refund due. If you cancel eight days or more to your check in date, only the NICUSA transaction fees will be ducted. Refunds will not be provided for reservations that do not arrive or of you are evicted for any reason. EARLY DEPARTURE POLICY: For campsites, if any portion of your stay is cancelled after check-in the total number of nights that you occupied the site (based on check out time) in addition to $40 NJ Resident/$50 Non NJ Resident or a two night use fee (whichever is less) will be deducted from and refund due in addition to the NICUSA fees. All other facilities (cabins,shelters,and lean-tos) if any portion of your stay is cancelled after check-in the total number of nights you occupied the site (based on check out time) in addition to a one night use fee will be ducted from any refund due in addition to the NICUSA transaction fees. GROUP CAMPING MANIFEST FORM : is required PRIOR to your groups arrival. No additional names permitted once you have checked in. In the event the park is closed due to capacity, no one that is not listed on manifest will be permitted. Only the person listed on camp reservation will be permitted until we receive the completed manifest. PETS - All sites on the South Shore are pet friendly for an additional fee of $5 per night. Only 2 pets permitted per site. Written proof of the pet's current rabies vaccine and license (if a license is required by the resident's State) must be provided during the check - in process. Pets are prohibited in cabins, shelters, and lean-tos. WHEN YOU ARRIVE - You must sign for your own site. Have your equipment with you and be ready to camp when you register. Make and license plates of all vehicles must be provided at registration. OCCUPANCY - Limited to 6 individuals per campsite unless group site. Only 2 vehicles permitted on any campsite. Extra vehicles will be required to park in a designated area (additional fees will apply). AGE REGULATIONS - Campsites must be registered and occupied by a responsible person 18 years of age or older. QUIET HOURS - From 10 p.m. until 6 a.m., and are strictly enforced. Violators of this policy may be evicted. GENERATORS - May be used except during quiet hours. If the use of a generator is deemed unreasonably loud by the facility staff then individual use of a generator may be prohibited/limited. FIRES - Must be built in fire rings provided. Fire wood can be purchased at the office. No chainsaws are allowed in campgrounds, and cutting down trees, alive or dead is prohibited. SWIMMING - DUE TO BEACH COMPLEX CONSTRUCTION, WE CURRENTLY DO NOT PLAN TO OPEN THE SWIM AREA THIS YEAR. The day use area (picnic area, playground and beach) is open daily from 8 am to dusk. Swimming is permitted from 10 am to 6 pm from Memorial Day weekend (Saturday) to Labor Day when lifeguards are on duty. The snack bar and all beach equipment rentals are available during this period. Each year the campground makes every effort to provide safe swimming opportunities by testing the water and by keeping the swimming areas staffed with lifeguards. Please be aware that if the safety of our swimmers is compromised, due to lack of lifeguard coverage or water quality issues, swimming will be prohibited and therefore cannot be a guaranteed activity. We apologize for this inconvenience as it may occur with little advance notice. Boats requiring gas or oil are not permitted.