Campgrounds and RV parks near Island Heights, NJ

Island Heights sits on the Toms River just above Barnegat Bay in Ocean County, in the central Jersey Shore region. RV travelers use it as a base for barrier-island beaches, bayside paddling, and the Pine Barrens forests immediately to the west. Seaside Heights, Island Beach State Park, and Long Beach Island are all within a short drive. Camping in the area runs from state-park sites with limited hookups to full-service private resorts. Allaire State Park, roughly 20 miles north, offers 45 tent and trailer sites plus ten shelters in a forested setting along the Manasquan River, with no site hookups. Private resorts such as Tip Tam Camping Resort in Jackson and Butterfly Camping Resort focus on family activities, pools, and full-hookup RV sites, while Sun Retreats Long Beach Island in Barnegat provides RV sites within a short drive of the LBI beaches. Note that Cedar Creek Campground and Canoe Rent in nearby Bayville, long a fixture of the area, has ceased operations, with the property purchased by the Ocean County Land Trust for preservation. Renters should confirm current status before booking any legacy listing.

State-park sites are booked through New Jersey's official reservation portal at njportal.com/DEP/NJOutdoors, with a window of up to 11 months in advance. Allaire State Park summer weekends and shelters go quickly; guidance is to reserve at least three months out for peak dates. Reservations can also be made by phone through the park office. Private resorts handle their own bookings. Tip Tam Camping Resort, Butterfly Camping Resort, and Sun Retreats Long Beach Island each take reservations directly through their websites or by phone, with holiday weekends often requiring multi-night minimums. Book by late winter for July and August, and confirm rig length, hookup type, and any pet or tent-site restrictions when reserving. Some area parks limit full-sewer sites and rely on pump-out schedules, so RV renters should verify sewer options in advance.