There’s a hidden gem in South Jersey where you can camp via tent, camper or cabin and be visited by Yogi Bear, Boo-Boo and Cindy, too.
Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park is located on the edge of the Pine Barrens in Willimastown. It is situated by a beautiful lake with a Wibit inflatable course, two pools, a pavilion with picnic tables, multiple playgrounds, sports courts and an arcade.
We recently spent a weekend at the campground and there was no shortage of kid-friendly things to do. The pool and sprayground open at 11 am, even in cooler weather, so pack the kids’ bathing suits. You can rent a peddle boat, kayak or canoe to spend time on the lake; life jackets are available – and are a must. Lifeguards are on duty at the pools and the Wibit. Bring your own fishing gear or rent a pole to catch bass. You can bike, hike and birdwatch, too.
Every hour on the hour are activities, like candy bar bingo, laser tag, Yogicize, roll-a-pumpkin, a hayride, arts and crafts, and ceramic painting.
Our group’s favorites were gem mining, where you sift through a bag of dirt to find crystals and fossils; a foam party that had the kids giggling for an hour; and the caramel apple station, where the kiddos dip fruit into sugary toppings. Most activities are included, but some do have a charge (look for a money bag icon on the activities list).
Bear Mail delivery is a must and means you can sign up to have a personalized letter delivered to your child from one of the bears. You can also see them throughout the park, either as they drive by on golf carts or take part in some of the activities. Everyone in our crew had to get a selfie with these famous cartoon characters!
There are basketball, volleyball, horseshoe, baseball and GaGa courts, plus a Jumping Pillow, which are two large inflatables that kids ran to all day, and a Bark Park for your pups.
The cabin itself is the stuff glamping dreams are made of. It is a legit Lancaster Log Cabin. There is a queen bed, futon, two bunk beds, and two queen mattresses in the loft, so you can fit 8 people (and dogs). The kids will fight over the bunk bed and loft space. The cabin has a private bathroom, is air-conditioned, has fans on the screened-in patio and inside, and a TV in the common area. There is WIFI, too.
There’s a fully equipped kitchen with a refrigerator and freezer, so bring all the food and snacks you want. There’s a BBQ grill and fire ring outside. Bring your own wood, firestarters and charcoal, or buy from the Ranger Station; there is also a Walmart less than 5 minutes away. The Pic-A-Nic Basket is a snack bar open all day, with options ranging from breakfast sandwiches to burgers to pizza to cheesesteaks and ice cream.
Every part of the property is within a 5- to 10-minute walk, but you can rent a golf cart, too.
There is a team that hooks up their trailers at the pull-through sites for the entire season, which goes from April to November.
The Ranger Station is fully stocked with groceries, camping supplies, toys, live bait and apparel and there’s an ATM.
This is a fun and easy weekend away, and the kids will make friends with the other kids at the campsite. You can also come as a group of adults, or plan a party, birthday celebration or karaoke nights.
Important Tips to Plan Your Stay:
- If you’re a first-time camper at the site, pull up to the guardhouse to check-in. You’ll get your room assignment, cabin keys and vehicle swipe card – don’t lose it, or you’ll be charged $150. There are also bottles of Autumn Lake Winery wines for sale, since they’re located in Williamstown as well.
- Bring your own linens and towels, or you can rent them for $22 per set.
- There is a Suds Station, aka laundromat, so bring your quarters and detergent.
- Bring a bathing suit and a sweatshirt for the change in weather, plus sunscreen and bug spray.
- There is a shooting range nearby, so don’t be surprised if you hear gunshots (it spooked us at first).
Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park Camp & Resort is located at 117 Coles Mill Rd., in Williamstown, Gloucester County. There is one more Fall Weekend, and then Halloween Weekends go from September 20 to October 27. Activities will include trick-or-treating, a pumpkin patch, tie dye, haunted hot cocoa and other themed activities. There are 75 Jellystone locations around the U.S. and Canada.
See what all the fun is about on our Instagram page.
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