Cold Spring Campground: Old Fashioned Family Camping in Cape May, New Jersey

Cold Spring Campground is a basic, bare-bones family campground located on the tip of the New Jersey coast in Cape May. It is run by the Hollis McPherson family and is open from the middle of May through Columbus Day. Cape May is a popular family vacation spot, and this campground is conveniently located only three miles from the downtown shopping area, restaurants, and beaches.

My family has camped at this campground, and it is definitely "old-fashioned" camping. There are none of the amenities you will find at a larger campground such as a swimming pool or a game room. When we went, they listed a "playground" on the brochure, but if my memory serves me correctly it consisted of one swing set. They have a very, very tiny camp store where you may purchase t-shirts, firewood, and a few other necessities. They do have a bath-house with showers and flushing toilets (the showers are enclosed outdoor showers).

The charm of Cold Spring Campground is its location. It is totally wooded, very quiet, and has a canal running through it. Cold Spring is the type of campground you might recall from your childhood, where you can still sit in peacefulness in the evenings and enjoy roasting hotdogs or marshmallows over the campfire. During the day, there are times when you can walk through the entire (fairly small) campground, and not see anyone else. There are no crowds here. You really do fall asleep and wake up here to the sounds of nature (or an occasional boat on the canal). It is in the woods, so bring sufficient mosquito repellant.

Cold Spring Campground, besides being so close to Cape May downtown and beaches, is also only 10 miles from Wildwood and the huge, free beaches available there-as well as the popular Wildwood boardwalk. If you decide to swim at the beaches in Cape May, which are also beautiful, you will have to purchase a beach tag (they are available by the day or the week).

The campground does have a few rules. Quiet hour is from 10:00 pm-8:00 a.m. The speed limit is 5 miles per hour. No alcoholic beverages are permitted. Pets must be on a leash and attended to, and owners are expected to clean up after their pets.

Another great thing about Cold Spring Campground is the affordability. A night of camping with electricity costs only $21.00 for two people (plus $1.00 per additional child, or $5.00 per additional adult), or $119.00 per week. This is about half what you would pay at a bigger campground in the area. If you are searching for a basic campground in coastal New Jersey, and you enjoy nature and quietness, definitely check out Cold Spring Campground.