Do you love camping out in the great outdoors? We sure do!
Woodbridge based tenants at Fox Hill Run, Forest View, Evergreen East, Evergreen Forest and Cloverleaf Gardens should get their motors running because on May 22 Governor Murphy announced that all recreational campgrounds – both public and private – could open to all guests, including “transient” campers going on short-term trips in campers, RVs or tents. Where to start your research is the logical next question so…plan your summer Garden State Getaway experience by clicking here and visiting the website of the New Jersey Campground Owners & Outdoor Lodging Association (NJCOA).
At the NCJOA website you will find a comprehensive map of campsites to choose from. The NJCOA provides all of New Jersey’s private campgrounds with the American Hotel and Lodging Association (AHLA) Safe Stay standards for cleaning as well as specific disinfection guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the New Jersey Department of Health.
Currently, all gathering areas – including playgrounds, pavilions, pools and hot tubs – at campgrounds are still closed. Campgrounds can choose what facilities they will keep closed and local municipalities may have their own ordinances in place, so campers are encouraged to call their campground for further information. For example, they might determine tenters aren’t going to be allowed in or rentals won’t be available because maybe they don’t have the staffing or capacity to clean. Campgrounds are asking that campers carry masks with them in case they come within a close distance of another camper not in their party, but they do not need to wear them on their own campsite.
NJCOA asks campers to respect social distancing, which shouldn’t be too difficult considering New Jersey campgrounds sit on an average of 75 acres and the average campsite is 30 feet by 60 feet. While campfires are allowed, campsite owners are telling campers that the only people who can sit around the campfire are the people on their site in order to follow mandates of social distancing.
Offerings you will NOT find for this summers camping adventure are shareable items such as lakeside chairs, pool toys, basketballs, volleyballs, Frisbees, horseshoes and most importantly, life jackets. Campers should bring these items from home, and not share them with campers from other parties. Cabin rentals will probably not include plates and utensils, so you will want to bring your own paper plates and throwaway utensils.
During this phased re-emergence, you should get your campsite reservation in ASAP because people have been cooped up for so long and those plane bound summer travel plans will have changed in favor of a local getaway. Expect to see more attention paid to capacity this year than ever before. The key take-a-way here is to call the campground of your choice and ask questions because this is not a summer like any summer before but – it will still be a great one!
Find your special home base from which to launch your getaway at BestrenNJ.com’s Apartment Locator featuring year-round living in New Jersey’s most desirable communities.