Want to get out and commune with the fireflies? Sleep under the stars? Make s’mores the way God intended? Whether you’re a seasoned outdoors hand or a wilderness rookie, our woodsy, watery guide to camping and glamping will help you get away from it all. Plus, read on for some advice from seasoned experts to get you ready for your camping (or glamping) adventure.

Key

⛺: Glamping
🏊: Swimming
🐦: Birding
⭐: Stargazing
🛶: Boating
🎣: Fishing
🥾: Hiking

Belleplain State Forest

🏊 🐦 🛶 🎣 🥾
South Jersey
From Center City: 50 miles

Tucked into the Pinelands National Reserve, this forest holds the widest­ variety of habitats anywhere in New Jersey — saltwater marshes,­ Atlantic white cedar swamps, mixed hardwood swamps and oak-hickory forest. (Fun fact: The lake in the center of the forest used to be a cranberry bog.) Come springtime, pick out a lean-to to stay in while experiencing the bird migration as our feathery friends make their return journey across the Delaware Bay. Rates start at $2 per person for group campsites; Woodbine.

BigMount Glamping

⛺
Central PA
From Center City: 95 miles

Maybe glamping near a Civil War battle site doesn’t sound super-romantic, but hear us out: BigMount’s lodgings transform woodsy farmlands in Dover, PA — about 40 minutes from Gettysburg — into a secluded couples oasis. Two safari-style tents, which reside on what’s thought to have been the campground of the Confederate Army, feature queen beds, woodburning stoves and electric lighting, and there’s a private outdoor toilet and shower, for an elevated rustic experience. Tell ghost stories by the fire, throw darts in the covered gaming area, or simply enjoy some much-needed R&R with your pals. From $300 a night for both tents; Dover.

Cape Henlopen State Park

🏊 🐦 🎣
Delaware
From Center City: 80 miles

There are lots of campgrounds near the beach. But this one is actually at the beach — and excruciatingly popular for that reason, so book your yurt, cottage or tent site early. While there are plenty of activities in the park itself and, well, in the Atlantic Ocean, you’d be a fool not to rent a bike and pedal your way to the legendary Dogfish Head brewpub down the way in Rehoboth. You can also hop the ferry from Lewes to Cape May for lunch and a stroll. From $20 a night for camping and $74 for cabins; Lewes. 

Delaware’s Cape…