The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection’s (DEP) Division of Parks and Forestry has launched a new online campground reservation system.
This new feature is part of the DEP’s overall effort to improve customer service.
The NJ Outdoors online reservations system can be accessed at www.camping.nj.gov.
It provides flexible search capabilities for finding and reserving tent sites, cabins or shelters within the New Jersey State Park System, and is part of a broader, ongoing DEP effort to improve customer service and information services through online and mobile-device technologies, according to a statement provided by DEP Commissioner Bob Martin.
“The New Jersey State Park System offers some of the best camping experiences found anywhere,” Martin said in the statement. “This new reservation system will make it easier than ever to plan an affordable weekend getaway or vacation at our great state parks, forests and recreation areas to create memories that will last a lifetime.”
The system, developed in partnership with the New Jersey Division of NICUSA Inc., went live in December. It provides updated maps and park information filters that allow users to more easily check site availability and plan visits around amenities and recreational opportunities available at each park.
Features of NJ Outdoors include:
- The ability to easily update or cancel a campground reservation.
- A list of current discounts available at state parks.
- A document upload feature for pet license and vaccination documents to make check-in easier at pet-friendly campsites.
- An optional account creation feature, which allows campers to securely store their payment and access their camping history.
- A real-time notification system that alerts campers of events that could affect their stay or upcoming reservations.
“Whether your interest is hiking, kayaking or simply relaxing by the campfire, it is our sincerest hope that residents and visitors will find this new reservation system a convenient portal into planning their camping adventures in a park system that offers a wide range of opportunities for enjoying the outdoors,” Division of Parks and Forestry Director Mark Texel said in the statement.
The State Park Service boasts 50 state parks, forests, recreation areas, battlefields and marinas. Camping is available at 19 sites, from Brendan Byrne State Forest in the Pinelands to Stokes State Forest near the Delaware Water Gap to Parvin State Park in Salem County.
The State Park Service also recently launched Trail Tracker, a smart-device application that helps park visitors make detailed plans tailored to trails, activities, and terrain that interest them and is available through Google Play, the Apple app store and the Microsoft app store.
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