Day Tripper: Parvin State Park

With just a few weeks left before Labor Day comes and school bells ring, time is running out to take advantage of the outdoors this summer. Make your next day trip a pilgrimage to enjoy New Jersey’s natural beauty and work in some freshwater swimming.

Among New Jersey’s 50 state parks is Parvin, tucked in the edge of the Pine Barrens in Salem County.

The 465-acre Parvin State Park allows you to get back to the basics for an outdoorsy, but relaxing day. The kids will have fun splashing in the lake at Parvin Grove, which has lifeguards posted. Nearby picnic and grill sites are convenient spots to set up a lunch. After you clean up from lunch—don’t forget, New Jersey state parks require you to haul out your trash—slip the canoe or kayak into the water and paddle around. Or set up your rod and reel to fish in approved areas.

There are also nearby ball fields and a playground to expend end-of-the-summer energy.

And don’t forget your nature guide. Parvin has both pine forests and a swamp hardwood forest. That adds up to a ton of different wildlife flying, hopping and swimming around.

Another thing not to forget is explaining the park’s place in U.S. history. Native American artifacts have been uncovered throughout the park. From 1933 to 1941, Parvin hosted the Civilian Conservation Corps. Children of Japanese Americans displaced—aka likely held in internment camps during World War II—used Parvin as a summer camp in 1943. A year later, the park was a POW camp for German prisoners.

Say your summer is packed with plans and you don’t get to Parvin before Labor Day. No worries—even when it’s too chilly to swim, the park is a wonderful place to hike, run and play. And you can always still go out on the water in a canoe or kayak. If your trip gets delayed by months, say until April, that may be even better. The area is known to be particularly beautiful in the spring, when the park bursts into color with more than 200 varieties of flowering plants.

If You Go

Directions: Take Route 55 south to exit 35, and follow the signs for the park, located between Centerton and Vineland on Almond Road. The trip from Moorestown is about an hour.

Cost: There is a fee of $2 per person from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Kids under 3 are free.  

Good to Know: Parvin is a great place for a family party or reunion. Reserved picnic areas for groups with 20 or more people are available for $80 year-round (but not on holidays except with special permission.) There’s no need to reserve picnic areas for smaller groups, available on a first come, first served basis.

Stay Awhile: Parvin is a great day trip, but you can extend your stay with on-site tent and trailer locations or nearby campground accommodations.

Contact: Visit state.nj.us/dep/parksandforests/parks/parvin.html