2 nights in each camp would be ideor our trip it's impossible due to time restraints.
As for the food and fuel, there are some fuel spots along the way and yes where there is food there usually is fuel. When I say that a lot of this trail is strictly backroads, it really is and you will have to venture off of the trail to find food or fuel. Even though NJ is as populated as it is, there are still a lot of country side and wilderness left in NJ.
On one of the prerun trips of the northern section, one of the guys that was with us needed fuel and we ended up having to get off the trail and drive about 5-10 miles to the closest gas station. Before I make the route available, I'll be sure to go through it and try to add some more POIs for gas stations that are right along the route.
I do have 2 very important fuel stops listed already. One of those stops is about a 1/4 of the way into the central section. This fuel location is highly recommended since you will spend a few hours, 2-3hrs in wooded wilderness. Once you pop out on Route 70, you will have a chance to stop one last time for fuel before continuing all the way to Batsto via 90% dirt roads in the wooded wilderness that makes up multiple state parks. I'll post a screen shot of what I'm talking about soon.
These are the parks that I recommend camping in:
High Point State Park
Spruce Run State Park
Brendan T Byrne State Forest
Wharton State Forest (not necessary if you camp in Brendan T Byrne, but it would be a good spot if you skip Brendan T Byrne)
Belleplain State Forest (Park) (this stop is not necessary if you stayed at one of the many sites in Wharton State Forest. It all depends on where you decide to stop and call it a day at.)
When Phil and I do our trip, we have it planned to drive up to High Point after work and camp there on Thursday the 13th, wake up early on Friday the 14th and drive south to Spruce Run (about 100-140 miles south of the starting point. Stopping here depends on if Phil has a 3 day weekend or a 4 day weekend). If we skip Spruce Run, we will only have 2 other choices..1 stay in a friends front yard..2 drive 10+ hours, 245+ miles, in one day and make it to Brendan T. Byrne for camping that Friday night. Wake up kinda early in the day Saturday the 15th and drive until we reach Belleplain State Forest. Camp there and then Sunday we would drive the remaining 30-50 miles to the finish. This way our Sunday can be spent relaxing, celebrating our journey, and giving us enough time to make it back home at a decent time.
If Phil is able to get the 4 day weekend, our trip will go like this:
High Point on 13th
Spruce Run on 14th
Brendan T Byrne on 15th
Belleplain on 16th
Cape May (finish) on the 17th.
