Beachfront Camping

We enjoyed Assateague National Park Bayside Loop.The bugs wern't around when we were there.We had a great site and had direct access to the bay.We took along our Honda generator to keep the batteries charged and to use the microwave.If you read the rules,the horses won't be a problem.Many people don't read them.There is another State Park south of Assateague called Kiptopeke State Park.It has full hookups and cable.You can easily walk to the beach from there.It is on the tip of the DelMarVa Pinninsula about a mile north of the Chesepeke bay Bridge Tunnel.The beach is on the bay but with the ocean so close you do get some wave action.Then there is Cape Hatteras national Park.I believe there are 4 campgrounds.None of them have hookups.Frisco is the nicest of the 4 IMO. There are also some private campgrounds with hookups on the beach too.There is alot to do on Cape Hatteras.The Wright Brothers memorial,Life Saving Stations,The Lost Colony,Light Houses etc.We also enjoyed statying at Maddox campground in Chincoteague.It isn't within a 1/4 mile of the beach,but it is about a 1/4 mile to the entrance of the National Wildlife Refuge.If you have bikes ( or rent them)you can bycicle to the NWR and they have paved trails to ride your bike and see the ponies.They also have a very nice wide beach.Chincoteague is a great old shore town with nice restaurants,2 great ice cream shops and an old movie theater or Wallops Island ( NASA)visitor center you can visit if it rains.

You are going to have a very difficult time finding a good beach site this close to the summer camping season, but I may be able to help....

MickeyBrennan mentioned Assateague Island SP above. We have two sites available on I-loop open at Assateague from July 25 to Auugust 4. We have a total of 8 sites in a group, but 2 families had to back out of the trip, both related to new jobs and no vacation availability.

We are right on the beachside if the loop, so bugs usually aren't as much of an issue. If you are at all interested, PM me, and I will send you details...

We liked St. Joseph Peninsula State Park on Florida's Gulf panhandle. Walk a minute to the board walkway and you're on the beach.

There is a place in Maryland to camp on the beach. Assateague Island has a State Park and a National Park.
Assateague State Park has paved campsites on the beach. Each loop has a masonry bath house with showers, toilet facilities and camp sinks. It is dry camping except for loop H which has electricity. Better get on it because they go fast.
The National Park has dry camping with chemical toilets.
There are also sites classified as "Bayfront" they are a short distance from the beach and in more of a grassy area.
Now, some caveats. Bugs can be bad... really bad, and the Bayfront sites are even worse, bring DEET. Our friends decided to set up a screen room one trip. We quickly learned that the wild horses that live on the island know that people keep goodies in those screen rooms and went right through it, in one side and out the other. There are signs warning that wild ponies bite and kick.

Click for pictures and trip report.

PackerBacker wrote:
Myrtle Beach Travel Park is where we enjoy staying. It's beach-side camping with all the amenities.

Actually any of the large ocean-front campgrounds in Myrtle Beach are great.

They mentioned they prefer the gulf

Myrtle Beach Travel Park is where we enjoy staying. It's beach-side camping with all the amenities.

Actually any of the large ocean-front campgrounds in Myrtle Beach are great.

If you want fhu(and cable) and inexpensive, try Topsail Hill State Preserve (park) in the destin area. It's only about $40-45 a night. The sites are not on the water, but their is a pathway that you can walk, bike ride or ride a tram to. Or there is St Andrews State Park which is a little peninsula itself. The campsites are on the bay side, some of them on the water and the beaches are on the other side. Only water and electric though. Any commercial parks on or near the water are gonna be expensive. Sme of them over $100/night and packed in like sardines. You might be able to find something in between. The two we mentioned, we have been to and enjoyed.

Concerning camping along the upper gulf, Mobile AL
to Destin FL. There are several offshore islands, and the surf
breaks on those islands. Most 'beach' campgrounds are on
the inland shore, without breaking surf......this area
of water is called the 'Sound'...it is beautiful, and there
is no problem, but don't expect big Hawaii type breakers.
An R V Park ON the beach is in Destin and
it is HIGH priced.....see Destin under rvparkreviews.com
There are other campgounds on the sound; look at Navarre
FL (Emerald Beach and Navarre Beach and Santa Rosa Park), and at Pensacola (Fort Pickens.....a walk across the dunes to the beach).
Orange Beach AL has 2 on the inland waterway, not the beach.
P M me for more if this area interests you.

Keep in mind that RVs are not made of materials that stand up well being near salt water. Being next to the beach is fine for a few days but one day of onshore wind carrying salt spray will do damage in places you can't see, that you will be dealing with for years to come.

Best to find a CG at least a block or so from the beach.

Ocean Lakes, Myrtle Beach. Love it ! Our last site was 50 yards from the sand.