North Carolina Ocean Campgrounds.

As you've seen, Camp Hatteras, KOA and Ocean Waves are the big three and all are located in the Rodanthe area. Frisco Woods is thirty miles further south where the atmosphere is a little more laid back. We actually prefer the NPS campground also located at Frisco above any of the private offerings but you'd have go without hookups.

The primary charm of the OBX is the relaxed atmosphere but don't miss some of the more commercial offerings around Manteo and Nags Head in the north - Wright Brothers Memorial, Fort Raleigh National Historic Site, The Lost Colony Outdoor Drama, Festival Park, QE II sailing ship, NC Aquarium, Jockeys Ridge SP and others.

Enjoy your visit.

We have stayed at the KOA in Rodanthe, NC several times but not since it was redone after a hurricane. We liked the campground and found it very convenient to access the beach. Keep in mind that in Rodanthe you are on an island and may be asked to leave if a tropcal storm or hurricane is approaching. We had to leave in August one year for an approaching storm.

From the campground it is an easy run to Nags Head, Kill Devil Hills and Kitty Hawk to enjoy the activites there.

Bill & Kate, very nice photos, but we are too spoiled to go without our hookups. :) Although that sure does tempt a person.

Thanks Huachuca, we were hoping to see the sights and do some stuff while we're there. I've been out in the area before, but it was many years ago and didn't spend time there. I would be interested in The Lost Colony Outdoor Drama, I've always been intrigued about the Roanoke Island colony.

As long as the weather holds it will all be good. :)

fj12ryder wrote:
Bill & Kate, very nice photos, but we are too spoiled to go without our hookups. :) Although that sure does tempt a person.

Frisco Woods has full hookups including cable tv on most of the water front sites....It is the National Park campgrounds that have no hookups - they are all on the ocean side.

Bill & Kate, thanks for the clarification. Now that really looks intriguing and with full hookups it goes on our short list. :)

fj12ryder wrote:
.....
Green Bay fan perhaps? :)

Big time! :C

... Eric

In late March we drove / took the ferry from Cedar Island to Ocracoke to Hatteras and out on US-158 at Kitty Hawk.

There is every type of camping a person would want - from full resorts to bare beach camping.

North of Nags Head - the highway is lined with motels, restaurants, stores, etc.

South of Nags Head it tends to be 5-10 miles of bare undeveloped land with beach access and small villages about 2-3 miles long.

My feeling was that Rodanthe was the most developed area. We stayed in Avon at Sands of Time CG. For two reasons - it was the closest to the Hatteras Light that was open, and it was for the Passport America rate. Well also because the NPS campgrounds were not open.

Sands of Time is a nice clean CG - but isn't a resort CG with pool and activities for the kid. We would likely stay there again, though we might go to Frisco Woods for a longer stay.

One thing was obvious to me - the farther down the island you are - the longer drive can easily become a lengthy bumper to bumper multi-hour ordeal on busy holidays or key camping weeks.

We really like Ocracoke - and will stay at the NPS campground there some time - but even in March - the traffic for the ferry was such that we had to way until the third departure - the last of the day - to get off the island and on to main Hatteras Island.

Another thing - obey the warnings about beach driving. That sand is very soft, you can sink axle deep with a TV just pulling off the side of the road to watch the sunset. Did that between Avon and Buxton.

Thanks for the heads-up about the soft sand. The last thing I need is to get stuck somewhere.