All-We are looking into an Outer Banks camping vacation in June 2017. We would like to stay beachside if possible. I found the Hatteras KOA and Camp Hatteras however the sites look very close together. The state parks don't have any hook-ups which could be a problem since we are staying for 6 nights and driving 1000 miles. Any suggestions?

The KOA is very tight, more like a parking lot. Camp Hatteras is better spaced and there is a choice of sites, either ocean side or on the sound side.Oregon Inlet campground has no hookups but there are restrooms and showers. A free dump station and fresh water are available at the Oregon Inlet Marina less than 1/2 mile.The fishing at the Oregon Inlet bridge can be fantastic.

We did the KOA. Although right on the ocean, there is no view because of the large dune between the CG and the water. Here are a number of threads on OBX from the last year or so.thread 1thread 2thread 3thread 4

The KOA has an "interesting" policy. If you want to request a site that is available, when you make the registration, the only way they will guarantee the site is for you to pay an extra $20 fee. Moreover, if two or three RVs are traveling together and reserve adjacent sites (available when registrations were made) the only way they will guarantee you will have adjacent sites when you arrive, is for all parties to pay an additional $20 fee. At least that was their policy last April. They told me it was a benefit they were providing.Tom

pulsar wrote:The KOA has an "interesting" policy. If you want to request a site that is available, when you make the registration, the only way they will guarantee the site is for you to pay an extra $20 fee. Moreover, if two or three RVs are traveling together and reserve adjacent sites (available when registrations were made) the only way they will guarantee you will have adjacent sites when you arrive, is for all parties to pay an additional $20 fee. At least that was their policy last April. They told me it was a benefit they were providing.TomWow. They are wanting to make camping unaffordable anymore. I am kinda leaning towards Camp Hatteras but haven't made up my mind as of yet.

As others have noted, all campgrounds on the northern Outer Banks (Ocracoke north to VA state line) have a row of dunes between the ocean and nearest campsites which limit direct views of the water. I also think you'll find the 'tight' site size applicable to any of the commercial offerings and this closeness will be exacerbated due to your visit being in prime season.If a water view is important, some campgrounds offer sound side sites that are directly on the water - Camp Hatteras in Rodanthe and Frisco Woods in Frisco are two that come to mind. Another option is the National Park Service Campground in Frisco. A few of the upper sites there afford a good view of the ocean albeit from a distance of a quarter mile or so.There are no state parks on the Outer Banks; all public campgrounds are Federal. Cape Hatteras National Seashore extends from Nags Head to Ocracoke with several breaks for small towns or villages and offers four campgrounds. From north to south - Oregon Inlet, Cape Point, Frisco and Ocracoke. Friso is located within wooded rolling dunes and has many large sites with a good bit of privacy. The other three have fairly large sites but are located in open 'fields' with no vegetation separating them. Google Earth should give you a fairly good idea of their layouts. NPS Frisco CampgroundWe now often stay for a week or more at one of the NPS campgrounds with Frisco being our favorite but, when our daughter was young, we used one of the commercial facilities (KOA, Camp Hatteras or Frisco Woods) for their hookups (AC can be nice) and activities for kids.Drop me a PM with the types of activities you enjoy and I may be able to make some useful suggestions. Whatever you do, be sure to take the Hatteras to Ocracoke ferry - it's free and a unique experience.Al

Outer Banks | Good Sam Community

Shot-N-Az
Explorer
Dec 07, 2016
We've been going to Camp Hatteras or years. They have a pretty robust activity schedule to keep your kids engaged in the summer.
Busdriver
Explorer II
Dec 07, 2016
Ocean waves, enough said, run by a family of nice people concrete pads, and grass, for a lot less $$ don't know about now but used to Mail res, in first of Jan. Check out there web site.
bgradert
Explorer
Dec 07, 2016
Busdriver wrote:
Ocean waves, enough said, run by a family of nice people concrete pads, and grass, for a lot less $$ don't know about now but used to Mail res, in first of Jan. Check out there web site.

I looked at the Ocean Waves website and the pictures made it seem like you were camping in a neighborhood!
Campinghoss
Explorer II
Dec 07, 2016
I have been going to the Outer Banks for 50 years. Ocean Waves is the only cg I stay at down there. Price is not a deal buster for us but paying twice or a little more to stay at Camp Hatteras or the KOA for the same ocean, view and sand does not appeal to us. The concrete pads are nice at O Waves. If you have young kids then there are more kid amenities at the KOA.
bgradert
Explorer
Dec 07, 2016
Campinghoss@51 wrote:
I have been going to the Outer Banks for 50 years. Ocean Waves is the only cg I stay at down there. Price is not a deal buster for us but paying twice or a little more to stay at Camp Hatteras or the KOA for the same ocean, view and sand does not appeal to us. The concrete pads are nice at O Waves. If you have young kids then there are more kid amenities at the KOA.

We have a 12 and a 8 year old. When we camp, they put miles on their bikes! I have received some great feedback and it sounds like Ocean Waves and the NPS are they way to go Oregon Inlet and Ocracoke being the favorites.
wbwood
Explorer
Dec 08, 2016
Our videos from the Outer Banks
bgradert
Explorer
Dec 08, 2016
wbwood wrote:
Our videos from the Outer Banks

I was debating going to the Outer Banks or Ludington Michigan and watching your review video, I think we will go to Michigan!

Wind, mosquitos, dirty beaches......!:(
wbwood
Explorer
Dec 08, 2016
bgradert wrote:
wbwood wrote:
Our videos from the Outer Banks

I was debating going to the Outer Banks or Ludington Michigan and watching your review video, I think we will go to Michigan!

Wind, mosquitos, dirty beaches......!:(

As I told you in the private message, don't plan your trip according to our experience. Most people enjoy it more than we did. We prefer the Nags Head area and north. We also like Ocracoke and probably where we would stay the next time we go. We didn't care for the Hatteras area. We also wouldn't go back in the summer time either. Spring or fall would be better.
mfinnerty
Explorer
Dec 08, 2016
bgradert wrote:

I was debating going to the Outer Banks or Ludington Michigan and watching your review video, I think we will go to Michigan!

Wind, mosquitos, dirty beaches......!:(

Keep in mind Ludington also can have Wind, mosquitos, dirty beaches......! Almost forgot black flies.

We love Ludington when we can get reservations. We also enjoyed the OBX. We stayed at Ocean Waves as a base camp to explore north and south.
bgradert
Explorer
Dec 09, 2016
mfinnerty wrote:
bgradert wrote:

I was debating going to the Outer Banks or Ludington Michigan and watching your review video, I think we will go to Michigan!

Wind, mosquitos, dirty beaches......!:(

Keep in mind Ludington also can have Wind, mosquitos, dirty beaches......! Almost forgot black flies.

We love Ludington when we can get reservations. We also enjoyed the OBX. We stayed at Ocean Waves as a base camp to explore north and south.

Both look nice. Can't go wrong either way!

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