Beach front vacation ideas

[Headed_West]

The DW and I are trying to plan our fall vacation. We are wanting a beach vacation by the ocean within 2 days drive from Indianapolis. We are considering Hilton Head but the reviews about the island and big trucks ive read do not sound good. Does anyone have other places or spots next to the ocean they can recommend? We are trying to avoid driving all the way to Florida. Mobile Alabama is also up for consideration.

[CharlesinGA]

Don't bother with Hilton Head. I was over there years ago and aside from a small public beach, the rest of the island was controlled by private, restricted developments. I was over there last year for an afternoon to pick up a Leer topper that a guy was selling and its worse now that it was. Its not the kind of place I would want to vacation or live.

Much of the Florida Panhandle is still in good shape, Hurricane Michael got everything from Tyndall AFB at Panama City, over to Port St Joe, but the rest of it was either not affected or has already recovered.

Oddly everything is the same distance, Dauphin Island, Ft Pickens, and Hilton Head (via I-40 over the Smokies) is 765 miles from the point on the south side of Indy I picked. Hilton Head is 810 miles if you go thru Atlanta to avoid the smokies.

I was at Dauphin Island Alabama, at the mouth of Mobile Bay, last fall, and was quite happy with the visit. (765 mi from the south side of Indy) Depends on what you like to do, but the city owned campground is nice (but could stand some minor things like getting rid of a couple of derelict city trucks that hadn't moved in years, and fixing a couple of issues with their very nice brand new restrooms and showers (water runs out of the shower into the dressing area of the stall). Across the street is the ferry terminal. For $5 you can (on foot or bicycle) ride across Mobile bay and back, and while on the other side, visit Ft Morgan. Just past the campground is Ft Gaines, which is also a nice visit, and also across from the campground is the Estuarium, a very nice aquarium focused on the bay and marine estuary environment of the bay. Adjacent to the campground is a 100 acre Audubon Wildlife and Bird Sanctuary with lots of walking trails and signage. Plus there is a nice beach and pier for fishing.

There is also some good seafood eating on the island.

You also have the Battleship Alabama and associated aircraft and ship displays you can visit on the way down, plus other historical venues such as Bellingrath Gardens.

https://bellingrath.org/

https://www.ussalabama.com/

http://www.gulfquest.org/

http://colonialmobile.com/

https://dauphinisland.org/

http://estuarium.disl.org/

http://mobilebayferry.com/schedule/

http://fort-morgan.org/

Charles

[spoon059]

Deleware Seashore State Park is right by the ocean, and right on the Indian River Inlet. The park itself isn't much, but the location is great. No trees, you are out in the sun. Easy access to ocean, river and nearby beach towns.

Cape Henlopen State Park is a little further north on the Atlantic Ocean by the Deleware Bay. Nicer park like setting nestled in pine trees. A little longer walk (couple minutes) to the water, but easy access.

Camp Hatteras in NC is pretty nice. We are going there next year, but a camping friend was there last year. The ocean is literally on the other side of the dune from the campground. Again... no trees in the summer.

[1jeep]

all campgrounds are becoming hard to get into unless you book a year out or if it is a not so desirable place.

[Headed_West]

TheLuvShack wrote:
Panhandle is 800 miles from Indy. Easy two day drive. Checkout Camping on the Gulf Destin. Right on beach. Sites are small. Try Top Sail Hill Santa Rosa Beach about 10 miles east of Destin. Sites are spacious. Beach is about 1/4 mile away. Bike or ride shuttle to beach. Get your reservations now! Best of luck.

WOW Gulf Destin only shows 2 sites available for our dates in October.Must be a popular camp ground. It looks beautiful.

[Headed_West]

By the looks of it I need to start looking at the Outer Banks. Cape Hatteras looks really nice.

[Veebyes]

I always get a kick when y'all are comparing beaches. We have been to Myrtle, OBX & Assateague National Seashore. They all help me appreciate how good I have it right at home.


Click For Full-Size Image.


Click For Full-Size Image.

Can't get here in the RV but can in our little boat in the background

[RGar974417]

Here are some of our favorites.Assateague National Park. One state park campground with one loop of electric. National park has several loops. No hookups but they allow some generator use in certain loops. Cape Hatteras national Park has 4 campgrounds. The one at Oregon Inlet has some water and electric sites. We liked their Frisco Campground. No hookups but generator use is allowed. Hungtington Beach State Park in South Carolina.Most sites are water and electric but they do have some FHU too. They have a very good nature program with walks on the beach or programs in the lodge. You can also visit Atalaya,home of the former owners. They have a nice campstore and short walk to the beach. You are right down the road from Murrel's Inlet. They have some nice restaurants like Drunken Jacks.

[ken56]

I like either the Outer Banks or the Gulf Coast. Both offer a good beach experience. The other factors like what are your interests and how much civilization do you want to be in/near. Plenty of campground choices either place you go.

[ken56]

huachuca wrote:
I'm from NC so a bit prejudiced but would also suggest our Outer Banks. Lots of options for both private and public campgrounds between Nags Head and Ocracoke.

If you want a truly unique experience, consider spending a couple of nights at the end of your visit in one of the Park Service cabins on Portsmouth Island (Cape Lookout National Seashore). You can take your F250 over on a private ferry and have twenty miles of uninhabited beach to share with just a few other folks. Be glad to answer any questions if you're interested.

Park Service Cabins



I've stayed in those cabins. Very rustic. Don't look for luxury in those cabins. It was a fantastic fishing trip though and I did enjoy myself there. Great place.

Ocean view from cabin deck (island is maybe 1/4 mile wide here)

[Crowe]

Love OBX but love Myrtle Beach more. Nicer beach, lots of other things to do in the area.

[Airdaile]

Maryland/Delaware shore rarely gets mentioned but is closer than the OBX and just as nice. Delaware Shores SP in Bethany Beach, Castaways in Ocean City and Assategue SP or NP are all very nice ocean front places. We did the Chesapeake Bay side for a week at Roaring Point in Nanticoke and it was very relaxing. Water view from all sites.

HHI is nice but you have to bike/drive to the best beaches. Also, they have some strange sign ordinance that doesn't allow you to see where the stores are from the street. We did a lot of u-turning there.

[huachuca]

I'm from NC so a bit prejudiced but would also suggest our Outer Banks. Lots of options for both private and public campgrounds between Nags Head and Ocracoke.

If you want a truly unique experience, consider spending a couple of nights at the end of your visit in one of the Park Service cabins on Portsmouth Island (Cape Lookout National Seashore). You can take your F250 over on a private ferry and have twenty miles of uninhabited beach to share with just a few other folks. Be glad to answer any questions if you're interested.

Park Service Cabins


Ocean view from cabin deck (island is maybe 1/4 mile wide here)

[TheLuvShack]

Panhandle is 800 miles from Indy. Easy two day drive. Checkout Camping on the Gulf Destin. Right on beach. Sites are small. Try Top Sail Hill Santa Rosa Beach about 10 miles east of Destin. Sites are spacious. Beach is about 1/4 mile away. Bike or ride shuttle to beach. Get your reservations now! Best of luck.

[1jeep]

LOVE the outerbanks! we stayed at the KOA over there a few years ago, planning to go back sometime. June we are doing Hilton head, but are planning some day trips on the motorcycle, will avoid driving the truck in towns such as Savanah GA.
Another place we have been is Ocean City MD, big beach tourist area, no problems with trucks. The only issue we have seen with Myrtle beach is many campgrounds dont allow motorcycles,

[Whammon1]

I second the Outer Banks of NC. Fall is a great time of year to visit. Always plenty to do and see. Great places to eat.