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.

[Airdaile]

Cool. Make sure you visit The Donut Hole for Sunday breakfast.

[Headed_West]

Update......
We got the last site at Camp Gulf in Destin FL. Thank's everyone for your posts. I now have a lot of places I have added to the bucket list.

Looking forward to a warm beach vacation in the fall.

[charming]

sgfrye wrote:
we live in north carolina and fortunate to have the mountains and coast to enjoy. fall is great weather here. love the outerbanks and there are options for oceanfront but keep in mind there will be a large sand dune that will probably block a ground level view of the beach and surf. we stayed at koa cape hatteras last year with a site against the dunes and not only could hear the waves from the camper, was about a 30 second walk thru walkway over dune onto beach. in november the campground was maybe 1/4 full. outerbanks are great to get away and relax. very quiet and peaceful. myrtle beach area and south is different but good also. the private camgrounds will have close together sites but may not be bad in fall. myrtle beach state park and huntington beach state park just south of myrtle beach can't be beat. short walk to the beach from campsites. more to do in those areas away from the campground. book out several months if you can because these 2 parks are popular year round. snow birds... wife and i were at huntington beach state park 2 weeks ago for a long weekend and the park was probably 80 to 90 percent full.

Good to know about the KOA.

^^ about Huntington being booked. We were trying to get a spot for a few days last spring and could not get into a full service space, that was before the new area opened at the south end.

[sgfrye]

we live in north carolina and fortunate to have the mountains and coast to enjoy. fall is great weather here. love the outerbanks and there are options for oceanfront but keep in mind there will be a large sand dune that will probably block a ground level view of the beach and surf. we stayed at koa cape hatteras last year with a site against the dunes and not only could hear the waves from the camper, was about a 30 second walk thru walkway over dune onto beach. in november the campground was maybe 1/4 full. outerbanks are great to get away and relax. very quiet and peaceful. myrtle beach area and south is different but good also. the private camgrounds will have close together sites but may not be bad in fall. myrtle beach state park and huntington beach state park just south of myrtle beach can't be beat. short walk to the beach from campsites. more to do in those areas away from the campground. book out several months if you can because these 2 parks are popular year round. snow birds... wife and i were at huntington beach state park 2 weeks ago for a long weekend and the park was probably 80 to 90 percent full.

[cindik]

Ft. Pickens is a good choice, just the drive to the campground is beautiful. Henderson Beach or Topsail Hill both have beautiful beaches, although I know you didn’t want to drive to Fl.

[jplante4]

I cannot edit your post. Quote this post and see how I reduced the OP's pic.

[Busskipper]

jplante4 wrote:

Busskipper wrote:
Deleted

Tried to get the photo to fit.

Put width=640 before the end tag

:S

Could you insert it into Post 8 and 11:)

I tried to no avail.

Page one of this thread is VERY LARGE,

:R

[jplante4]

Busskipper wrote:
Deleted

Tried to get the photo to fit.

Put width=640 before the end tag

[Lantley]

Airdaile wrote:

Lantley wrote:
MD/DE will not be warm in the fall.

I guess that depends on your definition of warm. The OP is from Indiana.

yes I understand they're varying definitions of warm.but it's just as easy for the OP to get to the Panhandle beaches,
or the South Carolina beaches where his chances of finding warm are much better.
I'm in Maryland I know the OP can do better than MD warm.
I enjoy Maryland and Delaware beaches very much however in the fallor early spring I will leave and drive to the Carolinas for warmer weather.
coming from Indiana is just as easy to reach the Carolinas as it is to reach Maryland.the Panhandle is a little farther but the warm weather reward is even greater.:D

[Busskipper]

Deleted

Tried to get the photo to fit.

[Airdaile]

Lantley wrote:
MD/DE will not be warm in the fall.

I guess that depends on your definition of warm. The OP is from Indiana.

[Lantley]

If I'm driving 800 miles or so to the beach. My first priority would be for it to be at least a little warm. MD/DE will not be warm in the fall. North Carolina will most likely be OK but still a little cool.
I would shoot for Myrtle Beach or the panhandle. Hilton Head will also be warm.
Based on the time of year. I would choose the easiest drive between Myrtle vs. the panhandle area.

[donut_dave]

I vote for cape hatteras. you won't be disappointed. plenty of activities near the north end. relax and beach on the rest. be sure to book a ferry back to the mainland from Ocracoke.

[CharlesinGA]

Another option is Ft. Pickens-Gulf Islands National Seashore at Pensacola. The drive is same distance as to Dauphin Island. I have been there several times and the beaches are fantastic, and again, some good seafood eating (I am not, however, a seafood person).

Lots of stuff to see and do in the area, including the Naval Aviation Museum at Sherman Field-Pensacola NAS. Near the museum is Big Lagoon State Park which is good camping and walking trails, and easy access to Johnson Beach, also part of the Gulf Islands National Seashore.

If you have an America the Beautiful Pass or Senior pass, you will save the $20 fee at Pickens and Johnson Beach.

Charles