North Carolina Ocean Campgrounds.

[fj12ryder]

I've done a RV.net Search for North Carolina Beach Campgrounds, Ocean Campgrounds, and just plain North Carolina Campgrounds and have gotten zero results. I'm not sure what the problem is.

Anyway we are planning a trip to North Carolina and the Outer Banks area: Hatteras, Nags Head, etc.

We are planning on being there around September 19th with our 40' toyhauler. My question:

Would you who have camped there and enjoyed it recommend someplace to stay for a week or so. I've been to RVParkReviews and found some places that look good, but some actual experiences would be greatly appreciated.

Any and all responses will be received with gratitude. TIA.

[bee_46]

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.

[huachuca]

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.

[fj12ryder]

Thanks PackerBacker, that looks like a very handy website.

Green Bay fan perhaps? 🙂

[Community Alumni]

Try this, it's part of the Allstays websites;

http://www.allstays.com/Campgrounds/North-Carolina-campground-map.htm

[wbwood]

K Charles wrote:
Carolina Beach State Park isn't on the beach, or at least not on the ocean.
If you want to lay on the beach you better pick a different state.

Totally wrong about the laying on the beach part...

But on a note about Carolina Beach State Park, they are adding hookups to a few sites this year. If I remember correctly, 8 of them.

[fj12ryder]

Not an issue with us either. We'll unload the bikes and do our main traveling on them.

[Stefonius]

fj12ryder wrote:
Thanks Stefonius, I had actually looked at that one too, but at first glance it looked like they really shoe-horned the trailers in with not very much room between trailers. Guess I will need to give it another look.

Well, you're not wrong. There's probably 10 feet of space to either side of you. You can certainly put out your awning and spend time relaxing outside if you wish, but the point of being at OBX is not to hang out at the CG. I like that it's close to all of the things I go down to OBX for. It's a short walk to the ocean and to several restaurants.

I have a 36' fifth wheel, so I can drop the trailer and go out in my truck to any place I choose. I might feel differently about the CG if I had a Class C and no toad.

[fj12ryder]

Thanks Stefonius, I had actually looked at that one too, but at first glance it looked like they really shoe-horned the trailers in with not very much room between trailers. Guess I will need to give it another look.

[Stefonius]

I'm partial to Kitty Hawk RV Park in Kitty Hawk. They're between the Beach Road and the Bypass at MP 4.5, and there are no houses across the beach road from them, so they have direct beach access. Friendly folks, too. The place does not have amenities, but if you're going to OBX, you're not going for the park, you're going for the beach, the shopping and the dining.

[fj12ryder]

Ah, now this is one of the reasons I hang out on RV.net a fair amount of time: much very helpful information, with the odd man out of course. 🙂

Special thanks to Pulsar. I've been checking those campgrounds out on Google Earth and had come to the conclusion that they looked to be the best of the bunch. Nice to hear that I may have guessed correctly. 🙂

And Campinghoss for the info about booking quite a ways in advance. I was assuming that we would need to book pretty far in the future. It would seem to me that beachfront camping is pretty popular and needs some advance planning.

Thank you all very much for your input. First hand info about the camping in an area is a real plus with this forum. Thanks again, and keep 'em coming. 🙂

[wlstroud]

We enjoy Camp Hatteras. Beautiful sunrises over the ocean and spectacular sunsets over the sound. The campground has sites on both the ocean side and sound side of Highway 12. The beach is just "a dune" away from the campground sites.

[Crowe]

If you want to lay on the beach you better pick a different state.

Huh? See above comments about campgrounds. Our preference is Camp Hatteras.

[NCWriter]

We had a good experience at Ocean Waves and, as noted, the price is good for camping by the Atlantic.

We also like the National Park Service campground on Ocracoke Island with many sites by the dunes (no hookups.) To reach Ocracoke, take a free 30-min. ferry from Hatteras (or a longer, fee-charged state ferry from the mainland if you are working your way up the Banks from south to north.)

[Campinghoss]

We have been going to Rodanthe for decades. All our kids are grown and gone so we always go to Ocean Waves. This campground is on the ocean side, privately owned and extremely dog friendly if that interest you. I have stayed at the KOA, Camp Hatteras, Sands of Time in Avon, NC and a few others that are now gone. O. Waves has my vote for being the best overall.

For your info, if O. Waves interest you call now as they stay booked all the time. The KOA does have a lot more things for kids to do with Camp Hatteras next. O. Waves is about half the cost of the other two.

[Shot-N-Az]

I'm sitting at Camp Hatteras as I type this. We love this place. I really don't understand the comment above about not being able to lay on the beach in NC. It's simply not true.

There's also a campground on the beach in Emerald Isle NC. Holiday Trav-L-Park. Great place.