When most people think of camping in North Carolina, images of mountainsides, lakes or streams come to mind. After all, North Carolina hosts some of the most beautiful mountain sites in the country. But North Carolina also boasts more than 300 miles of coastline and within that expanse a handful of beaches permit on-beach camping. Read below to find the best beach camping in North Carolina.
Decide what you want from your beach camping experience, whether it is camping directly on the beach or being protected by the dunes, whether it is roughing it or having access to toilets and cold water showers. North Carolina beach camping offers it all.
Choose camping on the Cape Lookout National Seashore if you want to rough it. Four uninhabited barrier islands, Cape Lookout has no designated campgrounds and no amenities, meaning you can camp right next to the ocean. You must bring everything you need and a camping permit is required.
Pick Frisco Campground, located in the Cape Hatteras National Seashore, for camping in rolling dunes. Nearby activities include surf fishing, beach combing, kayaking and lighthouse exploring. While the campsites are picturesque, you must deal with harsh sun, winds, sand and mosquitoes. These sites are first come, first served.
Give Oregon Inlet Campgrounds a try if you are looking for amenities such as water, cold showers, toilets, picnic tables and charcoal grills but no utility hookups. Most campsites are on the sand with no shade and they don't take reservations. This site is a great alternative to those looking for a less rustic experience.
Travel by ferry to Ocracoke Island for a scenic, 1950s fishing village feel. While the 137 site campground is nothing to write home about, the island is charming. Camping sites lie behind the dunes, away from the Atlantic, on a flat stretch. Here you can make reservations, then explore the development free beach, nearby wild pony pen and the quaint island.
