Stargazing

Oak Island Campground

52 RV Sites, 2 Onsite RV/Trailers

The Brunswick County coast delivers sun, sand, and Southern charm, and Oak Island Campground puts campers within one mile of it all. Positioned in Southport, North Carolina — a postcard-pretty waterfront town just south of Wilmington — the campground bridges the best of both worlds: uncrowded family beaches on one side and a walkable historic downtown on the other. With a trolley stop on the property, guests can reach Oak Island's sandy shore and Southport's shops and restaurants without ever moving the rig, making this a particularly practical base for families who would rather spend time at the beach than shuttling between parking lots. The campground hosts 51 full-hookup sites with 30- and 50-amp electric service, water, and sewer connections, and pull-through options accommodate big rigs up to 50 feet. A two-story pavilion with ample seating serves as the social heart of the property, and community fire pits, outdoor ping pong, and a dog park give everyone room to spread out between beach runs. Practical amenities — Wi-Fi, on-site laundry with washers and dryers, and clean bathhouses — keep longer stays comfortable, while a camper storage facility less than a quarter mile away handles oversized gear and boats between visits. Oak Island itself stretches nearly 14 miles of Atlantic coastline with uncrowded beaches and calm, family-friendly surf backed by maritime forests of live oaks and sea oats that provide habitat for shorebirds and loggerhead sea turtles during nesting season. Anglers can drop lines from the Oak Island Pier, one of the longest on the North Carolina coast, while kayakers and stand-up paddleboarders enjoy the calmer waters of the Intracoastal Waterway on the island's north side. Multi-use paths trace the island from end to end, making cycling a practical way to cover ground between beach access points without a car. Southport, three miles from camp, rewards an afternoon stroll with a waterfront promenade, eclectic dining, and the North Carolina Maritime Museum at Southport. The ferry from Southport to Bald Head Island runs year-round, putting that car-free, golf-cart island within easy reach for a day trip. For a genuine adrenaline jolt, Skydive Coastal Carolinas operates adjacent to the campground and offers tandem jumps with ocean views. The North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher, about 25 miles north, and the historic districts of Wilmington round out the regional options for days when the beach takes a back seat. The campground operates year-round, with spring and fall offering mild temperatures ideal for cycling and exploring Cape Fear's historic sites without peak-season crowds. Summer brings full beach season — arrive during turtle watch weeks in July and August for a chance to witness hatchlings making their way to the sea. Winter stays are quieter, popular with snowbirds and those looking for an off-season retreat along the Carolina coast. Book well ahead for summer and holiday weekends; the combination of beach access and on-site trolley convenience keeps Oak Island Campground in high demand throughout the season.

from $77/night

Dogwood Family Campground

52 RV Sites

Dogwood Family Campground in Newport, North Carolina, offers 52 full-hookup RV sites with 20, 30, and 50-amp service and rigs accepted up to 110 feet on a big-rig-friendly layout — one of the most generous length allowances on the Crystal Coast. Sites are numbered individually, including pond and pond view categories, on a Dark Sky Friendly property open all year. Fifty-two sites carry water, sewer, and electric on 20, 30, and 50-amp in back-in and pull-through configurations, sized to 110 feet, with site WiFi. Categories are listed site by site — including pond back-ins and pond view back-ins — so you can pick your exact spot rather than a general type. RV storage, firewood, and a playground handle the practical side. The property is deliberately quiet and dark. A pond sits on the grounds for fishing, walking trails run the coastal plain forest, and corn hole and birding fill the rest. The Dark Sky Friendly designation is the distinguishing feature — genuine stargazing on a coast where light pollution usually washes it out. Pets are welcome. Newport sits at the inland edge of the Crystal Coast in Carteret County, which gives the campground unusual dual access: the Croatan National Forest's freshwater recreation and wildlife begin immediately north, while Beaufort's waterfront and the Cape Lookout National Seashore's barrier island beaches are 15 minutes east. A beach and state park are nearby. Open year-round, with summer beach traffic the peak and mild shoulder seasons drawing steady demand. Reserve ahead for warm-weather weekends.

from $67/night

Outside Inn Campground

Immerse yourself in farm life while you camp at Outside Inn Campground, a one-of-a-kind getaway in Santee, South Carolina, near beautiful Lake Marion. Nestled on 55 acres of peaceful countryside, our family-friendly campground offers 25 full hook-up RV sites, glamping accommodations, complimentary Wi-Fi, and nearly 2 miles of scenic walking trails. What makes Outside Inn special is our interactive farm experience, where guests can meet and enjoy friendly animals, including our beloved Highland cow, goats, sheep, pigs, rabbits, and chickens. Whether you're looking to slow down, reconnect with nature, or create unforgettable family memories, there's something for everyone to enjoy. From relaxing around the campsite to exploring the farm and surrounding attractions, Outside Inn is the perfect place to unplug, unwind, and experience the charm of country living. Join us year-round and discover why so many guests return to make lasting memories at Outside Inn Campground.

from $45/night

Frisco Oceanfront RV Resort

On Hatteras Island in Frisco, North Carolina—on the Outer Banks barrier island chain where the Atlantic Ocean and Pamlico Sound converge in the most dynamic and powerful coastal environment on the East Coast, adjacent to Cape Hatteras National Seashore's 70 miles of wild beach, the most powerful natural lighthouse in the country, and the surf break that has made Hatteras Island a nationally recognized destination for windsurfers, kiteboarders, and the serious surf fishing community—Frisco Oceanfront RV Resort opened July 1, 2026, as Hatteras Island's newest oceanfront RV option with sites steps from the Atlantic and complimentary Avon Pier sightseeing passes included with every reservation. Oceanfront and non-oceanfront RV sites alongside four two-bedroom cabins bring new camping capacity to the island's most desirable coastal stretch. RV sites in both oceanfront and non-oceanfront configurations provide direct Cape Hatteras National Seashore access across the dune line that separates the campground from the Atlantic's open beach. Four two-bedroom cabins with kitchenettes and living rooms with pull-out couches provide the enclosed accommodation option for guests who want the Hatteras Island experience with weather protection and cooking facilities. All guests share access to the resort pool, a bathhouse with hot showers, a dog park, and laundry facilities, and complimentary high-speed WiFi covers the property. Complimentary Avon Pier sightseeing passes—included with the room rate—give guests access to one of the Outer Banks' most storied fishing piers with the kind of value-added amenity that makes comparing per-night rates against competing properties incomplete without accounting for the pass. The resort's inaugural 2026 season runs from July 1 through mid-December. Cape Hatteras National Seashore—the first national seashore designated in the United States system, encompassing 70 miles of barrier island beach from Whalebone Junction to Ocracoke—provides the beach access context that makes Hatteras Island camping worth the specific drive to the Outer Banks rather than a closer mainland campground. The beach is wide, wild, vehicular-access-friendly for those with oversand permits, and productive for the surf fishing that targets red drum, bluefish, and Spanish mackerel in the seasonal runs that bring anglers from across the Atlantic Coast specifically to the Cape Hatteras point. The Cape Hatteras Lighthouse—the tallest lighthouse in the United States at 198 feet, moved 2,900 feet back from the eroding shoreline in 1999 in the largest lighthouse relocation in history—provides the architectural landmark that defines Hatteras Island's visual identity. The lighthouse is open for climbing during the summer season, with the Atlantic panorama from the top delivering what the barrier island's geography looks like at altitude. The Hatteras-Ocracoke Ferry, departing from the inlet community at the island's southern tip, provides free vehicular transport to Ocracoke Island—the most remote and least commercially developed of the Outer Banks communities—for the day trip that most Hatteras Island visitors consider essential. Frisco Oceanfront RV Resort operates through mid-December in its inaugural season, with the full summer and fall shoulder season constituting the operational calendar. Hatteras Island's fall season—when the red drum runs peak and the crowds thin relative to summer's peak occupancy—represents the best value and some of the finest surf fishing conditions of the year. Reserve your oceanfront site, pick up the oversand vehicle permit for beach access, and let Cape Hatteras National Seashore deliver the Outer Banks experience at its most elemental and storm-sculpted.

from $65/night