State Park Nearby

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

The Lakes RV & Cabin Resort

49 RV Sites, 5 Cabins, 4 Tent Sites

The Lakes RV and Cabin Resort in Maysville, North Carolina, offers new cabin accommodations, modern RV sites, and tent sites in Jones County's coastal plain — a versatile camping destination in the eastern North Carolina lowcountry positioned midway between the Croatan National Forest's freshwater lakes and the Crystal Coast's ocean beaches at Emerald Isle and Atlantic Beach, giving guests access to two distinct and compelling natural environments from a single inland base that serves the full range of coastal-plain outdoor recreation without the beach corridor's summer accommodation premium. New cabins with full hookups or full amenities, modern RV sites, and tent sites give the resort the accommodation breadth to serve family groups, solo travelers, and camping parties with widely varying equipment situations and overnight comfort preferences. The resort's family-oriented and welcoming atmosphere reflects a property built for the full spectrum of camping guests from first-timers in borrowed gear to experienced RV travelers with specific hookup requirements. The Jones County location in the eastern North Carolina coastal plain gives the resort the rural quiet and forest edge character that the more densely developed coast communities cannot provide at comparable price points. The Croatan National Forest, wrapping around the Maysville area in Jones and Craven Counties, protects 160,000 acres of coastal plain pocosins — the nutrient-poor, evergreen shrub wetlands unique to the Atlantic coastal plain that sustain an unusual combination of insectivorous plants (Venus flytraps, pitcher plants, sundews), black bears, red-cockaded woodpeckers, and the specific backcountry character of a forest type found nowhere else in the world. Patsy Pond, Great Lake, and the other freshwater lakes within the Croatan provide fishing and paddling access to a coastal plain lake system of striking natural quality. Jacksonville, 10 miles south of Maysville in Onslow County, anchors the regional service infrastructure that Jones County's small towns complement with rural character — restaurants, shopping, medical services, and the Camp Lejeune-sustained commercial economy of a major Marine Corps installation community give Jacksonville the urban services that extended eastern North Carolina stays require. The Crystal Coast's Emerald Isle, Swansboro, and Atlantic Beach communities lie 30 to 40 miles southeast, providing the barrier island ocean beach access that the Croatan National Forest's inland camping experience intentionally omits but that the resort's geographic position makes readily accessible for day trips. The Lakes RV and Cabin Resort serves guests year-round in eastern North Carolina's mild coastal plain climate, where the proximity to the Atlantic's moderating influence keeps both winter and summer temperatures more comfortable than inland North Carolina locations at equivalent latitudes. The spring and fall seasons from April through May and September through October represent the most comfortable camping weather and the best Croatan National Forest hiking and paddling conditions, while summer brings the ocean beach activity that the Crystal Coast's barrier island communities specifically sustain. Reserve cabins ahead for summer weekends when the Crystal Coast regional campground inventory fills from the Raleigh-Durham and Piedmont Triad markets that make the North Carolina coast their primary summer beach destination.

from $41/night

Dixon Landing RV Resort

28 RV Sites

On 130 acres of serene wooded land along Goose Creek in Pamlico County, North Carolina, Dixon Landing RV Resort offers a waterfront retreat that combines the tranquility of the Inner Coastal Plain with over 2,000 feet of creek frontage opening toward the broad Neuse River estuary. Located just 20 minutes from the historic river town of New Bern, the resort delivers full hookup RV sites and a natural setting rarely matched along the North Carolina coast—and its 2025 Campspot Award for "Top for a Quiet Getaway" signals that guests have noticed. For travelers who find the barrier island crowds too much, Dixon Landing is the quiet alternative. Sites provide 30 and 50-amp hookups with sewer and water, along with picnic tables and fire rings that invite lingering. A small dock and boat ramp give watercraft access to Goose Creek and, beyond it, the Neuse River and the vast waters of the Pamlico Sound. Kayak, paddleboard, and canoe rentals allow guests to explore the creek system without trailering their own boats. A clubhouse, camp store with snack bar, dog walk and dog park, laundry, and showers cover the essential amenities, while horseshoes, cornhole, bocce ball, and lawn games provide recreational entertainment between water excursions. Hiking and biking trails thread through the wooded property. Goose Creek's blackwater currents reflect the classic character of eastern North Carolina's coastal plain drainages—tannin-dark, slow-moving, and bordered by bald cypress, water tupelo, and sweetgum in a riverine forest that shelters river otters, wood ducks, and great blue herons in surprising numbers. The creek widens toward its confluence with the Neuse, where the views open to marshland and sky and the scale of the Pamlico Sound ecosystem becomes apparent. Osprey and bald eagles patrol the water year-round, and the spring and fall migrations bring wading birds, shorebirds, and waterfowl to the marshes and creek margins in impressive concentrations. New Bern, the colonial capital of North Carolina and birthplace of Pepsi-Cola, offers a beautifully preserved historic downtown centered on the remarkable Tryon Palace complex—the restored Royal Governor's Palace and formal gardens that rank among the finest colonial restoration projects in the country. The North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores, on the Bogue Sound side of Bogue Banks, provides an excellent introduction to the coastal ecosystem. Beaufort and Morehead City are accessible for ocean fishing charters, ferry trips to Cape Lookout National Seashore, and waterfront dining that takes full advantage of North Carolina's outstanding local seafood. Dixon Landing operates year-round, with spring and fall offering the most comfortable temperatures for kayaking the creek and exploring the estuarine wetlands. Summer is warm and humid but productive for fishing, and the resort's wooded setting provides meaningful shade. The quiet character of Goose Creek and the surrounding Pamlico County landscape makes this an ideal destination for those who define a great camping trip by the absence of crowds rather than the abundance of amenities. Reserve your waterfront site at Dixon Landing RV Resort and discover North Carolina's Inner Coast at its most peaceful and unspoiled.

from $40/night

Oceans RV Resort

193 RV Sites, 10 Cottages

Oceans RV Resort in Holly Ridge, North Carolina, offers 193 full-hookup RV sites and 10 cottages on the Onslow County coastal plain, with 30 and 50-amp service, open all year. Deluxe exterior sites with extended yard and parking join interior and exterior standard and Plus categories, with a pool, fitness center, bar, and boat storage. One hundred ninety-three sites span exterior standard, exterior Plus with extra parking, interior standard, interior Plus with extra parking, and deluxe exterior with extended yard and parking categories, all carrying water, sewer, and electric on 30 and 50-amp with site WiFi, with fire pits and picnic tables. Naming categories by position and by how much parking and yard you get is unusually practical — extra vehicle space matters if you are towing a boat or traveling with a second car. Ten cottages and cabins round out the lodging. A general store, laundry, restrooms, showers, RV storage, and boat storage handle the practical side. An outdoor pool anchors the warm months, with a fitness center, sports courts, pickleball, basketball, corn hole, a pond, playground, dog park, and bar filling the grounds. Fishing, swimming, and picnicking round it out, with planned activities through the season and a beach, golf course, and wine tasting nearby. Pets are welcome. Holly Ridge sits within reach of the Topsail Island beaches and the Crystal Coast's barrier islands, with Camp Lejeune and the region's military heritage close by. Summer beach season drives the heaviest demand on the southern North Carolina coast. Reserve well ahead.

from $67/night

Natures Trace Park

17 RV Sites, 4 Cabins, 1 Tent Site, 4 Onsite RV/Trailers, 1 Apartment, 2 Tiny Houses

In the quiet coastal plain of Pamlico County in eastern North Carolina, Natures Trace Park offers a gated, big-rig-friendly RV and tiny home community that puts serious fishing, hunting, and coastal waterway access within five minutes of the front gate. Located near Bayboro on the Bay River arm of the Pamlico Sound estuary system, the park serves outdoor-focused travelers who prioritize direct water access, guided experience options, and a secure and well-managed facility. If your trip is organized around the rod and the boat ramp, Natures Trace is built for exactly that. Full hookup sites accommodate big rigs with ease, and the gated entrance ensures a private and secure environment throughout the property. Cabin rentals provide a comfortable alternative for guests who prefer not to set up a rig for longer stays. A community fire pit and well-maintained pavilion create gathering spaces, and a general store, on-site laundry, and dedicated RV and boat storage mean the practical logistics of an extended fishing or hunting trip are well handled on-site. Fishing guides are available through partnerships with local outfitters, with discounted rates for park guests seeking guided access to the region's exceptional coastal fisheries. A storm shelter is available for guests during severe weather events, and the dog park accommodates the sporting dogs that often accompany serious hunting visitors. The Pamlico Sound estuary system surrounding Bayboro is one of the most productive inshore fishing environments on the entire East Coast. The Bay River, just five minutes from the park, provides boat ramp access to a waterway network that extends into the Pamlico Sound—the largest lagoon on the East Coast and one of the most significant marine ecosystems in the Mid-Atlantic region. Striped bass, flounder, speckled trout, red drum, and bluefish populate these waters in numbers that attract serious anglers from well beyond the region. The coastal wetlands and tidal marshes bordering the sound are equally productive for waterfowl and shorebird observation, and duck hunting in the surrounding private lands is well-established. Bayboro and Pamlico County sit on the Inner Banks of North Carolina, a less-touristed zone between the Piedmont and the Outer Banks that offers genuine coastal character without the summer crowds of the barrier islands. The town of Oriental—known as the sailing capital of North Carolina—is a short drive from the park and provides excellent dining, a vibrant sailing community, and a working waterfront atmosphere. New Bern, the first colonial capital of North Carolina, is within easy reach for a day of history and the handsome restored downtown on the Trent and Neuse Rivers. The Outer Banks beaches are accessible for a longer day trip for those who want to add Gulf Stream fishing or ocean beach time. Natures Trace Park operates year-round in the moderate climate of coastal North Carolina, where mild winters make it a viable destination for snowbirds and year-round anglers alike. The fishing calendar runs through every month, with different target species at their peak across the seasons, ensuring that guests who return in different months find the experience genuinely varied. Reserve your site, arrange a guided trip through the park's outfitter partnerships, and discover why the Pamlico Sound country is one of the East Coast's best-kept fishing and wildlife secrets.

from $40/night

Cedar Island Ranch

60 RV Sites, 15 Tent Sites

If there's a more unspoiled corner of the North Carolina coast than Cedar Island, it's a well-kept secret. Cedar Island Ranch sits at the edge of the Pamlico Sound, where miles of undeveloped barrier beach stretch to the horizon and the salt air carries a wildness that feels entirely different from the crowded resort towns to the north. This is the kind of place that resets your clock and reminds you why people first fell in love with the outdoors — raw, genuine, and unforgettable. Sixty RV sites line the property, with 17 offering direct waterfront frontage on the Pamlico Sound and twelve pull-through sites facing Cedar Island beach with sweeping views across the water. Five primitive tent sites sit directly on the beach itself. For those who want more comfort without sacrificing the setting, the ranch offers newly renovated two-bedroom suites and motel-style rooms, making Cedar Island Ranch a place that welcomes every kind of traveler. Electric and water hookups are available, and a full bathhouse provides hot showers after long days outdoors. The heart of Cedar Island Ranch is its horseback riding program. Guided beach rides along miles of pristine, undisturbed shoreline require no experience — wranglers lead guests of all ages through the waves, past wildlife habitat, and across barrier island landscapes that have changed little since the Spanish first explored this coast. Beyond horses, the ranch offers kayak, paddleboard, and canoe rentals for exploring the sound. Fishing from the private boat launch is a daily ritual for many guests. A fenced dog park, volleyball court, community fire pit, and children's playground round out the on-site recreation. Cedar Island's location makes it an exceptional base for exploring the Outer Banks. The Cedar Island Ferry terminal — right at the property's doorstep — carries passengers and vehicles across to Ocracoke Island, putting Cape Hatteras National Seashore within reach for day trips or multi-day adventures. Back on the mainland, the Crystal Coast's beaches, seafood shacks, and maritime heritage sites lie within driving range. The North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores and the historic waterfront of Beaufort — one of the state's most charming colonial-era towns — are both well worth a day trip from this base. Cedar Island Ranch is open year-round, and every season brings its own character. Summer brings warm water and full days on the beach. Fall and spring offer quieter stays with exceptional fishing and birdwatching as migratory species move through. Winter brings a solitude that's increasingly rare on the Atlantic Coast. Whether you arrive for a single night or settle in for a week, Cedar Island Ranch delivers a coastal experience that's difficult to replicate anywhere else. Reservations are strongly recommended in the busy summer months. Cedar Island Ranch is a rare thing — a place that genuinely deserves the word unspoiled — and the guests who find it tend to return every year with good reason.

Cotton Patch Landing

3 RV Sites, 5 Cabins, 1 Tent Site, 1 Cottage

On the tranquil banks of Blount's Creek in Chocowinity, North Carolina—in the tidal estuary country of the Inner Banks where the Pamlico River meets the creek system that drains the coastal plain south of Washington—Cotton Patch Landing provides the specific combination of full hookup RV sites, creekside cabin rentals, and a full-service marina that turns a waterfront campground into a genuine boating and fishing destination. The marina's wet slips, bait and tackle shop, fuel station, boat ramp, boat storage, and repair service create the self-contained marine infrastructure that makes Cotton Patch Landing worth a dedicated trip rather than a convenient overnight stop. When the water access is the point, the marina changes what the campground can be. Full hookup RV sites on the creek's edge provide the primary accommodation, and creekside cabin rentals give guests without RVs an enclosed option with direct water proximity. The marina operates as the campground's most substantive amenity: wet slips accommodate transient boaters arriving by water, a bait and tackle shop handles fishing supply needs, boat ramp access is available for guests launching their own vessels, boat rentals and kayak rentals provide water access for guests without their own watercraft, and boat servicing and repair services make the marina useful for boating guests with mechanical issues as well as those in good working order. A fuel station serves both motor vessels and potentially road vehicles from the surrounding area. The marina's ramp and dock give guests immediate fishing and paddle access to Blount's Creek and the Pamlico River system beyond. Men's and women's restrooms with showers, coin-operated laundry facilities, free WiFi throughout the property, and a playground provide the campground infrastructure alongside the marina-focused primary amenities. A seasonal food truck operates for guests who want quick on-site meals without cooking, and fire rings at individual sites provide the evening gathering space that waterfront camping in the Carolina coastal plain traditionally demands. The campground is pet-friendly throughout both the RV sites and select lodging accommodations, with the creek-edge setting giving traveling dogs immediate access to the waterfront environment where water-loving breeds tend to spend as much time as their owners allow. The Pamlico River country surrounding Chocowinity carries a historical and natural character specific to North Carolina's Inner Banks. Washington, North Carolina—one of the state's oldest towns, situated on the Pamlico River just north of Chocowinity—provides waterfront dining, a river walk, and the historic character of a small Eastern Carolina river town that has preserved its antebellum and post-Civil War architecture in ways larger cities' development pressures prevent. The Pamlico River's connection to Pamlico Sound opens the regional boating itinerary to the Sound's shallow coastal waters, barrier island access, and the extraordinary bird life of the coastal plain. Cotton Patch Landing operates year-round in the mild coastal climate of Eastern North Carolina, and spring and fall represent the most productive fishing seasons on Blount's Creek and the Pamlico River. Fishing for bass, crappie, bream, and the variety of species the Pamlico system supports gives anglers specific seasonal targets across the calendar. The marina's combination of boat ramp, rental kayaks, and transient wet slips makes the property serve equally well as a day-use boating base and a multi-day residential camping destination. Reserve your creekside site early for the spring fishing season and let the Pamlico country earn its reputation as the quieter, more accessible alternative to the Outer Banks camping corridor.

from $26/night

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

Hatteras Sands Campground

60 RV Sites, 18 Cabins, 6 Cottages, 1 Mobile Home

Hatteras Sands Campground in North Carolina offers 60 full-hookup RV sites and 25 cabin, cottage, and mobile home units at the southern end of Hatteras Island, with 30 and 50-amp service, cable TV, and rigs accepted to 50 feet on a big-rig-friendly layout. Waterfront back-in categories join standard back-in and pull-through tiers, seven-tenths of a mile from the beach. Sixty sites run in back-in, pull-thru, waterfront back-in, and waterfront back-in with a seven-night minimum categories, all carrying water, sewer, and electric on 30 and 50-amp with cable TV and site WiFi, sized to 50 feet. The waterfront sites on the canals are the ones to request, and one waterfront tier carries a seven-night minimum, so plan accordingly. Twenty-five cabins, cottages, and mobile homes round out the lodging. A general store, laundry, restrooms, and showers handle the practical side. Pets are welcome on campsites, leashed at all times, with droppings bagged and binned. An outdoor pool anchors the summer, with a clubhouse, game room, billiards, and picnicking filling the grounds. The canals support boating, fishing, canoeing, kayaking, water sports, and swimming, with planned activities through the season and a state park nearby. This is the only campground on Hatteras Island — a distinction that cannot be replicated. Quiet canals, Cape Hatteras National Seashore, and the ferry to Ocracoke are all at hand. Summer is decisively the season on the Outer Banks. Reserve well ahead.

from $79/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

Frisco Woods Campground

210 RV Sites, 31 Cabins, 27 Tent Sites

Frisco Woods Campground in North Carolina offers 210 RV sites, 31 cabins, and 27 tent sites on the Pamlico Sound side of Hatteras Island, with 30 and 50-amp service, cable TV, and rigs accepted to 44 feet. Soundfront back-in categories at both amperages join full-hookup and water-and-electric tiers, with an outdoor pool, recreation center, and maritime forest. Two hundred ten back-in sites span 30-amp, 50-amp, 30/50-amp, water-and-electric, soundfront 30-amp, and soundfront 30/50-amp categories, carrying water, sewer, and electric where noted with cable TV, sized to 44 feet. Confirm your tier, as the water-and-electric category does not carry sewer at the site. The soundfront categories are the reason to book here. Thirty-one cabins and 27 tent sites round out the lodging. A general store, laundry, propane fills and exchange, dump station, restrooms, showers, and firewood handle the practical side. An outdoor pool anchors the summer, with a recreation center, playground, and dog park filling the grounds. The sound carries boating, canoeing, kayaking, water sports, swimming, and surfing, with productive birding through the maritime forest and wine tasting nearby. Pets are welcome. The soundfront position makes this a premier kiteboarding and windsurfing base — the shallow, steady-wind water of Pamlico Sound is among the best on the East Coast for it, while Cape Hatteras National Seashore's Atlantic beach sits just across the island. The campground has been family owned for five decades. Summer is decisively the season on the Outer Banks. Reserve well ahead.

Brunswick Beaches Campground

76 RV Sites, 14 Tent Sites

Brunswick Beaches Campground sits in Sunset Beach, North Carolina, at the southern end of the Brunswick Islands—a string of barrier islands along the Cape Fear coast that offer some of the most uncrowded beaches on the East Coast, positioned between the better-known resort communities of Myrtle Beach to the south and Wilmington to the north. The brunswick beaches campground provides a full-service camping base within easy reach of multiple beaches, golf courses, and the distinctive Lowcountry atmosphere of coastal Brunswick County. The campground offers 84 full hookup RV sites with 30 and 50-amp service, water, sewer, and WiFi, plus 5 cabins and 15 primitive tent sites for guests without rigs. Big-rig friendly pull-through sites are available, and the property includes a swimming pool, stocked fishing pond, basketball, volleyball, and a fenced dog park with separate sections for large and small breeds. The camp store and full camp kitchen give tent campers and cabin guests cooking infrastructure that goes beyond what most campgrounds provide. On-site security staffs the park after office hours, and an air tower and vacuum at the driveway allow rigs to be cleaned up and tires checked before departure—a thoughtful operational detail that regular travelers notice and appreciate. Sunset Beach itself is one of the best-kept secrets among North Carolina's coastal communities—a quiet barrier island with wide, flat beaches, excellent shelling, and minimal commercial development compared to the more heavily visited stretches of the Grand Strand. The Brunswick Islands chain extends through Ocean Isle Beach, Holden Beach, Oak Island, and Caswell Beach, each with its own character and beach access points that distribute the summer crowd across a coastline long enough to absorb it. The Intracoastal Waterway runs behind the barrier islands, providing calm-water kayaking and fishing opportunities that complement the ocean-front activity. Calabash, a small town five miles south, has earned the self-proclaimed title of Seafood Capital of the World, and the cluster of family-owned seafood restaurants that line its main street—known for their particular style of lightly battered, deep-fried seafood—has drawn visitors from across the Carolinas for generations. Myrtle Beach is about 30 minutes south, offering golf, nightlife, waterparks, and the full resort entertainment infrastructure of one of the Southeast's most visited destinations. Wilmington, about 45 minutes north, provides a historic downtown, the Battleship North Carolina museum ship, and several state parks along the Cape Fear River. Brunswick Beaches Campground is open year-round, though the summer season from Memorial Day through Labor Day brings peak beach and pool demand. Fall through spring delivers the mild coastal weather that makes the Brunswick Islands particularly appealing to snowbird travelers, and the combination of uncrowded beaches, fishing, and the lower-key character of the Cape Fear coast makes this an ideal off-season camping destination. Reserve sites early for summer holiday weekends, as proximity to multiple beaches drives high demand through July and August.

from $23/night