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Croatan National Forest Oyster Point Campground accommodates pets at all 24 campsites with specific leash requirements. Located 20 minutes from Atlantic Beach, this basic camping area requires dogs to remain on leash throughout the campground even when playing in designated areas. Cedar Point Campground also permits pets with strictly enforced leash policies for visitors staying at their tent and RV sites. Several privately owned campgrounds near Atlantic Beach offer more extensive pet amenities, including Goose Creek RV and Camping Resort, Waters Edge RV Park, and Dogwood Family Campground. These locations allow pets with varying restrictions, though reviewers note the limited pet areas at some sites. Dogwood Family Campground enforces particularly strict leash laws without providing a dedicated dog run area, according to recent visitor experiences.
National forest trails surrounding the campgrounds provide excellent opportunities for leashed dog walks with access to natural terrain and water features. The White Oak River boat launch near Cedar Point Campground grants access to water recreation areas where many campers bring their dogs. Emerald Isle beaches located 2-3 miles from several campgrounds permit dogs with proper leash control. Campground hosts actively enforce pet policies, sometimes monitoring for violations via security cameras at privately owned facilities. While most camping areas provide basic waste disposal stations, campers should pack additional pet supplies as on-site stores are limited. Dog owners frequently mention the clean white sand beaches near Cedar Island Ranch as particularly enjoyable for pet exercise during morning hours before temperatures rise.
"Fun place to camp, water close by, picnic table and fire ring. Tent pads are pretty big. Host is very nice and cheap."
"We found a few paths to the river but the river access was very small. There is a Mountain-to-Sea path nearby as well."
from $10 - $20 / night
Check Availability"The 24 hour campground park ranger stays on the first site of the right side entrance. There is a oyster fishery nearby."
"Great location off the beaten path on a dirt road. Campsite 9 backs up to the marsh andhas a great area for watching the sunset. You can also kayak or canoe here."
"The area was kept really clean (bathrooms could use a little TLC) loved the views on the hiking trail which was close to the camping sites. Dog friendly! Our kids loved it."
"Plenty of hiking trails, boat access and woods all right here in this park. The boat access and pier are just a brief walk away from the campground."
from $27 - $54 / night
Check Availability"Great location, can’t wait to come back!"
"My wife and I spent a few days here while searching the area for potential retirement location. It's also a seasonal campground."
"Clean bathrooms, friendly staff, small and quiet location that’s close to many activities and restaurants. The water front is very nice as well. I’ll definitely be back."
"We loved walking to the dock on the property where you could see the sunrise and sunset. We enjoyed visiting Fort Macon, Patsys pond national Forest, Shackleford Banks and the beach."
"This spot is close to everything without being on top of it all! Kid friendly, pet friendly, and very clean! All of the lots are level making for an easy setup!"
from $66 - $80 / night
Check Availability"One of our party needed lodging while we wanted to tent camp, they put us up in a perfect spot so we could be near her in one of their sweet little cabins right on the water."
from $25 - $60 / night
"Steps to the beach. Could watch dolphins from the overlook. Super clean and staff were always so friendly. Pool was super nice. I always recommend that friends stay here when traveling."
"It’s clear this is a busy, touristy spot during the summer, but in the shoulder season it was quiet and relaxing, mostly just the permanent sites around."
from $25 - $100 / night
Check Availability"But they are situated directly behind the dunes from miles and miles of totally prestine beaches. The only on-island supplies are ice and gasoline, so you must pack in everything."
"There are several boardwalks that meander around the island and numerous sandy paths connecting the sound side to the ocean side."
from $80 - $180 / night
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GuideJust am few miles from Atlantic Beach, Fort Macon, and Pine Knoll Shores. Free cable, full hook up, super staff, very clean and pet friendly. Wonderfully relaxing. Updated and very clean bath house and laundry.
RangerNice campground well-kept pool, and laundry facility. The playground closed due to COVID but has a dog park and fishing ponds with bass. The biggest downfall to this facility is that the nice campsites are only reserved for seasonal or year-round campers. Anyone there for days - weeks stay get a full-sun site which some can be pretty small ours was a decent size. It's also overrun by feral cats so if you're allergic, bring meds. They offer cable, and you can pay for WiFi.
ScoutThe 24 hour campground park ranger stays on the first site of the right side entrance. There is a oyster fishery nearby. You can gather your own wood as there are nearby paths to gather large and small wood. The cost is $10 per site and one site has a double pad for $20 a night. It is quiet and enjoyable. The nearby beach is Atlantic beach as 20 minutes and your at the beach. The campsiye is on the Pamlico sound Pamlico river. The driveway is a small dirt road and can be easily missed so slow down when entering. We used a 6 person tent that had adequate space even with a dodge caravan to park in our space.
TravelerOur first trip in our new to us camper and found the campground very nice. The bathhouses were the cleanest and best equipped. Some shade. Nice dog park. Plenty of amenities.
GuideThis was a very nice, well maintained campground. The staff were extremely polite and helpful. We stayed from Aug 11-14, 2020. The pool was nice on a hot humid day. They have gem mining. You buy the bags of dirt in the camp store. The bathhouses are all very new due to a recent hurricane and they were kept clean. The dock/pier was picture perfect as the sunset over the Neuse river. The playground and jump pad looked like they would be a lot of fun but were closed due to Covid 19 restrictions. They had horseshoes and Gaga-ball that were open. They had 2 fenced in dog parks and a dog washing station. We chose this campground for it’s location near historical downtown New Bern and we would definitely recommend it to others. They have RV sites, tent sites and cabins.
TravelerLarge gravel sites with full hookups in the North Carolina woods. 15 miles NW of New Bern NC. Fire wood included.
ScoutFull timers and long term on business campers beware! This campground has nothing to offer. The owners of this 1 year old campground are very strict with their rules and regulations. They are very nice in person and when checking in but soon you will find yourself receiving passive aggressive emails from them about rule violation they’ve spotted on the 6 or more cameras throughout the park. They have a very strict leash law here but offer no dog run/park area for your K-9 to play. They claim a dog park is on the list of things to come, but the second half of a drain field will come first. There are no amenities here, other than a very small fishing pond and some poorly maintained walking trails at the rear of the campground that have piles of post construction material scattered about. The campground is on well water and very brown in color so I would not drink or cook with it. Over half of the sites have your living side of the RV facing west and there is not a tree in sight, so in the summer be prepared to bake in the sun. The entire campground is gravel parking lot with 10 foot slivers of grass between each site and god forbid don’t let Sean the owner see you put anything(rug, vehicle, etc…) on his beloved grass. I gave this campground 2 stars… 1 for being dark and quiet at night and the other star for the free and decent wifi. So if you don’t want spied on via cameras, harassed, a dusty rig and a place for Fido to play, I would suggest going 8 miles down the road to an awesome campground called Whispering pines you and your dog will be much happier!
LegendWe stayed here six years ago and when I knew we’d be returning to the area, I tried to find it on The Dyrt but it wasn’t there (and I could not remember the name). When we were there in 2018, the campground was in transition and our stay was less than optimal, so I figured maybe it was no longer there. I was surprised when we arrived at the ferry terminal to see it was there, open, and looking quite improved. I stopped in at the office to speak to the owner/manager and she was very surprised to find it was not on the Dyrt’s map so I’m glad that now that I finally had a chance to post my review, it had been added!
There are 60 sites, including walk-in tent sites, back-in W/E, pull-thru W/E, and FHU pull-thru sites. The prices range from $20-$75. You cannot get any closer to the Cedar Island-Ocracoke ferry terminal from this campground. There is also a motel. The bathrooms are much improved since the last time we were there and there are hot water showers.
Activities/Amenities: Playground, dog park, horseback riding, SUP rentals, beach volleyball, community fire pit, boat ramp, dump station, post office.
Had we known this campground was still here, we would have stayed!
GuideWe recently stayed overnight at Wallace Meadows and it was one of the most lovely places we've ever been to! Rich was very friendly and welcoming and the hookup & amenities they offered for a fee were excellent. The bath house was spotless and we each enjoyed a nice hot shower! The property is surrounded by trees and it was very tranquil. There's even a guesthouse which could possibly accommodate fellow travelers who may not have an RV. There's also a laundry room but we didn't use it. They have a background in hospitality and it really shows. Before we left, we purchased some fresh eggs from their farm, beautifully packaged and delicious! We will return to North Carolina. There's so much to see here and we'll definitely return to Wallace Meadows Farm.
Seasonal campsites near Atlantic Beach offer varying terrain from marshy coastal lowlands to sandy maritime forests. Summer temperatures reach mid-80s while spring and fall hover around 70°F, with high humidity common throughout camping season. Winter camping remains viable with temperatures rarely dropping below 40°F, though fewer facilities remain open.
Kayaking from campsites: At Croatan National Forest Oyster Point Campground, waterfront sites provide immediate launch access. "We were able to launch kayaks almost directly from campsite #11," notes Laura F., while another camper mentioned "there's like a 20 ft path directly from my campsite to the river, which is nice."
Shelling excursions: Wake up early for best results at Bear Island. "Get up EARLY for shelling, as professional shelters get there early to find good specimens," advises Kent F. about Hammocks Beach State Park. The island's remote beaches offer excellent collecting opportunities during low tide.
Off-road adventures: For ORV enthusiasts, Great Island Cabin Camp provides unique beach driving. "We rode our 4 wheelers down the 30+ mile beach. On one end of the island there's a historic museum like town and light house," shares Charli R. Remember to deflate tires appropriately for sand driving.
Waterfront privacy: Campers consistently praise waterside sites at Waters Edge RV Park. "We loved walking to the dock on the property where you could see the sunrise and sunset," writes Cynthia D. The smaller campground layout creates a more intimate experience than larger facilities.
Uncrowded beaches: Bear Island's limited access creates noticeably emptier shorelines. "We went on Labor Day weekend and there was no one there! So peaceful and serene. Lots of shells to find!" reports Katie M. The ferry transportation system naturally limits daily visitor numbers.
Reasonable prices: Budget-conscious campers appreciate Cedar Point's value. "At only $10 per night, the price is unbeatable for the area," notes Alexandria F. about site #15, adding it "puts you right by the water's edge, which makes for a beautiful morning view."
Weather considerations: Summer brings intense heat and insects to most sites. "The bugs are bad in June and bug spray didn't really help," warns Laura F. Hurricane season (June-November) can impact coastal campgrounds with minimal notice.
Reservation requirements: Most waterfront sites book months in advance during peak season. "Sites w water view are best" at Cedar Point Campground, explains Roger W., so plan accordingly. First-come-first-serve sites typically fill by noon on summer weekends.
Limited amenities: Many campgrounds offer basic facilities only. "No showers or electric hookups, that makes it real camping," reports Steven G. Potable water access varies widely between campgrounds, with some offering spigots throughout while others have centralized filling stations.
Bring shade structures: Limited natural coverage exists at many sites. "Bring shade with you. It's hot between 12-3 and there's no natural shade," recommends Lauren about Bear Island. Portable canopies prove essential for midday comfort at beach-adjacent sites.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Atlantic Beach, NC?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Atlantic Beach, NC is Oyster Point Campground with a 4.4-star rating from 25 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Atlantic Beach, NC?
TheDyrt.com has all 55 dog-friendly camping locations near Atlantic Beach, NC, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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