Tent campsites near Burgaw, North Carolina offer multiple access points to coastal waterways beyond the better-known Black River and Freeman Park locations. The camping areas range from free primitive sites at wildlife refuges to military-only facilities along the Atlantic shore. Most locations maintain minimal amenities, with campers needing to pack in essentials like drinking water and insect protection.
What to do
Kayaking on waterways: White Oak River Campground provides access to multiple ponds and a disc golf course adjacent to the camping area. A camper noted, "Great for a weekend tent trip... a lot of outdoor exploring area adjacent to the camp ground. Multiple ponds and frisbee golf course."
Beach and aquarium visits: Fort Fisher Air Force Recreation Area offers tent sites a five-minute walk from the Atlantic shoreline. A visitor remarked, "The beach is beautiful and the landscaping has rock formations scattered through it. It's a somewhat remote feel to this area even though it's not far from Carolina Beach. There is also a aquarium, and museum down the road if you need a history or education fix."
Boat-in camping: Hammocks Beach State Park offers unique boat-accessible sites. One camper explained, "We stayed at site 14, which is on the other side of the island and is only accessible on a boat. We kayaked from the park office and boat launch... The site itself was perfect... It's located in the woods with a nice shady clearing, its own very private little beach."
What campers like
Quiet swimming locations: Lake Waccamaw State Park offers a shallow lake experience with designated swimming areas. A visitor reported, "This is a great spot for campers who would like to car camp and have a swimming feature. The lake is super shallow for at least a hundred yards in all directions from the dock."
Military beach access: Onslow Beach Campsites provides Department of Defense ID holders with oceanfront camping options. A reviewer stated, "I love that we were so close to the beach. The bathrooms were clean and the common areas were very clean as well. If you love fishing and the beach, look no further!"
Site privacy: Many campgrounds feature widely spaced tent sites for increased privacy. At Lake Waccamaw, "The sites are all a far distance from one another so there's no chance of bothering one another at night. We had two neighbors during our stay but never heard or saw them, except when coming and going from the site to the parking area."
What you should know
Weather considerations: Heat and insects can be challenging, particularly in summer months. At White Oak River Campground, "Small camping area not a whole lot of acres... Most of the tent sites are out in the open. We got lucky and got one [under trees]."
Bug protection needs: Haywood Landing Recreation Site requires substantial insect protection. A camper warned, "The mosquitos are horrible so bring bug spray."
Military restrictions: Several coastal campgrounds near Burgaw require Department of Defense identification. At Onslow Beach, "This is absolutely one of my favorite places to stay! It is right on the beach, a little store is right there for your convenience and there is plenty of space for walking, riding bikes, etc... The only downfall is it takes about 20-25 minutes to drive back to civilization."
Island access timing: For Hammocks Beach State Park, "You do have to be comfortable being left on the island between 6pm-9am every night unless you kayak in. The ferry only runs during the day between 9ish-6pm."
Tips for camping with families
Shallow water swimming: Family-friendly swimming areas with gradual entry points are available at Lake Waccamaw State Park. One visitor mentioned, "It would be a nice, private place to camp in colder months, but not much to do. The sunset on the lake was absolutely gorgeous and we had it to ourselves on the first night."
Bathroom accessibility: Consider site distance from bathroom facilities when camping with children. At Lake Waccamaw, "The only warning I'd give is you are permitted to drive to your campsite to set up, but sites 2-5 are a quarter mile plus from the parking area... Don't forget anything in the car."
Pack-in preparation: Freeman Park requires specific tent setup techniques for beach camping. A visitor explained, "Remember, when camping on sand, you don't need stakes. Instead you bring 4 plastic bags, fill them with sand, tie the tent corners to the bags and bury them in the sand. This will prevent your tent from flying away."
Tips from RVers
Hookup positioning: Some RV sites have poorly positioned utility connections. A camper at Fort Fisher noted, "The sites themselves are extremely long, but for some reason the hook-ups are all near the front of the site, so you can't take advantage of the length. They were in the process of repaving the sites during the stay, so there were some that were pristine and others with bits of rebar sticking out of them."
Site selection strategy: For RVers who prefer shade, choose campgrounds with tree cover. At Onslow Beach, "I'm not a fan of the spot we received because we are a pop up camper surrounded by very bright and very large RV's but if next time we get the back circle area where our camper belongs it will be wonderful."
