The best camping near
Camden, NORTH CAROLINA

We have stayed here numerous times and have made many memories! The atmosphere is very laid back and the staff is very friendly and helpful. The bathrooms and shower houses are always very clean as well as the cabins. I gave four stars because in the last few times we've stayed its VERY crowded and I think it overwhelms the staff. The pools are nice and clean but can get crowded as expected. Very good campground though imo and we are going back in july.

The reservation system for this campground was clunky. If you are familiar with the park and the sites, it might be fine but we were not, so we reserved a non-specific site. This was a mistake as most of these sites (and the only ones left when we arrived) backed right up against a busy road! We were able to switch to a site-specific site for a nominal upcharge. Our site was sandy (close to the beach so not a surprise) but not level, however, it was generous in size and fairly private. Sites vary significantly in size and quality so once again if you are not familiar with the campground, you will be at a disadvantage. 

The bathrooms were mostly clean but dated. Hot water was spotty. Our biggest complaint is that our water hookup (site 174) was rusted and basically broken. Husband “MacGyvered” it to make it work but it needed maintenance (I did let the park know of this in their feedback form so hopefully it is no longer an issue). 

We were there at the end of March so bugs were not an issue, although I have read that at other times of the year, they are! 

There are multiple access points to the beach. It is nice for walking but there was a fair amount of litter. It is next to an active military base (Fort Story) but other than restricted access on the beach if you head east, this did not bother/affect us. It is close to Cape Henry Lighthouses (the old and new ones) at Fort Story (you need to surrender your license and your vehicle is subject to search in order to enter the grounds), but it was worth going.

First landing State Park is a 2,888 acre park located on 1.8 miles of the shoreline of the Chesapeake Bay. We camped here in early May in our 34 ft Class A Rv. If you are familiar with us, you will know we love campgrounds where we park our RV and we can spend the next 10-14 days hiking 🥾, biking 🚴‍♀️ and paddling 🛶.

🛶You can easily launch your kayak from the campground area but realize you will be trudging through sand for about 200 yards. When the bay was rough, it was a challenging paddle… and worth the views.

🎣I paid for an out of state fishing license for 5 days and it was pretty expensive. I already keep GA and FL yearly fishing licenses…so I may have to rethink my fishing addiction as we travel more outside those states. There is a boat 🚤ramp near the Narrows beach which is either free or costs $4 for people staying at the Park. (We didn’t use it and the wording was contradictory in my research) so check with park on that item if you tow a motorized boat.

🥾20 miles of Trails!! Lots of trails to hike and mountain/hybrid bike. We were surprised at the quality and the number of trails available. We were never bored. Here is a link to the hikes

https://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/document/data/trail-guide-firstlanding.pdf

🚴It was also fun to road bike the 10 miles from the state park to the Virginia Beach Boardwalk but we advise you take cautions on the first 2 miles outside the park. We were NOT there “in season” but during certain times of year there is a trolley 🚃 that goes to the boardwalk, gift shop and lots of park activities during the season.

🚍⛺️This campground delivered! The 184 Campsites with variations of 20/30/50amp electric and water (some sites may be seasonal March-December) sites are mostly hard sand/grass based and not all are level. Due to foilage/branches —>many of the larger sites near the waterfront are narrowed (Our camping neighbor had branch clippers he let us borrow) Also, note is that there is a $5 per pet per night additional fee at the campsite

🏡they have lots of cabins. pets are allowed for a $10 fee per pet & per night in the 20 cabins but not in the 4 available yurts. (I know that seems high but many parks in other states do not allow pets at all in their cabins) Here is a link to a pdf about the park

https://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/document/data/facility-guide-firstlandingnorth.pdf

We are excited to come to this park this upcoming April.

Happy Camping! Pamela and Keith

Located between Wanchese and Manteo, this little RV park is a quiet getaway. Turning into the property you will find all of the grounds very clean and well maintained. Each site has full connections along with a picnic table. A number of sites back up to the water where one can enjoy fishing for flounder or blue crab. Or just enjoy a nice walk around the shoreline and along the piers. The touristy spots are 15-20 minutes away providing an opportunity to enjoy some seclusion. A well maintained pool is onsite as well a pavilion for some larger group get togethers. A bath house with very clean facilities. A place to do your own laundry. A convenience store is next door as well as a hardware store however you almost would never realize it as it is never noisy or distracting. If you are looking for a place along the coast for a break from the road, or a week of quiet, you will not be disappointed here.

First Landing State Park is a great place, especially if you want beach access! We also have a large tipi tent (15’x15’), so we need a larger than normal space…and they have it! It’s also very nice to see pictures of the camping spots before you pick, ensuring that we get a spot that meets our desires.

My extended family has been camping here for years. The facilities are great and there is easy access to the beach. Would definitely recommend to any family that wants to start camping or anyone who wants an easy camping experience.

Very nice and quiet rv park with plenty to do. Rented a cabin. Very lovely and very modern cabin that’s sure to not disappoint. There house cleaning crew does a great job in timely manner which allows for early check in a lot of times. Spacious cabins as well

Best campground in the Va Beach area. 1 mile roughly to the ocean front but they have there own beach parking lot and provide you with a parking pass for use. Nice cozy stores. Several pools to choose from so you don’t have to be packed in at one main pool with all the campground guests. Wooded with nice sized sites and plenty of wildlife. Have stayed 4 times and plan to have many more stays in the future

First Landing was great. There are several campsites that range from basic to rv. They even have yurts and cabins to stay in. Easy access to bathrooms, fresh water, and the boardwalk down to the Chesapeake bay. There are so many options for water activities, but since I went during October and it rained, I stuck to hiking the trails and walking the beach. The staff was very accommodating and knowledgeable. The campsite was great too even if a bit close to the main road.

The campground at Northwest River Park is small and pretty basic. For a tent camper that is used to wooded, private sites these leave much to be desired. There is not much privacy. The campground was full the night we stayed there and very busy and noisy through the night. We stayed on a Memorial Day weekend though so maybe it is not typically like that. All night our young children were woken up by the noise from the nearby RV's AC units. 

What this park lacks in it's campground, it makes up for in it's recreational activities! There is a putt-putt course! Canoeing! Tons of hiking trails! Multiple playgrounds! Lots of wide open space for kids to run and play! Fishing! This is an excellent park for kids and families to come for the day! 

Overall not a horrible experience but this is the closest campground to our house and we have not felt the need to come back and stay overnight. Maybe would be better for camping mid-week when it's not so busy.