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Places to Camp near Cape Hatteras National Seashore

Join the fun near Cape Hatteras National Seashore. With tons of outdoor activities and scenic camping, this is an excellent vacation spot for all kinds of travelers. There's so much to see and do, from exhilarating hikes or bike rides to exploring the local dining and shopping. Find the best campgrounds near Cape Hatteras National Seashore, NC. Read helpful reviews and tips to find the perfect camping option for you and your crew.

Best Camping Sites Near Cape Hatteras National Seashore, NC (4)

  1. Camper-submitted photo from Oregon Inlet Campground — Cape Hatteras National Seashore

    1.

    Oregon Inlet Campground — Cape Hatteras National Seashore

    74 Reviews
    204 Photos
    554 Saves
    Nags Head, North Carolina

    Overview

    Oregon Inlet Campground is the northernmost campground on Cape Hatteras National Seashore. When camping here, you are within a short distance of the full service town of Nags Head to the north, and the world class fishing at Oregon Inlet to the south.

    Recreation

    The beach adjacent to the campground can be reached by foot from your campsite as well as by vehicle with a Cape Hatteras Off-Road Vehicle Permit. Popular activities include fishing, swimming, surfing, birding, and shell hunting. The calmer waters of the sound to the west of the campground can be accessed at the public boat launch at Oregon Inlet Fishing Center. Popular sound side opportunities include crabbing, clamming, paddle-boarding, boating, and fishing.

    Facilities

    Each of the three loops in the campground have a bath house with flush toilets, potable water, and heated outdoor showers. Each campsite has a paved parking pad, picnic table, and charcoal grill. There are limited sites with RV hook-ups. A dump and water fill station are located directly across Highway 12 at Oregon Inlet Fishing Center, and are free of charge for campers.

    Natural Features

    The campground is located on the east side of the barrier island, just a short walk through the dunes to the expansive waters of the Atlantic Ocean. Sea Oats and other native flowering plants blanket the dunes providing a picturesque backdrop for your camping experience.

    Nearby Attractions

    The historic Bodie Island Lighthouse is approximately four miles north of Oregon Inlet Campground on NC Highway 12. The Bodie Island Lighthouse is open seasonally for self-guided climbs. Climb tickets are available on a first come, first served basis and can only be purchased from www.recreation.gov. Tickets go on sale at 7am for that day's climbs only. Tickets may only be purchased on the same day of your intended climb. Coquina Beach Day Use Area is located directly across HWY 12 from the Bodie Island Lighthouse access road. The day use area provides a vehicle free beach perfect for families. From Memorial Day to Labor Day, Coquina Beach is staffed with lifeguards to ensure the safety of visitors. Other amenities at Coquina Beach include a bathhouse with outdoor cold showers, flush toilet restrooms, water fountains, and a boardwalk to the beach.

    contact_info

    For facility specific information, please call (252) 475-9018.

    Charges & Cancellations

    Change Fee: A service fee may be charged at the time a modification is made depending on the changes. Cancellation Fee: A service fee will be withheld from any refunds for a cancelled reservation.

    • Pets
    • Electric Hookups
    • Phone Service
    • RVs
    • Tents
    • Group

    $35 / night

  2. Camper-submitted photo from Ocracoke Campground — Cape Hatteras National Seashore

    2.

    Ocracoke Campground — Cape Hatteras National Seashore

    54 Reviews
    150 Photos
    354 Saves
    Ocracoke, North Carolina

    Overview

    Located in the famous Outer Banks area of the stunning North Carolina coast, this campground is perfect for a beach getaway trip.

    Recreation

    The seashore provides a place for active recreation or for quiet reflection. Campers can visit a lighthouse, look for seashells, go fishing and clamming or just sit back and enjoy the peace and beauty of the white sandy beaches. More active recreational activities include swimming, kayaking and windsurfing. Bird and wildlife viewing is also a popular pastime for campers. The seashore provides a home and habitat for creatures large and small, on land and in the water.

    Facilities

    Ocracoke Campground is only accessible by ferry or aircraft. Campsites are located on sandy soil, so campers are encouraged to bring extra long tent stakes. Flush toilets, drinking water, cold showers and grills are all provided for a more comfortable beach camping experience. The campground is conveniently located on the ocean side, separated from the beach by barrier dunes.

    Natural Features

    Ocracoke Campground sits on a barrier island along the Cape Hatteras National Seashore. The shore a recreational oasis for beach lovers. This ribbon of sand provides some of the most dazzling scenery that the Atlantic coast has to offer.

    contact_info

    For facility specific information, please call (252) 475-9018.

    Nearby Attractions

    Nearby Ocracoke Village offers restaurants, gift shops, grocery stores, a gas station and tackle shop.

    • Pets
    • Phone Service
    • RVs
    • Tents
    • Group
    • Standard (Tent/RV)

    $28 / night

  3. Camper-submitted photo from Frisco Campground — Cape Hatteras National Seashore

    3.

    Frisco Campground — Cape Hatteras National Seashore

    46 Reviews
    136 Photos
    416 Saves
    Frisco, North Carolina

    Overview

    Frisco Campground is part of Cape Hatteras National Seashore on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Camping here will put you in a prime location to experience the history, culture, and breathtaking beauty of North Carolina's barrier islands.

    Recreation

    On a walk around the Frisco Campground visitors can enjoy the rolling topography, views of the Atlantic Ocean, and at night, the sweeping beacon of the nearby Cape Hatteras Lighthouse. Boardwalks from the campground to the beach give pedestrians easy access to enjoy activities such as surfing, swimming, and fishing. There is also an off-road vehicle (ORV) ramp at the entrance of the campground for beach driving with a Cape Hatteras ORV permit.

    Facilities

    Campers have access to modern restrooms with flushing toilets, potable water, and outdoor unheated showers. Each campsite is equipped with a paved parking pad, picnic table, and a charcoal grill for cooking. There are no RV hook ups in the campground. Dumpsters and a recycling center are located at the entrance of the campground. Wooden boardwalks make it easy for campers to travel to and from the beach.

    Natural Features

    The elevated dunes in Frisco Campground afford campers the opportunity to have an ocean view from some of the campsites. Dense vegetation creates a sense of privacy not present in the other campgrounds on Cape Hatteras National Seashore.

    contact_info

    For facility specific information, please call (252) 475-9018.

    Nearby Attractions

    Frisco campground is within a short drive of the historic Cape Hatteras Lighthouse. The beacon gained fame in 1999 when it was picked up and moved 2900 ft. to its current location. It is also the tallest brick lighthouse in the country.__

    Charges & Cancellations

    Changes and cancellations to reservations follow Recreation.gov polices.

    • Pets
    • Phone Service
    • RVs
    • Tents
    • Standard (Tent/RV)
    • Trash

    $28 / night

  4. Camper-submitted photo from Cape Point — Cape Lookout National Seashore

    4.

    Cape Point — Cape Lookout National Seashore

    13 Reviews
    47 Photos
    142 Saves
    Ocracoke, North Carolina

    Overview

    Cape Point Campground sites have a shortened reservation window. Due to the ground saturation and potential for flooding we encourage you to check the sites prior to paying. Cape Point Campground is centrally located to all of the attractions on Cape Hatteras National Seashore. The campground puts you within walking distance of arguably the best fishing and surfing on the east coast.

    Recreation

    A short walk through the dunes leads you to the beach at the infamous Cape Hatteras. Many trophy fish have been landed from the point, and it has been a surfing destination for decades. If you prefer to drive to the beach you can access one of the many off-road vehicle ramps within a short distance of the campground. Exploration of the barrier islands beyond their beaches is possible on a hike through the nearby maritime forest. The Buxton Woods Trail is a 3/4 mile loop that can be accessed just north of the campground at the Buxton Woods Picnic Area on Lighthouse Road.

    Facilities

    Cape Point Campground is the largest campground on Cape Hatteras National Seashore. Each campsite is equipped with a paved parking pad, picnic table and charcoal grill. Rows D, E, and F are reserved for tent camping only. There are no hook-ups in the campground for RVs. Four sets of restrooms and outdoor shower facilities are dispersed evenly throughout the campground. Water spigots providing potable water are readily available.

    Natural Features

    The campground is nestled between rolling dunes to the south and the largest remaining tract of maritime forest on the North Carolina coast to the north. The environment is naturally suited to accommodate many bird and mammal species. A large heard of white tail deer frequent the area.

    Nearby Attractions

    The iconic Cape Hatteras Lighthouse is located just north of Cape Point Campground on Lighthouse Road next to the Visitor Center. Standing at 198 feet, Cape Hatteras Lighthouse is the tallest brick lighthouse in the United States. It has undoubtedly saved the lives of many mariners navigating around the treacherous Diamond Shoals. The Museum of the Sea is also located near the Visitor Center within the shadow of the lighthouse. The museum's operating hours vary with the season.Buxton Beach is a family friendly swimming destination staffed with lifeguards from Memorial Day to Labor Day. It is a short walk or bike ride from the campground. Parking is available at the old lighthouse site adjacent to the current location of the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse.

    contact_info

    For facility specific information, please call (252) 475-9018.

    • Pets
    • Phone Service
    • RVs
    • Tents
    • Group
    • Cabins

    $20 / night


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