For those who want to experience Cape Lookout National Seashore, but still want the creature comforts of home, consider glamping for your trip. Glamping near Cape Lookout National Seashore, NC is a great way to go camping with the tastes of home. The Dyrt makes it easy to find glamping for your Cape Lookout National Seashore adventure.
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.
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.
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.
For facility specific information, please call (252) 475-9054.
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.
$20 / night
If you're looking for the best campground in the OBX, we've got you covered! Our charming campground is located right off the beach in the lovely village of Rodanthe, NC. This locale is a delightful blend of cedar-clad vacation rentals and wide-open beaches, making it the perfect backdrop for your getaway. Our variety of accommodations will fit every lifestyle and budget, and we offer direct Hatteras beach access with just a short jaunt to the Atlantic shoreline.
Guide
Great KOA park with one row of dunes to cross to the ocean beach that depending on your site is only about 5 min walk. The park is well kept with clean bathrooms and showers. The have laundry and a very nice camp store with groceries, camping essentials and gifts. Sites are level with full hookups including cable that worked well. Wifi is marginal but they reported they have equipment on order to improve. We had spot along the dunes with covered patio with picnic table and a fire ring (no barbeques). The beach is wonderful. Great restful destination. We will definitely return.
Legend
Campground is 1 of the 4 within the Cape Hatteras Nat’l Seashore. Cost here is only $20/night (the others are $28). No hookups available, but there is a dump station and potable water fill on your way out. Cell service is good. The walk to the beach is a bit long, maybe about 1/2 mile or so.
We stayed here for a night in early November and the place was nearly empty. There were one or two campers per loop, so the campground was nice and open and quiet. I think that during the busy season it would be an unpleasant stay, as the sites are all right next to each other, side by side, just big grassy area. Sites are large though, which was nice.
We didn’t use the showers but I believe they are cold showers. The set up is almost like an outdoor shower, with a short door and a pull rope for the water. Watch out for spiny sand spurs (?) that stick in your dog’s paws and your socks- very painful and they’re all over the grassy areas.
Sites must be reserved through recreation.gov. It was easy to pull up with no reservation, pick a site, then reserve and pay online. No service fee through this site.
No wood fires allowed here. Each site has a picnic table and grill, nothing else.
Dumpsters available, but no recycling bins. Not sure if North Carolina segregates recycling after pickup.
LegendKOA Cape Hatteras Outer Banks Campground (Scale 1- bad, 5-Very good
(70 yr olds in 17’ trailer with a desire for a campsite that has at least some visual privacy offered - after the trailer is in the spot.)
Weather: 60s Bugs: Gone for the winter Solar: Plenty Rig size: Big rig friendly Road Noise: For sites near the highway 12 Through Traffic in campground: No Electric Hookup: Yes Sewer Hookup: Some full hookups Dump Station: Yes Potable Water Available: Yes Bathroom: Yes Showers: Yes Cell Service (AT&T): 3 - 4 bars Setting: Open park area between highway and the dunes Weather: 60s during our visit Bugs: Gone for the winter Host: Yes Rig size: Big rigs Sites: Those in the back along the dunes would be nice to have. See pics.
Legend
Teeters in Ocracoke: Folks look to have permanent spots. There are fishing boats and golf carts for access to the nearby ‘city center’ of the cute town of Ocracoke. (71 yr olds in 17’ trailer with a desire for at least moderately secluded campsites and a picnic area that is a bit tucked away. )
Overall R: Looks to be mostly Permanent Units Here for seasonal visitation. Usage during visit: 90% Site Privacy: None Site Spacing: Close Campground Noise: Quiet Road Noise: Very miniskirt if site is near the road . Through Traffic in campground: No Full Hookup: Yes Cell Service (AT&T): 2 to 3 bars Setting: Crowded sites. Very Clean Weather: 68 degree fall day. Bugs: No
LegendCape Point. - Hatteras NP: (Scale 1- bad, 5-Very good (71 yr olds in 17’ trailer with a desire for at least moderately secluded campsites and a picnic area that is a bit tucked away. ) Overall Rating: 2.5. Too open for me. Less character than Oregon Inlet as far as I am concerned. Price 2023: $ $10 w interagency pass Usage during visit: Almost empty. Closes soon. Site Privacy: Not very good . Luke’s eight through CO2 open, not broken up. Site Spacing: Decent Site surface: Blacktop Reservations: Required Road Noise: None Through Traffic in campground: Outside loop as approach entry will have most campground traffic Electric Hookup: No Sewer Hookup: No Dump Station: Yes. You will see it just before you enter cg. Potable Water Available: Yes. Generators: Allowed Bathroom: Yes Showers: Cold and open to wind. Pull Throughs: Some Cell Service (AT&T): 2 bars Setting: Open parklike. As you approach the last loop the loops are more broken up by shrubbery. Sites still are open. Weather: eyes in the 60s and lows in the 50s. Windy Bugs: none Solar: good. Rig size: can accommodate larger rigs. Sites: K26, K21 - about the best it gets here.
GuideWhere else can you watch the sunrise AND the sunset from the same campground? Wow. I give this place an 11 out of 10
GuideSuper close to a beautiful beach, there really are no bad spots, but you are very close to your neighbors and no shade. A bit pricey - we chose a pull through w electric and water, but wished we had gone with full hookup. Bathrooms are ok - I did see other people’s hair and could’ve been cleaner. Some of the doors were broken and wouldn’t lock. Great pet area and the staff is super nice.
TravelerGreat location. Friendly and helpful staff. Great people who visit and stay at the grounds. You feel as though you have never met a stranger even if they come from as far away as Quebec or Minnesota.
GuideThough we are here late in the year, and lots of things are closed, especially area restaurants, this campground has a number of things for kids to do and the beach was great. Wifi works well and the restrooms are great.
GuideWe spent 2 separate weeks here. The 1st one was planned, the second was because we loved it so much there.
The first thing that captured my heart was the drive in!! It is AMAZING!! The bridges, beach views, sand dunes, inland water views, it is something so pretty it’s hard to describe and be able to capture all the beauty! It truly is something you have to see and experience.
The campground is cute and has a beach vibe. There is a pirate ship playground, a huge pool and hot tub, jumping pillow, basket ball court, your kids will defiantly keep busy! They have my dogs favorite dog parks of all dog parks. They love running free in the sand! The store is cute and. If and has anything and everything you would ever need for an epic beach day.
Speaking of beach…this beach is captivating. The big waves are dreamy. On sunny days you’ll watch surfers and pelicans. Windy days you’ll see kite boarders and pelicans.
We went during the winter and the sea was so amazing. Everyday was a new beach. One day there was a 3’ drop off, the next day it vanished without a trace. The sea birds are adorable. And there are always fishermen being in something exciting be it a fish, shark, or sting ray.
One down side of winter was most of the stores and attractions are closed, but the upside is a quiet campground for beachy dreams and soul filling peace.
RangerThis campground is right next to several beach access where you can drive your car onto the beach and fishing is good near the point. If you are walking it is a little far so I’d recommend bringing a vehicle to drive on the beach-or you can park in the lot with closer beach access but it does fill up quickly. Simple camping with restrooms and water. Bring a camp stove because campfires are rarely allowed and sand gets everywhere anyway. Watch out for thorns in the dunes if you have dogs! And also watch the weather because this campground is flat grass for the most part and if heavy rain it tends to flood. I’d choose a site on the perimeter if you like privacy since it’s so open. This campground is mostly rated for the location and again pretty simple otherwise!
GuidePerfect spot for a great trip! Enjoyed the beach and the campground! Place was rocking when we were there!
Legend
Really beautiful location on river with very nice peer and green space. Extremely nice and helpful owners. Full hookups and a cement pad for picnic table. Site was fairly level. But campsites are very tight with no landscaping for aesthetics. Just a big gravel lot.
Scout
Best view of the way with the sound of the ocean right by you. Spots are very generous and ever place comes with proper space and equipment. Highly recommend and people were very generous. Just make sure to come in season!
GuideThis is an excellent campground. The sites are a bit close together for my liking, but normal for the KOA experience. Sites are clean and well designed.
The proximity to a lovely beach is a huge win. We were able to walk just about 100 yards to an empty, clean beach with great waves.
The pool and hot tub are amazing. Too bad it was so cold during our visit!
The store is clean and well stocked. Plenty of necessities and some fun frivolities as well.
Arcade is dated and many machines are broken or losing functionality.
Playground is very cool! Bounce pillow was a big hit.
Arrived for Halloween and were pleased to find some fun events happening. Unfortunately, one of those events included LOUD music and some drunken karaoke at the pool area bar. That was, happily, the only disturbance of the week.
Long story short, this place is well worth a visit if you don’t want to “rough it” at a NP campground.
GuideThe beach was absolutely amazing. By far 10/10 for camp ground beaches. However, the actual campground was not a direct reflection of our beach experience. The KOA Registration building was beautiful. However, the grounds were sub par, the restaurant was closed Monday and Tuesday, and only open for breakfast and lunch. We picked a KOA and spent 100+ a night for a resort style experience. The “store” had a ton of supplies but their refrigerators were broken and they were letting milk and other perishable items sit in a sweltering hot freezer. My first experience with that staff was watching a check in person and a customer have an argument about the check in process. The customer was told they could check in at 3 pm and then was told to wait until 5 because their room wasn’t ready. The staff offered no help only that they needed to wait. As a customer you hate to see the way you could be treated. All in all, my family and I enjoyed the beach, our space was small but still spacious enough to enjoy, and the silver lining of the restaurant being closed got us out into their small community. I wanted to rate is 3 stars but at the end of the day we really enjoyed our time.
ScoutSerious water and drainage issues, sewer dump station was a joke. Do yourself a favor and stay at nps campground up the road if u don’t need full hook ups.
Guide
I took the two hour Ferry ride over to stay at the campground. It was late September of 2021 so the camping wasn’t extremely crowded but busy. They have bathrooms with only outside showers . The beach is glorious with Dan dunes up to 20 feet high. I could sit on the beach all day and not have anyone near me for at least 100 feet. The town is like going back 50 years. One small store to buy your items and one place to get gas. It was a wonderful island to stay at to bring calmness and serenity back to my life! You have the option of driving on the beach. However, you do have to purchase a pass which I think is expensive is there for only a few days .
GuideWhen we first arrived, we thought this campground was amazing. Then we realized the bathhouse nearest to us was being renovated. It’s good it was being renovated, ultimately, but was a bummer for us, and left me wishing we had requested a different site closer to an open bathhouse.
The individual showers are nice, but they were not cleaned the entire time we were there.
No one was monitoring the gate house and people who weren’t staying there seemed to be coming in and riding around.
It was a little chilly when we were there, but the pool area seemed really nice.
The camp office store was well stocked and nice.
Our daughter LOVED the jumping pillow and cute pirate ship playground. There were a lot of things for kids to do, including a cute evening train.
The campground was great about sending text messages about what was going on. You can also text to order wood and ice, which they’ll bring to your site!!!
There’s a great spot across the road to watch the sunset and fly kites.
GuideNo frill amenities. Great location close to town. Some site will hold water in lots of rain so be on the lookout. Nice bathhouse and outdoor shower. Great owners, very helpful!
TravelerThe sight had a great view of the water and for sunsets, the sunrise was a 5 min walk across the road with the beach right there as well. Walking distance to pretty much anywhere (they also have bike rentals if you so wished)
GuidePark is very secluded from the area. As soon as you pull in the driveway it kinda looks scary but after you pass all the trees you get this very big open land that is well maintained. They kid park area is really just one swing set. They have a dock and a covered patio area for fires(facing the water). Comes with a wooden picnic table. The only downside is that most people at the site are permanent residents but that’s more of a preference for myself. Owner was very helpful helping us pull in and making accommodations last minute.
ScoutSite: mixture of grass and sand. Has fire pit and wooden picnic table. Gorgeous view of sunsets and water sports. Water is a leg high walk to the hammock. Bathroom: showers were clean! Would benefit of having an fan unit to help cool off while using the toilet. Loved having the option of using outdoor shower (yes even had hot water option). I was able to enjoy a brew in the shower and get dressed and ready in front of a mirror was was provided in the same outdoor shower space. Location: loved that it wasn’t located in a touristy area. It was on the sound. We enjoyed the pizza at the local Italian place right next door. Note: there is a ice vending place that charges affordable rate.. you have the option of ice in a bag or fill up your cooler there.. can walk there if need be. It’s across the street. Other towns over were a 30-45 min drive.
Some things to keep in mind: The wind was really strong and it made setting up our tent a challenge! Thanks to our friendly neighbors, they were able to get it grounded for us. Bring rope/canopy weight in case this happens. There were no bugs due to the wind. However.. we heard that if it wasn’t windy.. bugs were a big issue so canopy/mosquito net would be wise!
Bring water shoes to be able to walk in the sound. Water was at perfect temperature.
Dogs are allowed, even in the water! They require pet deposit.
They also had charcoal grills for you to use if you need one.
GuidePool,hot tub ,live music and cafe,,love coming here because u can camp on the beach and on the sound side
TravelerLovely spot! Quiet and wonderfully kept, freshly mowed and trimmed! The bathrooms were clean and tidy and free of bugs, webs and mess. Showers available - we didn’t partake but hear they are cold! Hatteras lighthouse in sight. Slept to the sound of frogs and birds - wonderful! Highly recommend!!
TravelerThis campground is absolutely gorgeous and quite the change from the other campgrounds at the OBX. It was quiet and peaceful.
My only two cons are that the shower was icy cold (to be expected) and my second has nothing to do with the campground itself but just the area around. Not that much to do and quite ran down. Lots of political hate signs WELL passed the election which was not very welcoming.
If you are just looking to visit cape hatteras and possibly just a place to chill at the campground, this place is perfect for that.
GuideFun place for the kids you have outdoor pools hot tub 's jumpy things for the kids Scavenger hunts, Also have plenty of activities to do around the resort nice restaurants clean restaurants access to the beach RV sites level. You can also rent a Golf cart
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular glamping campsite near Cape Lookout National Seashore?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular glamping campground near Cape Lookout National Seashore is Cape Point — Cape Lookout National Seashore with a 4.3-star rating from 13 reviews.
What is the best site to find glamping camping near Cape Lookout National Seashore?
TheDyrt.com has all 6 glamping camping locations near Cape Lookout National Seashore, with real photos and reviews from campers.
