Carolina Beach sits on a peninsula between the Cape Fear River and the Atlantic Ocean in southeastern North Carolina. The area offers diverse RV camping options with proximity to both ocean and intercoastal waterway access. Summer temperatures typically range from 70-90°F with high humidity, while winter nights can drop to the 30s, making year-round camping viable with proper preparation.
What to do
Beach activities: 3 miles from Fort Fisher Air Force Recreation Area, visitors can explore the nearby aquarium and museum. "Great stay. Wife, Three Kids, and I really enjoyed it... Less than a mile from the Aquarium and fort fisher civil war museum," notes one military family camper.
Ferry access: 5-minute drive from Kure Beach camping areas to transportation. "Down South of it is bald island and access to a ferry that will take you to Southport," explains a visitor who explored the area.
Fishing opportunities: Direct access from waterfront sites at several campgrounds. At North Myrtle Beach RV Resort, campers enjoy "watching the boats on the Intercoastal Waterway" with rentals available at some facilities for those without equipment.
Winery visits: On-site tastings at select campgrounds combine camping with vineyard experiences. "Beautiful, family owned campground... Winery with taste testing hours and wine to purchase," notes a visitor to CarrollWoods RV Park.
What campers like
Direct beach proximity: Walking distance makes beach access simple at some locations. At Winners RV Park, campers appreciate that "With being only a short walk to the beach, shops, and restaurants, this park can't be beat. No frills here. The park managers are fun and friendly, and the grounds are clean and well-kept."
Pool facilities: Multiple options for swimming beyond the ocean. Holden Beach RV Campground visitors mention "the bath house has a private toilet, sink and shower- beautifully tiled and maintained. Lovely relaxing weekend. Oh- and a free trolly takes you to the beach and some restaurants."
Dog-friendly amenities: Dedicated spaces for pets at many Carolina Beach area campgrounds. In The Pines RV & Cabin Village provides "Dog Park and nice mowed lanes for walks. Owner super nice and helpful."
Clean facilities: Regular maintenance keeps bathhouses and common areas in good condition. "The bathhouse and laundry were sufficient. They had a nice pool, playground, volley ball court and horseshoe pits. They have a large dog park," reports a visitor to CarrollWoods.
What you should know
Military access restrictions: ID required at Fort Fisher Air Force Recreation Area. "You need a DOD ID card to stay here. It is affordable if you qualify to stay. They will check and make you leave if you are not a card holder," warns a visitor.
Site configuration challenges: Some campgrounds have awkward hookup placement. At Fort Fisher, "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."
Seasonal crowds: May-September reservations should be made well in advance. At Holden Beach RV Campground, "We stayed in the new section with great, full hook up, level, gravel pads and some new grass and landscaping, large new picnic table and fire pit."
Community vs. campground differences: Some locations function more as permanent communities. "This is an RV community not a campground. It's very strict (which is totally proper for a community) but we found as 'transients' that we were unwelcome," notes a reviewer at Harbor Point RV Community.
Tips for camping with families
Rental options: Equipment access without bringing your own. Fort Fisher "has shop, rental center, and fishing pier within walking distance of the camping area. Also has a nice pool and rec center, as well as ongoing outdoor classes (kayaking, ghost turtle hunting, etc)."
Pool and recreation features: Kid-friendly amenities available at multiple sites. At Willow Tree RV Resort, "The pool is large with a great slide and lots of lounge chairs. You are right on the Intercoastal waterway and can watch the boats travel up and down. They also have boats and golf carts for rent."
Educational opportunities: Nearby learning experiences complement camping trips. "They had an arts a crafts event we did not attend because the kids wanted to swim. But trick or treating was awesome for the kids, adults, and puppies. We briefly went to the Halloween bash but hurried over to go on the haunted hay right through the forest," explains a Willow Tree visitor during Halloween.
Spacing considerations: Sites vary in privacy and proximity to neighbors. "It's a very quiet campground. The sites are far enough apart you don't get interrupted by the neighboring campsites but the campground isn't so big you have to drive everywhere," notes a visitor at Holden Beach RV Campground.
Tips from RVers
Campground navigation: Entry procedures can be challenging at some locations. For Fort Fisher, experienced RVers recommend to "park at your site, then going to check in. Not much space to turn around at the office."
Connectivity options: Variable service across campgrounds for remote workers. At S & W RV Park, "We were looking for a last minute place, close to the coast. Found this campground by chance. Reasonably priced during peak season. We stayed 2 weeks, had a large campsite (probably hit or miss on site size), and really enjoyed our stay."
Tree clearance: Low branches pose hazards at some locations. One camper at Harbor Point notes that with "a 38ft rig and some of the trees are very low and scrape the top."
Site selection strategy: Location within campground affects experience. "We were here in December, the place was quiet. These sites are on top of each other and I don't know that I'd use this campground during high season... the doggie area was right behind us.. full summer heat would probably be a bit smelly for me," advises an off-season visitor.
