Best Campgrounds near Cedar Island, NC
Cedar Island in coastal North Carolina serves as a gateway to the Outer Banks with several campground options concentrated along the shoreline and near ferry terminals. Cedar Island Ranch provides 75 sites adjacent to the Ocracoke ferry terminal with RV hookups, tent sites, and beach access. Other nearby options include Cedar Creek Campground & Marina in Sea Level with 67 sites featuring full hookups and boat access, and Long Point Cabin Camp on Cape Lookout National Seashore offering rustic cabin accommodations accessible primarily by boat. The mixed-use campgrounds in this region typically accommodate both tent and RV camping, with several offering waterfront sites.
Access to camping areas varies significantly in this coastal region, with some locations requiring ferry transportation or boat access. For example, South Core Banks Beach Camping on Cape Lookout National Seashore is only accessible by boat and requires visitors to bring all necessary supplies. "If you are looking for beaches that aren't covered with people, Long Point Cabin area should definitely be on your list. Since this area is on a small barrier island, you have to take a ferry to reach the cabins. Because of this you, and the other temporary residents of these cabins, have the island all to yourselves." The camping season generally runs April through November, particularly for National Seashore campgrounds. Weather can change rapidly, with strong winds and storms common in this coastal environment.
The camping experience in this region centers around coastal environments and marine activities. Waterfront camping opportunities receive consistently high ratings, with several campgrounds providing direct beach access. Cedar Island Ranch campers appreciate its proximity to the ferry terminal and beach access, with one visitor noting it's "a hidden gem on the journey into the outer banks with beautiful views, beach access, horses, ferry to Ocracoke, and very reasonably priced." Cape Lookout National Seashore offers a more primitive experience with opportunities for solitude. A camper described South Core Banks as "nothing short of amazing" with "the prettiest water I've seen in NC, can be compared to the Caribbean." Most camping areas in the region are family-friendly with opportunities for fishing, boating, swimming, and wildlife viewing, including wild horses on some barrier islands.
