Best Campgrounds near Cedar Island, NC

Cedar Island is an ideal place for camping adventures of all kinds. Cedar Island is filled with the activities, sights, and experiences to make everyone in your crew a happy camper. You're sure to find the perfect spot for your North Carolina camping adventure.

Best Camping Sites Near Cedar Island, North Carolina (56)

    1. Ocracoke Campground — Cape Hatteras National Seashore

    57 Reviews
    Ocracoke, NC
    23 miles
    Website
    +1 (252) 928-6671

    $28 / night

    "We spontaneously added two days onto our beach camping vacation at Bear Island and took the Cedar Island Ferry to Ocracoke after being away from the island for 7 years.

    Ocracoke in itself is a gem."

    "This ended up being a perfect jumping off point for enjoying the town of Ocracoke in the evening and the following morning, then taking the afternoon ferry to Cedar Island."

    2. Long Point Cabin Camp — Cape Lookout National Seashore

    3 Reviews
    Cedar Island, NC
    8 miles
    Website
    +1 (252) 728-2250

    $112 - $145 / night

    "Luckily, North Carolina has some amazing beaches on the Outer Banks, and Long Point Cabin area should definitely be on your list of spots to check out."

    "I sailed over while the group brought their 4 wheel drive vehicle on the ferry. Feels like a world away from populated beaches."

    3. Cedar Creek Campground & Marina

    3 Reviews
    Cedar Island, NC
    10 miles
    Website
    +1 (252) 646-6084

    $25 - $75 / night

    "Close to the Morris Marina, Davis, and Ocracoke ferry. Easy access to the Outer and Core banks."

    4. Cedar Island Ranch

    1 Review
    Cedar Island, NC
    1 mile
    Website
    +1 (252) 650-8050

    $22 - $102 / night

    "There are 60 sites, including walk-in tent sites, back-in W/E, pull-thru W/E, and FHU pull-thru sites. The prices range from $20-$75."

    5. South Core Banks -- Beach Camping — Cape Lookout National Seashore

    8 Reviews
    Marshallberg, NC
    18 miles
    +1 (252) 728-2250

    "They even walked close by our campsite. The last night had the most amazing sunset that lit up the lighthouse and the clouds above with beautiful pinks, purple and blues."

    "Start your adventure on a ferry, cross an inlet watching all the wildlife play right in front of you, then get off and drive immediately to endless stretches of white sandy beaches."

    6. Great Island Cabin Camp — Cape Lookout National Seashore

    5 Reviews
    Marshallberg, NC
    18 miles
    Website
    +1 (252) 728-2250

    $80 - $180 / night

    "But they are situated directly behind the dunes from miles and miles of totally prestine beaches. The only on-island supplies are ice and gasoline, so you must pack in everything."

    "There are several boardwalks that meander around the island and numerous sandy paths connecting the sound side to the ocean side."

    7. Teeter's Campground

    8 Reviews
    Ocracoke, NC
    20 miles
    Website
    +1 (252) 588-2030

    "The location is fantastic. Everything is walking distance... restaurants, shops and the marina. The owner was very nice and helpful. Be aware the campsites are very close together."

    "Walking distance to the waterfront. Very quiet environment."

    8. Oyster Point Campground

    23 Reviews
    Morehead City, NC
    30 miles
    Website
    +1 (252) 638-5628

    $10 - $20 / night

    "Fun place to camp, water close by, picnic table and fire ring. Tent pads are pretty big. Host is very nice and cheap."

    "We found a few paths to the river but the river access was very small. There is a Mountain-to-Sea path nearby as well."

    9. Cape Point — Cape Lookout National Seashore

    13 Reviews
    Ocracoke, NC
    27 miles
    Website
    +1 (252) 465-9602

    $20 / night

    "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."

    "If you can't find a spot in one of the boutique or smaller national seashore locations you won't get skunked."

    10. Frisco Campground — Cape Hatteras National Seashore

    46 Reviews
    Frisco, NC
    43 miles
    Website
    +1 (252) 995-5101

    $28 / night

    "Campground is nice overall, there are multiple bathhouses and trash bins near the entrance. There are lots of bugs and ticks, tent space vary greatly from space to space."

    "Depending on the spot you pick, the shore is a few steps away. You can drive to a small lot near the beach entrance if your lot is far away. The night sky is breathtaking."

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Recent Reviews near Cedar Island, NC

357 Reviews of 56 Cedar Island Campgrounds


  • RThe Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 11, 2025

    New Bern KOA Holiday

    Our first trip in the camper

    Our first trip in our new to us camper and found the campground very nice. The bathhouses were the cleanest and best equipped. Some shade. Nice dog park. Plenty of amenities.

  • keith C.
    Aug. 6, 2025

    The Sea Monkey Ranchlette

    Amazing Outdoor shower, Sauna and Cold Plunge;)!

    The Sea Monkey is a dream! Bananas, pomegranates, oranges, and Asian pears they are growing everything and it’s an inspiring model for a little permaculture patch😍 A kitesurfer and/or sailors Paradise- and if you’re neither one of those things, but curious about bridling the elements-the professional instructors at The Sea Monkey are amazing at teaching! I highly recommend taking lessons-had so much fun!!!

  • Chip G.
    Jul. 11, 2025

    Ocracoke Campground — Cape Hatteras National Seashore

    4th of July on Ocracoke

    This is a nice campground. The price is good, it is clean and the spaces are large enough and not too close. It is a bit rustic with no hookups. The ocean is just over the dune. But man, I sure wish they at least had electricity.

  • EThe Dyrt PRO User
    Apr. 22, 2025

    Goose Creek State Park Campground

    A nice find

    We camped on the primitive side. Hardly anyone here. We took spot 4. Across from the clean pit toilet. They do have water. The area for rvs were packed and it wasn’t as appealing as the primitive. Follow the signs to primitive tent camping. Is a loop and the closer you get to the loop the more bugs cause of the water. On our walk with the dogs seen deer and a raccoon visited us during the night. Internet is spotty. Turn your cellular data on.

  • R C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Apr. 19, 2025

    Flanners Beach Campground

    Nice forest trails and beach

    Campground is good. Sites are a bit close but generally acceptable for the typical camper. Good showers and toilet, water and garbage available. Forest trail nearby is an intermediate full loop trail (1-1.5 hrs). Beach walking distance. Nice staff. Recommend.

  • Jenna L.The Dyrt PRO User
    Apr. 14, 2025

    Oyster Point Campground

    Nice campsite by the river.

    It's a nice little campsite by the river, the campsite was very clean, and there are a few trees providing cover, but still enough sun to get some solar, if you need that. There's like a 20 ft path directly from my campsite to the river, which is nice.

  • Rhonda S.
    Apr. 10, 2025

    Dixon Landing RV Resort

    Great area, quiet and very nice owners and campers

    Just far enough away from the noise but close enough to be convenient to everything. Groceries and restaurants, gas and history all within a short drive. Campground is so nice, fish jumping, quiet and relaxing. On the water so you can put your kayaks in and paddle the creek. Very clean bathrooms with showers ice and propane and firewood available. Sites are a good size and easy to get the trailer level.

  • Lee D.The Dyrt PRO User
    Mar. 9, 2025

    Ocracoke Campground — Cape Hatteras National Seashore

    Basic NPS campground with ocean beach access

    General: One of four Cape Hatteras National Seashore campgrounds, in four joined loops. 

    Site Quality: Sites are all level, and there is a varying amount of physical separation/privacy between sites. Each site has a paved camper pad, picnic table, and BBQ grill. 

    Bath/Shower house: The bathrooms were basic but clean. The showers appeared to be beach showers. Didn’t test them, but I doubt there would be hot water as they were more outdoor showers. Although the bathrooms were in the middle of the loops, there was no designated pathway to them, so it felt like you were walking through someone’s site to get to them. 

    Activities/Amenities: Beach walking! I walked two miles south from our site and could have walked much further if I wanted. Fishing and there is a fish-cleaning station. There is also a dump station and a water fill just outside of the campground. You can drive on the beach here, but that’s not our thing. There is also a nature trail but I did not explore it, favoring the beach instead.

    The best sites are on the outside of the loops on the dune side, and these were mostly all occupied on a weekend in early April. The sites on the Highway 12 side have little separation between them, and I was not surprised that not many of these were occupied. See the map in my photos. 

    With a lifetime senior pass, $14 was a bargain for this campground. I love the ocean, especially walking on the beach, and wish we could have stayed longer!

  • Lee D.The Dyrt PRO User
    Feb. 26, 2025

    Cedar Island Ranch

    As close as you can get to the ferry!

    We stayed here six years ago and when I knew we’d be returning to the area, I tried to find it on The Dyrt but it wasn’t there (and I could not remember the name). When we were there in 2018, the campground was in transition and our stay was less than optimal, so I figured maybe it was no longer there. I was surprised when we arrived at the ferry terminal to see it was there, open, and looking quite improved. I stopped in at the office to speak to the owner/manager and she was very surprised to find it was not on the Dyrt’s map so I’m glad that now that I finally had a chance to post my review, it had been added! 

    There are 60 sites, including walk-in tent sites, back-in W/E, pull-thru W/E, and FHU pull-thru sites. The prices range from $20-$75. You cannot get any closer to the Cedar Island-Ocracoke ferry terminal from this campground. There is also a motel. The bathrooms are much improved since the last time we were there and there are hot water showers. 

    Activities/Amenities: Playground, dog park, horseback riding, SUP rentals, beach volleyball, community fire pit, boat ramp, dump station, post office. 

    Had we known this campground was still here, we would have stayed!


Guide to Cedar Island

Camping near Cedar Island, North Carolina, offers a unique blend of natural beauty and outdoor adventure. With several campgrounds in the area, you can find the perfect spot to relax and enjoy the great outdoors.

What to do:

  • Beach Access: Many campgrounds, like Cape Point — Cape Lookout National Seashore, provide easy access to beautiful beaches. One visitor mentioned, "This campground is right next to several beach access where you can drive your car onto the beach and fishing is good near the point."
  • Fishing: The area is known for great fishing spots. A camper at South Core Banks -- Beach Camping said, "Love this island! No crowds, lots of open beach, and plenty of fish!"
  • Hiking and Trails: Explore the scenic trails in the nearby parks. A review for Oyster Point Campground highlighted, "Close to the water and a lovely 21-mile trail."

What campers like:

  • Quiet and Peaceful Atmosphere: Campers appreciate the tranquility of places like Ocracoke Campground — Cape Hatteras National Seashore. One reviewer noted, "Super quiet, clean and chill campground."
  • Clean Facilities: Many campgrounds, such as Teeter's Campground, are praised for their cleanliness. A visitor mentioned, "Nice campground. Sites are small but manageable. The staff is great."
  • Friendly Hosts: Campers often rave about the helpful staff. A review for Oyster Point Campground stated, "Tonia is a delightful host."

What you should know:

  • Reservations Required: Most campgrounds, including Frisco Campground — Cape Hatteras National Seashore, require reservations. A camper shared, "Sites must be reserved through recreation.gov."
  • Limited Amenities: Some campgrounds, like Ocracoke Campground, do not offer showers or electric hookups. A visitor noted, "Cold water showers only."
  • Watch for Bugs: Mosquitoes can be a nuisance, especially in warmer months. One camper at Ocracoke Campground mentioned, "Mosquitoes are bad but this is Ocracoke!"

Tips for camping with families:

  • Choose Family-Friendly Campgrounds: Look for places like Hatteras Sands Campground, which has amenities for kids. A reviewer said, "The staff went above and beyond to ensure our stay was enjoyable."
  • Plan Activities: Bring along bikes or kayaks for family fun. A visitor at Oyster Point Campground mentioned, "Great hiking & kayaking."
  • Pack Bug Spray: Be prepared for bugs, especially if camping in warmer months. A camper at Oyster Point Campground advised, "Just get enough mosquito repellent and you’ll be fine."

Tips from RVers:

  • Check Site Sizes: Make sure your RV fits the site. A review for Teeter's Campground noted, "Some site will hold water in lots of rain so be on the lookout."
  • Use Dump Stations: Many campgrounds have dump stations available. A camper at Cape Point — Cape Lookout National Seashore mentioned, "There is a dump station and potable water fill on your way out."
  • Plan for Limited Connectivity: Cell service can be spotty in some areas. A visitor at Frisco Campground shared, "Cell Service (AT&T): 1 to 2 bars."

Camping near Cedar Island, North Carolina, offers a mix of relaxation and adventure. With beautiful campgrounds and plenty of activities, it’s a great spot for families and outdoor enthusiasts alike.

Frequently Asked Questions

What camping is available near Cedar Island, NC?

According to TheDyrt.com, Cedar Island, NC offers a wide range of camping options, with 56 campgrounds and RV parks near Cedar Island, NC and 2 free dispersed camping spots.

Which is the most popular campground near Cedar Island, NC?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Cedar Island, NC is Ocracoke Campground — Cape Hatteras National Seashore with a 4.6-star rating from 57 reviews.

Where can I find free dispersed camping near Cedar Island, NC?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 2 free dispersed camping spots near Cedar Island, NC.