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.
$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."
$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."
$25 - $75 / night
"Close to the Morris Marina, Davis, and Ocracoke ferry. Easy access to the Outer and Core banks."
$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."
"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."
$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."
"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."
$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."
$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."
$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."
GuideWe 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.
GuideCampground 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.
ScoutIt'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.
ScoutJust 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.
LegendGeneral: 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!
LegendWe 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!
TravelerThe whole place is so very clean: the bathrooms, camping areas, swimming pool area, even the dumpsters area. The grass is very well kept, the roads and signage, well maintained.
GuideThe campground was fairly quiet. The few campers were very quiet and respectful to the other campers. I camped for 14 days at this location in January.
NOTE: There is no public Wi-Fi.
This location has a bathhouse. The bathrooms are separate from the showers. The bathrooms were slightly heated. The showers, on the other hand, were not heated. All the shower glass units were missing. The water was warm, but not hot. In other words, be prepared to take a warm shower in freezing weather. You’ll take a very short and quick shower under these conditions. But these conditions are better than no showers at all!
Overall, it is a good camping experience at this location. I will be back.
GuideSuch a nice and clean campground! The sites are pretty big so you can move around easily and there are tons of trails you can check out as well and water access. Campground host was very nice too!
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.
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
According to TheDyrt.com, Cedar Island, NC offers a wide range of camping options, with 52 campgrounds and RV parks near Cedar Island, NC and 2 free dispersed camping spots.
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 56 reviews.
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 2 free dispersed camping spots near Cedar Island, NC.
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 2 parks near Cedar Island, NC that allow camping, notably Bankhead National Forest and Chugach National Forest.
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