Best Tent Camping near Swansboro, NC
Coastal tent camping options near Swansboro, North Carolina include several distinctive beach and waterfront locations. Hammocks Beach State Park offers tent-only campsites on Bear Island, accessible by ferry or kayak from the mainland. The island features primitive tent camping with sites nestled behind dunes and along the shoreline. Haywood Landing Recreation Site provides free tent camping with basic amenities for those seeking a more rustic experience. Military personnel and their families can access Onslow Beach Campsites in nearby Sneads Ferry, which offers tent sites with beach access. Phoenix Farms Vineyard, a former tobacco farm, now provides walk-in tent sites in a more inland setting.
Tent campers at Bear Island should prepare for logistics unique to island camping. The state ferry runs only during daylight hours (approximately 9am-6pm), requiring overnight campers to remain on the island until morning service resumes. Campers must backpack all supplies at least one mile from the ferry landing to their campsite. Sites lack natural shade, and no campfires are permitted anywhere on the island. Potable water and bathhouses with showers are available, but campers must pack out all trash as no collection points exist on the island. Cell service varies from none to 5G, depending on location and weather conditions.
During summer months, tent campers often face challenging heat at exposed beach sites. According to reviews, the center section at Onslow Beach has "no tree coverage, making it really hot with no breeze" during peak season. Campers recommend bringing tarps or light sunshades for relief. Bear Island tent sites offer more seclusion but require careful planning. One visitor noted, "Sites are widely spread out, so you could end up a mile from water and bathhouse." The paddle-in tent sites on the far side of Bear Island provide the most privacy, with one camper describing their location as "in the woods with a nice shady clearing and its own very private little beach." Wildlife encounters are common, with snakes frequently observed along beach areas and mosquitoes prevalent during evening hours.