45 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
North Carolina's coastal plains surrounding Creswell offer a mix of developed campgrounds and lakeside camping experiences. Pettigrew State Park Campground, located on Lake Phelps, provides tent and RV sites with basic amenities and access to the second-largest natural lake in the state. The area features several mixed-use campgrounds including Rocky Hock Campground and Goose Creek State Park, which accommodate a range of camping styles from tent camping to RVs. Many locations provide electrical hookups and water access, with some sites offering full amenities including showers and dump stations.
Camping is available year-round at several properties, though certain areas like Oregon Inlet Campground operate seasonally from March through November. Most campgrounds in the region require reservations, particularly during warmer months when waterfront sites fill quickly. The relatively flat coastal terrain makes most sites accessible without specialized vehicles, though some areas may become muddy after rain. Visitors should prepare for insects, especially in warmer months near the swampy areas. A review of Pettigrew State Park noted: "The campground was full and spots were close together. We otherwise just hung out, checked the old plantation and took a hike on moccasin trail."
Water access represents a significant draw for campers in the Creswell area, with Lake Phelps and the surrounding waterways providing opportunities for boating, fishing, and swimming. Several campgrounds offer direct water access, with boat ramps and fishing opportunities. Campers frequently mention wildlife viewing as a highlight, including birds and occasionally bears. The historic elements add another dimension to camping in this region, particularly at Pettigrew State Park where the Somerset plantation is accessible via hiking trails. According to feedback on The Dyrt, "The natural beauty is worth the visit. From the campground it is an easy walk to the lake. We were able to see an impressive sunset from the lake shore." Most developed campgrounds provide amenities such as picnic tables, fire rings, and access to bathhouses, though amenities vary significantly between properties.
"We usually overnight there on the way to the NPS campgrounds on the Outer Banks of North Carolina, though it is nice enough to justify a stay if you find yourself in the area."
"The access to the Outer Banks was awesome as always. This time we kayaked on the nearby scuppernong River. The swampy trip did not disappoint with wildlife or fishing."
from $27 - $47 / night
Check Availability"Though we were caught camping in what seemed to be a very dramatic North Carolina storm we made the best of it. Good location all around, close to the ocean and cool towns nearby."
"Oregon Inlet Campground is located on the Cape Hatteras National Seashore. It is the first campground found on the island, very close to Nags Head, on the beach side of route 12."
from $28 - $70 / night
Check Availability"Goose Creek State Park campground is one of the newer state parks in North Carolina. The RV part of the park has a great layout with large sites."
"This campground is nestled in the tall North Carolina pines. There isn’t much shade though because the branches are mainly at the top."
from $17 - $75 / night
Check Availability"This property has many perks: dog friendly and has space to exercise your furbabies, boat ramp to explore the surrounding waterways, golfing, screened gazebo, laundry, David's Red Barn which did not have"
from $25 - $45 / night
Check Availability"Beside state boat ramp access to anywhere
Next to ferry to Ocracoke too..."
"The new owner has been making upgrades around the property. Customers come first here! Thanks."
from $40 - $50 / night
Check Availability"Situated on Lake Mattamuskeet, beautiful sunsets. Bath houses on site. There’s even a small boat ramp for small skiffs. Fire pits and wood was provided."
from $30 - $50 / night
from $15 - $65 / night
Check Availability"I still think it's the best one, it's the largest, right next to the main trail head, & bath house trail right ahead of the site. The bath house was real nice."
"Nice 0.7 walk from the campsite to the visitor center to rent canoes! Just a short drive to some other trails. Enjoyed the Cyprus Point trail which you access at the boat ramp section of the park."
from $27 / night
Check Availability
TravelerI am spending 10 days here they have wonderful amenities it is very clean very beautiful very quiet has a boat ramp right on the river I would recommend it to anybody
TravelerThis is a long one! Here we go. My partner and I travel for work, we went out of our way to move to this location based on reviews saying this is a great place. We have paid in full for the whole stay which is about little over 2 months. We have been here approx 2 weeks give or take. We work night shift. No activity during the day. Simple easy. Not our first campground by any means. At first, we were excited to experience the amenities and such. Now we’re uncomfortable to try anything out. Why you ask? Situation: first day we move in, we end up next to what seems like the literal only other long term or possibly even permanent resident on the grounds. My service animal alerted me to a trigger, which she left the front door of the camper before we walked out. Recalled her to me once we saw that the perm resident (our neighbor) had what presented as an aggressive dog. (Husky maybe?). Within not EVEN 5 minutes of this event, someone was at our door- instead of asking what is going on we were immediately accused of her running around off leash I guess? We had just woken up from sleeping and it was evening time, time to go to work. Instead of arguing or even offering up ANY facts related to the situation I simply said got it thanks and the interaction ended. I’m thinking to myself well damn. Okay. A week or so maybe goes by? Leash in hand VISIBLE -at the door my dog steps out, I step out behind her- same time same situation. She walks ahead of me to where she will relieve herself, I ask for her to come back next to me, she recalls- neighbors dog loses its mind again. I look up at neighbor and say “just go ahead and call man, I get it”. She calls. This time THREE employees are driving on carts to our site, at this point we’re already leaving for work. I knew it was coming, figured they would for sure ask what’s going on this time. They don’t. The older woman accompanied by two men behind her- simply says “you have been told before you need to leash your dog”. We reply yes we understand. Nobody asks for a description of the events, what’s going on, or if this even happened. The female voice is raised and hostile presenting towards both of us. The man behind her approaches our car and peers into the vehicle I’m not sure if to intimidate or what, but that action was also very ineffective in diffusing the situation and instead very intimidating. And now making us both VERY late to work as this is an extra 15 minute drive to the hospital in which we work at. Seemingly, the word of this permanent resident is all they needed to full on accuse the two of us… of what? I am not sure. My animal has resided all over the country in countless locations, all while working and we have had no issues to date. At this point I am still remaining silent as the female worker continues to educate us on our alleged actions. My concern is that there has been ZERO questioning, only full on accusations. We’re highly uncomfortable at this point. They say “we will be speaking with the general manager tomorrow”, Which also felt threatening. I’d like to add that given the whole situation this wouldn’t matter but since this is happening: earlier that morning after work I had stopped by the front desk, to ask about a package I thought that I sent to the wrong place, but didn’t. The same female was there. I remember thinking wow she’s actually so rude. But I brushed it off. Now looking back she must have some kind of prejudice toward myself and my dog. I’ve never been threatened / accused so one-sidedly in my entire career such as what has been happening at this campground. Our resolution was to request moving sites, however nothing was asked of us WHATSOEVER. As stated we were not given any opportunity to speak on the situation. Will attempt to update review whenever we speak with management of this location. Warning is to be wary of implicit bias in staff, potential favoritism, and inconsistent / unfair conflict resolution, aggressive long term campers, and lack of communication from staff.
TravelerGood place to tour the area from. Great wifi. Usually empty spots. They have a pool. Zero shade. Full hook up. Average spacing. Clean gravel camping spots.
TravelerIt did say that the laundry area was renovated and I was highly disappointed to see that it does not show any signs of remodeling. The shower house is tolerable but also I will NOT be using the area. They are not strict enough about kids and the crap they leave everywhere. There is a house near the property where they keep dogs out in a kennel all day in the summer heat who bark (understandably) all day. That’s not their fault. They’re strict about where you stay long term and won’t let you near the pond which is also underwhelming. The front desk girl is very sweet and welcoming. Would have liked to have the same opportunity to be by the water as everyone else. We travel for work- all stays are long term.
GuideWe stayed for two nights in the primitive campground. The entire primitive campground was shady and felt ten degrees cooler than the visitors center & RV campground.
We stayed at site 14, the last site in the campground. We had a dock a short walk from our site, the goose creek trail right behind us, and a nice little beach area. The tent pad was a little too small for our tent, but there was plenty of space to set up camp.
The main swimming area of the park was a short drive down the road and a short walk. It was right on the river and perfect for our kiddos.
The proximity to water was awesome and the sunsets were beautiful. Too bad we don't fish, but plenty of places to fish or launch a kayak.
Super easy to pop into town to get anything you might have left at home or if you want to check out a neat historic district with lots to see.
TravelerWe were able to get some last minute spots on recreation.gov
There are showers and bathrooms. Some rustic sites and some RV hookup sites.
Access to the ocean, but you cannot see the beach from the sites due to the dunes you have to walk through to get to the beach.
You cannot drive onto the beach too if you trust your rig in the sand
TravelerAbsolutely horrifying experience. It started with the camp hosts allowing primitive campers in when the bathrooms and showers were closed and even nailed shut with 2x4s. This promoted grown men(we'll say using the loo) in full view, just feet from our Airstream- which was facing the bath house. Knowing it would be pretty obvious who reported them, we remained silent, as we were supposwd to be there for a week. THEN,*supposedly" some male Karen(again, I say supposedly) claimed we put our trained K9 out at 6am(we don't even wake up until 9am-10am) and allowed him to bark for 2 hours(this never happened-again, trained K9 who was happily snoring in bed when this blatant lie was formulated). We then realised it was provably a lie, because we have security cameras(4) inside and out. Cameras showed we awoke and didn't open the doors the first time until 9.38am on the day in question(even later the previous morning). The ranger's wife was almost gleefully telling me that if the SUPPOSED Karen complained(lied) again, she would*have to* call the sheriff on us??? Oh, but we"should keep the camera footage", that she didn't want to see. Okaaay. We spent the remainder of our non-refundable week with the shades drawn- recording and saving every time we stepped out, with our innocent dog, should a false police report be filed by the ranger's wife. Absolute hellish week that we couldn't enjoy because of the grotesque campground hosts.
TravelerNice , clean, well maintained. Enjoyed our visit
ScoutWidower, I have been here for over a year now. Best of the best, country site on the beautiful Chowan River that accesses the Atlantic Ocean. Boat ramp, Large T-Dock, farmet type living with some livestock and ckickens that makes me feel like my chilhood days. So peaceful here! Family envirement. Free laundry facilities. Children safe activies on site. I plane to spent the rest of my days here.
The coastal area surrounding Creswell sits at an average elevation of just 7 feet above sea level, creating a network of shallow waterways that define the camping experience. Winter temperatures rarely drop below 30°F, making year-round camping possible for prepared visitors. The relatively flat terrain provides easy access for standard vehicles to most established campsites, though the low elevation means standing water can be common after rain.
Kayaking on Lake Phelps: Launch directly from Pettigrew State Park Campground where the water is notably clear. "The water in Lake Phelps is perfectly clear. We didn't get to explore it much without a boat but there are fish. Also, this lake is close to the outer banks so you can plan to go there as well," notes camper Justin C.
Fishing for bass: Most waterfront sites offer good fishing access with bass being common. "I caught 7 large mouth bass and saw a lot of perch. 2 of them were keepers so I want to come back out again just to fish," reported a regular visitor to Pettigrew State Park Campground.
Hiking historic trails: The Moccasin Trail at Pettigrew offers a moderate 3-mile round trip hike. "Be careful!!! It was brisk and damp and we of course, came across what appeared to be a moccasin on the trail. My dog jumped over it...startled it and I saw its head pop up," warns camper Kristi D.
Wildlife viewing: Merchants Millpond State Park is known for alligator spotting from a safe distance. "If you canoe long enough, you'll come across two alligators who live in the pond," shares Kaylee G., highlighting the unique wildlife viewing opportunities.
Spacious, wooded sites: Goose Creek State Park Campground receives consistent praise for site layout. "The sites are spacious, well equipped and well spaced (private). There are several water stations and composting toilets," notes camper Chip G.
Access to multiple water bodies: Campers appreciate having options between lake, river, and ocean access. "We kayaked in their creek that goes out directly to the Chowan River. Large fishing pond, firewood available, clean shower house, game room and tidy clean sites," mentions a camper at Rocky Hock Campground.
Stargazing opportunities: The minimal light pollution makes for excellent night sky viewing. "You'll hear the ocean waves pretty much all night from all or most sites, and the star viewing is also great here," reports Ashlee L. about camping at Oregon Inlet Campground.
Educational history elements: Many sites include access to historic structures. "The history being preserved is spectacular. Lots of hiking biking and only about 12 sites. There are boardwalks that meander through the swampy forest," says Justin C. about Pettigrew State Park Campground.
Limited cell service: Most sites have spotty connectivity. "Internet is spotty. Turn your cellular data on," advises camper Evelyn O. at Goose Creek State Park Campground.
Seasonal camping restrictions: Some campgrounds operate on limited schedules. Oregon Inlet Campground runs from March through November with specific services. "Facilities were clean, showers were warm, sites were spacious! The walk to the beach was a little longer longer than expected but not terrible (took 10-15 minutes carrying a 25 lb toddler)," notes Virginia W.
Wildlife considerations: Prepare for encounters with local fauna. "We traveled through there on the way back from a grocery run and saw a lot of wildlife including a baby black bear," reports a camper at Pettigrew State Park.
Water levels fluctuate: Low elevations mean changing water access. "The deepest part of the lake is 9' so you are able to walk around most of the lake. My kids loved this," shares Justin C. about Lake Phelps.
Beach access timing: Plan beach trips in morning or evening hours to avoid crowds. "I love waking up early and walking down to the beach to see the sunrise. Oftentimes I'll be the only one one the beach," shares Valerie P. from Oregon Inlet Campground.
Kid-friendly water features: Merchants Millpond State Park offers safe water exploration opportunities. "Taking a canoe or kayak out to explore the pond and swamps is a must and total unique experience. Turtles, birds, cypress trees, and alligators," recommends a camper named Boone.
Natural playgrounds: Sand dunes provide built-in entertainment. "The dunes are right next to the campsites and provided hours of fun—running, climbing, sliding, and just being wild and free," reports David N. about camping at Oregon Inlet.
Family-sized sites: Request specific site numbers known to accommodate families better. "We used site 11. I still think it's the best one, it's the largest, right next to the main trail head, & bath house trail right ahead of the site," suggests Charli R. about Merchants Millpond State Park.
Hookup availability: Rose Bay Preserve offers full hookups near water access. "Beside state boat ramp, access to anywhere, Next to ferry to Ocracoke too..." notes Dan B.
Level site options: Look for sites specifically graded for larger vehicles. "The sites are level and very well designed for optimal privacy," reports Barbara W. about Rocky Hock Campground.
Travel distances between amenities: Columbia is the nearest town to many camping areas with full services. "Columbia is the closest town that has groceries or anything to eat. There is a back route to the campground from there along the refuge called Newlands Road," shares a camper at Pettigrew State Park.
Seasonal considerations: Winter camping offers fewer crowds but requires preparation. "Wanted to try out a new tent in the snow, was the only camper, and had a huge plot to myself. All RVers were polite and kept to themselves and were quiet," notes William P. about Rocky Hock Campground.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular campground near Creswell, NC?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Creswell, NC is Pettigrew State Park Campground with a 4.4-star rating from 12 reviews.
Keep Exploring
