Best Campgrounds near Gloucester, NC
Gloucester, North Carolina provides outdoor enthusiasts with both island and mainland camping options spread across multiple public and private properties. Cape Lookout National Seashore stands out with its Great Island Cabin Camp and South Core Banks Beach Camping, accessible only by boat and offering rustic cabins on barrier islands facing the Atlantic Ocean. Croatan National Forest's Oyster Point Campground provides tent and RV sites with water access on the mainland, while private operations like Cedar Creek Campground & Marina accommodate various camping styles including cabin rentals. Several campgrounds feature waterfront positioning along sounds, rivers, or ocean beaches.
Access to camping areas varies significantly based on location, with Cape Lookout's barrier island sites requiring ferry transportation and often 4WD vehicles for beach navigation. Most mainland campgrounds maintain year-round operation, while island facilities typically operate seasonally from spring through fall due to weather conditions and accessibility challenges. Campers headed to barrier islands must be entirely self-sufficient, bringing all necessary supplies including drinking water in some locations. Reservations are strongly recommended for cabins on Cape Lookout and for ferry transportation during peak seasons. A visitor to South Core Banks noted, "Take plenty of bug spray. View is stunning. Just be sure you know it's on an island, and read the tide tables so you aren't surprised."
The camping experience in the Gloucester area centers primarily around water access and natural coastal settings. Public lands at Cape Lookout National Seashore receive consistently high ratings from visitors seeking primitive beach camping with minimal infrastructure. As described in feedback on The Dyrt, the barrier islands offer "endless stretches of white sandy beaches" where campers can find solitude away from crowds. Mainland campgrounds like Oyster Point provide wooded sites with nearby water access at more affordable rates, typically $10 per night. Croatan National Forest campsites feature tent pads and basic facilities including toilets and drinking water. Mixed-use campgrounds catering to both tent and RV campers are primarily found on the mainland, while island locations focus more on primitive tent camping or rustic cabin accommodations with limited amenities.
