40 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Manns Harbor, North Carolina serves as a gateway to the Outer Banks camping experience, with several established campgrounds within a short drive. The coastal region features notable options like Oregon Inlet Campground in Cape Hatteras National Seashore and The Refuge on Roanoke Island, both offering beach proximity with varying amenities. Camping styles range from basic tent sites to full-hookup RV accommodations, with some locations providing cabin rentals. Most campgrounds in this area cater primarily to drive-in camping, though some like Camp Hatteras also accommodate walk-in tent campers seeking a more traditional experience. The proximity to both sound and ocean waters creates distinctive camping environments within relatively short distances.
Reservations are essential during the peak season from March through November, when coastal campgrounds fill quickly. Many campers note the region's characteristic winds, which can be both challenging and beneficial. As one visitor to Oregon Inlet observed, "The positive of that non-view is that little null of a hill that blocks your view actually shelters you from some fierce winds that would wear you out if cooking or trying to hang out at your site." Road noise affects many campgrounds along Highway 12, particularly sites closest to the roadway. Cell service is generally reliable throughout the area with 2-3 bars reported at most locations. Weather conditions vary significantly by season, with summer bringing heat and humidity while shoulder seasons offer milder temperatures but increased storm potential.
Beach access represents the primary draw for most campers, though site conditions vary considerably between locations. Many campgrounds feature limited privacy between sites, with one reviewer noting Oregon Inlet has "campsites not very big and hardly separated from each other." The lack of natural shade is frequently mentioned in reviews, making portable shade structures essential during summer months. Campgrounds closer to the dunes typically receive higher ratings despite their exposure to elements. Wildlife viewing opportunities extend beyond the beaches, with nearby Alligator River Wildlife Refuge offering "fantastic kayaking and bear spotting" according to one visitor. Most campgrounds around Manns Harbor provide basic amenities including bathhouses, though shower facilities vary significantly in quality and comfort, particularly during cooler or windier conditions.
"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"Location, location, location! Wow! Right on the ocean, so if you want to be near a wonderful beach.....this is your place. Sites are right next to one another but you expect that."
"Very beautiful campground,indoor pool and hot tube, golf carts allowed or rent from local place, Access to the beach or you can stay on the sound side."
from $32 - $130 / night
Check Availability"OBX is very close driving to public beach accesses (2 miles), close to so much, around the corner from the Wright Memorial."
"The grounds are flat, many sites are private / back up to preserve type landscape however sites 51-53 are close to a guy across the creek that plays his radio super loud all night and sometimes all day"
from $50 - $90 / night
Check Availability"Has a nice trail to walk around the pond. Sites are a bit small."
"Located between Wanchese and Manteo, this little RV park is a quiet getaway. Turning into the property you will find all of the grounds very clean and well maintained."
"Beechland is conveniently located within walking distance to downtown Manteo and is only a 10- 15 minute drive to Nags Head Beach."
from $60 - $80 / night
Check Availability"Good location. RV Park very well maintained and nice folk around."
"This is a centrally located spot to be able to drive anywhere in a reasonable amount of time."
from $55 - $70 / night
Check Availability"Off season and quiet, but very easy access in and out and a dune away from the Atlantic. The kids had plenty of room to ride their bikes and enjoyed the jump pillow."
"Steps from beach. Beautiful pool and huge hit tub. Bar and cafe were closed for season. Great dog park. They were having problems with cable.went in and out."
"Wonderful quiet neighborhood close to Atlantic Ocean with power, sewer , water and hot outdoor shower."
"With full-hookups and a convenient location near shops and the beach, its the perfect stay for those who love the beach. Make sure to leave a review and post some pictures of your stay!"
from $49 / night
"Room behind site in grass for games and tent, two car maximum space between site entrances, ocean within walking distance and stays a constant turnover of 77 degreesF."
"Easy access to beach, space for kids to play, bath houses and laundry are good (for a beach area) clean, quiet and inexpensive compared to surrounding campgrounds."
from $64 - $90 / night
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GuideThis was our second time staying here and we still loved it. We got a great spot with lots of shade and it has direct beach access. The only downside is the bathrooms and not great, the stalls are very small and the doors are left open so they are constantly filled with insects. Still, they have a store onsite and the staff are either very friendly or indifferent, depending on who you speak with.
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
ScoutVery, very glad we found this location. Medium to larger campground. Quite spacious. You're not packed in like Oreos in a wrapper. Nice layout, and site sizes. Nice level pads. Very clean & well maintained, everything is. Plenty of amenities and weekly activities.On site pizza & ice cream shop, highly recommended. Great water access paddle boards & kayaks. Nice boat launch too. An absolute bargain for the price point. Killer sunsets too. Have paid more and gotten less, and disappointed. Repeating, very pleased staying here, soo much room. Thank you
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
GuideFrisco Campground is a great no frills (no hookups and cold only campground showers) Cape Hatteras National Seashore Park.
We spent four nights in our Opus OP-13 camper. The campground was quiet and just a short walk over the dunes to the ocean.
GuideGreat sites I am sure weather has a lot to do with your experience. Spring time is just right for us..no bugs
Scout4 OUT OF 5 STARS! Sandy Point Resort Campgrounds is a great place to bring your kids/grandkids for camping, fishing and swimming but stay to the front of the campgrounds, the back area by the shower house where the permanent residents live is sketchy balls. I am a retired military Veteran and we have been bringing our family and friends here for 15+ years. My daughters are in their mid-20s now and they still love camping here. They have so many fun memories whether it was catching frogs, catfishing at night, playing cornhole or swimming off the pier. To this day we still laugh about our fun times.
Unfortunately our time at Sandy Point has ended, I have been banned. Yes banned. My wife and I went fishing there one weekend afternoon and did not buy the day pass,$7.50 per person. We have been fishing like this over the years and had never been charged or told we needed a day pass. In all honesty we did not know. We always bought our bait at the onsite store and from the store you can see the fishing area we always went to so it wasn’t like we were sneaking on. On this particular day we had just started setting up to fish when Liz, an employee that works in the store and lives in the back area of the campground(sketchy balls) pulled up to where we were at. Accompanying Liz was her husband who my wife and I thought was also an employee of the campground. He is not. When Liz asked if we had a day pass I said no and did not know we needed one because we had been coming here for so long. I said no problem I’ll go get one. I never stopped smiling and never raised my voice. It was not an issue to get the pass. Liz’s husband(remember, not an employee) started in on us, he was rude, he looked like he was ready to fight and as I’m walking toward the store to get the day pass he was following and harassing me. Earlier when I was in the store buying bait Liz came in and told the employee working that they(Liz and husband) needed more beer. So Liz and husband had been drinking before coming over to ask if we had gotten the day pass. No issue with Liz talking to us, she’s an employee but husband…no, he should not have said a word. He was downright harassing us. Forward ahead about 4 or 5 weeks, my wife and I go back for another weekend afternoon to fish. I went in the store to buy bait and the day pass, Liz is working. She asked if I was Kevin and then told me I have been banned from the park. When I asked why she said that I had come back to fish and did not buy the pass. I told her I had not been back since the last time when she told us about the pass. She then said well you were confrontational that day. I told her I never stopped smiling or was not even close to confrontational. She then said well your wife ran up on me. Now folks, this is one of the funniest things I’ve ever heard about my wife. She does not run….anywhere….hahaha. I told Liz my wife does not run and Liz said well she jogged up on me. Again folks…this did not happen. The reason for being banned changed four times while I stood there. Liz has been working at Sandy Point for a few years and I always…repeat always tried to make her laugh or smile when I saw her. I have never done anything to make her or any employee feel threatened or uncomfortable. I am always smiling and always in a great mood. Liz on the other hand will remind you of a disgruntle Eeyore, never happy or smiling. Always seeming as if she hates being there and has no joy in life. I never understood this because she gets to live on the campground. But because of not buying a day pass to fish(didn’t know), being accused of doing it again after being told(didn’t do it), being confrontational(nope), my wife running/ jogging toward Liz(hahahaha), I have been banned. So unfortunate.
I have reached out to Janice, the owner, by phone and email. No return calls back and no response to my email. All my wife and I are asking for is a sit down with Janice and Liz so we can tell our side of what happened. I assure you Janice what you are being told by Liz is not what the truth really is. I am a 24 year Veteran, family man and good person. I guarantee my character references will blow the doors off of Liz’s.
So I would give the campground 5 stars but because the shower house needs a little cleaning up and sometimes it gets rowdy after quiet hours on the weekend from other guest I can only give it 4 stars. Still a fun place to camp and enjoy time with family and friends as long as you don’t run up on Liz.
GuideThis is an beautiful setting between Nags Head and and the deeper portion of the Cape Hatteras National Seashore. It's rugged and windy with sand dunes inside the campground. The beach is just across the dunes and the Bodie Island Lighthouse is visible from the grounds. It's just north of Oregon Inlet, the Bonner Bridge Pier and Pea Island with its ever blowing dunes.
This is not for everyone. There are no pools, playgrounds, or even shade. But, it has very nice bathrooms and you can experience the amazing harsh landscape of the area. To me, the lack of amenities make it special. That said, there is water and electric, and Nags Head is about 9 miles away with all the conveniences you could want.
We used this as a starting point to explore from where the NC 12 pavement ends in Currituck to the southern end where the highway continues, but it's via ferry.
Camping options near Manns Harbor, North Carolina span both the mainland and barrier islands, with most sites situated within 30 miles of town. The coastal region sits at near sea level, with elevation rarely exceeding 10 feet above high tide. Summer temperatures average 85-90°F with high humidity, while spring and fall offer milder conditions in the 60-75°F range and lower humidity levels.
Beach access across dunes: Oregon Inlet Campground provides a short walk to uncrowded beaches. "I was able to hike out to the beach one morning in less than 10 minutes to view the sunrise," notes Ashlee L., who appreciated the manageable distance for enjoying early morning ocean views.
Wildlife viewing on Roanoke Island: The Refuge on Roanoke Island offers opportunities to observe local wildlife along shoreline trails. "Or just enjoy a nice walk around the shoreline and along the piers," suggests Casey W., who found the quieter setting ideal for nature appreciation away from busier beach areas.
History exploration: Beechland Campground provides convenient access to historic sites. "Beechland is conveniently located within walking distance to downtown Manteo and is only a 10-15 minute drive to Nags Head Beach," explains Marina R., highlighting the campground's strategic location for both historical and beach activities.
Sound and ocean proximity: Camp Hatteras RV Resort offers the unique advantage of both sound and ocean access. "Very quiet, we stayed on the sound side and could hear the waves crashing at night which was very relaxing. Cross the road and there's a shuffle board and mini golf course," shares Lucy M., appreciating the peaceful soundside location.
Star visibility: Oregon Inlet Campground provides excellent celestial viewing conditions. "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., noting how the open skies create opportunities for stargazing away from light pollution.
Proximity to attractions: OBX Campground offers central access to regional attractions. "This campground is located in a great spot, on Colington Island technically still Kill Devil Hills. We adventured to many local attractions easily from the campground," explains Amy E., who found the location convenient for regional exploration.
Site spacing varies significantly: Some campgrounds offer more generous spacing than others. "The sites are fairly quiet, fairly nicely spaced, particularly for a private RV park," notes Ray & Terri F. about OBX Campground, contrasting with tighter configurations at other locations.
Weather considerations: Coastal weather patterns require preparation. "Definitely stay in the fall or early Spring as it can get very hot at the campground," advises Valerie P. about Oregon Inlet Campground, suggesting shoulder seasons for more comfortable camping.
Facility maintenance: Bathhouse cleanliness varies across campgrounds. "The bathrooms, showers and pool were pristine. We saw a staff member cleaning them every day at 9am," reports Marina R. about Beechland Campground, highlighting the attention to facility maintenance.
Plan for sandy conditions: Beach proximity means sand management becomes important. "The dunes are right next to the campsites and provided hours of fun—running, climbing, sliding, and just being wild and free," shares David N. about Oregon Inlet, suggesting families embrace rather than fight the sandy environment.
Pool alternatives for rough surf days: Cape Hatteras KOA offers water recreation options when ocean conditions aren't ideal. "They have a really nice pool area with zero entry and two small waterslides for the kids. Plenty of chairs on the pool deck, and a small area of shade where you could eat or get out of the sun," notes Rachael H., describing family-friendly alternatives to beach time.
Site selection for families: Camp Hatteras offers family-friendly spaces beyond the campsite. "Room behind site in grass for games and tent, two car maximum space between site entrances, ocean within walking distance," explains Joseph J., pointing out the extra space for activities.
Level pads availability: Camp Hatteras provides convenient setup for larger rigs. "Our 36 ft pull behind fit perfectly on the concrete slab and was level without having to mess with anything," shares Lucy M., noting the convenience of properly leveled sites.
Beach access logistics: Kitty Hawk RV Park offers direct beach access that doesn't require towing vehicles. "Beach is right across the street. This is a centrally located spot to be able to drive anywhere in a reasonable amount of time," explains Melanie T., highlighting the convenience for RVers wanting to maintain a basecamp.
Internet connectivity: Cell service varies throughout the region. "The internet is terrible so if you're working from home, have a hotspot. AT&T does much better in this area. We have Verizon and it was spotty," advises Sarah A. at Camp Hatteras, providing important information for remote workers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I find camping spots in Manns Harbor, NC?
While Manns Harbor itself has limited camping options, nearby areas offer excellent opportunities. Oregon Inlet Campground — Cape Hatteras National Seashore provides oceanside camping with easy beach access and is a short drive from Manns Harbor. Another option is The Refuge on Roanoke Island near Wanchese, offering drive-in access with full amenities. For those seeking a mainland experience, Pettigrew State Park Campground is a small but well-maintained option that serves as an excellent stopover when traveling to the Outer Banks. Most of these sites are reservable, with peak seasons filling up quickly.
What is the best time of year to camp in Manns Harbor?
The optimal camping season for Manns Harbor and the surrounding Outer Banks is late spring through early fall. Frisco Campground — Cape Hatteras National Seashore experiences its best weather from May through September when temperatures are pleasant and water activities are most enjoyable. Summer brings warm temperatures with ocean waters around 77°F, ideal for swimming. However, shoulder seasons (April-May and September-October) offer fewer crowds and more availability at popular sites like Pettigrew State Park Campground. Winter camping is possible but comes with risks of dramatic coastal storms and requires preparation for potentially harsh conditions. Bug activity is highest in summer, particularly ticks, so bring appropriate repellent.
Are there RV-friendly campgrounds in Manns Harbor?
While Manns Harbor proper has limited RV camping, several excellent options exist nearby. Camp Hatteras RV Resort and Campground offers full-service RV sites with oceanfront access, separate pools, and helpful staff. The resort accommodates larger rigs with spacious sites and includes amenities like jacuzzis and game areas. Frisco Woods Campground is another RV-friendly option with hookups and waterfront sites. For mainland options closer to Manns Harbor, consider Beechland Campground which offers drive-in access, water, toilets, and is big-rig friendly. Most RV parks in the area require reservations, especially during peak season.
What fishing opportunities are available near Manns Harbor?
Manns Harbor offers exceptional fishing with its proximity to both Croatan Sound and the Outer Banks. Bells Island Campground provides excellent coastal fishing access directly from its grounds. Cape Point — Cape Lookout National Seashore is renowned for surf fishing opportunities along its beaches. The Oregon Inlet area is particularly popular for both pier and surf fishing, with species including red drum, flounder, and sea trout available seasonally. Both sound-side and oceanfront fishing are accessible, with Oregon Inlet being a prime spot for accessing deeper waters. Local fishing charters are available for offshore excursions targeting larger game fish.
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