Best Tent Camping near Morehead City, NC
Coastal state parks and recreation areas near Morehead City, North Carolina offer diverse tent camping opportunities with a focus on beach and waterfront experiences. Hammocks Beach State Park, located about 25 miles southwest in Swansboro, features the highly-rated Bear Island Campsites accessible only by ferry or personal watercraft. Phoenix Farms Vineyard provides a small number of tent-only sites in a more inland setting. Haywood Landing Recreation Site offers free primitive tent camping with basic amenities for those seeking a more rustic experience.
Tent campsites at Bear Island require significant planning as all gear must be carried approximately one mile from the ferry landing to camping areas. Sites are positioned behind dunes with minimal natural shade, making portable shade structures advisable during summer months. Campers must pack out all trash as no collection points exist on the island. The ferry operates only during daylight hours (9am-6pm), leaving overnight campers isolated unless they have personal watercraft. At Haywood Landing, tent sites feature dirt pads with picnic tables and basic toilet facilities, while wildlife encounters and mosquitoes are common concerns.
Walk-in tent sites at Bear Island provide exceptional privacy despite their proximity to day-use areas. According to reviews, "sites are well spaced and you won't feel on top of one another" even during holiday weekends. Tent campers frequently note the importance of tide awareness, with one visitor reporting that "water levels change dramatically during the day." The lack of campfires on Bear Island requires alternative cooking methods. White Oak River Campground offers limited tent camping opportunities with most sites positioned in open areas rather than under tree cover. Backcountry tent camping options are limited in the immediate Morehead City area, with most primitive tent sites concentrated on Bear Island or at Haywood Landing where campers can "be away from people" while remaining vigilant about local wildlife.