Carolina Beach State Park Campground provides luxury glamping accommodations set among coastal pines just 15 minutes from Oak Island's shores. The park features safari-style glamping tents and elegant yurts with climate control, quality linens, and rustic-chic furnishings. "This place is wonderful. The sites are far enough apart you don't get interrupted by the neighboring campsites but the campground isn't so big you have to drive everywhere," noted one guest about their glamping experience. Cypress Ranch Glamping, located within a 30-minute drive, offers boutique camping experiences with unique canvas accommodations that combine outdoor immersion with upscale comfort. Both locations provide fire pits, picnic areas, and stylish outdoor spaces designed for relaxation. The glamping units include comfortable queen beds with premium bedding, electricity, and private decks that allow guests to enjoy the natural surroundings while maintaining luxury amenities.
Whispering Pines Nudist Resort houses upscale glamping options with distinctive experiences not found at typical camping destinations. Their glamping cabins feature shower facilities and fully-equipped kitchenettes while maintaining a rustic aesthetic that complements the natural environment. The location provides convenient access to Holden Beach, just a short 5-minute drive to coastal attractions and seafood restaurants. A visitor noted, "The bathrooms are quite nice and clean. Great people!" Wilmington KOA, another glamping resort option, offers all-year accessibility with market facilities on-site and trash service for a hassle-free experience. Seasonal activities include beach trolley services, outdoor movie nights during summer months, and guided nature walks through nearby conservation areas. Many glamping sites in the region require reservations, particularly during peak summer and fall seasons.
$27 - $75 / night
"Great location close to Wilmington and Carolina Beach. The recent addition of air-conditioned cabins are a welcome alternative during the hot summer months even though they book up quickly."
"Clean bathrooms and cute well air conditioned cabins. You can ride your bike or walk to the boardwalk with some of the way having a paved bike trails."
"The staff is so friendly, and the campground is beautifully maintained. It’s in a perfect location too. Upon check in we were escorted to our site, and they even helped us back in."
"We stayed in the new section with great, full hook up, level, gravel pads and some new grass and landscaping, large new picnic table and fire pit."
$45 - $65 / night
"We were looking for a last minute place, close to the coast. Found this campground by chance. Reasonably priced during peak season."
"The pool was big and warm, easy for swimming while maintaining social distancing."
"Another problem with my tent site is that it was so close to the bath house, which may not seem to be a problem to most."
"Large lots with nice long pull through, clean and quiet with a friendly staff. Amenities included nice swimming pool and hot tub. Volleyball net and basketball hoop on each end of pool."
"The sites are huge and along the lake where I camped, they are angled so that you don’t really see much of your neighbors."
"Beautiful views and a great staff too!"
"There are also luxury rv sites that have cement pads with patios, grills and patio furniture along with full hookups."
"You can find a spot with shade or they have very nice pull through ones that include grills. Not all have grills so if that’s important to you, make sure you double check. Staff is wonderful."
$17 / night
"It said it slept 6 and the website showed a pic of two beds; I *assumed* there would be four more, since it slept 6. Long story short, just 2 beds. "
"This campground is very beautiful - clean amenities, and only a few well-kept campsites with fire rings, grills and several picnic benches."
"We were delighted to find beautiful scenery, friendly staff and a comfortable campsite that included a picnic table and fire pit. Daddy Joe’s is an awesome place to bring the kiddos."
"very clean bathrooms/showers, mini golf, restaurant on site, it’s wonderful!!"
TravelerGreat location close to Wilmington and Carolina Beach. The recent addition of air-conditioned cabins are a welcome alternative during the hot summer months even though they book up quickly. We enjoyed fishing and exploring the campground.
GuideI’ve been staying here every summer since i was a kid. So probably 11 summers now. It’s a great place. Clean bathrooms and cute well air conditioned cabins. You can ride your bike or walk to the boardwalk with some of the way having a paved bike trails. Gates close i think at 10 and open in the morning so remember to bring bikes. During the summer it is very humid and hot with lots of mosquitoes so remember to bring your bug spray. Try britt’s doughnuts of wake and bake before you leave, i promise you won’t regret it.
GuideThe group campground is isolated from the rest of the camping areas and is quiet at night. There are a lot of park visitors who walk through the area, but the trail through goes around he main campsites. The pit toilets are in need of some attention, but have always been well stocked. It’s about 400 yards to hike in, so we used a wagon to bring in gear. No water on site, but a really nice fire pit with grill top and 2 picnic tables. Shady tent sites available, but really hot and buggy in summer. Group camp site is about .5 mile hike from the river which is great for wading, but swimming is not allowed.
Many species of carnivorous plants grow here and abundant wildlife.
in the summer months there is a place to rent kayaks and paddle boards at the marina.
TravelerVery nice campground with super nice people. Walking distance to beach. Facilities clean, trash pickup, super friendly staff.
It was like the campground had a protective dome that kept the issues going on around us, out of the campground (great security staffing). Sirens, shootings daily...especially at night. We didn't realize this until we started taking walks to the beach and we're late walking back to campground. Then having our suspicions confirmed by a business just off the strip, I couldn't get back to the campground fast enough before it got dark.
Sad, loved the campground and beach not the area.
RangerI have camped with a large group of friends at site #2 a couple of times, but this weekend, I wanted to camp with just my two boys, and site #5 (the yurt site) was available. This site was new since I had camped here last. It said it slept 6 and the website showed a pic of two beds; I *assumed* there would be four more, since it slept 6.
Long story short, just 2 beds. But the worst part was weeds growing up through the floorboards, ripped screens, doors that wouldn't zip completely, and two (purposeful) holes at the top that surely let in mosquitoes! The boy who slept at ground level is completely bitten up, despite me spraying everyone with bug spray and using my tennis racket-style bug zapper to clear out the yurt before bed.
Our trash can was completely full (I mean, at least there's a trash can, but we could hardly use it). Our fire ring was full of ashes and the grate was jammed down. The previous campers had left us a few jugs of water but also small pieces of trash scattered about. What I'm trying to say was that this site was not maintained between the last visitors and us.
The campground, though, is awesome if you like roughing it. You are allowed, thankfully, to drive to your site, but it's a hike to walk to the running water toilets, and I saw lots of people drive to them. There is a closer pit toilet but I didn't check that out.
The lake is beautiful, shallow, warm, good fishing, fun for everyone! Bullfrogs, peepers, and owls called all night. Dragonflies galore flew about. It's rustic, but relaxing. And the visitor's center has a nice exhibit on the Carolina Bays.
LegendWhat's not to like. Beautiful, family owned campground. Large spacious and clean well organized sites. Picnic tables and BBQ grills on sites. Pull thoughts. Winery with taste testing hours and wine to purchase. 2-0/30/50 amp service. Dog run, wireless internet, laundry, pool, bath house with oversize showers, covered stage, art gallery/ gift shop, propane, playground, fishing pond, scheduled events.
T-mobile phone and hotspot work well
ATT hotspot ok
ScoutWe just visited the Myrtle Beach KOA and stayed in one of their rustic camping cabins. First the good — The staff we dealt with were pleasant and helpful. The campground was generally clean and there was a reasonable amount of space between the sites. Now the bad — we arrived at 4:30pm to check in and found that the camp store closed at 4:00pm - everyday. For those who forgot something or needed to pick up some ice or other necessity, you would have to leave the campground to get it. Second; upon arrival (4:30) we were told that none of the rustic cabins were ready and to come back in an hour. Not a great way to be welcomed. Next, the shower/bath house appeared clean but there was a distinct smell that made it feel like it might not have been that clean. Finally, the KOA is right downtown, so there is a good deal of noise from outside the campground. Lots of sirens, fireworks, and engine noise from US 17(Business). Final analysis: We really don’t like Myrtle Beach (too much of a tourist trap) and we probably wouldn’t come back. We were only there because I had some work to do in the area and needed a less expensive place to stay.
GuideBest RV Resort we’ve been to so far. Large lots with nice long pull through, clean and quiet with a friendly staff. Amenities included nice swimming pool and hot tub. Volleyball net and basketball hoop on each end of pool. Shuffleboard, corn hole, sand volleyball. Game room had a pool table, ping pong table, air hockey. Books galore to borrow, DVDs if you have a player which we don’t, but we don’t camp to watch TV. Store had a puzzle you could spend time working on and a checkerboard with rocking chairs to just hang out in. The lake beach was closed for the season when we went but the inflatables looked like they would have been fun! Mile long paved path around the lake was great for walking or biking. Catch and release fishing too. Had a mix of annuals, short term campers and on the other side of the lake they had nice cabins and a small park model village. Exercise room and a nice clean laundry room. Bath house was 8 individual doors to full individual bathrooms of toilet sink and shower which were kept very clean. Cherry Grove beach was only 15 minutes or so away and there was a Food Lion less than 10 minutes for grocery shopping needs. Resort store had reasonable prices for ice and wood to burn in the fire pit. Only negatives which weren’t a big deal was nothing can be strapped to trees... aka no laundry line or hammock attached to the trees and no tents allowed. We will go back! Wish it was closer to home.
TravelerThis place is wonderful if you camp in an RV. No tents or pop-ups allowed. 😢 The sites are huge and along the lake where I camped, they are angled so that you don’t really see much of your neighbors. Swim beach, pools, game room, laundry, fitness room, patio with table and grill, store, daily trash pickup at your sites, full hookup sites, paved path around the lake , great staff, storage for RV available. Pricey but worth it. Short drive to Myrtle Beach (but I stay away from there)
Carolina Beach State Park offers drive-in access to tent, RV, cabin, glamping, and yurt accommodations within a 15-minute drive of Oak Island. The park sits in a coastal pine forest with numerous hiking trails and a marina for launching boats. During winter months, the campground remains less crowded while maintaining clean facilities and heated bathhouses.
Beach driving access: At Carolina Beach State Park Campground, campers can drive 4WD vehicles directly onto the beach. "You can drive onto the beach - it makes it SO easy!!!" notes Kimberly S. This provides convenient access for fishing, picnicking, and beach activities without hauling gear long distances.
Kayaking and paddle boarding: The marina at Carolina Beach State Park offers kayak and stand-up paddleboard rentals and guided tours. "The marina also offers kayaks and SUP tours and rentals ranging from 2hrs to a full-day," reports Caroline G. Tours explore the waterways around the park with options for different skill levels.
Venus flytrap viewing: Carolina Beach State Park contains rare carnivorous plants native to the region. "There lots of short trails to hike on where you can enjoy bird watching and viewing the Venus flytraps and other carnivorous plants native to the area," writes one camper. The park offers guided nature walks to spot these unique plants in their natural habitat.
Spacious, private sites: Holden Beach RV Campground provides well-separated camping spots with natural barriers. "This place is wonderful. The sites are far enough apart you don't get interrupted by the neighboring campsites but the campground isn't so big you have to drive everywhere," shares Caleb S. Many sites feature full hookups with fire rings and picnic tables.
Beach shuttle service: Some campgrounds offer convenient transportation to nearby beaches. "And a free trolly takes you to the beach and some restaurants," mentions Taissa K. about Holden Beach RV Campground. This allows campers to avoid parking challenges during peak season while accessing coastal activities.
Off-season camping: Winter camping provides a quieter experience with fewer crowds. "I've been here at different times of the year. I really enjoy camping here in December and January. Less people and the park is so nice," reports Ms P. about Carolina Beach State Park. Many facilities remain open year-round with heated bathhouses during winter months.
Beach proximity varies: Most campgrounds advertise beach access, but actual distances differ. "Excellent facilities and only a drive to the beach. Cool marina near check-in area too," notes Daniel P. about Carolina Beach State Park. S & W RV Park offers glamping close to Oak Island, North Carolina with a 20-minute drive to Holden Beach.
Reservation requirements: Popular campgrounds fill quickly during summer and holiday weekends. "This campground is packed on holiday weekends. There were only 2 campsites available when we visited for memorial day weekend," warns Caroline G. Reservations often open 6-12 months in advance for peak periods.
Mosquito preparation: Coastal camping requires insect protection, especially in warmer months. "Bring mosquito netting or pop up to keep the horse flies away!" advises Sara H. who camped at Lake Waccamaw State Park. Campgrounds near standing water typically experience higher insect activity.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular glamping campsite near Oak Island, NC?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular glamping campground near Oak Island, NC is Carolina Beach State Park Campground with a 4.6-star rating from 73 reviews.
What is the best site to find glamping camping near Oak Island, NC?
TheDyrt.com has all 13 glamping camping locations near Oak Island, NC, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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