Tent camping near Oak Island offers diverse shoreline and inland experiences within southeastern North Carolina's coastal environment. The area features sandy beaches, maritime forests, and blackwater rivers with cypress trees. Campsites range from primitive beach locations to more developed state park facilities, with summer temperatures often reaching 85-95°F with high humidity.
What to do
Kayaking and paddleboarding on Black River: Black River Camping Ventures provides excellent access for paddling activities on tea-colored water. A camper noted, "The tea-colored water provides excellent fishing, exploration by kayak or paddleboard, or it can be your next favorite swimming hole. Miles down river you can find the oldest cypress trees east of the Rocky Mountains."
Beach activities at Fort Fisher: Fort Fisher Air Force Recreation Area offers convenient beach access with equipment rentals. According to one visitor, "Has shop, rental center, and fishing pier within walking distance of the camping area. Also has a nice pool and rec center, as well as ongoing outdoor classes (kayaking, ghost turtle hunting, etc)."
Educational visits: The Fort Fisher area includes nearby learning opportunities. A camper mentioned, "There is also an aquarium, and museum down the road if you need a history or education fix. Down South of it is bald island and access to a ferry that will take you to Southport."
What campers like
Direct beach access: Freeman Park provides the rare opportunity to camp directly on the beach. A reviewer shared, "Freeman Park is a beach area located in Carolina Beach. It's the place to take your 4x4 vehicle, your friends, kids, and dogs, and have some fun in the sand, wind, and waves."
Privacy at inland sites: Lake Waccamaw State Park Campground offers secluded camping experiences. A camper explained, "The sites are all a far distance from one another so there's no chance of bothering one another at night. We had two neighbors during our stay but never heard or saw them, except when coming and going from the site to the parking area."
River swimming areas: River Island Adventures provides water recreation opportunities beyond just camping. A visitor commented, "This is a water adventure company that also has camping on the property. You can reserve a camp spot without signing up for any river activities, but camping does give you a little discount on activities if you do decide to rent a kayak or anything."
What you should know
Beach driving requirements: Freeman Park requires preparation for sand driving. A camper advised, "First and foremost, make sure you know how to drive in the sand and what to do when your car gets stuck. It happened to us, as well as to many vehicles on the beach."
Tide awareness: Tidal patterns significantly impact beach camping areas. A reviewer warned, "Also, be aware of the tides, it's dangerous to be driving near the water when the high tide comes in."
Tent anchoring techniques: Standard tent stakes don't work on beach sand. A camper explained, "Remember, when camping on sand, you don't need stakes. Instead you bring 4 plastic bags, fill them with sand, tie the tent corners to the bags and bury them in the sand. This will prevent your tent from flying away."
Seasonal conditions: Best tent camping near Oak Island, North Carolina varies by season. A camper noted, "Camping here can be very hit-or-miss, depending on the time of year. I would recommend only during the cooler months. Feb-March, Sept-Nov. That's about the only time you can hope to avoid a chaotic, party scene."
Tips for camping with families
Consider walk distances: Lake Waccamaw State Park Campground requires significant walking to reach some sites. A camper warned, "The only warning I'd give is you are permitted to drive to your campsite to set up, but sites 2-5 are a quarter mile plus from the parking area. I didn't read the key on the map, so that's my fault for not knowing. But just a heads up, especially sites 4 and 5 are very far from the bathroom."
Water depth information: Lake Waccamaw offers child-friendly swimming areas. A visitor observed, "The lake is beautifully kept and clean. Very shallow. You can walk out a good 300 meters."
Military-only options: Some facilities have eligibility requirements. A reviewer cautioned, "You need a DOD ID card to stay here. It is affordable if you qualify to stay. They will check and make you leave if you are not a card holder."
Insect preparation: Bugs can be problematic at riverside locations. A camper warned, "Not just mosquitoes, but knats, horse flies, flies, etc. They were terrible. However, the river was lots of fun. Most was pretty shallow and a huge sand bar area. The kids loved it and dogs too."
Tips from RVers
Hookup placement issues: Fort Fisher Air Force Recreation Area has some site layout challenges. A camper mentioned, "The sites themselves are extremely long, but for some reason the hook-ups are all near the front of the site, so you can't take advantage of the length."
Logistics for check-in: The layout of some campgrounds requires planning for RV arrival. A visitor recommended, "The check-in office is further down towards the river with no real place to turn-around, so I recommend calling ahead to know your site, unhook, then drive to check-in."
Site maintenance conditions: Maintenance quality varies at different campgrounds. One RVer noted, "They were in the process of repaving the sites during the stay, so there were some that were pristine and others with bits of rebar sticking out of them."
