Rodanthe Watersports & Campground
Relaxed sound-side stay
Easy access to the sound, great rental gear pricing, beautiful campground with native plants and pollinators. Clean facilities. Mike at the office was friendly and accommodating
Cape Hatteras/Outer Banks KOA Resort and Teeter's Campground provide luxury glamping accommodations on the scenic North Carolina coast near Ocracoke. The KOA Resort features 268 well-appointed glamping units alongside more traditional options, operating year-round with full amenities including fifty-amp hookups, hot showers, and access to both drive-in and walk-in sites. Teeter's Campground, located within walking distance of Ocracoke village, offers a more intimate glamping experience with electrical hookups, modern bathroom facilities, and outdoor showers. Both locations provide picnic tables, trash service, and are pet-friendly for glamping guests seeking comfort without sacrificing natural surroundings. One visitor noted, "The location is fantastic. Everything is walking distance... restaurants, shops and the marina. The owner was very nice and helpful."
These glamping campgrounds near Ocracoke sit within easy reach of the island's pristine beaches and historical attractions, with the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse visible from some accommodations. The campgrounds serve as perfect basecamps for exploring the Outer Banks, with easy access to water activities, fishing, and cycling. Cape Hatteras KOA includes a resort-style pool and organized activities for families, while Teeter's offers a more laid-back experience with proximity to local restaurants and shops. According to a camper, "You can walk everywhere you need to go. Take bug spray! Ocracoke mosquitoes are on steroids." Reservations are recommended for both properties, especially during summer months when the area becomes busy with visitors. Golf carts are available for rent nearby, providing a convenient way to explore the island's attractions while staying at these eco-friendly glamping destinations.
"The walk to the beach is a bit long, maybe about 1/2 mile or so. We stayed here for a night in early November and the place was nearly empty."
"This campground is right next to several beach access where you can drive your car onto the beach and fishing is good near the point."
Campground full next weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $20 / night
"The location is fantastic. Everything is walking distance... restaurants, shops and the marina. The owner was very nice and helpful. Be aware the campsites are very close together."
"I absolutely love Ocracoke and Teeter’s is the only campground with power and hot showers. The owner is super nice and prices are reasonable. You can walk everywhere you need to go. Take bug spray!"
"There is a freshwater shower at the entrance to the beach so that you can rinse off when you’re done. The bathhouse was nice and clean. The shower area is co-Ed."
"Super close to a beautiful beach, there really are no bad spots, but you are very close to your neighbors and no shade."
"From driving up and down the beach to just parking and relaxing. This place is amazing."
"They even walked close by our campsite. The last night had the most amazing sunset that lit up the lighthouse and the clouds above with beautiful pinks, purple and blues."
"We stayed in site #4, which is one of the water/electric sites right on Pamlico Sound. Very level, and the view was amazing."
"Has fire pit and wooden picnic table. Gorgeous view of sunsets and water sports. Water is a leg high walk to the hammock. Bathroom: showers were clean!"
"Park is very secluded from the area. As soon as you pull in the driveway it kinda looks scary but after you pass all the trees you get this very big open land that is well maintained."
"Really beautiful location on river with very nice peer and green space. Extremely nice and helpful owners. Full hookups and a cement pad for picnic table. Site was fairly level."
Easy access to the sound, great rental gear pricing, beautiful campground with native plants and pollinators. Clean facilities. Mike at the office was friendly and accommodating
Great fishing spot we really enjoyed our stay the management team went out of there way to help us even in the late hours as we spur of the moment rented a spot here.
Peaceful, not a lot of people around, drive the beach end to end. I stayed out there for 7 days with my dog. They have restrooms and shower house, bring everything you need to survive for x amount of days, the ranger station does sell ice and gas if needed but that’s it. The ferry company was amazing to deal with it.
We spent 3 nights beach camping in our VW Vanagon, and highly recommend this destination if you have the means! The ferry is $135+ for vehicles, plus $20 per person roundtrip. The beach driving permit is $75 unless you buy it by March (I think). We lucked out with our dates just preceding a big fishing competition, and there was a LOT of open beach space. Almost everyone is there to fish. We took bikes and enjoyed cycling around at low tide. Be sure to camp above the high tide zone, which is black sand. There are narrow/impassable points on the beach at high tide, but there are ramps to the back road every mile. Some ramps are very deep sand, others flat and packed. We got by without 4wd, but we didn’t explore beyond finding a spot not too far from the ferry drop off. We befriended our neighbors who took us to the lighthouse at the southern end of the island, which was beautiful! Currently closed for renovations, and the lightkeeper’s house was closed due to the government shutdown. Overall, south core banks is absolutely worth the effort!
Has a nice pool and access to ocean. Fun activities for the kids.
We stopped for one night and wish it was longer. 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. While too cold, the pool looks great. NC was under a burn ban, so no fire for us. But they do deliver wood and ice. Great staff of work campers were all super friendly. Easy access to outer banks points and plenty of dining options near by.
Great KOA park with one row of dunes to cross to the ocean beach that depending on your site is only about 5 min walk. The park is well kept with clean bathrooms and showers. The have laundry and a very nice camp store with groceries, camping essentials and gifts. Sites are level with full hookups including cable that worked well. Wifi is marginal but they reported they have equipment on order to improve. We had spot along the dunes with covered patio with picnic table and a fire ring (no barbeques). The beach is wonderful. Great restful destination. We will definitely return.
Campground is 1 of the 4 within the Cape Hatteras Nat’l Seashore. Cost here is only $20/night (the others are $28). No hookups available, but there is a dump station and potable water fill on your way out. Cell service is good. The walk to the beach is a bit long, maybe about 1/2 mile or so.
We stayed here for a night in early November and the place was nearly empty. There were one or two campers per loop, so the campground was nice and open and quiet. I think that during the busy season it would be an unpleasant stay, as the sites are all right next to each other, side by side, just big grassy area. Sites are large though, which was nice.
We didn’t use the showers but I believe they are cold showers. The set up is almost like an outdoor shower, with a short door and a pull rope for the water. Watch out for spiny sand spurs (?) that stick in your dog’s paws and your socks- very painful and they’re all over the grassy areas.
Sites must be reserved through recreation.gov. It was easy to pull up with no reservation, pick a site, then reserve and pay online. No service fee through this site.
No wood fires allowed here. Each site has a picnic table and grill, nothing else.
Dumpsters available, but no recycling bins. Not sure if North Carolina segregates recycling after pickup.
KOA Cape Hatteras Outer Banks Campground (Scale 1- bad, 5-Very good
(70 yr olds in 17’ trailer with a desire for a campsite that has at least some visual privacy offered - after the trailer is in the spot.)
Weather: 60s Bugs: Gone for the winter Solar: Plenty Rig size: Big rig friendly Road Noise: For sites near the highway 12 Through Traffic in campground: No Electric Hookup: Yes Sewer Hookup: Some full hookups Dump Station: Yes Potable Water Available: Yes Bathroom: Yes Showers: Yes Cell Service (AT&T): 3 - 4 bars Setting: Open park area between highway and the dunes Weather: 60s during our visit Bugs: Gone for the winter Host: Yes Rig size: Big rigs Sites: Those in the back along the dunes would be nice to have. See pics.
Ocracoke Island camping requires ferry access with limited campgrounds that fill quickly during peak season. Summer temperatures average 85°F with high humidity, while fall brings milder conditions around 70°F. The barrier island location creates stronger winds than mainland camping areas, affecting tent stability and campfire regulations.
Beach fishing opportunities: Visitors to Cape Point Campground can enjoy excellent shoreline fishing. "If you like national seashores, camping and surfing. Then this beautiful gem is for you! Mosquitos might be a problem! Deet is a solution. Climb the lighthouses!! Showers are not hot!" notes camper Megan B.
Lighthouse tours: The Hatteras and Ocracoke lighthouses offer historical perspectives on maritime navigation. "This area is amazing. The drive down Highway 12 is like no other. Very clean, friendly and helpful here. This area can get very busy so be smart about booking," says Bran P. about the Cape Point area.
Water sports rentals: Rodanthe Watersports & Campground offers discounted equipment for campers. "They also had kayaks, surfboards and stand up paddle boards for rent! The rental hut was precious and the employee just as kind as can be," shares Kirsten J.
Island exploration: South Core Banks provides unique coastal wilderness experiences. A camper at South Core Banks Beach Camping describes it: "We had an awesome trip. The ferry operators were great, they answered all our questions and helped us load and unload our gear. The island is almost completely absent of anything man made, just sand dunes and horses."
Sound-side sunset views: Campers consistently praise evening views across Pamlico Sound. "Site had a great view of the water and for sunsets, the sunrise was a 5 min walk across the road with the beach right there as well. Walking distance to pretty much anywhere," notes Taylor T. at Rodanthe Watersports & Campground.
Wildlife encounters: The barrier islands host wild horses and diverse bird populations. "We had three young male horses that were always roaming within sight. They even walked close by our campsite. The last night had the most amazing sunset that lit up the lighthouse and the clouds above with beautiful pinks, purple and blues," shares Mike H. about South Core Banks Beach Camping.
Village atmosphere: The walkable layout of Ocracoke village enhances the glamping experience. A guest at Teeter's Campground explains, "I loved every bit of camping here, truly! Even the man who runs the camp ground was so kind. It's a true adventure coming into this island on a ferry and then camping in sand, very nice time!"
Clean facilities: Maintenance standards vary between campgrounds but many have well-kept washrooms. "Bathrooms were clean and there were even two open roof showers. Also includes WiFi," reports a camper at Teeter's Campground.
Ferry scheduling considerations: Island access requires advance planning. A visitor to South Core Banks states, "Only accessible by ferry/boat, call a few weeks ahead to reserve a spot on the ferry cause they fill up quickly."
Sand management challenges: Sandy terrain affects tent stability and comfort. "The wind was really strong and it made setting up our tent a challenge! Thanks to our friendly neighbors, they were able to get it grounded for us. Bring rope/canopy weight in case this happens," advises Amber from Rodanthe Watersports.
Weather preparedness: Coastal weather patterns can change rapidly. A camper at Cape Hatteras/Outer Banks KOA Resort reports: "Went in November which is off season. Very quiet. People were super friendly. Steps from beach. Beautiful pool and huge hot tub. Bar and cafe were closed for season."
Bug protection essentials: When winds are calm, insects become problematic. "No bugs due to the wind. However.. we heard that if it wasn't windy.. bugs were a big issue so canopy/mosquito net would be wise!" warns an experienced camper.
Off-season advantages: Consider shoulder season visits for fewer crowds. "We were visiting on the holiday, I had looked into tent camping over the Fourth of July weekend and they wanted $150 a night for a TENT site. Yeah, I don't think so," shares Rachael H. about Cape Hatteras KOA.
Water safety measures: The sound side offers calmer waters than ocean beaches. "Water is a leg high walk to the hammock," notes a camper at Rodanthe Watersports, describing the shallow, child-friendly water depths.
Activity options: Rivers Edge Family Campground provides structured recreation areas. "They have a dock and a covered patio area for fires (facing the water). Comes with a wooden picnic table. The only downside is that most people at the site are permanent residents," reports Stephanie R.
Transportation solutions: Vehicles aren't always needed for island exploration. "Walking distance to pretty much anywhere (they also have bike rentals if you so wished)," notes Taylor T. about Rodanthe Watersports & Campground.
Site selection strategy: Premium oceanfront sites require early booking. Eric R. from Cape Hatteras KOA advises: "The sites are definitely wide and deep enough for the biggest and baddest of rigs. We stayed here over Memorial Day weekend and the place was packed...but somehow the facilities did not look like they had been through World War-3."
Hookup limitations: Not all campgrounds offer full RV services. "We chose a pull through w electric and water, but wished we had gone with full hookup," shares Sarah A. about Cape Hatteras KOA, noting the convenience of sewer connections for longer stays.
Size restrictions: Some island glamping locations cannot accommodate larger rigs. "All the sites were very small and tightly spaced, with zero privacy, which is pretty standard for such prime waterfront real estate. Since the sites were so small, this place was really geared more toward tent campers and those with shorter RVs (25' or less, I'd say)," explains Jen V. about Rodanthe Watersports & Campground.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular glamping campsite near Ocracoke, NC?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular glamping campground near Ocracoke, NC is Cape Point — Cape Lookout National Seashore with a 4.3-star rating from 13 reviews.
What is the best site to find glamping camping near Ocracoke, NC?
TheDyrt.com has all 7 glamping camping locations near Ocracoke, NC, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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