29 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Rodanthe, North Carolina offers a mix of oceanfront and soundside camping experiences along the scenic Outer Banks. Camp Hatteras RV Resort and Campground provides tent sites and RV hookups, while Cape Hatteras/Outer Banks KOA Resort features cabin rentals and glamping options. These established campgrounds are situated on a narrow strip of land with the Atlantic Ocean on one side and Pamlico Sound on the other, creating unique opportunities for both sunrise and sunset views from the same general area.
Most campgrounds in the region operate seasonally, with peak availability from March through November. Sites near the water tend to fill quickly during summer months when temperatures average 75-85°F. "Great location. Friendly and helpful staff. Great people who visit and stay at the grounds," noted one visitor about Cape Hatteras KOA. Weather conditions can change rapidly, with strong winds being a particular consideration for tent campers. Many campgrounds require advance reservations, especially for oceanside sites. Hurricane season (June-November) may affect camping plans, with potential evacuation orders during severe weather events. Cell service is generally adequate throughout the area, though data speeds can be inconsistent.
Waterfront access represents the primary appeal for most campers visiting Rodanthe. Sites on both the ocean and sound sides offer distinctive experiences. The oceanfront provides direct beach access with swimming and surfing opportunities, while the soundside attracts windsurfers and kitesurfers with its calmer waters. A camper at St. Clair Landing Family Campground shared: "The view of the Sound is incredible, particularly during sunset. You can watch kite surfers during the day." Amenities vary significantly between campgrounds, with more developed properties offering swimming pools, playgrounds, and camp stores. Bathroom facilities receive mixed reviews across properties, with cleanliness often mentioned as inconsistent during busy periods. Most campgrounds are pet-friendly but may have restrictions on certain areas or require additional fees.
"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"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."
"Not far from restaurants, the Rodanthe Pier and family activities."
"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."
from $32 - $130 / night
Check Availability"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
Check Availability"Ocean Waves Campground is located on the Outer Banks of NC. "
"Best campground on highway 12. Concrete pad for rev and nice grassy area to relax. Short walk over the dune to beautiful beach. Dog area to let you pets run. All the amenities that you could want."
from $55 - $67 / night
Check Availability"Unfortunately, there was often trash or toiletries left behind from other guests in the showers, but there was so much room and ledge space that it was easy to avoid and didn’t bother me."
"The sight 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."
"Didn’t know it was the weekend of the wind surfing competition, rodanthe in general was booked, called the number she was obviously at home but that didn’t stop her from getting up and meeting us there"
"The new website is www.stclaircampground.com Facebook is St Clair Landing Campground
Been a seasonal site camper here for 3 years, stunning views of the Pamlico sound, great access to the ocean, sound"
from $40 - $60 / night
Check Availability"Saw lots of bonfires at night along the Rodanthe coast and had to join in :)"
"Campground is nice overall, there are multiple bathhouses and trash bins near the entrance. There are lots of bugs and ticks, tent space vary greatly from space to space."
from $28 / night
Check Availability
TravelerWe continue to book here for the convenience of being near all that the island offers. Full hook up sites are available and being here for more than 3 days is always a great idea. No honey wagon needed.
TravelerGood place to tour the area from. Great wifi. Usually empty spots. They have a pool. Zero shade. Full hook up. Average spacing. Clean gravel camping spots.
ScoutGreat campsite with lots of privacy. Very close to the beach access which is about a quarter mile to the beach. Most campers we saw brought 4 wheelers to camp here & spend day on beach. (We walked) Cell reception bad. Good in early am.
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.
TravelerQuiet, sounds of the ocean, easy walk to the beach, toilets, showers and water.
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
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.
Camping near Rodanthe, North Carolina provides direct access to both oceanfront and soundside experiences within a narrow strip of the Outer Banks where Highway 12 serves as the main corridor. The area experiences strong northeast winds from October through April, creating ideal conditions for kitesurfing and windsurfing on Pamlico Sound. Most tent sites in the region have limited shade protection due to the coastal geography and prevalent dune vegetation.
Beach driving permits: Oregon Inlet Campground offers convenient access to beach driving areas where permits are required. "We took the trail between Sites C13 and 15, which led to the road that accesses the beach. This beach is not as walkable as Ocracoke and is more suited for vehicles, and I saw several as I walked. The tire tracks made deep ruts, making walking a bit challenging," notes one camper at Oregon Inlet Campground.
Watersport rentals: Equipment rentals at half-price for campers make Rodanthe Watersports & Campground appealing for water activities. "Site: mixture of grass and sand. Has fire pit and wooden picnic table. Gorgeous view of sunsets and water sports. Water is a leg high walk to the hammock," shares a visitor at Rodanthe Watersports & Campground. The shallow sound waters are perfect for beginners.
Lighthouse tours: Plan a day trip to visit nearby historic lighthouses. "We just got back from a weekend at Oregon Inlet Campground, and it was such a memorable family experience! We took a short drive to Bodie Island Lighthouse and also spent some time exploring the nearby marina and visitor center," mentions a family who stayed at Oregon Inlet Campground.
Sound and ocean access: The narrow strip of land allows campers to enjoy both water bodies. "We stayed in the sound front site and paid a premium. Access to the beach. The sites are right. I felt like the neighbors sewer hose was under our picnic table," notes a camper at Camp Hatteras.
Wildlife viewing: The coastal ecosystem supports diverse bird and marine life observation. "We enjoyed deer stopping by our camp site, and the wild, remote feeling here. It is dependent on the site you choose. Some are much more secluded than others," explains a visitor at Frisco Campground.
Stargazing opportunities: Limited light pollution creates excellent night sky viewing. "The night sky is breathtaking. The beach is usually pretty quiet, more fishermen than anything else. If you want to disconnect and leave with salt still in your hair and lips, this is a great place for it," shares another Frisco Campground camper.
Wind considerations: Constant coastal winds can affect camping equipment stability. "Be careful coming here and accepting spot number 5 or 6 if you have a 2 wheel drive vehicle. You'll get sand in your tent if you're in spot five or spot six," warns a visitor at North Beach Campground.
Sand spurs and vegetation: Natural hazards require proper preparation. "WARNING: Bring a pad for your tent. We stayed on two different sites here and the first one had cactus and sand spurs so long they punctured our air mattress, through the bottom of the tent and two blankets," cautions a Frisco Campground camper.
Limited grocery options: Stock up before arriving at your campsite. "Getting groceries is difficult. There aren't many options. Bring supplies if you can," advises a visitor at Camp Hatteras.
Pool amenities: Many campgrounds offer swimming pools when ocean conditions aren't suitable. "Very nice pool and access to ocean. Fun activities for the kids," notes a camper at Cape Hatteras KOA. Pools typically operate from May through September.
Sand dune play areas: Natural dunes provide recreational spaces for children. "From the moment we arrived, the kids were thrilled. The dunes are right next to the campsites and provided hours of fun—running, climbing, sliding, and just being wild and free," shares a family at Oregon Inlet Campground.
Beach access timing: Plan beach trips around wind and tide conditions. "The sites on the hill have a breeze and view of the ocean. The ORV just outside the campground makes beach access easy," explains a Frisco Campground visitor.
Site selection strategy: Choose sites carefully based on exposure and access. "We chose a pull through w electric and water, but wished we had gone with full hookup. Bathrooms are ok - I did see other people's hair and could've been cleaner," advises an RVer at Ocean Waves Campground.
Internet connectivity: Cell service can be unreliable throughout the area. "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. No streaming capability," shares a camper at Camp Hatteras.
Concrete pad availability: Some sites offer concrete pads that help with leveling and stability. "Level spot, but too crowded. Our neighbor was inconsiderate and blasted the outdoor tv past quiet hours," notes a Cape Hatteras KOA visitor who experienced the tight spacing common in the area.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where are the campgrounds in Rodanthe, NC located?
Rodanthe offers several waterfront camping options on North Carolina's Outer Banks. Rodanthe Watersports & Campground is located directly on Pamlico Sound, offering stunning sunset views from its approximately 25 sites. Nearby, St Clair Landing Family Campground sits on the inlet side with views of both Pamlico Sound and the Atlantic Ocean in the distance. These campgrounds are centrally positioned in Rodanthe, providing easy access to both the ocean beaches and sound waters, as well as the town's amenities and attractions.
What amenities are available at Rodanthe camping facilities?
Camp Hatteras offers extensive amenities including concrete pads, full hookup sites on both ocean and sound sides of Route 12, themed activities, multiple swimming pools, playground, dog park, bath houses with laundry facilities, and more. It's a premium camping experience in the Rodanthe area. For something simpler, Jerniman's Campground provides basic facilities for seasonal visitors looking for convenient access to town. Most Rodanthe area campgrounds feature water and electric hookups, with varying levels of additional amenities depending on the property.
Can you tent camp near Rodanthe on the Outer Banks?
Yes, tent camping is available near Rodanthe on the Outer Banks. Oregon Inlet Campground at Cape Hatteras National Seashore welcomes tent campers and is located a short drive north of Rodanthe, offering a convenient camping option with proximity to the beach. Further south, Frisco Campground provides tent sites with easy beach access and the opportunity to enjoy bonfires along the coast. These National Seashore campgrounds are more accommodating to traditional tent camping than some of the privately owned RV-focused facilities in Rodanthe itself.
What accommodation options are available for visitors to Rodanthe?
Visitors to Rodanthe have several accommodation options beyond traditional hotels. Cape Point offers affordable camping at $20/night within Cape Hatteras National Seashore with dump stations and potable water available. For those seeking more amenities, Ocracoke Campground features paved, level parking pads on sandy grass sites tucked between dunes and vegetation, though it requires a ferry ride to access. Both campgrounds provide a more natural experience. Visitors can also find vacation rentals, B&Bs, and small hotels throughout the Rodanthe area for those preferring indoor accommodations.
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