Best Campgrounds near Bath, NC

Bath, North Carolina offers several campground options within a short drive, with Goose Creek State Park Campground serving as one of the main camping areas in the region. The park features both primitive tent sites and a newer RV campground with full hookups, along with recently constructed cabins. Other facilities like Twin Lakes Resort and Tranter's Creek Resort provide additional camping experiences near the Pamlico River and surrounding waterways. Camping styles range from basic tent sites nestled among pine trees to fully-equipped RV pads with electric, water, and sewer connections. The camping landscape includes a mix of state park land and private campgrounds.

Seasonal considerations affect camping experiences in this coastal region, particularly regarding insects and water conditions. Most campgrounds remain open year-round, though bug activity increases significantly during warmer months. The primitive camping area at Goose Creek State Park provides access to the Pamlico River and Goose Creek, with sites 11-14 situated closest to the water. Facilities vary across campgrounds, with primitive sites typically offering composting toilets while developed areas provide shower houses and electric hookups. Cell service can be limited in some camping areas, particularly at Goose Creek State Park. As one camper noted, "You are far enough away from Washington, NC that you don't get great cell coverage so, it is almost like going off the grid."

Waterfront access represents a significant draw for many campers visiting the Bath area. Several visitors highlighted the peaceful atmosphere and water proximity as key benefits, especially at the primitive sites in Goose Creek State Park. The park features multiple trails, some with boardwalks through marsh and swampy areas that showcase local wildlife. Campers frequently mention deer sightings near their sites. The spacing between campsites receives consistent praise, particularly in the primitive camping section where sites are well-separated and private. While the newer RV campground and cabins offer modern amenities, they lack the shade found in the wooded tent camping areas. According to feedback on The Dyrt, "The sites are spacious, well equipped and well spaced (private). There are several water stations and composting toilets."

Best Camping Sites Near Bath, North Carolina (50)

    1. Goose Creek State Park Campground

    35 Reviews
    Bath, NC
    5 miles
    Website
    +1 (252) 923-2191

    $17 - $75 / night

    "Goose Creek State Park campground is one of the newer state parks in North Carolina. The RV part of the park has a great layout with large sites."

    "This campground is nestled in the tall North Carolina pines. There isn’t much shade though because the branches are mainly at the top."

    2. Twin Lakes Resort

    6 Reviews
    Washington, NC
    14 miles
    Website
    +1 (888) 707-1477

    "Small lakes, canals, access to bay to outer banks."

    "There is a game room, a swimming pool and lots of space for walking or riding bikes. There is RV sites, tent sites and cabins."

    3. Phoenix Farms Vineyard

    2 Reviews
    Bath, NC
    12 miles
    Website
    +1 (252) 267-0659

    $25 - $50 / night

    "Phoenix Farms is now offering camping at this former tobacco farm near the coast. Check them out and make sure to leave a review on the Dyrt!"

    4. Tranter's Creek Resort

    7 Reviews
    Washington, NC
    18 miles
    Website
    +1 (252) 948-0850

    "There is lots of space to walk and play, ride bikes, etc. There is a really nice pool with a store up front and they have cabins from what I remember."

    5. New Bern KOA Holiday

    13 Reviews
    Bridgeton, NC
    26 miles
    Website
    +1 (252) 638-2556

    "Bathrooms: 5/5 Sites: 4/5 upgrades are nice but really expensive for just a concrete pad next to someone else

    Pools: 3/5 they have one but it's pretty meh. Like a 70s motel 8 pool."

    "Gets 4 stars primarily for the staff and the location. Standard sites are crammed together making privacy an issue."

    6. Rose Bay Preserve

    4 Reviews
    Swan Quarter, NC
    22 miles
    Website
    +1 (252) 629-1110

    $40 - $50 / night

    "Beside state boat ramp access to anywhere

    Next to ferry to Ocracoke too..."

    "The new owner has been making upgrades around the property. Customers come first here! Thanks."

    7. Riverside Campground

    1 Review
    Swan Quarter, NC
    18 miles
    Website
    +1 (252) 945-9012

    9. Creek Life

    Be the first to review!
    Bath, NC
    10 miles
    +1 (252) 548-1669

    $105 - $350 / night

    10. Rivers Edge Family Campground

    2 Reviews
    Bridgeton, NC
    22 miles
    Website
    +1 (252) 559-3603

    "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."

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Recent Reviews near Bath, NC

200 Reviews of 50 Bath Campgrounds


  • JThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 29, 2025

    Oyster Point Campground

    Primitive, Quite Campground

    Primitive campground with no frills. Dirt road in and gravel on site drives. Water spigots spread out between the campsites. Vaulted toilets were clean. Camp host was nice and liked to talk. We stayed 2 weeks. Others came in for a night or two and then would leave. All types of campers used the campground: 5th wheel, schoolie, tent campers, hammock campers, truck and car campers. 

    We had site 11 which was on the water side with a path to the water. It was shady for the later part of the day (which wasn't great for our solar panels). Most sites had shade for either the early or late part of the day. Site was fairly level. Foliage provided privacy between sites.

    The hiking path was not well maintained so we chose not to use it.

    Not a lot in the immediate area. Town was 25-30 minutes away, but had all the types of stores.

    Verizon service was good.

  • David B.
    Sep. 23, 2025

    Cedar Creek Campground & Marina

    Everyone was so friendly and welcoming.

    Loved this place. Great-sized RV site with plenty of additional parking. The boat launch went smoothly. Miles of pristine coast. Fish were hitting 2 Klicks north of the marina.

  • EThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 19, 2025

    New Bern KOA Holiday

    Everything was great!

    No complaints! Nice & quiet after dark, clean showers & laundry room, nice view of the Nuese River, with a peir for fishing & a fish cleaning station as well! Nice pool & playground with a bouncy blowup trampoline for kids.

  • DThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 16, 2025

    Turkey Quarter Campground

    Turkey Quarter

    Large gravel sites with full hookups in the North Carolina woods. 15 miles NW of New Bern NC. Fire wood included.

  • RThe Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 11, 2025

    New Bern KOA Holiday

    Our first trip in the camper

    Our first trip in our new to us camper and found the campground very nice. The bathhouses were the cleanest and best equipped. Some shade. Nice dog park. Plenty of amenities.

  • RThe Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 25, 2025

    Magnolia Lane Campground

    Overpriced and bath house heavily molded.

    I contacted the campsite via phone. They said there was two spots available for my rig. The monthly rate quoted was $895. I told the office that I was going to drive up the following morning to check the site and if I liked it, I would go ahead and rent it. The manager said OK. I explained I would come back and get my rig if it was acceptable. She told me to call her once. I looked at the site and we could complete the transaction when she came over to the site from the office.

    I drove an hour from my current site to look at that site. The secluded campground only had one bar on Verizon. It was also small. I called two separate numbers and texted. I waited on site for roughly 30 minutes with no callback.
    While I was looking at the campground, I went to the bathhouse. All three bathrooms were covered with suspect, microbial growth and had a strong mold smell. I can’t say for certain without testing it, but if it looks and smells like a duck, it’s probably a duck. People with breathing issues or allergies to this problem would have a bad day in these bathrooms.

    I had to contact the office the following day around 9:50 AM. They acted like they didn’t care about me driving up for nothing. To add insult to injury, the manager openly admitted they had a mold problem in all the bathrooms at the bathhouse. They were going to deal with it this coming winter.

    So let me get this straight. You were charging almost $900 a month to campers with a bad mold, problem admitted by the office. Is there a problem with this picture? This is not slander. This is what transpired. I turned down the site.

    BE CAUTIOUS!

  • EThe Dyrt PRO User
    Apr. 22, 2025

    Goose Creek State Park Campground

    A nice find

    We camped on the primitive side. Hardly anyone here. We took spot 4. Across from the clean pit toilet. They do have water. The area for rvs were packed and it wasn’t as appealing as the primitive. Follow the signs to primitive tent camping. Is a loop and the closer you get to the loop the more bugs cause of the water. On our walk with the dogs seen deer and a raccoon visited us during the night. Internet is spotty. Turn your cellular data on.

  • R C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Apr. 19, 2025

    Flanners Beach Campground

    Nice forest trails and beach

    Campground is good. Sites are a bit close but generally acceptable for the typical camper. Good showers and toilet, water and garbage available. Forest trail nearby is an intermediate full loop trail (1-1.5 hrs). Beach walking distance. Nice staff. Recommend.


Guide to Bath

Camping near Bath, North Carolina provides direct access to the coastal waterways of eastern North Carolina where the Pamlico River widens toward the Pamlico Sound. The elevation rarely exceeds 20 feet above sea level, creating a flat landscape with extensive wetlands and maritime forests. Summer humidity levels regularly exceed 80% with temperatures in the mid-80s to low-90s between June and August.

What to do

Fishing access: The fishing pier at Tranter's Creek Resort provides convenient river access without launching a boat. "There is a fish cleaning sink and a pier to fish from also. Small cabins are for rent here as well," notes Cannon W.

Kayak launching: Goose Creek State Park Campground offers easy water access from campsites. "Our campsite was right on the Pamlico river. There was a great spot to watch the sunrise/sunset directly behind our campsite with benches. Also close to our campsite was a dock to fish off of or to launch a kayak," says Maureen C.

Wildlife observation: The hiking trails at Goose Creek State Park Campground feature boardwalks through marsh areas. "There are plenty of good hiking trails as well," writes Chip G. Many campers report regular deer sightings, and the wetland areas support diverse bird populations.

What campers like

Direct water views: Campsites with water views rank high among visitor preferences. "There was a great spot to watch the sunrise/sunset directly behind our campsite with benches," mentions Maureen C. about her Goose Creek experience.

Site spacing: The primitive camping section at Twin Lakes Resort receives praise for layout and spacing. "The lots are spacious with a good view of the water," notes Victor A. This resort also connects to canals leading to the bay.

Clean facilities: Modern bathroom facilities across multiple campgrounds earn consistent praise. At New Bern KOA, "The bathhouses are all very new due to a recent hurricane and they were kept clean," according to Jen B. The campground also maintains two pools for guest use.

What you should know

Bug activity: Insect populations increase dramatically near water during warm months. "We did have a run in with fire ants at our campsite," reports Laura B. about Goose Creek. Mosquitoes are most active at dawn and dusk from April through October.

Water quality: Water from campground taps may have a mineral taste common to coastal areas. At New Bern KOA Holiday, a camper noted, "Water quality: 1/5 potable but tastes gross." Bringing drinking water is recommended during summer months.

Limited connectivity: Cell service varies widely across campgrounds in the Bath region. At Goose Creek State Park, internet users report, "Internet is spotty. Turn your cellular data on," according to Evelyn O. Some campers appreciate this as a feature rather than a drawback.

Tips for camping with families

Kid-friendly activities: Campgrounds often provide structured activities for children. "Big lake that runs to the ocean, great size pool, amazing beach ice cream, campground activities such as a live band, DJ, and movie night!" reports Riley about Twin Lakes Resort.

Family-oriented facilities: Phoenix Farms Vineyard offers a unique farm experience for families. "It's so fun to see all of the animals. The property is beautiful, and the camp spot is private," according to Michelle L. The farm setting provides natural entertainment for children.

Swimming options: Dedicated swimming areas provide safer alternatives to river swimming. At Goose Creek, "There is also a swimming area that is free," notes Laura B. Rivers Edge Family Campground features "a very nice peer and green space" according to Mary F.

Tips from RVers

Site conditions: RV sites at many campgrounds provide level, prepared surfaces. At Rivers Edge Family Campground, "Full hookups and a cement pad for picnic table. Site was fairly level," reports Mary F., though she notes sites are "very tight with no landscaping for aesthetics."

Hookup availability: Full-service sites with water, electric, and sewer connections are available at most developed campgrounds. Tranters Creek Resort offers "Tent sites with electrical hook ups right beside the river," according to Cannon W., providing unusual access to power for tent campers.

Spacing considerations: RV sites at some campgrounds can feel cramped during peak season. At Rivers Edge Family Campground, a camper noted sites are "very tight with no landscaping for aesthetics. Just a big gravel lot." Plan accordingly if privacy is important for your camping experience.

Frequently Asked Questions

What camping is available near Bath, NC?

According to TheDyrt.com, Bath, NC offers a wide range of camping options, with 50 campgrounds and RV parks near Bath, NC and 2 free dispersed camping spots.

Which is the most popular campground near Bath, NC?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Bath, NC is Goose Creek State Park Campground with a 4.7-star rating from 35 reviews.

Where can I find free dispersed camping near Bath, NC?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 2 free dispersed camping spots near Bath, NC.