Best Campgrounds near South Mills, NC

This is a campground in one of Virginia’s most popular state parks. Campsites are right on the beach, with only a sheltering dune between you and the water. Aside from the incredible beach, there are ranger programs, an educational visitor center, cafe and shop. In addition to swimming at the beach, however, the campground is adjacent to a unique and historic Cypress swamp that is a National Natural Landmark. In this part of the park there are incredible hiking trails and boardwalks into the swamp, and the Trail Center also has educational exhibits and ranger programs. The swamp side also has nice camper cabins that are peaceful and quiet. Something for everyone!

I would agree with the previous two reviews, this campground is a little rough around the edges. If given a choice, I would choose nearby Fort Story for several reasons: beach access here is further away, base access is difficult and confusing as many of the gates are closed, and you are further from offbase amenities if you need them. However, there are two advantages of this campground: the MWR recreational equipment rental building is new with a variety of options, there are some on base amenities such as fast food and convenience store nearby, and there is a recreational marina where visitors and campers can fish or even moor their seaworthy boats

This campground is a recreational opportunity for active and retired military snd their families. This campground is located at the Fort Story Navy Base, set in a wooded area not far from a nice beach right at the corner of where the Chesapeake Bay meets the Atlantic. Two historic lighthouse mark the spot! The campground has both basic RV sites with hookups, and also tent sites without. The sites are fairly spacious with lots of trees. The staff at the campground office are very nice and have basic MWR info for the area. Though not right on the beach, the beach is nearby and is much quieter than the beach at the nearby and more crowded “First Landing” State Park.

We werent able to stay here because on arrival we found out that not only do they not have designated tent sites, but that tenters arent even allowed! Very disappointing. That being said, RV campers will be very happy to stay here. There are two loops, the south loop is older with many trees and shade and more space between sites, the northern loop is new and treeless and open with sites close together. However, both loops have direct access to an incredible extensive strand of premier beach right on the ocean, with the protection of a natural sand dune barrier. There is a bathhouse and central MWR clubhouse as well. The south loop does offer basic bunk camper cabins as well, and there are full fledged cottages north of the north loop at Dam Neck; however, as mentioned, no tent camping at all! Hence my knocking the rating down a star.

This campground is on a Navy base near Virginia base, so you do need a military connection to make use of any of the recreational facilities including the campground. But the base MWR has extensive recreational equipment rentals, and you would have access to other typical base amenities

This is a beautiful campground! There are only seven campers here in this campground, and I can't believe it. The sites are gravel and mostly level but I did have to use a couple blocks of my levelers. There are picnic tables and fire pits at each site, however my picnic table has a very very warped bench. But it makes no difference to me as it is only me, and I have my own chairs! The bathrooms are clean and well lit. The only thing I have a problem with here, is that there are no garbage cans or dumpsters near the campsites. The only garbage containers I found were near the dump station, which is on the way out of the park, nowhere near the campground! There is lots to do within this camp, let alone in the area around the camp. I have noticed two hiking trails, I have seen the kayaks that are for rent and the area you launch, all we need now is some nicer weather. Other info, I asked if they had weekly rates and was told yes. But of course you are limited to 14 days like so many other campgrounds. When I arrived and talked to the clerk about the weekly rates, all he did was multiply the daily rate by the number of days. There is no discounted weekly rate. They also do not take Sam's club, do not have senior discounts, etc.. I don't know if their site on the the dirt shows the price, but it was $42 for the first night and drops to $38 per night for the rest of my stay.